City Council Members Attend Legislative Action Day

Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Baca and Council Member Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez joined nearly 200 city officials from throughout California in Sacramento on April 23 for the League of California Cities' Legislative Action Day. The annual event gives city officials an opportunity to visit the state Capitol and meet with their legislators to discuss issues of importance to California cities. "It was an honor to be in Sacramento yesterday to represent the City of Moreno Valley. The League's annual Legislative Action Day is about building and maintaining relationships and exchanging information with our state lawmakers. I was able to meet with Assembly Member Jose Medina, and attend the Leagues' briefings on priority legislation, the state budget and economic development," said Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Baca. "I returned home with valuable information to help better our city." The event kicked off Wednesday morning with a budget and policy briefing led by League First Vice President and Arroyo Grande Mayor Tony Ferrara, League Executive Director Chris McKenzie and League Legislative Director Dan Carrigg. Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) provided a keynote address to the gathered city officials Wednesday morning. The morning session wrapped up with a news conference at the state Capitol covering legislation by Assembly Member Susan Bonilla of Concord that would create new regulations for massage therapists and massage therapy establishments that stop the proliferation of illicit massage and provide true public safety protections. Council Member Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez agrees that "through strong relationships with legislators, city council members can be heard more clearly in Sacramento, enabling us to assert our positions regarding legislation that will impact our city." League First Vice President and Arroyo Grande Mayor Tony Ferrara's remarks focused on fostering legislative relationships and promoting economic development. Following meetings in the Capitol with their legislators, city officials participated in a legislative forum that featured a panel on job creation, economic development, water, transportation founding, redevelopment, and AB 2280, a proposed bill that would create community revitalization authority to provide the financing mechanism to carry out the provisions of Community Redevelopment Law. League Immediate Past President and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard moderated the panel that included Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), Assembly Member Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), and California Transportation Commission Commissioner and California Alliance for Jobs Executive Director Jim Earp.