Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean and Councilman Cameron Smyth will be part of Los Angeles County’s delegation at the League of California Cities conference in September.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint McLean and Smyth as the city’s two delegates.
The League works to bring together various California city officials to discuss city issues, exchange information and share their knowledge and experiences in managing their respective cities, including “advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians,” according to the city staff’s agenda report.
McLean will be the voting member who will work with the League on making policies, while Smyth will serve as the alternate member.
Santa Clarita has belonged to the League of California Cities for decades, Smyth said after Tuesday’s meeting.
“We can’t always be in Sacramento lobbying on bills, but that’s what we rely on the League (to do),” he said. “So it’s important that we have our regular annual meetings to vote and develop the policy and develop the platform of the League going into the next legislative session.”
With McLean’s service as an active member of the League and his experiences in local government, the pairing makes them a good fit, said Smyth.
“For me, it’s a great opportunity to be able to interact with cities who feel that local control is something that is an absolute must, and many times Sacramento comes up with these new laws and bills which completely erode local control,” McLean said. “So when you have an organization with 480 cities and we’re all on the same page, we can and we have made a difference.”
As members, the message is to make cities aware of Santa Clarita, and in turn elevate Santa Clarita’s awareness of issues facing other cities, she added.
McLean also served as the president of the League’s L.A. County division from 2007 to 2008.
With approximately 400 members working on seven different committees within the League, they will be able to discuss what challenges face the state and set the groundwork for policies to be brought before the California Legislature, according to the League’s website.
Topics from the League policy committee schedule for this year have included public safety, environmental quality, community services, revenue and taxation, among other issues.
