Last week, Jan. 22, Carrie Broggie, Mayor Pro Tem represented the city of Fillmore in Sacramento at the League of California Cities’ first policy committee meetings in 2016. Broggie serves on the Public Safety Committee, which is integral to the League’s policy-making process.

“My city benefits from the League’s policy committees because we are able to weigh in on issues that will affect our budgets and shape future policies. Without these meetings our influence on the state’s decisions would be greatly diminished,” said Carrie Broggie.

Commander Chris Dunn, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spoke on the urgent need for stricter regulations on drones. Chief Pat McElroy, Santa Barbara Fire Department discussed the public safety impacts of the misrouting of 911 calls. Also, there were discussions on local control of medical marijuana, dispensaries and growing marijuana for medicinal use and planning for the likelihood that the recreational use of marijuana will become legal if it is on the ballot in November.

“These meetings provide an opportunity for city officials to learn about statewide proposals affecting California cities and have their voices heard by the League and translated into direct advocacy efforts,” said League Executive Director Chris McKenzie.

There are eight standing League policy committees including Administrative Services, Community Services, Employee Relations, Environmental Quality, Housing, Community and Economic Development, Public Safety, Revenue and Taxation, and Transportation, Communications, and Public Works. These committees evaluate proposed legislation as it related to existing policy and make recommendations for legislation where the League currently does not have policy.

The League's policy-making process allows the issues facing California cities to be debated and the organization's policy directions to be established. Close to 400 city officials serve on the League's policy committees and add their collective expertise, wisdom and opinions to the policy debate that is the foundation of League policy. The recommendations from the policy committee are forwarded to the League board of directors.
Following the January meetings in Sacramento, the League’s policy committees will meet April 7-8 in San Diego, June 2-3 in Sacramento and in October during the League’s annual conference in Long Beach as needed.

For more information on the League’s policy development process please visit its website at www.cacities.org/polcomm

Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit statewide association that advocates for cities with the state and federal governments and provides education and training services to elected and appointed city officials.