Council Entertains Idea of Joining New Advocacy Group

The San Juan Capistrano City Council is considering jumping ship from the weakened Orange County division of the League of California Cities to the newly formed Association of California Cities, Orange County.

City Councilwoman had previously presented the option, with the council opting to not yet make a decision. On Tuesday night, a staff member from the Orange County division of the league, Lacy Kelly, offered more information to the city, as she too, will soon be working for the association instead of the Orange County division of the league.  

She said that as a new, separate entity, the association will have more influence in the Capitol. But some council members seemed skeptical.

"Orange County electeds often have a different perspective than the other electeds at the state organization ... I’m hoping you will decide to come along to the new group,” she told the council.

“There has been a movement over the last several months of the Orange County division to look at their structure and review the effectiveness of that model … the feeling being that a chapter of a state organization was not as effective as maybe breaking out on our own.”

When Mayor Sam Allevato asked if Kelly believed the association would have more influence, especially with lawmakers who don't agree with the opinions of Orange County elected officials, she responded: “I don’t think we’re going to take over the state tomorrow, but I do think we’re going to have a stronger voice than we did before.”

Although there are 16 regional divisions that make up the League of California Cities, Orange County is the only region to have its own local director and staff. Starting Feb. 1, that staff will no longer exist, Kelly said, noting the association will beef up the number of speakers, information programs and resources once provided through the Orange County division.

According to Kelly, nine Orange County cities have dropped their membership from the league altogether and have joined association. Two-thirds of the cities are now members of the association.

Dues for membership with the association will reportedly be the same amount as those once paid to the league division.