Sunnyvale sets 2025 advocacy priorities, hires Townsend Public Affairs for state and federal advocacy

The Sunnyvale City Council on Jan. 28 reviewed the annual list of new laws, adopted updates to its 2025 priority advocacy issues and long‑term legislative positions, and introduced Townsend Public Affairs as the city's new state and federal advocacy partner.

Staff presentation and consultant introduction: City Manager staff presented staff recommendations and a list of new state laws that may affect operations; Sarah Johnson and Senior Management Analyst Michelle Zarai guided the council through the staff report. Townsend Public Affairs Vice President Niccolo DeLuca introduced the firm and its Sacramento and Washington, D.C. teams and summarized the firm's experience, noting it has helped clients secure billions in project funding and has a state and federal advocacy and grants team.

Council direction and adopted modifications: Councilmember Mellinger moved a modification package to the staff recommendation that asked staff to return with drafted language on several targeted items: increased technical assistance and objective evaluation criteria for housing element certification, modernization of CEQA to address climate‑scale projects, programs and policies aimed at preventing homelessness, advocacy language on fair energy distribution and pricing, explicit support for civil and human rights in the city's advocacy materials, and retaining/modifying an existing policy (7.0f11) to advocate for communities of interest during redistricting. Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion; the motion carried 7‑0. The council also asked staff to coordinate the new advocacy firm into the onboarding process and to use the updated platform to guide advocacy work this year.

Why it matters: The adopted priorities and the addition of a retained advocacy firm signal Sunnyvale’s intent to be active in state and federal policy and budget discussions that could affect housing, infrastructure, climate and public services. The council specifically requested staff refine the language on several items (housing element assistance, CEQA modernization, homelessness prevention, energy equity and civil rights) so that the city has clear positions to use when bills and funding opportunities arise.

Contracting and next steps: Townsend offered a brief overview of services (state/federal advocacy and grant support) and introduced team members who will work with Sunnyvale. Staff said Townsend will help the city target state and federal funding, track legislation and aid in quick‑response advocacy when bills emerge. The council’s motion directs staff to return with specific policy language on the identified items and continues the city’s practice of publishing positions and letters on the city’s legislative webpage.

Vote and administration: Councilmember Mellinger made the motion; Councilmember Cisneros seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as 7‑0 in favor. Staff will integrate Townsend into the city’s advocacy program and return with drafted policy language for the items council flagged.

Ending: Council adopted the 2025 platform with the amendments and welcomed Townsend Public Affairs as the city’s state and federal advocacy partner; staff will return with refined policy language and an onboarding plan for the consultant.