Frequently Asked Questions & Media Tips

Why is local advocacy important?

Advocacy is a critical function of the association because decisions made at the local level will often directly or indirectly impact the apartment industry in some capacity.

How can I to stay up-to-date on local policy developments?

The best way to stay informed regarding potential policy changes at the local level is to maintain positive working relationships with your local leaders and their staffs. In addition to staying in touch with policymakers, it is also helpful to visit the local government’s website and review agenda items and discussion topics when the council or commission meeting agenda is released. The local government’s website will list how often and when the council or commission will meet.

We recognize that not all affiliates have the resources to directly monitor all of the developments at the local level. For this reason, FAA subscribes to an Ordinance Watch service, which is available for all members online at: www.ordinancewatch.com/FAA/FAAAF.cfm. At this link, you will find a list of recently proposed ordinances, with hyperlinks to background information provided by the local government and a copy of the upcoming meeting agenda.

It is important to note that FAA’s ordinance watch webpage is updated on an ongoing basis. In light of this fact, it would be beneficial for someone from your association to check this webpage consistently. This task could easily be delegated to your legislative committee chair or someone within your board who has an interest in policy issues. Oftentimes a meeting agenda is posted within 24-48 hours of the council or commission meeting. Therefore, it is important to closely monitor the ordinance activity for your territory to ensure timely notification of proposed changes in your area.

How does the local ordinance process work?

The specific details and timelines of the policymaking process vary from one local government to the next and this process often depends on the type of ordinance and the public notice requirements in Florida statute. In some instances, a local government will form a task force composed of various stakeholders in the community to research an issue and propose a policy solution. In other cases, a local government will request an ordinance to be drafted without consulting industry stakeholders. The proposal can be a priority for a particular politician or a collective goal for the local government at large.

Typically, once an ordinance is drafted, the local government will hold a public hearing or first reading on the proposed language. During this initial hearing, the local government will make a case for why the proposal is needed and listen to input from any members of the public who are in attendance and wish to speak on the proposed changes. After the initial public hearing, the local government may make changes to the language in response to concerns about the proposal or may choose to vote on the ordinance as introduced. If an ordinance is passed by a majority of the members of the council or commission, it will be enacted based on the timeline expressed in the ordinance.

How can I find copies of the ordinances that are in place in a city or county?

Most cities or counties will have a link to the municipal code of ordinances on their websites. If you are having trouble locating the local government’s ordinances, you can call the city or county clerk’s office for assistance.

What is the best way to contact local elected officials?

Oftentimes, you can locate the email address, telephone number, and mailing address for local officials on the city or county’s website. If you are looking to make contact with the elected official as soon as possible, emailing or calling may be the best way to connect. If you choose to contact the local official via email, FAA recommends drafting a letter on your association’s letterhead and attaching the letter as a PDF.

Your communication with the local elected official and his/her staff should be professional, informative and concise. It is a best practice to limit your letter to one page if possible. Your letter should provide:

• A very brief overview of your association and its membership.
• An outline of the apartment industry’s concerns regarding a policy proposal.
• A request to discuss the issue in more detail at the council or commission member’s convenience.
• Contact information for the appropriate point of contact for your association.

How can I engage my locally elected officials to build a strong working relationship?

The best way to engage your local elected officials is to invite them to walk in your shoes. Most local officials have never worked in property management and likely do not understand the basics of the apartment industry. Below is a list of ways the association can connect with local officials. The relationships built by these opportunities will be extremely valuable when ordinances that will help or hurt the apartment industry are debated at the local level.

• Host a property tour. Invite one or all of your local officials to come and tour a property. Make time for the elected official to connect with on-site staff so they can learn more about the apartment industry and how it positively impacts the economy and community. Engage upper management in this meeting if possible.
• Invite officials to ribbon-cuttings. Elected officials love photo ops and a chance to celebrate growth in the community. When you plan a ribbon-cutting or groundbreaking ceremony, invite the elected officials in your area and use this as an opportunity to share information about the apartment industry.
• Invite them to association legislative committee meetings or events. Elected officials love to engage with their constituents, so inviting them to events or meetings is a great way to connect with them.
• Attend council or commission meetings. Attending city council or county commission meetings to express support for policy changes that benefit the industry is a great opportunity to give your local elected officials a pat on the back. More often than not, our gut reaction is to lobby elected officials on the policy changes we oppose. However, the most effective lobbying that can build meaningful relationships can occur when you show up to express your support.
• Offer to be a housing data/research resource. Offer to be a resource for your local elected officials by providing information and data related to the apartment industry. If you would like housing or economic data that is specific to your city or region, please contact FAA directly to request this data. FAA has access to CoStar Inc. and can pull a variety of metrics for your association upon request.
• In addition to CoStar data, www.weareapartments.org has helpful data that outlines the economic impact of the apartment industry.
• Ask FAA for local PAC funds. Another great way to build meaningful relationships with your local elected officials is to support their campaign. Affiliates that have met their fair share goal may request APAC funds for a local candidate if certain conditions are met. Please contact the FAA government affairs director for more information regarding APAC’s local campaign contribution policy.

How can I lobby local elected officials?

Effective lobbying is all about communication. Your communication with elected officials can include: emails, letters, phone calls, in-person meetings, or statements on the record at a public meeting. When making your case in favor or in opposition to a policy change, there are a few best practices to consider:

• Always be courteous of their time and respectful of the office they hold. You should refer to all elected officials by their title (Councilman Smith).
• The sooner you can engage the elected officials in the policymaking process, the better. That is why it is important to introduce your association as a resource so local officials know to call on you when policy changes related to housing are being discussed.
• When possible, it is important to quantify the impact of proposals with data. This can include a variety of information such as: economic impact (such as tax increases), the number of properties impacted, or data from other jurisdictions that quantifies the negative or positive effects of a similar policy.
• There is strength in numbers! It is helpful to build a coalition in favor of the apartment industry’s position on a proposed policy. For example, on a variety of issues at the local level, it can be beneficial to work collaboratively with other members of the real estate community (home builders, homeowners, Realtors) to support or oppose a particular policy change.

Do I need to strategize before engaging a local government on a policy issue?

It is crucial for you and your association leadership to strategize when engaging a local government on a policy issue. Sometimes it is best to oppose an ordinance in its entirety and other times, it may be more advantageous to advocate for specific changes that make the policy less onerous for the apartment industry. Therefore, it is important for you to determine a potential strategy at the onset of every debate with a local government.

How do I respond to media inquiries regarding industry advocacy efforts?

If a member of the media contacts you about a state or federal topic (state legislation or a federal policy issue), please reach out to FAA’s government affairs director as soon as you receive the request. FAA would be pleased to field this inquiry for you to ensure all of the responses related to FAA supported/opposed legislation remain consistent.

In the event the association is contacted by a member of the media to discuss a local issue, there are a few important reminders to consider:

• Members of the media are always working under a deadline. Your prompt response to their call or email will not only be appreciated but remembered when it comes time for the news outlet to write a future story.
• Do not feel obligated to speak to a reporter without gathering your thoughts first. In the event a reporter calls you directly, you can politely ask for more information about what they want to discuss and their deadline. Once you know this information, you can inform them that you would be happy to speak with them and offer an alternative time to chat that is respective of their deadline. This will give you time to gather your thoughts and talking points to ensure that you and the association shine during the interview.
• It is always important to know the reporter’s angle for the story before you plan the message you would like to convey during your remarks. Take the time to ask for information about the news spot or article the reporter is working on and what message they are trying to convey.
• When in doubt, never hesitate to ask for help. FAA would be pleased to help you prepare for or handle a media interview on your behalf. Please contact FAA’s Government Affairs Director, Local Government Affairs Manager, or Director of Communications for assistance.

Additional Resources Provided by NAA

In addition to the background information provided within the FAA Advocacy Toolkit, FAA members have access to talking points and issue briefs provided by the National Apartment Association online at: www.naahq.org/advocacy/policy-issues. Please visit this webpage for additional resources to assist you with your local advocacy.