HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-14; City Council; 16; 2025 Legislative Platform and Legislative Program UpdateCA Review __AF __
Meeting Date: Jan. 14, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director
jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2958
Subject: 2025 Legislative Platform and Legislative Program Update
Districts: All
Recommended Actions
1. Adopt a resolution approving the City of Carlsbad 2025 Legislative Platform
2. Direct staff to advocate for eight potential city-sponsored state legislative proposals and for
federal, state and county funding for specified city projects
3. Receive reports on state and federal legislative and budget activity and recent and ongoing
advocacy efforts and provide feedback to staff as desire
Executive Summary
This item proposes amendments to the city’s legislative platform, as recommended by the City
Council Legislative Subcommittee, for adoption by the City Council.
The subcommittee’s recommendations – that the city pursue opportunities to sponsor eight
proposed pieces of state legislation and pursue state, federal and county grants and budget
appropriations for specified city projects – are presented for the City Council’s consideration
and direction to staff.
This report also presents an overview of state and federal legislative and budget activity and
the city’s recent and ongoing advocacy efforts.
Explanation & Analysis
City of Carlsbad 2025 Legislative Platform
City Council Policy No. 39 - Intergovernmental Affairs Program establishes the guidelines of the
city’s intergovernmental affairs program, which enables the city to efficiently and effectively
address intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city. The policy calls for the city
to adopt a legislative platform expressing the city’s general legislative concerns.
The City Council Legislative Subcommittee was established by the City Council in 2019. Its
duties include conducting an annual review of the city’s legislative platform and recommending
amendments to the City Council, as needed. As part of the annual review of the platform, the
city’s legislative consultant, California Public Policy Group, and staff met with city departments
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 1 of 101
to review the platform and brought changes to the subcommittee for consideration. The
subcommittee then reviewed the staff-recommended changes and offered its own changes to
the City of Carlsbad 2024 Legislative Platform. The changes have been incorporated into the
proposed City of Carlsbad 2025 Legislative Platform (Exhibit 2), which the subcommittee
recommends the City Council approve.
State, federal and county funding priorities
Based upon input provided by staff and the city’s state and federal legislative consultants, and
consistent with the priorities laid out in the city’s Strategic Plan, the projects listed in Exhibit 3
have been identified as potentially competitive opportunities to receive state, federal and/or
county funding in the coming year.
Project types that may be well-suited to receiving state and/or federal support in the coming
year include those that address public safety, sustainability and climate adaptation, parks and
trails, and transportation and mobility. Projects have been grouped into these categories and
prioritized into Tier I and Tier II groupings within each category based upon staff’s assessment
of project readiness and anticipated degree of competitiveness.
For 2025, the Legislative Subcommittee recommends that the City Council direct staff to engage
Carlsbad’s state, federal and county representatives to determine which of these projects they
most support and then tailor the city’s budget requests and grant applications to pursue the
necessary funding. Obtaining funding for these projects, which is expected to span several
years, will depend on not only the city’s priorities but also on state, federal and regional funding
priorities and budget surpluses.
State legislative proposals
The Legislative Subcommittee also recommends that the City Council direct staff to pursue
eight legislative proposals during the current legislative session. These laws would:
1. Authorize electronic filing and virtual appearance for workplace violence restraining
orders and workplace harassment restraining orders
2. Expand the peace officer exception in California Vehicle Code Section 38025 to
allow public safety officials to drive off-highway utility-terrain vehicles on city
streets
3. Disallow short-term vacation rental use of affordable and market-rate accessory
dwelling units (ADUs) and units in projects receiving development standard waivers,
concessions or density bonuses1
4. Amend the California Government Code to clarify density bonus law regarding the
replacement of existing affordable housing and the application of local inclusionary
(affordable) housing requirements
5. Reform tort law to limit damages to be paid by cities except in cases of gross
negligence
1 A density bonus allows a developer to increase the number of residential units on a property above the maximum
limit set by a city’s general plan in exchange for reserving a certain number of the new units as affordable for at
least 55 years.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 2 of 101
6. Clarify and streamline the process for obtaining a long-term lease/operating
agreement to allow a city to assume the cost and responsibility for maintenance
and operation of State Parks lands within its jurisdiction.
7. Enable a change in state funding sources from the Joe Serna. Jr. Farmworker
Housing Grant Program to a source that would allow the beds at Carlsbad’s La
Posada Homeless Shelter to be used by homeless individuals, rather than being
limited to only farmworkers
8. Require occupants of permanent supportive housing units funded by Behavioral
Health Services Act or Mental Health Services Act programs to agree to receive case
management services
Upon receiving City Council direction, staff will engage the city’s state representatives and
stakeholder groups to further develop and determine the viability of advancing these
proposals.
California Public Policy Group - State lobbyist and government relations services
The California Public Policy Group, or CPPG, has provided state lobbyist and government
relations services to the city since 2021. In May 2024, the City Manager executed a two-year
contract in the amount of $89,000 per agreement year for CPPG to provide these services
through May 2026. CPPG has worked closely with city staff and the Legislative Subcommittee,
providing detailed information, analysis and advocacy on state legislative and budget proposals
of interest to the city. CPPG’s 2024 End of Year Report (Exhibit 4) provides an overview of the
services provided to the City of Carlsbad during the 2024 legislative year and insights into the
2025 legislative session.
Carpi & Clay - Federal lobbyist and government relations services
The city’s federal lobbyist, Carpi & Clay, tracks federal activity on issues such as health and
human services, land use, energy, water and natural resources, infrastructure, transportation,
economic development, environment, criminal justice, climate change and equity. It operates
under a $60,000 contract executed by the City Manager in January 2024, to provide federal
lobbyist and government relations services during 2024. Carpi & Clay has kept the city informed
and advocated on the city’s behalf, as directed, on legislation and federal budget
appropriations that affect city operations. Carpi & Clay’s 2024 End of Year Report (Exhibit 4)
provides an overview of the services provided to the city during 2024, along with an update on
current federal monitoring and advocacy efforts (Exhibit 5).
The city is in the process of extending Carpi & Clay’s contract to continue providing services to
the city in 2025.
Fiscal Analysis
This item has no fiscal impact.
Options
Staff and the City Council Legislative Subcommittee recommend that the City Council approve
the proposed legislative platform, funding priorities and legislative proposals. The City Council
could also choose to offer amendments to the proposal, provide additional input to direct staff
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 3 of 101
to pursue other legislative priorities and initiatives or refer the matter back to the
subcommittee.
Next Steps
The adopted City of Carlsbad 2025 Legislative Platform will guide staff, the Legislative
Subcommittee and the city’s state and federal legislative consultants in their efforts to address
various intergovernmental and legislative matters that may impact the city. Acting upon City
Council direction, staff, members of the subcommittee and the city’s legislative consultants will
pursue the city’s priority state legislative proposals and budget priorities.
Environmental Evaluation
This action does not require environmental review because it does not constitute a project
within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public
Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical
change or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Exhibits
1. City Council resolution
2. Proposed amendments to City of Carlsbad 2024 Legislative Platform, with revisions
highlighted
3. 2025 budget priorities
4. California Public Policy Group - 2024 End of Year Report
5. Carpi & Clay - 2024 Year in Review and December 2024 Monthly Federal Update
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 4 of 101
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-016
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
WHEREAS, on April 19, 1994, the City Council issued City Council Policy No. 39 to establish the
guidelines of the City's legislative program; and
WHEREAS, the City Council amended City Council Policy No. 39 on March 16, 2021, establishing
the guidelines of the city's intergovernmental affairs program; and
WHEREAS, City Council Policy No. 39 calls for the City Council to adopt a legislative Platform
that clearly expresses the city's position on, and provides a basis for prioritizing and acting upon, a
broad range of intergovernmental and legislative matters; and
WHEREAS, on July 23, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2019-137, authorizing the
formation of a standing City Council legislative Subcommittee; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 2019-137 established the duties of the City Council Legislative
Subcommittee to include conducting an annual review of the City of Carlsbad legislative Platform and
recommending amendments to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council legislative Subcommittee has reviewed the City of Carlsbad
Legislative Platform and recommends adoption of the amended City of Carlsbad 2025 legislative
Platform presented in Attachment A.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City Council approves the City of Carlsbad 2025 legislative Platform as shown
in Attachment A.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 14th day of January 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS :
ABSTAIN :
ABSENT:
BLACKBURN, BHAT-PATEL, ACOSTA, BURKHOLDER, SHIN.
NONE.
NONE.
NONE.
BLACKBUR
Attachment A
CITY OF CARLSBAD
2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
The Legislative Platform provides a foundation for the City of Carlsbad’s
Intergovernmental Affairs Program and enables the city to efficiently and effectively
address intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city and its
communities. The purpose of this Legislative Platform is to clearly express the city's
position on, and provide a basis for prioritizing and acting upon, a broad range of
intergovernmental and legislative matters that may impact the city's ability to operate
effectively.
The City Council has identified the Guiding Principles, Legislative Priorities and Position
Statements comprising this Legislative Platform to guide the city’s advocacy efforts. The
city’s legislative positions are organized under a framework modeled after the League of
California Cities’ Summary of Existing Policy and Guiding Principles. The Legislative
Platform will be reviewed annually by the City Council Legislative Subcommittee and
amended as needed by the City Council.
Contents
• Guiding Principles
• 2025 Legislative Priorities
• 2025 Legislative Platform: Position Statements
1. Community Services
Arts, Cultural Resources, Historic Preservation
and Education
Child Care
Park Bond Funds
Public Parks/Recreational Facilities
Public Libraries
Seniors
Healthy Cities
2. Environmental Quality
Climate Change California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Hazardous Materials
Solid Waste, Recycling and Diversion Utilities
Coastal Issues
3. Water
General Principles Water Conservation Water Recycling
Water Quality Water Storage & Conveyance Systems New Technology Financial Considerations
4. Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations
Labor Relations
Workers’ Compensation
Governance and Ethics
Elected Officials
5. Housing, Community and Economic Development
Planning and Zoning
Housing
Subdivision Map Act
Economic Development
6. Public Safety
Fire Services
Emergency Services and Preparedness
Law Enforcement
Drugs and Alcohol
Homelessness
Miscellaneous
7. Revenue and Taxation
State Mandates
8. Transportation, Communication and Public Works
Transportation
Public Works
Contracts
Telecommunications
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 7 of 101
2
Guiding Principles
I. Preserve Local Control - The city supports the broadest authority for our citizens and
the City Council to make decisions and provide public services locally. As cities are
voluntarily created by the residents of a community to provide local self-government
and to make decisions at the local level to best meet the diverse needs of the
community, the city opposes preemption of local control.
II. Maintain Fiscal Responsibility — The city supports legislative and budget measures
that protect and enhance its existing funding sources, revenue base and control over
local government budgeting. The city opposes efforts to shift local funds to the county,
state or federal governments, diminish its revenue base or impose new mandates that
are unfunded or inadequately funded.
III. Protect Quality of Life — The city supports state legislation and funding that
preserve the safety, security, cultural resources and well-being of our residents,
workers, businesses and visitors. The city opposes efforts that would negatively impact
the infrastructure, public health and safety, community development, equitable
community services, cultural integrity and environmental programs and other city
efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Carlsbad.
2025 Legislative Priorities
The city’s advocacy efforts will focus primarily on advancing the strategic goals adopted
by the City Council, including:
1. Community Character
2. Quality of Life & Safety
3. Sustainability & the Natural Environment
4. Economic Vitality
5. Organizational Excellence & Fiscal Health
2025 Legislative Platform: Position Statements
1. Community Services
Arts, Cultural Resources, Historic Preservation and Education
(a) Support funding and legislation that support local arts and culture,
acknowledges the community’s history and current conditions and
recognizes the need for preservation and education.
Child Care
(a) Support measures that reduce regulatory complexities and the burden of
insurance costs for child care providers.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 8 of 101
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(b) Support funding for the construction, renovation and maintenance of
child care facilities.
(c) Support the provision of reasonable tax incentives for employers who
offer child care services.
(d) Support legislation that restores local control over child care services in
areas such as licensure, staffing, education and training.
Park Bond Funds
(a) Support statewide park bond measures that include a component that
provides per capita grants to cities and counties.
(b) Oppose statewide park bond measures that tie local eligibility for grant
funds to non-park related issues, such as rent control or housing element
status.
Public Parks/Recreational Facilities
(a) Support increased and sustainable funding for community park facilities,
open space, and recreation programs.
(b) Support legislation that preserves the ability to implement integrated
pest management practices, a science-based, decision-making process
that combines biological, physical and chemical tools in a way that
achieves pest control objectives while minimizing economic, health, and
environmental risk.
(c) Support measures that clarify and streamline the process for obtaining a
long-term lease/operating agreement to allow a city to assume the cost
and responsibility for maintenance and operation of State Parks lands
within its jurisdiction.
Public Libraries
(a) Support increased and sustainable funding for local public libraries and
the State Library.
(b) Oppose Internet filtering laws that apply to publicly funded libraries.
(c) Support legislation that preserves library patron privacy.
(d) Support legislation that preserves net neutrality.
Seniors
(a) Support legislation that fosters independence of older Californians.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 9 of 101
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(b) Support legislation that advances the objectives of the Age Friendly
Carlsbad Action Plan, including increased and sustainable funding for
senior transportation services, social and civic engagement programs and
senior housing.
(c) Support legislation that empowers cities to protect access to essential
services (i.e., grocery, pharmacy, housing) for senior residents.
Healthy Cities
(a) Support legislation that recognizes and prevents adverse impacts
affecting public health and the welfare of all residents, visitors and
workers, and especially the young.
(b) Support initiatives that encourage cities to help parents make healthy
family choices; create healthy schools; provide access to healthy and
affordable foods; and adopt city design and planning principles that
promote physical activity.
(c) Support initiatives that encourage cities to involve youth, especially
middle and high school students, with city health-related programs,
including those promoting mental and psychological well-being.
(d) Support initiatives that encourage cities to address the needs of an aging
population through local and statewide planning, education and
programming.
(e) Support legislation that preserves the authority of local agencies to
establish their own rules and regulations pertaining to community
recreational activities.
(f) Support funding for local communities attempting to address the needs
of migrant workers.
2. Environmental Quality
(a) Support legislation that complements the city’s Environmental and
Sustainability Guiding Principles.
(b) Support funding and legislation to improve and protect recreational
water quality from contamination, support effective habitat management
practices, and create and maintain public open space.
(c) Support funding and legislation that facilitates and protects local control
of habitat management planning, maintenance and administration.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 10 of 101
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(d) Support legislation that identifies the use of restrictive covenants as an
acceptable instrument for documenting open space dedications,
including for mitigation purposes.
(e) Support funding and legislation that supports climate change adaptation
and resilience efforts.
Climate Change
(a) Support funding and legislation that promotes market penetration and
infrastructure expansion for zero emission vehicles and small off-road
engines, such as those found in landscaping equipment and generators.
(b) Support measures that promote clean fleet transitions while providing
flexible compliance timelines for vehicles and equipment based on
documented limitations in product availability, and cost-prohibitive
market conditions.
(c) Support measures that credit Metropolitan Planning Organizations for
emissions reductions associated with regional electric vehicle adoption.
(d) Support funding and legislation that facilitates energy efficiency and
decarbonization practices and actions to mitigate the sources of
greenhouse gas emissions in buildings.
(e) Support funding and legislation that promotes greenhouse gas emissions
reductions and/or the capture, removal, sequestration and secure
storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
(f) Support legislation that reduces the amount of ozone depleting
compounds discharged into the atmosphere.
(g) Support funding and legislation that promotes the use and purchase of
clean alternative energy through the development of renewable energy
resources and waste-to-energy technologies.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
(a) Support legislation that either requires citizen initiatives to comply with
CEQA before being placed on the ballot or exempting from this
requirement a City Council initiated ballot measure dealing with the same
subject matter on the same ballot.
(b) Support legislation that streamlines federal and state environmental
review, eliminates procedural redundancies, and limits court reviews of
environmental documentation.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 11 of 101
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Hazardous Materials
(a) Support efforts for the proper and cost-effective disposal of solid,
hazardous and medical waste.
(b) Oppose legislation that makes local municipalities financially responsible
for the removal, abatement or mitigation of hazardous materials.
(c) Support funding and legislation that addresses concerns regarding the
safe handling and storage of nuclear waste generated at the
decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, particularly as it
relates to the vulnerability to damage from seismic activity, landslides,
tsunamis and sea level rise.
Solid Waste, Recycling and Diversion
(a) Support legislation that preserves the ability of local governments to
regulate solid waste and recyclable materials.
(b) Support measures that promote procurement and market development
of recyclable and recycled materials.
(c) Support legislation that promotes source reduction, sustainability and re-
use measures.
(d) Oppose legislation regulating "flow control" of solid waste materials.
(e) Support measures that promote the recycling and reclaiming of natural
resources, including water, timber, oil, gas minerals and earth metals.
(f) Support measures that would make low-interest loans and grants
available to local agencies for programs that encourage the recycling and
reclaiming of resources.
(g) Support measures that would reduce the use of single-use plastics and
Styrofoam packaging and prevent these materials from entering the
waste stream, including public education and community partnership
initiatives.
(h) Support legislation that facilitates development of local and regional
recycling and composting facilities.
(i) Support funding to help cities and small businesses comply with state-
mandated extended producer responsibility regulations that require
manufacturers of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware to
address the environmental impacts of plastic pollution.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 12 of 101
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Utilities
(a) Support legislation that establishes regulatory and market mechanisms to
maximize the state’s energy self-sufficiency and security.
(b) Support legislation that establishes regulatory and market mechanisms
that promote competition and reasonable, justifiable energy prices with
programs to support low-income groups.
(c) Support legislation that aggressively pursues refunds to consumers for
rates that have been determined to be unjust or unreasonable.
(d) Support legislation that expedites the development of needed
infrastructure (e.g., generation, transmission, and distribution) to create
robust and functional markets.
(e) Support legislation that increases the diversity of the state’s and region’s
energy resources, particularly increasing the use of higher-efficiency,
clean distributed generation (e.g., combined heat and power) and
renewable resources.
(f) Support legislation that encourages and incentivizes the adoption of new
and emerging technologies that provide real-time pricing to promote
better price response by consumers.
(g) Support legislation that promotes municipal renewable energy
development.
(h) Support legislation that preserves and protects net energy metering to
continue incentivizing investments in rooftop solar energy systems.
(i) Support legislation that provides funding to increase energy efficiency,
improve reliability and reduce peak demand, including for demand-side
management programs.
(j) Support legislation that provides funding for renewable energy
generation and energy storage projects.
(k) Support legislation that minimizes adverse environmental impacts of the
state’s and the region’s energy use.
(l) Support funding and legislation that promotes the development of
alternative energy sources.
(m) Support legislation that prohibits the California Energy Commission from
issuing any license to operate a power plant unless and until it has
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 13 of 101
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received the report required by the California Coastal Commission under
the Warren-Alquist Act.
(n) Support legislation that protects competitive neutrality, procurement
autonomy, ratepayer affordability, reliability, decarbonization and social
equity initiatives of community choice aggregation.
(o) Support legislation that establishes rules under which Public Safety
Power Shutoff events can be undertaken.
Coastal Issues
(a) Support measures that provide funding for urban waterfront restoration
and enhancement.
(b) Support legislation that would promote and provide funding for the
restoration, preservation and enhancement of beaches, beachfront
property and bluffs, including climate change adaptation efforts, local
and regional sand replenishment efforts, as well as coastal access, public
infrastructure and parking.
(c) Support measures that allow Coastal Zone wetland mitigation to occur
outside of the impacted jurisdiction.
(d) Support measures that would preserve and extend the authority of cities
over land use regulations concerning the placement of onshore facilities
which service offshore oil drilling.
(e) Support legislation that requires the double hulling of oil tankers.
(f) Support legislation that promotes aquatic research, education and
aquaculture.
(g) Oppose any new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in
all State of California and U.S. waters in the Pacific Ocean.
(h) Support decommissioning of existing offshore oil drilling and pipeline
infrastructure in all State of California and U.S. waters off the California
coast.
(i) Support legislation providing that if Coastal Commission staff has an
opportunity to participate in local and or regional habitat management
plans, there is a presumption of consistency with the Federal Coastal
Management Act.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 14 of 101
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(j) Support legislation to allow cities to issue all coastal development
permits within their jurisdiction consistent with a previously certified
coastal plan.
(k) Support legislation that allocates state and federal funds for the
construction of facilities to capture and treat the flow of raw sewage
entering San Diego from Tijuana.
(l) Support legislation that provides direction to the California Coastal
Commission through changes to the Coastal Act that would allow for
construction of seawalls or other shoreline protection devices for existing
structures, as defined by a local jurisdiction’s Local Coastal Program and
up to the date of adoption of amendments to the Local Coastal Program.
(m) Oppose legislation that would backdate the consideration date of existing
structures to only those that existed prior to establishment of the Coastal
Act (January 1, 1977).
3. Water
General Principles
(a) Support measures that provide for the equitable allotment and
distribution of preferential water rights.
(b) Support legislation that protects and improves the reliability,
affordability, self-sufficiency, quality and security of local and imported
water supplies.
(c) Support legislation that ensures the San Diego County Water Authority
and its member agencies receive the water supply benefits of their
investment in local water supply sources.
(d) Support legislation that provides for the development of a
comprehensive state water plan that balances California’ s water needs
and results in a reliable and affordable supply of high-quality water for
the San Diego Region.
(e) Support legislation that supports regional projects through Integrated
Regional Water Management Planning.
(f) Support legislation that streamlines environmental review processes for
water and wastewater infrastructure projects and provides exemptions
for emergency activities when the continued delivery of safe and clean
water is threatened.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 15 of 101
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(g) Support legislation that establishes a more equitable voting structure at
the San Diego County Water Authority, such as by providing that Board
decisions be approved by both a tally vote majority and a weighted vote
majority of the member agencies.
Water Conservation
(a) Support measures that will encourage water conservation practices by all
water consumers.
(b) Support measures that ensure conservation credit for municipal
investments in water recycling systems and development of alternative
sources.
(c) Support legislation that promotes water conservation and water use
efficiency while preserving district and public water rights and the
authority of local agencies.
(d) Support legislation that provides incentives, funding and other assistance
to water agencies so that they can meet state water demand
requirements.
(e) Oppose legislation that imposes water use efficiency criteria for
conservation-based water rates, standards, budget allocations, and
programs that do not recognize local differences, quality impacts, and
existing programs, or that override the authority of local agencies to
adopt management practices that are appropriate for the needs of their
agency.
(f) Support legislation that provides flexibility in complying with drought
regulations and recognizes variations among communities with respect to
their ability to withstand the impacts of drought.
Water Recycling
(a) Support measures that promote the production and distribution of
reclaimed water.
Water Quality
(a) Support legislation that protects the quality of drinking water and
supports local agency efforts to meet state and federal water quality
standards based upon sound scientific principles.
(b) Support legislation that incorporates sound scientific based water quality
requirements for all discharges to surface water or that could percolate
to groundwater to safeguard public health and protect beneficial uses.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 16 of 101
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(c) Support legislation that implements source control and protects
reservoirs, lakes, and coastal waters.
(d) Support legislation that enables local agencies to regulate the discharge
of contaminants into the sewer collection system based on discharge
permit requirements, detrimental effects on infrastructure, and adverse
effects on recycling and reuse.
(e) Support legislation that provides state and federal funds for monitoring,
research, treatment, and infrastructure investments needed to address
new and emerging and other regulated contaminants.
Water Storage and Conveyance Systems
(a) Support a balanced water transportation and regional storage system
that provides for the needs of San Diego County, while protecting the
Delta and Central Valley regions with minimal impact on agriculture and
the environment.
(b) Support measures that increase water supply and storage facilities within
the region and allow for economically feasible water transfers within the
system.
New Technology
(a) Support legislation and regulations that encourage the use and
development of alternative water sources.
(b) Support funding and legislation that promotes the development of
engineering solutions and alternative uses to eliminate wastewater
treatment ocean discharges.
(c) Support legislation that encourages and provides state and federal
funding for the development of new technology in water use, reuse,
quality monitoring, and treatment.
Financial Considerations
(a) Support legislation to develop an ongoing funding source to implement
the federally mandated Clean Water Act of 1987 and to ensure
protection of local resources.
(b) Support legislation that would exempt stormwater and urban runoff
management programs from Proposition 218 requirements.
(c) Support legislation that allows Water Districts to award contracts in
conformity with the provisions of the local City Charter.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 17 of 101
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(d) Support legislation that provides state and federal funds to local agencies
for programs and projects that provide for the supply, storage, recycling,
reclaiming, reuse and quality improvement of water resources.
(e) Oppose any new tax or fee on water that does not benefit ratepayers.
4. Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations
Labor Relations
(a) Support legislation that allows cities with civil service/personnel systems
to contract out services to the private sector to save taxpayer dollars.
(b) Support legislation that limits the ability of employees to receive workers'
compensation benefits for occupational injuries/illnesses that result from
stress, disciplinary action, or performance evaluations or consultations.
(c) Support any measure that would reverse the imposition of compulsory
and binding arbitration with respect to public employees.
(d) Oppose any measure that would grant employee benefits that should be
decided at the local bargaining table.
(e) Oppose any legislation that would reduce local authority to resolve public
employee disputes, and support legislation that would preserve court
jurisdiction, and/or impose regulations of an outside agency (such as
PERB).
(f) Support measures that increase local authority to take adverse
employment actions while an active complaint or grievance is being
investigated.
(g) Oppose measures that propose a standard higher than the normal civil
standards in disciplinary proceedings for peace officers.
(h) Support legislation that clarifies existing labor laws concerning whether
an individual is considered an employee rather than an independent
contractor.
(i) Support measures that promote recruitment efforts and educational
practices to advance and retain workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.
(j) Oppose measures that would expand release time for union business.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 18 of 101
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(k) Oppose measures that would establish confidentiality privileges for union
representatives.
(l) Oppose measures that would require municipalities to pay erroneous
retirement benefits.
(m) Support funding and legislation that helps cities provide employee
support programs, increased personal protective equipment (PPE) and
other programs that promote employee overall wellness—particularly
for underrepresented and frontline essential workers.
(n) Support measures that protect employee choice in obtaining state-
mandated insurance policies either through employer- or state-
sponsored programs and insurance products (such as for long-term
care insurance).
(o) Support funding and legislation that would enhance efforts to prevent
third-party harassment and workplace violence.
(p) Support legislation authorizing electronic filings and virtual
appearances for workplace violence restraining orders and workplace
harassment restraining orders.
(q) Support measures that clarify public meeting requirements related to
employee recruiting and retention efforts.
Workers’ Compensation
(a) Oppose legislation that expands or extends any presumptions of
occupational injury or illness and support legislation that repeals the
presumption that the findings of a treating physician are correct.
(b) Oppose legislation that increases workers' compensation benefits
without providing for concurrent cost controls.
Governance and Ethics
(a) Oppose legislation or constitutional amendments that weaken or
interfere with the powers of charter cities and diminish local autonomy
or home rule authority.
(b) Support legislation that reduces and provides for recovery of costs,
maintains privacy and eliminates attorney's fees for administering public
records laws.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 19 of 101
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(c) Oppose legislation that broadens the scope of the Public Records Act
without providing adequate funding for compliance.
(d) Support measures that clarify standards to allow records management
systems to qualify as a “trusted system.”
(e) Support measures that clarify that the records and identities of juvenile
crime victims are not subject to release once those individuals reach
adulthood, pursuant to the Public Records Act.
(f) Support measures that prohibit abuse of the Public Records Act as a
means to obtain periodic market data.
(g) Support measures that prohibit abuse of the Public Records Act as a
means to advance serial lawsuits.
(h) Support legislation that improves access to, and reduces the cost of,
healthcare for public employees, including part-time and seasonal
workers.
(i) Support measures that reform California's tort system to reduce and limit
liability exposure for public agencies and restore the ability of public
agencies to obtain affordable insurance.
(j) Support legislation that recognizes or broadens immunities for public
agencies and oppose legislation that attempts to limit or restrict existing
immunities.
(k) Support legislation that requires plaintiffs to make a good faith showing
of liability prior to filing a lawsuit against a public entity.
(l) Support legislation that would increase civic participation and
engagement, including the continued allowance of subcommittees,
advisory committees, and boards and commissions, local and regional, to
participate virtually, without physical location posting requirements
under the Ralph M. Brown Act.
(m) Support amendments to the Ralph M. Brown Act that allow for the use of
alternative and cost-effective methods of meeting public noticing
requirements, including the use of electronic and digital media.
(n) Support legislation to limit advertising costs charged for public noticing.
(o) Support legislation that would permit a minority number of council
members to virtually participate in meetings without having physical
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 20 of 101
15
location posting requirements, so long as a physical in-person meeting
quorum is present.
(p) Support state funding efforts to assist with enhanced public access for
members of the community.
(q) Oppose legislation that increases the cost of municipal meetings and
hearings through unnecessary new requirements.
(r) Support legislation that would allow cities to conduct closed sessions on
matters posing a threat to cybersecurity.
(s) Support funding and legislation to assist local agency cybersecurity
enhancement efforts.
(t) Support legislation that strengthens cities’ ability to foster civil and
respectful participation in public meetings and provides tools to help
legislative bodies address disruptive behavior, including hate speech,
while ensuring the public’s First Amendment rights are protected.
Elected Officials
(a) Support legislation that prevents threats to the security of public officials
in their homes by extending or providing protection to elected and
appointed officials from the unauthorized publication of their home
addresses or telephone numbers in newspapers or similar periodicals.
(b) Support legislation requiring both elected local and state officials to
maintain their place of residence in the jurisdiction they were elected to
represent.
5. Housing, Community and Economic Development
Planning and Zoning
(a) Support legislation to strengthen the legal and fiscal capability of local
agencies to prepare, adopt and implement fiscal plans for orderly growth,
development, beautification and conservation of local planning areas,
including, but not limited to, regulatory authority over zoning,
subdivisions, annexations, and tax increment financing areas.
(b) Support measures in local land use that are consistent with the doctrine
of "home rule" and the local exercise of police powers in planning and
zoning processes.
(c) Support measures that authorize local land use planning and zoning law
to override conflicting state law.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 21 of 101
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(d) Support measures that ensure local land use planning or zoning initiatives
approved by voters shall not be nullified or superseded by the actions of
any local or state legislative body.
(e) Support legislation requiring environmental review of initiatives to
amend a general plan or zoning ordinance before the initiative is placed
on the ballot or enacted.
(f) Oppose legislation or constitutional amendments that would restrict the
power of California cities to use eminent domain for public purpose
projects.
(g) Support measures that allow local agencies to condition mobile home
park conversions from rental to resident ownership pursuant to local land
use regulations including a requirement to provide public improvements
and infrastructure where necessary to promote the health, safety, and
welfare of park residents.
(h) Support legislation that preserves the authority of local agencies to
regulate short-term vacation rentals.
(i) Support legislation that enables local agencies to effectively address
issues concerning public safety and proper management of group homes,
including proposals to require the presence of on-site managers and/or
security personnel at all times, while being mindful of group home
residents’ potential vulnerabilities.
(j) Oppose legislation that would diminish local control to set and assess
development review and building inspection fees.
Housing
(a) Support efforts to develop federal and state participation, financial
support and incentives (tax benefits, grants, loans) for programs which
provide adequate, affordable housing (home ownership and/or rental
opportunities) for all economic segments of the community including the
elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income persons.
(b) Support expansion of tax credit and bond opportunities for affordable
housing.
(c) Support legislation that provides incentives (tax benefits, grants, loans,
credits for affordable units) to local agencies, private developers and
non-profit groups in order to rehabilitate residential units and
commercial properties.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 22 of 101
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(d) Support legislation that would provide additional funding for rental
subsidy assistance programs (such as the Housing Choice Voucher
Program, the federally funded rental subsidy program for low-income
households) via more sustainable vouchers or certificates.
(e) Support repeal of Article 34 (Public Housing Project Law) of the California
Constitution, which requires local voter approval of housing projects that
are intended for low-income people and that receive funding or
assistance from the federal and/or state government.
(f) Support legislation that allows entitlement cities to use Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for new construction of housing
units.
(g) Support state legislation that strengthens local inclusionary housing
programs for lower-income residents.
(h) Support the repeal or modification of the Davis-Bacon Wage Act, as it
relates to charter cities, that set a prevailing wage scale for public
projects, substantially increasing the cost of publicly assisted housing
developments.
(i) Support legislation that will consolidate and streamline the
administration and reporting requirements for the CDBG program.
(j) Oppose legislation that would give the State financial administrative
responsibilities for the CDBG program.
(k) Support legislation that recognizes the impediments to infill housing
development due to inadequate and/or deteriorated infrastructure, and
provides funding and/or cost recovery mechanisms for local agencies to
complete the necessary upgrades.
(l) Support measures that would establish a formula-based Regional Housing
Needs Assessment allocation methodology that reflects the unique needs
and practical capacity of local communities.
(m) Oppose measures that diminish local authority to implement growth
management initiatives that ensure communities do not exceed carrying
capacities and the provision of adequate public facilities.
(n) Support measures that would exempt 100% affordable housing projects
from complying with the California Environmental Quality Act while
continuing to mitigate residents’ potential exposure to health and safety
hazards.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 23 of 101
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(o) Oppose legislation that would expand the Coastal Commission’s authority
over state and local housing policy, which would result in administrative
inefficiencies and policy conflicts.
(p) Support legislation that modifies existing housing laws to remove
inconsistencies, clarify the decision-making authorities granted to various
state agencies (i.e., California Coastal Commission and California
Department of Housing and Community Development), and improve
clarity in application.
(q) Support housing legislation that would allow density increases to satisfy
the state’s “no net loss” requirements, when the increases occur
concurrent with or prior to a density reduction.
(r) Support legislation that more equitably applies rent control laws to
various types of rental housing, such as condominiums.
(s) Support legislation that prohibits property owners who are awarded tax
credit financed projects from charging Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
clients a higher rent than the rent charged to non-Section 8 Housing
Choice Voucher clients.
(t) Support legislation clarifying that replacement housing required of a
density bonus project that demolishes existing low or moderate units on
the parcel is in addition to the affordable units required under density
bonus law.
(u) Support legislation that ensures that affordable and market-rate
accessory dwelling units and units in projects receiving development
standard waivers, concessions or density bonus are not used for vacation
rentals.
(v) Support legislation clarifying a city’s ability to enforce a local inclusionary
ordinance on the total units, inclusive of units obtained through a density
bonus.
(w) Support legislation that maintains local decision-making regarding the
development of Accessory Dwelling Units.
(x) Support measures that allow cities to deny or condition housing
development to reconcile documented deficiencies in water, wastewater,
or transportation system service capacity.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 24 of 101
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(y) Support legislation that allows for local decision-making regarding
parking requirements.
(z) Support legislation that revises the methodology for measuring the
distance to a major transit stop, used to determine parking exemption
eligibility, to reflect the actual walkable distance between the transit stop
and the project entrance along established pedestrian routes.
Subdivision Map Act
(a) Support legislation that would automatically extend approved or
conditionally approved tentative, final and parcel maps under the
Subdivision Map Act during and for a limited time period after a
statewide financial or public health crisis, or other declared State of
Emergency.
Economic Development
(a) Support legislation that facilitates economic development efforts and
encourages local business investments, job creation and retention.
(b) Support legislation that would establish new tax increment financing
tools.
(c) Support legislation that helps businesses who have had business
interruption insurance claims denied, or otherwise incur unrecoverable
revenue losses resulting from a financial or public health crisis, or other
declared State of Emergency.
(d) Support legislation that protects small businesses from extraordinary
health insurance premium increases being applied during and for a
limited time period after a financial or public health crisis, or other
declared State of Emergency.
(e) Support legislation that would remove impediments to the automatic
extension of local permits during and for a limited time period after a
financial or public health crisis, or other declared State of Emergency.
(f) Support legislation that provides eviction protections and funding for
rental assistance programs for residential and commercial tenants and
property owners impacted by a financial or public health crisis, or
other declared State of Emergency.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 25 of 101
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6. Public Safety
Fire Services
(a) Oppose legislation that would restrict or reduce the ability of local
government to determine the extent or method of fire hazard mitigation
necessary in or around wildland areas.
(b) Oppose legislation that would diminish local control to set and assess fire
inspection fees.
(c) Oppose legislation that circumvents building or fire code requirements by
statute, including through the provision of a “deemed complete” or
“deemed approved" status when local agencies exceed maximum
application review timelines.
(d) Support legislation that would enhance statewide wildland fire safety
infrastructure.
(e) Support legislation and funding for firefighter wellness programs.
Emergency Services and Preparedness
(a) Support legislation granting immunity to or limiting liability of
governmental entities and their employees who provide emergency
medical instructions and/or treatment as a part of their public safety
dispatch system.
(b) Oppose legislation that would restrict a local government from revising
the delivery of emergency medical service to its citizens and support
measures that broaden these powers.
(c) Support legislation that would enhance cost recovery or provide funding
for emergency medical services and pre-hospital care.
(d) Support legislation that would strengthen awareness of and access to
resources concerning community and disaster preparedness, public
health, safety, and resiliency.
(e) Support legislation that provides state and federal emergency funding
and regulatory relief that allows cities to devote the necessary resources
and meet the operational challenges of protecting the public health,
safety and welfare in response to a declared State of Emergency.
(f) Support legislation that clarifies the requirements for operating city-
owned ocean rescue watercraft.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 26 of 101
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(g) Support legislation allowing public safety officials to drive off-highway
Utility-Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) on city streets.
Law Enforcement
(a) Support legislation that strengthens a diverse local law enforcement.
(b) Support measures that would provide a greater share of seized assets to
localities and increased discretion for local spending.
(c) Support legislation that would allow for the destruction, confiscation, or
extended safekeeping of firearms or other deadly weapons involved in
domestic violence incidents.
(d) Support legislation that strengthens penalties for violent offenders,
including sentencing enhancements for violently resisting or brandishing
a weapon during the commission of a property-related crime.
(e) Support legislation that strengthens penalties for violent crimes
committed by juveniles.
(f) Support legislation that would increase accountability and transparency
among law enforcement agencies and personnel.
(g) Support legislation that encourages or mandates police training to
include mental health awareness, implicit and explicit bias and de-
escalation techniques.
(h) Support legislation and funding to continue the state Citizens’ Option for
Public Safety (COPS) Program and federal Community Oriented Police
Services (COPS), and to provide funding for local agencies to recoup the
costs of crime and increase community safety.
(i) Support legislation that strengthens penalties for participating in any
coordinated effort to disrupt the use of public roads and publicly
accessible parking lots (e.g. as part of a street takeover, sideshow, or
racing exhibition).
(j) Support legislation and funding for police officer wellness programs.
(k) Support legislation that provides for the proper and timely intake,
without unnecessary delay, of arrestees.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 27 of 101
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Drugs and Alcohol
(a) Support measures which strengthen present state or federal laws to
increase penalties and give local governments the power to restrict or
regulate the sale, manufacture, or use of dangerous drugs.
(b) Support legislation that discourages, prevents, and penalizes driving
under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
(c) Support legislation that enhances local agencies’ ability to recover costs
from guilty parties for damage to public property and services in
accidents involving driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
(d) Support legislation that would provide funding for addiction
rehabilitation treatment.
(e) Support any measure that protects children and youth from exposure to
tobacco, secondhand smoke and tobacco- and nicotine-related products.
(f) Support legislation that preserves local control over medical and adult-
use cannabis businesses, and enhances and protects maximum local
regulatory, land use, and enforcement authority in relation to such
businesses.
(g) Support legislation that prevents or reduces the adverse effects of drug
addiction.
Homelessness
(a) Support funding and legislation that provides resources, including
enriched referral services, and outreach and case managers to help
ensure local governments have the capacity to address the needs of
persons experiencing homelessness in their communities, including
resources for regional collaborations.
(b) Support measures that provide resources to address the mental health
needs of persons experiencing homelessness.
(c) Preserve local control by increasing funding opportunities for housing
programs/projects that suggest, rather than require, compliance with the
Housing First model.
(d) Support measures that would revise the definition of “Housing First” to
allow mandated case management as a condition of occupancy in
publicly funded permanent supportive housing.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 28 of 101
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(e) Support measures that require occupants of permanent supportive
housing units funded by Behavioral Health Services Act or Mental Health
Services Act programs to agree to receive case management services.
(f) Support legislation that streamlines and clarifies the review process and
criteria for determining that a subregional placement priority for
placements into permanent supportive housing does not violate fair
housing laws.
(g) Support measures that allow H-2A Visa holders (seasonal workers) and
individuals experiencing homelessness to occupy congregate shelter beds
funded through the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program.
(h) Support legislation that creates streamlined protocols and metrics to be
used by homeless service providers and local agencies, providing more
accurate statistics of individuals experiencing homelessness, including in-
flow and out-flow information, cost-reporting of services rendered, and
individuals successfully housed.
(i) Support measures that facilitate regional and city-driven solutions to
address homelessness through crisis response, mental evaluation,
and homeless outreach teams.
(j) Support the expansion of conservatorship laws allowing for increased
guardianship control and health supervision of those suffering from
mental illness and recognizing mental illness and addiction as
contributors to chronic homelessness.
(k) Support continued funding for housing, outpatient beds and treatment to
further behavioral and mental health services programs, including
Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court.
Miscellaneous
(a) Support legislation that would assist local safety agencies in
regionalization of activities such as training, crime labs, specialty
responses such as hazardous materials and technical rescue, and other
appropriate functions.
(b) Support legislation that provides financial assistance to local agencies for
Homeland Security.
(c) Support the enactment of legislation to prevent gun violence.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 29 of 101
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(d) Support measures to expand and fund mental health and social-
emotional health services, including the provision of such services and
safety education in schools.
(e) Support measures to provide resources to develop school safety
guidelines, conduct comprehensive school safety audits and maintain
continued vigilance and monitoring of safety matters in schools.
(f) Support legislation to eliminate restrictions on the collection and
compiling of data related to violence perpetrated with firearms, including
research into the causes and consequences of gun violence.
(g) Support measures to provide funding to support 911 communication
centers.
(h) Support measures to provide funding to support the San Diego Law
Enforcement Coordination Center, a collaborative partnership among
federal, state and local law enforcement/public safety agencies focused
on enhancing coordination, information sharing, regional preparedness,
training and investigative support/analysis for first responders and other
public and private partners in the region.
(i) Support legislation that provides financial assistance to local law
enforcement agencies for staff assigned to a regional task force.
7. Revenue and Taxation
(a) Support legislation that assists cities to enforce and collect local taxes.
(b) Support measures that protect the fiscal independence of cities and
safeguard existing revenue sources from preemption by any other public
agency
(c) Oppose any change in revenue allocations which would negatively
(current or future) affect local government, including the redistribution of
sales tax, property tax, transient occupancy tax and other taxes and fees.
(d) Support legislation that makes funds to support public facilities (i.e.,
buildings, roads, utilities, open space) more available to local
municipalities.
(e) Oppose legislation that attempts to eliminate the “pay first and litigate
later” provisions of law and oppose any bill that proposes to reduce or
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 30 of 101
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eliminate the obligation of any online travel agency to pay transient
occupancy taxes under state or local law.
(f) Support measures which would strengthen cities' ability to reorganize
and consolidate water districts, sewer districts, school districts, and other
special districts that operate within or provide service to a city.
(g) Oppose federal measures which remove the deduction of all state and
local taxes for federal income tax purposes.
(h) Support measures that implement basic structural changes in state
government that result in state budget expenditures being brought into
balance with state revenues.
(i) Support measures which relieve taxpayers of the burden of paying for
services which could be charged directly to the service user, and which
simplify the process of establishing such fees.
(j) Support legislation that would provide greater accountability on the part
of counties for the distribution of funds back to municipalities, including,
but not limited to, fines and forfeitures.
(k) Support measures to reinstate flexibility in the administration of Article
XIII-B (The Gann Initiative), which establishes an annual appropriations
limit on the state and most local governments.
(l) Oppose any measure that restricts or limits a public entity’s ability to use
tax exempt debt for the purchase or construction of public purpose
improvements.
(m) Oppose legislation that shifts state and county criminal justice costs to
cities.
(n) Oppose the use of the federal gas tax for federal debt reduction.
(o) Support legislation that streamlines permitting processes without
undermining the ability of local government to apply and be
compensated for the enforcement of reasonable building, planning and
fire protection standards.
(p) Oppose measures that propose significant economic changes without the
completion of a balanced, comprehensive economic analysis.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 31 of 101
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(q) Support funding and legislation that provides direct financial support
to cities to offset cost increases and lost revenues resulting from a
financial or public health crisis, or other declared State of Emergency.
(r) Support legislation that promotes regional collaboration on response
efforts addressing the impacts of a financial or public health crisis, or
other declared State of Emergency, including funding to support local
businesses.
(s) Support legislation that provides flexibility concerning the disposition
of municipally owned real estate assets to promote economic
development and other public purposes.
State Mandates
(a) Support legislation that would eliminate unfunded state and federal
mandates or would require timely reimbursement to cities.
(b) Oppose measures that would impose mandates for which there is no
guarantee of local reimbursement or offsetting benefits, or would shift
the cost of government services to cities.
(c) Oppose legislation that creates surcharges for state oversight of state
mandated programs.
8. Transportation, Communication and Public Works
Transportation
(a) Support measures that would increase the ability of local agencies to
finance local and regional transportation facilities and improvements,
including alternative modes of transportation and transportation demand
management systems and transportation systems management
initiatives.
(b) Support legislation that provides for safe, effective and efficient
transportation alternatives for all travel modes.
(c) Support funding and legislation that provides direct support to cities to
advance roadway safety through education, engineering and
enforcement.
(d) Support legislation that establishes requirements for E-bike rider safety
training and licensing.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 32 of 101
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(e) Oppose transportation proposals that would adversely affect the quality
of life in North San Diego County by causing traffic congestion, air
pollution or other problems.
(f) Encourage and support double tracking of the rail corridor within the City
limits in a manner that:
1. Improves public safety access and response times.
2. Eliminates or reduces existing at-grade rail crossings within the rail
corridor.
3. Improves local, regional, and coastal access for all travel modes
(bicycle, pedestrian, vehicle, transit).
4. Minimizes impacts to neighborhoods.
5. Maximizes community and neighborhood connections.
6. Protects and/or improves the economic vibrancy of surrounding
neighborhoods and the city.
7. Protects and/or enhances environmental resources.
(g) Oppose legislation that diminishes local control over the regulation and
deployment of micro-mobility solutions.
(h) Oppose measures that would result in the consolidation of the North
County Transit District and Metropolitan Transit System.
(i) Support measures that protect residents, businesses and visitors from the
adverse impacts of aircraft operating at McClellan-Palomar Airport.
(j) Oppose changes in aviation policies that would allow McClellan-Palomar
Airport to expand without authorization from the city.
(k) Support legislative and regulatory initiatives to study and mitigate the
noise and air quality impacts associated with air traffic overflights.
(l) Support legislative and regulatory initiatives that promote market
penetration and infrastructure expansion to expedite the transition to
lead-free aviation fuels and eliminate the use of leaded aviation gasoline.
(m) Support measures that would increase local control over airports located
within municipal boundaries.
Public Works
(a) Oppose legislation that would erode or purport to erode a charter city’s
ability to design, implement, determine wage rates or fund any and all
public works projects within its jurisdiction.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 33 of 101
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(b) Support funding and legislation that supports utilities undergrounding.
Contracts
(a) Support legislation prohibiting firms from bidding on City projects if the
firm is currently involved in legal proceedings against the City arising
from prior projects.
(b) Oppose measures that would eliminate state licensing requirements for
professionals involved in designing public and private developments.
(c) Support measures that would clarify the roles and responsibilities of
public agency officers and employees as related to the prohibition on
entering into or participating in making contracts in which they have a
financial interest.
(d) Support legislation that clarifies when the award of a contract would
constitute a conflict of interest relative to Government Code Section
1090.
(e) Support measures that increase flexibility in delivering grant-funded
project completion due to conditions beyond the city’s control (i.e., for
partnering agency or market-driven delays).
Telecommunications
(a) Support legislation and regulations of telecommunications facilities and
services that:
1. Maintain local control over the public right-of-way.
2. Provide just compensation for the use of right-of-way and overseeing
public service standards.
3. Ensure public, education, and governmental access is available,
equitable and affordable.
4. Provide free access for public information services and
announcements.
5. Maintain local control, including but not limited to discretionary
permits over wireless communications facilities.
6. Reinstates competition in the telecommunications industry.
7. Enhance access for all community members to fast, reliable,
affordable and high-quality internet, which can spur innovation and
help close the digital divide in California.
8. Support net neutrality to prevent internet service providers from
blocking, throttling, degrading, or providing for paid prioritization of
lawful content, applications, or services.
9. Clarify cities’ ability to implement development standards for trench
coverage depth.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 34 of 101
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(b) Support legislation that requires cable television companies to assure
that audio and video portions of adult entertainment channels are
completely blocked 24 hours a day in the homes of non-subscribers.
(c) Oppose any measure or legislation that prevents local franchising of cable
television or video services, regardless of the technology used to deliver
the cable television or video services to the subscriber.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 35 of 101
Exhibit 2
CITY OF CARLSBAD
20254 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
The Legislative Platform provides a foundation for the City of Carlsbad’s
Intergovernmental Affairs Program and enables the city to efficiently and effectively
address intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city and its
communities. The purpose of this Legislative Platform is to clearly express the city's
position on, and provide a basis for prioritizing and acting upon, a broad range of
intergovernmental and legislative matters that may impact the city's ability to operate
effectively.
The City Council has identified the Guiding Principles, Legislative Priorities and Position
Statements comprising this Legislative Platform to guide the city’s advocacy efforts. The
city’s legislative positions are organized under a framework modeled after the League of
California Cities’ Summary of Existing Policy and Guiding Principles. The Legislative
Platform will be reviewed annually by the City Council Legislative Subcommittee and
amended as needed by the City Council.
Contents
• Guiding Principles
• 20254 Legislative Priorities
• 20254 Legislative Platform: Position Statements
1. Community Services
Arts, Cultural Resources, Historic Preservation
and Education
Child Care
Park Bond Funds
Public Parks/Recreational Facilities
Public Libraries
Seniors
Healthy Cities
2. Environmental Quality
Climate Change California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Hazardous Materials
Solid Waste, Recycling and Diversion Utilities
Coastal Issues
3. Water
General Principles Water Conservation Water Recycling
Water Quality Water Storage & Conveyance Systems New Technology Financial Considerations
4. Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations
Labor Relations
Workers’ Compensation
Governance and Ethics
Elected Officials
5. Housing, Community and Economic Development
Planning and Zoning
Housing
Subdivision Map Act
Economic Development
6. Public Safety
Fire Services
Emergency Services and Preparedness
Law Enforcement
Drugs and Alcohol
Homelessness
Miscellaneous
7. Revenue and Taxation
State Mandates
8. Transportation, Communication and Public Works
Transportation
Public Works
Contracts
Telecommunications
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 36 of 101
2
Guiding Principles
I. Preserve Local Control - The city supports the broadest authority for our citizens and
the City Council to make decisions and provide public services locally. As cities are
voluntarily created by the residents of a community to provide local self-government
and to make decisions at the local level to best meet the diverse needs of the
community, the city opposes preemption of local control.
II. Maintain Fiscal Responsibility — The city supports legislative and budget measures
that protect and enhance its existing funding sources, revenue base and control over
local government budgeting. The city opposes efforts to shift local funds to the county,
state or federal governments, diminish its revenue base or impose new mandates that
are unfunded or inadequately funded.
III. Protect Quality of Life — The city supports state legislation and funding that
preserve the safety, security, cultural resources and well-being of our residents,
workers, businesses and visitors. The city opposes efforts that would negatively impact
the infrastructure, public health and safety, community development, equitable
community services, cultural integrity and environmental programs and other city
efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Carlsbad.
20254 Legislative Priorities
The city’s advocacy efforts will focus primarily on advancing the strategic goals adopted
by the City Council, including:
1. Community Character
2. Quality of Life & Safety
3. Sustainability & the Natural Environment
4. Economic Vitality
5. Organizational Excellence & Fiscal Health
20254 Legislative Platform: Position Statements
1. Community Services
Arts, Cultural Resources, Historic Preservation and Education
(a) Support funding and legislation that support local arts and culture,
acknowledges the community’s history and current conditions and
recognizes the need for preservation and education.
Child Care
(a) Support measures that reduce regulatory complexities and the burden of
insurance costs for child care providers.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 37 of 101
3
(b) Support funding for the construction, renovation and maintenance of
child care facilities.
(c) Support the provision of reasonable tax incentives for employers who
offer child care services.
(d) Support legislation that restores local control over child care services in
areas such as licensure, staffing, education and training.
Park Bond Funds
(a) Support statewide park bond measures that include a component that
provides per capita grants to cities and counties.
(b) Oppose statewide park bond measures that tie local eligibility for grant
funds to non-park related issues, such as rent control or housing element
status.
Public Parks/Recreational Facilities
(a) Support increased and sustainable funding for community park facilities,
open space, and recreation programs.
(b) Support legislation that preserves the ability to implement integrated
pest management practices, a science-based, decision-making process
that combines biological, physical and chemical tools in a way that
achieves pest control objectives while minimizing economic, health, and
environmental risk.
(c) Support measures that clarify and streamline the process for obtaining a
long-term lease/operating agreement to allow a city to assume the cost
and responsibility for maintenance and operation of State Parks lands
within its jurisdiction.
Public Libraries
(a) Support increased and sustainable funding for local public libraries and
the State Library.
(b) Oppose Internet filtering laws that apply to publicly funded libraries.
(c) Support legislation that preserves library patron privacy.
(d) Support legislation that preserves net neutrality.
Seniors
(a) Support legislation that fosters independence of older Californians.
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(b) Support legislation that advances the objectives of the Age Friendly
Carlsbad Action Plan, including increased and sustainable funding for
senior transportation services, social and civic engagement programs and
senior housing.
(b)(c) Support legislation that empowers cities to protect access to essential
services (i.e., grocery, pharmacy, housing) for senior residents.
Healthy Cities
(a) Support legislation that recognizes and prevents adverse impacts
affecting public health and the welfare of all residents, visitors and
workers, and especially the young.
(b) Support initiatives that encourage cities to help parents make healthy
family choices; create healthy schools; provide access to healthy and
affordable foods; and adopt city design and planning principles that
promote physical activity.
(c) Support initiatives that encourage cities to involve youth, especially
middle and high school students, with city health-related programs,
including those promoting mental and psychological well-being.
(d) Support initiatives that encourage cities to address the needs of an aging
population through local and statewide planning, education and
programming.
(e) Support legislation that preserves the authority of local agencies to
establish their own rules and regulations pertaining to community
recreational activities.
(f) Support funding for local communities attempting to address the needs
of migrant workers.
2. Environmental Quality
(a) Support legislation that complements the city’s Environmental and
Sustainability Guiding Principles.
(b) Support funding and legislation to improve and protect recreational
water quality from contamination, support effective habitat management
practices, and create and maintain public open space.
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(c) Support funding and legislation that facilitates and protects local control
of habitat management planning, maintenance and administration.
(d) Support legislation that identifies the use of restrictive covenants as an
acceptable instrument for documenting open space dedications,
including for mitigation purposes.
(e) Support funding and legislation that supports climate change adaptation
and resilience efforts.
Climate Change
(a) (a) Support funding and legislation that promotes market penetration
and infrastructure expansion for zero emission electric and alternative
fuel vehicles and small off-road engines, such as those found in
landscaping equipment and generators.
(b) Support measures that promote clean fleet transitions while providing
flexible compliance timelines for vehicles and equipment based on
documented limitations in product availability, and cost-prohibitive
market conditions.
(c) Support measures that credit Metropolitan Planning Organizations for
emissions reductions associated with regional electric vehicle adoption.
(a)(d) Support funding and legislation that facilitates energy efficiency and
decarbonization practices and actions to mitigate the sources of
greenhouse gas emissions in buildings.
(b)(e) Support funding and legislation that promotes greenhouse gas emissions
reductions and/or the capture, removal, sequestration and secure
storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
(c)(f) Support legislation that reduces the amount of ozone depleting
compounds discharged into the atmosphere.
(d)(g) Support funding and legislation that promotes the use and purchase of
clean alternative energy through the development of renewable energy
resources and waste-to-energy technologies.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
(a) Support legislation that either requires citizen initiatives to comply with
CEQA before being placed on the ballot or exempting from this
requirement a City Council initiated ballot measure dealing with the same
subject matter on the same ballot.
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(b) Support legislation that streamlines federal and state environmental
review, eliminates procedural redundancies, and limits court reviews of
environmental documentation.
Hazardous Materials
(a) Support efforts for the proper and cost-effective disposal of solid,
hazardous and medical waste.
(b) Oppose legislation that makes local municipalities financially responsible
for the removal, abatement or mitigation of hazardous materials.
(c) Support funding and legislation that addresses concerns regarding the
safe handling and storage of nuclear waste generated at the
decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, particularly as it
relates to the vulnerability to damage from seismic activity, landslides,
tsunamis and sea level rise.
Solid Waste, Recycling and Diversion
(a) Support legislation that preserves the ability of local governments to
regulate solid waste and recyclable materials.
(b) Support measures that promote procurement and market development
of recyclable and recycled materials.
(c) Support legislation that promotes source reduction, sustainability and re-
use measures.
(d) Oppose legislation regulating "flow control" of solid waste materials.
(e) Support measures that promote the recycling and reclaiming of natural
resources, including water, timber, oil, gas minerals and earth metals.
(f) Support measures that would make low-interest loans and grants
available to local agencies for programs that encourage the recycling and
reclaiming of resources.
(g) Support measures that would reduce the use of single-use plastics and
Styrofoam packaging and prevent these materials from entering the
waste stream, including public education and community partnership
initiatives.
(h) Support legislation that facilitates development of local and regional
recycling and composting facilities.
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(e)(i) Support funding to help cities and small businesses comply with state-
mandated extended producer responsibility regulations that require
manufacturers of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware to
address the environmental impacts of plastic pollution.
Utilities
(a) Support legislation that establishes regulatory and market mechanisms to
maximize the state’s energy self-sufficiency and security.
(b) Support legislation that establishes regulatory and market mechanisms
that promote competition and reasonable, justifiable energy prices with
programs to support low-income groups.
(c) Support legislation that aggressively pursues refunds to consumers for
rates that have been determined to be unjust or unreasonable.
(d) Support legislation that expedites the development of needed
infrastructure (e.g., generation, transmission, and distribution) to create
robust and functional markets.
(e) Support legislation that increases the diversity of the state’s and region’s
energy resources, particularly increasing the use of higher-efficiency,
clean distributed generation (e.g., combined heat and power) and
renewable resources.
(f) Support legislation that encourages and incentivizes the adoption of new
and emerging technologies that provide real-time pricing to promote
better price response by consumers.
(g) Support legislation that promotes municipal renewable energy
development.
(h) Support legislation that preserves and protects net energy metering to
continue incentivizing investments in rooftop solar energy systems.
(i) Support legislation that provides funding to increase energy efficiency,
improve reliability and reduce peak demand, including for demand-side
management programs.
(j) Support legislation that provides funding for renewable energy
generation and energy storage projects.
(k) Support legislation that minimizes adverse environmental impacts of the
state’s and the region’s energy use.
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(l) Support funding and legislation that promotes the development of
alternative energy sources.
(m) Support legislation that prohibits the California Energy Commission from
issuing any license to operate a power plant unless and until it has
received the report required by the California Coastal Commission under
the Warren-Alquist Act.
(n) Support legislation that protects competitive neutrality, procurement
autonomy, ratepayer affordability, reliability, decarbonization and social
equity initiatives of community choice aggregation.
(o) Support legislation that establishes rules under which Public Safety
Power Shutoff events can be undertaken.
Coastal Issues
(a) Support measures that provide funding for urban waterfront restoration
and enhancement.
(b) Support legislation that would promote and provide funding for the
restoration, preservation and enhancement of beaches, beachfront
property and bluffs, including climate change adaptation efforts, local
and regional sand replenishment efforts, as well as coastal access, public
infrastructure and parking.
(b)(c) Support measures that allow Coastal Zone wetland mitigation to occur
outside of the impacted jurisdiction.
(cd) Support measures that would preserve and extend the authority of cities
over land use regulations concerning the placement of onshore facilities
which service offshore oil drilling.
(ed) Support legislation that requires the double hulling of oil tankers.
(fe) Support legislation that promotes aquatic research, education and
aquaculture.
(fg) Oppose any new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in
all State of California and U.S. waters in the Pacific Ocean.
(hg) Support decommissioning of existing offshore oil drilling and pipeline
infrastructure in all State of California and U.S. waters off the California
coast.
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(ih) Support legislation providing that if Coastal Commission staff has an
opportunity to participate in local and or regional habitat management
plans, there is a presumption of consistency with the Federal Coastal
Management Act.
(j) Support legislation to allow cities to issue all coastal development
permits within their jurisdiction consistent with a previously certified
coastal plan.
(k) Support legislation that allocates state and federal funds for the
construction of facilities to capture and treat the flow of raw sewage
entering San Diego from Tijuana.
(l) Support legislation that provides direction to the California Coastal
Commission through changes to the Coastal Act that would allow for
construction of seawalls or other shoreline protection devices for existing
structures, as defined by a local jurisdiction’s Local Coastal Program and
up to the date of adoption of amendments to the Local Coastal Program.
(m) Oppose legislation that would backdate the consideration date of existing
structures to only those that existed prior to establishment of the Coastal
Act (January 1, 1977).
3. Water
General Principles
(a) Support measures that provide for the equitable allotment and
distribution of preferential water rights.
(b) Support legislation that protects and improves the reliability,
affordability, self-sufficiency, quality and security of local and imported
water supplies.
(c) Support legislation that ensures the San Diego County Water Authority
and its member agencies receive the water supply benefits of their
investment in local water supply sources.
(d) Support legislation that provides for the development of a
comprehensive state water plan that balances California’ s water needs
and results in a reliable and affordable supply of high-quality water for
the San Diego Region.
(e) Support legislation that supports regional projects through Integrated
Regional Water Management Planning.
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(f) Support legislation that streamlines environmental review processes for
water and wastewater infrastructure projects and provides exemptions
for emergency activities when the continued delivery of safe and clean
water is threatened.
(g) Support legislation that establishes a more equitable voting structure at
the San Diego County Water Authority, such as by providing that Board
decisions be approved by both a tally vote majority and a weighted vote
majority of the member agencies.
Water Conservation
(a) Support measures that will encourage water conservation practices by all
water consumers.
(b) Support measures that ensure conservation credit for municipal
investments in water recycling systems and development of alternative
sources.
(c) Support legislation that promotes water conservation and water use
efficiency while preserving district and public water rights and the
authority of local agencies.
(d) Support legislation that provides incentives, funding and other assistance
to water agencies so that they can meet state water demand
requirements.
(e) Oppose legislation that imposes water use efficiency criteria for
conservation-based water rates, standards, budget allocations, and
programs that do not recognize local differences, quality impacts, and
existing programs, or that override the authority of local agencies to
adopt management practices that are appropriate for the needs of their
agency.
(f) Support legislation that provides flexibility in complying with drought
regulations and recognizes variations among communities with respect to
their ability to withstand the impacts of drought.
Water Recycling
(a) Support measures that promote the production and distribution of
reclaimed water.
Water Quality
(a) Support legislation that protects the quality of drinking water and
supports local agency efforts to meet state and federal water quality
standards based upon sound scientific principles.
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(b) Support legislation that incorporates sound scientific based water quality
requirements for wastewater discharge into surface water and
groundwaterall discharges to surface water or that could percolate to
groundwater to safeguard public health and protect beneficial uses.
(c) Support legislation that implements source control and protects
reservoirs, lakes, and coastal waters.
(d) Support legislation that enables local agencies to regulate the discharge
of contaminants into the sewer collection system based on discharge
permit requirements, detrimental effects on infrastructure, and adverse
effects on recycling and reuse.
(e) Support legislation that provides state and federal funds for monitoring,
research, treatment, and infrastructure investments needed to address
new and emerging and other regulated contaminants.
Water Storage and Conveyance Systems
(a) Support a balanced water transportation and regional storage system
that provides for the needs of San Diego County, while protecting the
Delta and Central Valley regions with minimal impact on agriculture and
the environment.
(b) Support measures that increase water supply and storage facilities within
the region and allow for economically feasible water transfers within the
system.
New Technology
(a) Support legislation and regulations that encourage the use and
development of alternative water sources.
(b) Support funding and legislation that promotes the development of
engineering solutions and alternative uses to eliminate wastewater
treatment ocean discharges.
(c) Support legislation that encourages and provides state and federal
funding for the development of new technology in water use, reuse,
quality monitoring, and treatment.
Financial Considerations
(a) Support legislation to develop an ongoing funding source to implement
the federally mandated Clean Water Act of 1987 and to ensure
protection of local resources.
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(b) Support legislation that would exempt stormwater and urban runoff
management programs from Proposition 218 requirements.
(c) Support legislation that allows Water Districts to award contracts in
conformity with the provisions of the local City Charter.
(d) Support legislation that provides state and federal funds to local agencies
for programs and projects that provide for the supply, storage, recycling,
reclaiming, reuse and quality improvement of water resources.
(e) Oppose any new tax or fee on water that does not benefit ratepayers.
4. Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations
Labor Relations
(a) Support legislation that allows cities with civil service/personnel systems
to contract out services to the private sector to save taxpayer dollars.
(b) Support legislation that limits the ability of employees to receive workers'
compensation benefits for occupational injuries/illnesses that result from
stress, disciplinary action, or performance evaluations or consultations.
(c) Support any measure that would reverse the imposition of compulsory
and binding arbitration with respect to public employees.
(d) Oppose any measure that would grant employee benefits that should be
decided at the local bargaining table.
(e) Oppose any legislation that would reduce local authority to resolve public
employee disputes, and support legislation that would preserve court
jurisdiction, and/or impose regulations of an outside agency (such as
PERB).
(f) Support measures that increase local authority to take adverse
employment actions while an active complaint or grievance is being
investigated.
(e)(g) Oppose measures that propose a standard higher than the normal civil
standards in disciplinary proceedings for peace officers.
(f)(h) Support legislation that clarifies existing labor laws concerning whether
an individual is considered an employee rather than an independent
contractor.
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(g)(i) Support measures that promote recruitment efforts and educational
practices to advance and retain workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.
(h)(j) Oppose measures that would expand release time for union business.
(i)(k) Oppose measures that would establish confidentiality privileges for union
representatives.
(j)(l) Oppose measures that would require municipalities to pay erroneous
retirement benefits.
(m) Support funding and legislation that helps cities provide employee
support programs, increased personal protective equipment (PPE) and
other programs that promote employee overall wellness—particularly
for underrepresented and frontline essential workers.
(k)(n) Support measures that protect employee choice in obtaining state-
mandated insurance policies either through employer- or state-
sponsored programs and insurance products (such as for long-term
care insurance).
(o) Support funding and legislation that would enhance efforts to prevent
third-party harassment and workplace violence.
(p) Support legislation authorizing electronic filings and virtual
appearances for workplace violence restraining orders and workplace
harassment restraining orders.
(q) Support measures that clarify public meeting requirements related to
employee recruiting and retention efforts.
Workers’ Compensation
(a) Oppose legislation that expands or extends any presumptions of
occupational injury or illness and support legislation that repeals the
presumption that the findings of a treating physician are correct.
(b) Oppose legislation that increases workers' compensation benefits
without providing for concurrent cost controls.
Governance and Ethics
(a) Oppose legislation or constitutional amendments that weaken or
interfere with the powers of charter cities and diminish local autonomy
or home rule authority.
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(b) Support legislation that reduces and provides for recovery of costs,
maintains privacy and eliminates attorney's fees for administering public
records laws.
(c) Oppose legislation that broadens the scope of the Public Records Act
without providing adequate funding for compliance.
(d) Support measures that clarify standards to allow records management
systems to qualify as a “trusted system.”
(e) Support measures that clarify that the records and identities of juvenile
crime victims are not subject to release once those individuals reach
adulthood, pursuant to the Public Records Act.
(f) Support measures that prohibit abuse of the Public Records Act as a
means to obtain periodic market data.
(c)(g) Support measures that prohibit abuse of the Public Records Act as a
means to advance serial lawsuits.
(d)(h) Support legislation that improves access to, and reduces the cost of,
healthcare for public employees, including part-time and seasonal
workers.
(e)(i) Support measures that reform California's tort system to reduce and limit
liability exposure for public agencies and restore the ability of public
agencies to obtain affordable insurance.
(f)(j) Support legislation that recognizes or broadens immunities for public
agencies and oppose legislation that attempts to limit or restrict existing
immunities.
(g)(k) Support legislation that requires plaintiffs to make a good faith showing
of liability prior to filing a lawsuit against a public entity.
(h)(l) Support legislation that would increase civic participation and
engagement, including the continued allowance of subcommittees,
advisory committees, and boards and commissions, local and regional, to
participate virtually without physical location posting requirements
under the Ralph M. Brown Act.
(i)(m) Support amendments to the Ralph M. Brown Act that allow for the use of
alternative and cost-effective methods of meeting posting public noticing
requirements, including the use of electronic and digital media.
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(j)(n) Support legislation to limit advertising costs charged for public noticing.
(k)(o) Support legislation that would permit a minority number of council
members to virtually participate in meetings without having physical
location posting requirements, so long as a physical in-person meeting
quorum is present.
(l)(p) Support state funding efforts to assist with enhanced public access for
members of the community.
(m)(q) Oppose legislation that increases the cost of municipal meetings and
hearings through unnecessary new requirements.
(n)(r) Support legislation that would allow cities to conduct closed sessions on
matters posing a threat to cybersecurity.
(o)(s) Support funding and legislation to assist local agency cybersecurity
enhancement efforts.
(p)(t) Support legislation that strengthens cities’ ability to foster civil and
respectful participation in public meetings and provides tools to help
legislative bodies address disruptive behavior, including hate speech,
while ensuring the public’s First Amendment rights are protected.
Elected Officials
(a) Support legislation that prevents threats to the security of public officials
in their homes by extending or providing protection to elected and
appointed officials from the unauthorized publication of their home
addresses or telephone numbers in newspapers or similar periodicals.
(b) Support legislation requiring both elected local and state officials to
maintain their place of residence in the jurisdiction they were elected to
represent.
5. Housing, Community and Economic Development
Planning and Zoning
(a) Support legislation to strengthen the legal and fiscal capability of local
agencies to prepare, adopt and implement fiscal plans for orderly growth,
development, beautification and conservation of local planning areas,
including, but not limited to, regulatory authority over zoning,
subdivisions, annexations, and tax increment financing areas.
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(b) Support measures in local land use that are consistent with the doctrine
of "home rule" and the local exercise of police powers in planning and
zoning processes.
(c) Support measures that authorize local land use planning and zoning law
to override conflicting state law.
(d) Support measures that ensure local land use planning or zoning initiatives
approved by voters shall not be nullified or superseded by the actions of
any local or state legislative body.
(e) Support legislation requiring environmental review of initiatives to
amend a general plan or zoning ordinance before the initiative is placed
on the ballot or enacted.
(f) Oppose legislation or constitutional amendments that would restrict the
power of California cities to use eminent domain for public purpose
projects.
(g) Support measures that allow local agencies to condition mobile home
park conversions from rental to resident ownership pursuant to local land
use regulations including a requirement to provide public improvements
and infrastructure where necessary to promote the health, safety, and
welfare of park residents.
(h) Support legislation that preserves the authority of local agencies to
regulate short-term vacation rentals.
(i) Support legislation that enables local agencies to effectively address
issues concerning public safety and proper management of group homes,
including proposals to require the presence of on-site managers and/or
security personnel at all times, while being mindful of group home
residents’ potential vulnerabilities.
(j) Oppose legislation that would diminish local control to set and assess
development review and building inspection fees.
Housing
(a) Support efforts to develop federal and state participation, financial
support and incentives (tax benefits, grants, loans) for programs which
provide adequate, affordable housing (home ownership and/or rental
opportunities) for all economic segments of the community including the
elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income persons.
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(b) Support expansion of tax credit and bond opportunities for affordable
housing.
(c) Support legislation that provides incentives (tax benefits, grants, loans,
credits for affordable units) to local agencies, private developers and
non-profit groups in order to rehabilitate residential units and
commercial properties.
(d) Support legislation that would provide additional funding for rental
subsidy assistance programs (such as the Housing Choice Voucher
Program, the federally funded rental subsidy program for low-income
households) via more sustainable vouchers or certificates.
(e) Support repeal of Article 34 (Public Housing Project Law) of the California
Constitution, which requires local voter approval of housing projects that
are intended for low-income people and that receive funding or
assistance from the federal and/or state government.
(f) Support legislation that allows entitlement cities to use Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for new construction of housing
units.
(g) Support state legislation that strengthens local inclusionary housing
programs for lower-income residents.
(h) Support the repeal or modification of the Davis-Bacon Wage Act, as it
relates to charter cities, that set a prevailing wage scale for public
projects, substantially increasing the cost of publicly assisted housing
developments.
(i) Support legislation that will consolidate and streamline the
administration and reporting requirements for the CDBG program.
(j) Oppose legislation that would give the State financial administrative
responsibilities for the CDBG program.
(k) Support legislation that recognizes the impediments to infill housing
development due to inadequate and/or deteriorated infrastructure, and
provides funding and/or cost recovery mechanisms for local agencies to
complete the necessary upgrades.
(l) Support measures that would establish a formula-based Regional Housing
Needs Assessment allocation methodology that reflects the unique needs
and practical capacity of local communities.
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(m) Oppose measures that diminish local authority to implement growth
management initiatives that ensure communities do not exceed carrying
capacities and the provision of adequate public facilities.
(n) Support measures that would exempt 100% affordable housing projects
from complying with the California Environmental Quality Act while
continuing to mitigate residents’ potential exposure to health and safety
hazards.
(o) Oppose legislation that would expand the Coastal Commission’s authority
over state and local housing policy, which would result in administrative
inefficiencies and policy conflicts.
(p) Support legislation that modifies existing housing laws to remove
inconsistencies, clarify the decision-making authorities granted to various
state agencies (i.e., California Coastal Commission and California
Department of Housing and Community Development), and improve
clarity in application.
(q) Support housing legislation that would allow density increases to satisfy
the state’s “no net loss” requirements, when the increases occur
concurrent with or prior to a density reduction.
(r) Support legislation that more equitably applies rent control laws to
various types of rental housing, such as condominiums.
(s) Support legislation that prohibits property owners who are awarded tax
credit financed projects from charging Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
clients a higher rent than the rent charged to non-Section 8 Housing
Choice Voucher clients.
(t) Support legislation clarifying that replacement housing required of a
density bonus project that demolishes existing low or moderate units on
the parcel is in addition to the affordable units required under density
bonus law.
(u) Support legislation that ensures that affordable and market-rate
accessory dwelling units and units in projects receiving development
standard waivers, concessions created underor density bonus law are not
used for vacation rentals.
(v) Support legislation clarifying a city’s ability to enforce a local inclusionary
ordinance on the total units, inclusive of units obtained through a density
bonus.
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(w) Support legislation that maintains local decision-making regarding the
development of Accessory Dwelling Units.
(w)(x) Support measures that allow cities to deny or condition housing
development to reconcile documented deficiencies in water, wastewater,
or transportation system service capacity.
(y) Support legislation that allows for local decision-making regarding
parking requirements.
(x) Support legislation that revises the methodology for measuring the
distance to a major transit stop, used to determine parking exemption
eligibility, to reflect the actual walkable distance between the transit stop
and the project entrance along established pedestrian routes.
Subdivision Map Act
(a) Support legislation that would automatically extend approved or
conditionally approved tentative, final and parcel maps under the
Subdivision Map Act during and for a limited time period after a
statewide financial or public health crisis, or other declared State of
Emergency.
Economic Development
(a) Support legislation that facilitates economic development efforts and
encourages local business investments, job creation and retention.
(b) Support legislation that would establish new tax increment financing
tools.
(c) Support legislation that helps businesses who have had business
interruption insurance claims denied, or otherwise incur unrecoverable
revenue losses resulting from a financial or public health crisis, or other
declared State of Emergency.
(d) Support legislation that protects small businesses from extraordinary
health insurance premium increases being applied during and for a
limited time period after a financial or public health crisis, or other
declared State of Emergency.
(e) Support legislation that would remove impediments to the automatic
extension of local permits during and for a limited time period after a
financial or public health crisis, or other declared State of Emergency.
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(f) Support legislation that provides eviction protections and funding for
rental assistance programs for residential and commercial tenants and
property owners impacted by a financial or public health crisis, or
other declared State of Emergency.
6. Public Safety
Fire Services
(a) Oppose legislation that would restrict or reduce the ability of local
government to determine the extent or method of fire hazard mitigation
necessary in or around wildland areas.
(b) Oppose legislation that would diminish local control to set and assess fire
inspection fees.
(c) Oppose legislation that circumvents building or fire code requirements by
statute, including through the provision of a “deemed complete” or
“deemed approved" status when local agencies exceed maximum
application review timelines.
(d) Support legislation that would enhance statewide wildland fire safety
infrastructure.
(e) Support legislation and funding for firefighter wellness programs.
Emergency Services and Preparedness
(a) Support legislation granting immunity to or limiting liability of
governmental entities and their employees who provide emergency
medical instructions and/or treatment as a part of their public safety
dispatch system.
(b) Oppose legislation that would restrict a local government from revising
the delivery of emergency medical service to its citizens and support
measures that broaden these powers.
(c) Support legislation that would enhance cost recovery or provide funding
for emergency medical services and pre-hospital care.
(d) Support legislation that would strengthen awareness of and access to
resources concerning community and disaster preparedness, public
health, safety, and resiliency.
(e) Support legislation that provides state and federal emergency funding
and regulatory relief that allows cities to devote the necessary resources
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and meet the operational challenges of protecting the public health,
safety and welfare in response to a declared State of Emergency.
(f) Support legislation that clarifies the requirements for operating city-
owned ocean rescue watercraft.
(f)(g) Support legislation allowing public safety officials to drive off-highway
Utility-Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) on city streets.
Law Enforcement
(a) Support legislation that strengthens a diverse local law enforcement.
(b) Support measures that would provide a greater share of seized assets to
localities and increased discretion for local spending.
(c) Support legislation that would allow for the destruction, confiscation, or
extended safekeeping of firearms or other deadly weapons involved in
domestic violence incidents.
(d) Support legislation that strengthens penalties for violent offenders,
including sentencing enhancements for violently resisting or brandishing
a weapon during the commission of a property-related crime.
(e) Support legislation that strengthens penalties for violent crimes
committed by juveniles.
(f) Support legislation that would increase accountability and transparency
among law enforcement agencies and personnel.
(g) Support legislation that encourages or mandates police training to
include mental health awareness, implicit and explicit bias and de-
escalation techniques.
(h) Support legislation and funding to continue the state Citizens’ Option for
Public Safety (COPS) Program and federal Community Oriented Police
Services (COPS), and to provide funding for local agencies to recoup the
costs of crime and increase community safety.
(i) Support legislation that strengthens penalties for participating in any
coordinated effort to disrupt the use of public roads and publicly
accessible parking lots (e.g. as part of a street takeover, sideshow, or
racing exhibition).
(j) Support legislation and funding for police officer wellness programs.
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(k) Support legislation that provides for the proper and timely intake,
without unnecessary delay, of arrestees.
Drugs and Alcohol
(a) Support measures which strengthen present state or federal laws to
increase penalties and give local governments the power to restrict or
regulate the sale, manufacture, or use of dangerous drugs.
(b) Support legislation that discourages, prevents, and penalizes driving
under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
(c) Support legislation that enhancesd local agencies’ ability to recover costs
from guilty parties for damage to public property and services in
accidents involving driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
(d) Support legislation that would provide funding for addiction
rehabilitation treatment.
(e) Support any measure that protects children and youth from exposure to
tobacco, secondhand smoke and tobacco- and nicotine-related products.
(f) Support legislation that preserves local control over medical and adult-
use cannabis businesses, and enhances and protects maximum local
regulatory, land use, and enforcement authority in relation to such
businesses.
(g) Support legislation that prevents or reduces the adverse effects of drug
addiction.
Homelessness
(a) Support funding and legislation that provides resources, including
enriched referral services, and outreach and case managers to help
ensure local governments have the capacity to address the needs of
persons experiencing homelessness in their communities, including
resources for regional collaborations.
(b) Support measures that provide resources to address the mental health
needs of persons experiencing homelessness.
(c) Preserve local control by increasing funding opportunities for housing
programs/projects that suggest, rather than require, compliance with the
Housing First model.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 57 of 101
23
(d) Support measures that would revise the definition of “Housing First” to
allow mandated case management as a condition of occupancy in
publicly funded permanent supportive housing.
(e) Support measures that require occupants of permanent supportive
housing units funded by Behavioral Health Services Act or Mental Health
Services Act programs to agree to receive case management services.
(f) Support legislation that streamlines and clarifies the review process and
criteria for determining that a subregional placement priority for
placements into permanent supportive housing does not violate fair
housing laws.
(g) Support measures that allow H-2A Visa holders (seasonal workers) and
individuals experiencing homelessness to occupy congregate shelter beds
funded through the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program.
(c)
(d)(h) Support legislation that creates streamlined protocols and metrics to be
used by homeless service providers and local agencies, providing more
accurate statistics of individuals experiencing homelessness, including in-
flow and out-flow information, cost-reporting of services rendered, and
individuals successfully housed.
(e)(i) Support measures that facilitate regional and city-driven solutions to
address homelessness through crisis response, mental evaluation,
and homeless outreach teams.
(f)(j) Support the expansion of conservatorship laws allowing for increased
guardianship control and health supervision of those suffering from
mental illness and recognizing mental illness and addiction as
contributors to chronic homelessness.
(g)(k) Support continued funding for housing, outpatient beds and treatment to
further behavioral and mental health services programs, including
Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court.
Miscellaneous
(a) Support legislation that would assist local safety agencies in
regionalization of activities such as training, crime labs, specialty
responses such as hazardous materials and technical rescue, and other
appropriate functions.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 58 of 101
24
(b) Support legislation that provides financial assistance to local agencies for
Homeland Security.
(c) Support the enactment of legislation to prevent gun violence.
(d) Support measures to expand and fund mental health and social-
emotional health services, including the provision of such services and
safety education in schools.
(e) Support measures to provide resources to develop school safety
guidelines, conduct comprehensive school safety audits and maintain
continued vigilance and monitoring of safety matters in schools.
(f) Support legislation to eliminate restrictions on the collection and
compiling of data related to violence perpetrated with firearms, including
research into the causes and consequences of gun violence.
(g) Support measures to provide funding to support 911 communication
centers.
(h) Support measures to provide funding to support the San Diego Law
Enforcement Coordination Center, a collaborative partnership among
federal, state and local law enforcement/public safety agencies focused
on enhancing coordination, information sharing, regional preparedness,
training and investigative support/analysis for first responders and other
public and private partners in the region.
(i) Support legislation that provides financial assistance to local law
enforcement agencies for staff assigned to a regional task force.
7. Revenue and Taxation
(a) Support legislation that assists cities to enforce and collect local taxes.
(b) Support measures that protect the fiscal independence of cities and
safeguard existing revenue sources from preemption by any other public
agency
(c) Oppose any change in revenue allocations which would negatively
(current or future) affect local government, including the redistribution of
sales tax, property tax, transient occupancy tax and other taxes and fees.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 59 of 101
25
(d) Support legislation that makes funds to support public facilities (i.e.,
buildings, roads, utilities, open space) more available to local
municipalities.
(e) Oppose legislation that attempts to eliminate the “pay first and litigate
later” provisions of law and oppose any bill that proposes to reduce or
eliminate the obligation of any online travel agency to pay transient
occupancy taxes under state or local law.
(f) Support measures which would strengthen cities' ability to reorganize
and consolidate water districts, sewer districts, school districts, and other
special districts that operate within or provide service to a city.
(g) Oppose federal measures which remove the deduction of all state and
local taxes for federal income tax purposes.
(h) Support measures that implement basic structural changes in state
government that result in state budget expenditures being brought into
balance with state revenues.
(i) Support measures which relieve taxpayers of the burden of paying for
services which could be charged directly to the service user, and which
simplify the process of establishing such fees.
(j) Support legislation that would provide greater accountability on the part
of counties for the distribution of funds back to municipalities, including,
but not limited to, fines and forfeitures.
(k) Support measures to reinstate flexibility in the administration of Article
XIII-B (The Gann Initiative), which establishes an annual appropriations
limit on the state and most local governments.
(l) Oppose any measure that restricts or limits a public entity’s ability to use
tax exempt debt for the purchase or construction of public purpose
improvements.
(m) Oppose legislation that shifts state and county criminal justice costs to
cities.
(n) Oppose the use of the federal gas tax for federal debt reduction.
(o) Support legislation that streamlines permitting processes without
undermining the ability of local government to apply and be
compensated for the enforcement of reasonable building, planning and
fire protection standards.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 60 of 101
26
(p) Oppose measures that propose significant economic changes without the
completion of a balanced, comprehensive economic analysis.
(q) Support funding and legislation that provides direct financial support
to cities to offset cost increases and lost revenues resulting from a
financial or public health crisis, or other declared State of Emergency.
(r) Support legislation that promotes regional collaboration on response
efforts addressing the impacts of a financial or public health crisis, or
other declared State of Emergency, including funding to support local
businesses.
(s) Support legislation that provides flexibility concerning the disposition
of municipally owned real estate assets to promote economic
development and other public purposes.
State Mandates
(a) Support legislation that would eliminate unfunded state and federal
mandates or would require timely reimbursement to cities.
(b) Oppose measures that would impose mandates for which there is no
guarantee of local reimbursement or offsetting benefits, or would shift
the cost of government services to cities.
(c) Oppose legislation that creates surcharges for state oversight of state
mandated programs.
8. Transportation, Communication and Public Works
Transportation
(a) Support measures that would increase the ability of local agencies to
finance local and regional transportation facilities and improvements,
including alternative modes of transportation and transportation demand
management systems and transportation systems management
initiatives.
(b) Support legislation that provides for safe, effective and efficient
transportation alternatives for all travel modes.
(c) Support funding and legislation that provides direct support to cities to
advance roadway safety through education, engineering and
enforcement.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 61 of 101
27
(d) Support legislation that establishes requirements for E-bike rider safety
training and licensing.
(e) Oppose transportation proposals that would adversely affect the quality
of life in North San Diego County by causing traffic congestion, air
pollution or other problems.
(f) Encourage and support double tracking of the rail corridor within the City
limits in a manner that:
1. Improves public safety access and response times.
2. Eliminates or reduces existing at-grade rail crossings within the rail
corridor.
3. Improves local, regional, and coastal access for all travel modes
(bicycle, pedestrian, vehicle, transit).
4. Minimizes impacts to neighborhoods.
5. Maximizes community and neighborhood connections.
6. Protects and/or improves the economic vibrancy of surrounding
neighborhoods and the city.
7. Protects and/or enhances environmental resources.
(f) Oppose legislation that diminishes local control over the regulation and
deployment of micro-mobility solutions.
(g) Oppose measures that would result in the consolidation of the North
County Transit District and Metropolitan Transit System.
(h) Support measures that protect residents, businesses and visitors from the
adverse impacts of aircraft operating at McClellan-Palomar Airport.
(i) Oppose changes in aviation policies that would allow McClellan-Palomar
Airport to expand without authorization from the city.
(j) Support legislative and regulatory initiatives to study and mitigate the
noise and air quality impacts associated with air traffic overflights.
(k) Support legislative and regulatory initiatives that promote market
penetration and infrastructure expansion to expedite the transition to
lead-free aviation fuels and eliminate the use of leaded aviation gasoline.
(l) Support measures that would increase local control over airports located
within municipal boundaries.
Public Works
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 62 of 101
28
(a) Oppose legislation that would erode or purport to erode a charter city’s
ability to design, implement, determine wage rates or fund any and all
public works projects within its jurisdiction.
(b) Support funding and legislation that supports utilities undergrounding.
Contracts
(a) Support legislation prohibiting firms from bidding on City projects if the
firm is currently involved in legal proceedings against the City arising
from prior projects.
(b) Oppose measures that would eliminate state licensing requirements for
professionals involved in designing public and private developments.
(c) Support measures that would clarify the roles and responsibilities of
public agency officers and employees as related to the prohibition on
entering into or participating in making contracts in which they have a
financial interest.
(d) Support legislation that clarifies when the award of a contract would
constitute a conflict of interest relative to Government Code Section
1090.
(d)(e) Support measures that increase flexibility in delivering grant-funded
project completion due to conditions beyond the city’s control (i.e., for
partnering agency or market-driven delays).
Telecommunications
(a) Support legislation and regulations of telecommunications facilities and
services that:
1. Maintain local control over the public right-of-way.
2. Provide just compensation for the use of right-of-way and overseeing
public service standards.
3. Ensure public, education, and governmental access is available,
equitable and affordable.
4. Provide free access for public information services and
announcements.
5. Maintain local control, including but not limited to discretionary
permits over wireless communications facilities.
6. Reinstates competition in the telecommunications industry.
7. Enhance access for all community members to fast, reliable,
affordable and high-quality internet, which can spur innovation and
help close the digital divide in California.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 63 of 101
29
8. Support net neutrality to prevent internet service providers from
blocking, throttling, degrading, or providing for paid prioritization of
lawful content, applications, or services.
9. Clarify cities’ ability to implement development standards for trench
coverage depth.
(b) Support legislation that requires cable television companies to assure
that audio and video portions of adult entertainment channels are
completely blocked 24 hours a day in the homes of non-subscribers.
(c) Oppose any measure or legislation that prevents local franchising of cable
television or video services, regardless of the technology used to deliver
the cable television or video services to the subscriber.
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 64 of 101
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0
0
,
0
0
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Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 66 of 101
2024 END OF YEAR REPORT
CITY OF CARLSBAD
Prepared by:
Dane Hutchings, Founder + CEO
(916) 974-9270
dhutchings@publicpolicygroup.com
Exhibit 4
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TRANSMITTAL LETTER .............................................................................................. 3
CPPG/CITY OF CARLSBAD 2024 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS ........................................ 5
YEAR IN REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 6
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ............................................................................ 8
HIGHLIGHTS: LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SUCCESS .......................................... 8
SUMMARY OF ADVOCACY DELIVERABLES .................................................... 14
LOOKING AHEAD ................................................................................................... 16
LEGISLATURE COMPOSITION ...................................................................... 16
CONTINUED BUDGET DEFICIT ..................................................................... 17
SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE “TRUMP RESISTANCE” .................. 17
ANTICIPATED POLICY TRENDS—REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION ................. 18
GRANT FUNDING ........................................................................................ 20
LOCAL AGENCY GRANT SEEKING IN THE SECOND TRUMP
PRESIDENCY—WHAT TO EXPECT................................................................. 21
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TRANSMITTAL LETTER
November 26, 2024
To: Scott Chadwick
City Manager
City of Carlsbad
From: Dane Hutchings
Founder + CEO
California Public Policy Group
Dear Mr. Chadwick:
On behalf of California Public Policy Group, I want to thank you, your team, and the City of Carlsbad
City Council for engaging our firm for state legislative advocacy services. This End of Year Report
provides an overview of the services our firm delivered to the City of Carlsbad during the 2024
legislative year, along with insights and potential next steps in preparation for the 2025 legislative
and grant funding year.
2024 also marked an exciting metamorphosis for our firm. After five years as a thriving division of
Renne Public Law Group, we mutually agreed to separate. Renne Public Policy Group is now
California Public Policy Group, Inc. (CPPG), an independent corporation with a new tax ID number.
The transition is complete, and we are pleased to serve you in our new capacity, which offers you
some distinct advantages. Our operations are now streamlined, enhancing our efficiency and
effectiveness. This boosts our ability to pivot faster and stay nimble. We are better positioned to
proactively implement programs and operations that support your needs and to anticipate future
scenarios. Our independent status allows us to maintain our strategic partnership and to remain
closely aligned with Renne Public Law Group, which provides a continued benefit to you.
While this represents a big change for our firm, the most important things haven’t changed. We have
the same team, professional approach, and philosophy. Our key lobbyists—Founder and CEO Dane
Hutchings and Managing Director Sharon Gonsalves—continue to lead our advocacy efforts on your
behalf. Director of Grant Services Jake Whitaker is still at the helm of our grant writing and funding
research work and staffing. Our strategic consultants—Dan Carrigg, Bruce Rudd, and Jude
Lemons—remain on board to provide their unique expertise, supporting our work as we promote
your interests and advance your agenda. Our team’s passion for local government and our
commitment to excellence and transparency are unchanged.
Over the past year, CPPG has worked with your staff in taking an aggressive approach to raise your
City’s profile and to build its relationships with the Administration, state agencies, and members of
the Legislature. 2024 was a productive year, and we made significant progress in continuing to build
your City’s presence in the policy arena and in educating decision makers about your City’s top
priorities.
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Throughout 2024, CPPG’s ongoing collaborative work with your staff provided clarity on important
issues. We supported your strategic goals by delivering vital information on Administration actions,
supplying detailed policy and political analyses on dozens of items of interest to your City, generating
memos, and more.
CPPG also engaged on state legislative measures in the areas of housing, land use, public safety,
climate, homelessness, and governmental operations and employment issues with specific
applicability to your City. This resulted in over 510 individual “touchpoints,” either with the City or on
its behalf. In addition to supporting these efforts, our deliverables included drafting memos,
providing legislative analysis, advising City staff, responding to inquiries in a timely manner, meeting
with state lawmakers and/or their staff, drafting state and federal position letters, following up with
stakeholders, and building alliances and coalitions.
In 2024, CPPG monitored and/or engaged on over 1,850 pieces of state legislation. In total, the City
of Carlsbad took official positions on 37 pieces of state legislation in 2024. We are proud that our
team was able to deliver favorable outcomes, most notably the City’s sponsored bills, AB 2715 and
AB 2234 both authored by Assemblymember Boerner. AB 2715 allows for matters pertaining to
cybersecurity to be permitted to be discussed in closed session. AB 2234 continues the City’s efforts
to raise awareness and safety measures for the use of E-bikes. The City has now sponsored five bills
in the past three years and seen them signed into law.
We very much appreciate the opportunity to represent your City, and we are grateful that the City
values our work and will continue its relationship with CPPG in 2025. While our team has achieved
victories and significant progress on behalf of your City in 2024, more work remains to be done in
support of your City’s interests, and we take this responsibility to heart. Thank you once again for the
opportunity to serve the City of Carlsbad and for your support. We look forward to continuing our
partnership and building on the success we have achieved.
Sincerely,
Dane Hutchings Sharon Gonsalves
Founder + CEO Managing Director
California Public Policy Group California Public Policy Group
CC: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, City of Carlsbad
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney, City of Carlsbad
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CPPG/CITY OF CARLSBAD 2024 LEGISLATIVE
HIGHLIGHTS
PIECES OF LEGISLATION TRACKED ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY
Legislation tracked and assessed for impacts on the City to its
operations, its local discretion and authority, and its legal
decision making.
1,850+
SUCCESS RATE ON LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT—
MAKING THE CITY’S VOICE HEARD
CPPG achieved the desired outcome or secured critical
amendments to dramatically reduce adverse impacts to the
City. (21 desired outcomes out of 37 total.)
21/37
COMBINED DELIVERABLES AND TOUCHPOINTS
PROVIDED TO AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
Legislative updates, position letters, policy and political
analyses, and meetings with the City and/or with the
Administration or the Legislature on behalf of the City.
*From November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024
510+
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YEAR IN REVIEW
The Legislature Returns: The 2024 legislative session of the California State Legislature
commenced in early January as both houses reconvened for the second year of the 2023-24 session.
Legislators quickly set to work, prioritizing the remaining bills from the previous year. In late January,
Senator Mike McGuire (D-Geyserville) was officially elected as Senate President pro Tempore and
sworn into the role on February 5. On February 8, he announced the new Senate Democratic
leadership team for the upcoming legislative year. Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) was
appointed Majority Leader, with Senators Angelique V. Ashby (D-Sacramento) and Aisha Wahab (D-
Hayward) taking on the roles of Assistant Majority Leaders. Additional changes were made to the
leadership team, including committee chairs and membership. Senator McGuire also announced
the splitting of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee into two new committees, leading to
the establishment of the Senate Local Government and Senate Revenue and Taxation committees.
The Governor’s Budget: In early January, Governor Gavin Newsom revealed his proposed budget for
fiscal year 2024-25 during a press conference. The proposal projected total state spending at $291.5
billion, with a deficit of $37.9 billion. Governor Newsom attributed the budget deficit to a return to
the “normalization of state revenues following the massive surpluses in 2021 and 2022.” Factors
contributing to the deficit include the state’s reliance on the top one percent of taxpayers for half of
all income tax revenue, stock market declines in 2022, and delays in income tax collection in 2023.
The May revision to the January proposal indicated a slight reduction in total spending to $288.1
billion, with the projected deficit revised downward to $27.6 billion. The lower projected deficit
resulted from Governor Newsom signing AB 106 (Gabriel) [Chapter 9, Statutes of 2024], an early
action budget package. Governor Newsom stated that approximately half of the deficit would be
addressed through budget cuts, with the remainder managed through reserves, delays, fund shifts,
borrowing, and new efficiencies.
In mid-June, the Legislature met its constitutional deadline to advance a balanced state budget for
fiscal year 2024-25, passing AB 107 (Gabriel) [Chapter 22, Statutes of 2024]. A few days later,
Governor Newsom announced an agreement on the budget, which included two budget bills and 17
budget trailer bills. The final budget reflected total spending of $297.8 billion and closed a projected
deficit of $46.8 billion. The fiscal year 2024-25 budget priorities for the Governor and the Legislature
aligned with previous years, focusing on funding for homelessness, public safety, climate change,
healthcare, education, and housing.
National Narratives Drove Legislative Priorities: As the 2024 presidential election approached,
California lawmakers turned their attention to policy areas influenced by state and national polling
data. Major themes included addressing the rise of retail theft, drug and property related offenses,
homelessness, housing production, and climate change. In late February, Senator McGuire,
alongside legislative, law enforcement, and mental health leaders, held a press conference to unveil
a bipartisan package of priority legislation aimed at addressing public safety and mental health. In
April, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) announced additional legislation in the package.
This legislative package featured various proposals, ranging from increased access to addiction and
mental health treatment, to enhancing tools for law enforcement. The legislative package was
introduced as an alternative to the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, a
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proposed ballot initiative seeking to repeal parts of Proposition 47 and increase sentences for certain
drug and theft crimes. However, the slate of bills was enacted and the Theft Reduction Act appeared
on the November ballot as Proposition 36.
More Housing Laws Aimed at Targeting Local Agencies: After abandoning plans for a $10 billion
affordable housing bond and reducing housing funding in the budget, the Legislature’s 2024 housing
package continued the narrative that local governments are the primary barrier to housing
production. A key theme this year focused on bills designed to increase pressure on local agencies
to secure approval for housing elements from the Department of Housing and Community
Development. These bills overlooked the established legal processes that ensure neutral judicial
dispute resolution regarding housing element compliance. Instead, they introduced legal
presumptions, tight deadlines (without committed funding for compliance assistance), and various
vulnerabilities. In essence, the approach offered more sticks and no carrots, even for communities
recognized with the state’s esteemed “Prohousing Designation”.
Democrats Flexing Supermajority: Democrats leveraged their bicameral supermajority to advance
ACA 10 (Aguiar-Curry) [Chapter 134, Statutes of 2024]. This resolution instructed the Secretary of
State to amend ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry) [Chapter 173, Statutes of 2023], eliminating all sections that
authorized the imposition of a sales and use tax and a parcel tax with a 55 percent vote. Additionally,
ACA 10 revised the definitions of “affordable housing” and “public infrastructure” in ACA 1.
In early July, following more than five years of debate and discussion, the Legislature reached an
agreement on a climate bond. Senator McGuire announced in a press release that SB 867 (Allen)
[Chapter 83, Statutes of 2024] would be the vehicle for the bond measure, which sought voter
approval for funding initiatives related to safe drinking water, drought management, flooding,
wildfires, forest resilience, sea level rise, extreme heat, park creation, and outdoor access. The
compromise amount for the bond was $10 billion, falling short of previous proposals that sought
nearly $16 billion in funding.
California Supreme Court Sidelines CBRT: In late June, it was announced that the California
Supreme Court had removed the California Business Roundtable tax measure from the November
2024 ballot. This measure would have required a two-thirds vote by the Legislature for new state
taxes and a two-thirds vote by voters for new local taxes. The court’s decision marked a significant
victory for the state and local governments.
By the evening of August 31, the Legislature had advanced a total of 1,206 bills to the Governor for
his consideration in 2024. By September 30, the Governor had signed 1,017 bills into law and had
vetoed 189, resulting in a signing ratio of approximately 85 percent to 15 percent. This ratio aligns
with the average since Governor Newsom took office. The Legislature will officially adjourn the 2023-
24 legislative session on November 30 and will reconvene for the 2025-26 legislative session during
a one-day Organizational Session on December 2, returning full-time for the new two-year cycle on
January 6, 2025.
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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Our legislative advocacy for your City entails the CPPG team working with individual lawmakers, both
inside and outside the City’s legislative district, committee staff, the Governor’s Administration, and
regulatory officials to support the City’s policy goals. This collaborative strategy is essential not only
to propel the City’s policy goals forward, but also to mitigate potential legal, operational, or fiscal
challenges posed by state legislation.
Effective advocacy hinges on raising awareness and disseminating critical information regarding
specific issues of interest. Empowering your City Council, staff, and advocacy team is paramount in
driving your legislative agenda. In Sacramento, our direct advocacy efforts vary from working with
legislative committee members and lawmakers on refining bill language and providing technical
amendments, to mobilizing robust coalitions aligned with the City’s objectives. This entails
educating legislators, rallying supporters, engaging with the media, and tirelessly pursuing
partnerships while maintaining a sharp, focused approach.
Over time, a sustained legislative advocacy effort helps your City to develop strong alliances and
enduring relationships with your allies. Working with legislators to familiarize them with your
concerns often results in lawmakers—even those outside your legislative district—becoming
champions for your specific issues. Establishing personal connections with legislators enhances
your City’s credibility, allowing for significant influence in the legislative process. While sustained
advocacy does not guarantee success on every front, a lack of engagement will lead to state policies
that undermine local decision making and introduce new financial, legal, or operational hurdles.
The following narrative succinctly highlights our achievements and key performance indicators
during the 2024 legislative session, showcasing how our efforts have advanced your interests or have
considerably reduced impacts on your agency.
Highlights: Legislative Advocacy Success
✓ AB 2715 (Boerner) Ralph M. Brown Act: closed sessions (City of Carlsbad, Sponsor)
As part of CPPG’s annual review of the legislative platform, we meet with each City department to
address potential legislative proposals that are brought to the Legislative Subcommittee and City
Council for consideration. This year the City of Carlsbad sponsored AB 2715 by Assemblymember
Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas), which allows for a public agency to discuss matters related to
cybersecurity under closed session.
Cyberattacks on a public entity’s computer infrastructure are on the rise. Reports suggest that
cyberattacks on the public sector rose 40 percent in 2023. These attacks have real consequences
for public entities. Ransomware disrupts City services and often results in personal information
leaked to the Internet.
Not only does a cyberattack require a public entity to seek legal expertise about mitigation,
notification, and labor relations, but the leak often results in litigation. Public entities have legal
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immunities and particular arguments, unavailable to private businesses, to combat class-action
lawsuits.
As the sponsor of the bill, it is the responsibility of CPPG and the City to work closely with
Assemblymember Boerner and her staff to get the bill through the legislative process, including
drafting the bill, enlisting organizations to support, addressing opposition, considering
amendments, and meeting with committee consultants. As the sponsor, CPPG worked with staff to
draft talking points for the City Attorney, who served as the bill’s primary lead witness in support of
the bill.
AB 2715 was signed by the Governor on September 14, 2024 (Chapter 243, Statutes of 2024).
✓ AB 2234 (Boerner) Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (City of Carlsbad, Sponsor)
In 2022, the City of Carlsbad declared a local state of emergency to address the rise in collisions
involving e-bikes. The primary objective has been to focus on education, engineering and
enforcement. In addition to local efforts, CPPG has worked closely with City staff and
Assemblymember Boerner to address safety through statewide legislation.
The City Council approved sponsoring AB 2234, authored by Assemblymember Boerner, to require
e-bike riders age 12 and older without a valid driver’s license to take an online e-bike safety training
course and pass a written test to prove they understand traffic safety rules. Those without a driver’s
license must have a state-issued identification card to operate an e-bike. The bill would also have
prohibited children under the age of 12 from operating an e-bike of any class.
CPPG worked closely with the author’s office to provide testimony and address concerns raised by
the Assembly Transportation Committee that the bill may be premature. In recent years there have
been a number of bills pertaining to e-bikes, including SB 381 (Min), (Chapter 869, Statutes of 2023)
which requires the Mineta Transportation Institute to conduct a study on the safety of e-bicycles due
to the Legislature by January 1, 2026. As a compromise, the AB 2234 was amended to authorize a
pilot program within San Diego County allowing jurisdictions to adopt an ordinance to prohibit a
person under the age of 12 from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.
AB 2234 was signed by the Governor on September 28, 2024 (Chapter 823, Statutes of 2024).
✓ AB 2560 (Alvarez) Density Bonus Law: California Coastal Act of 1976 (City of Carlsbad,
Oppose)
AB 2560, introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego), addresses California’s
coastal housing shortage by amending the state’s Density Bonus Law to apply within the Coastal
Zone. This law is intended to incentivize developers to include affordable housing by permitting
increased housing density. However, this provision has not applied within the Coastal Zone, which
includes some of California’s most expensive real estate. AB 2560 aimed to change this by allowing
density bonuses in coastal areas, requiring them to contribute to affordable housing just like other
areas of the state.
Supporters argue that this bill balances the Coastal Commission’s mission to protect environmental
resources while addressing the housing needs in coastal regions, many of which rank among the
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least affordable in the nation. Groups like Circulate San Diego, SPUR, and the Bay Area Council
supported the bill, emphasizing that affordable housing should not be excluded from coastal
regions. This was a unique bill in that CPPG and local government found an ally with environmental
groups who had expressed concern about potential strain on coastal ecosystems.
CPPG heavily lobbied the members of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, who
analyze how legislation will adversely impact natural environments. The Committee substantially
amended the bill to address the concerns of the environmental organizations but, adversely to the
authors intent, also added additional protections to the California Coastal Act, making it more
difficult to build additional housing.
On August 15, the author ultimately chose to pull his bill, as the amendments undid the
purpose of the bill, halting its progress in 2024.
✓ AB 2257 (Wilson) Local government: property-related water and sewer fees and
assessments: remedies (City of Carlsbad, Support)
AB 2557 builds on Proposition 218’s procedural requirements by establishing a clear mechanism for
customers to voice questions, concerns, comments, and criticisms regarding proposed rate
structures. While a transparent public process is essential, it is crucial to implement a requirement
that ratepayers submit a timely written objection to any new or amended property-related fee or
charge, or special assessment during the ratemaking process. This requirement serves as a
prerequisite for pursuing litigation after the approval of the new rates or assessments.
To address these issues, CPPG collaborated closely with the author’s office and a diverse coalition
of local agency stakeholders, navigating six rounds of amendments to address opposition concerns
while preserving the measure’s primary intent. Ultimately, this approach seeks to mitigate the
financial uncertainty and risks to government services that arise from ratepayers pursuing costly and
frivolous litigation after rate adoption.
As a result of our efforts, the Governor signed AB 2257 into law on September 25, 2024
(Chapter 561, Statutes of 2024).
✓ Public Safety Bill Package: AB 1779 (Irwin), AB 1802 (Jones-Sawyer), AB 2943 (Zbur), SB 905
(Wiener)
In the fall of 2023, it was clear that the Assembly would prioritize legislation to address public safety
concerns specifically those related to smash and grab retail theft incidents. The first step was
forming the new Select Committee on Retail Theft, comprised of bipartisan members from across
the state, including from areas most impacted by retail theft. The purpose of the committee was to
engage impacted stakeholders, including large retailers, small businesses, criminal justice reform
advocates, law enforcement, and representatives of workers and the public to identify policy
solutions to this ongoing crisis. When the Assembly introduced their public safety legislative
package, the Senate followed suit and did the same. The overall package cracks down on the theft
and sale of stolen items, creates stricter penalties for individuals involved in retail and property theft,
mandates sentencing enhancements for large-scale operations, and creates new crimes —
imposing enhanced felony charges and extended prison sentences.
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The passage of the bills was almost put to a halt when Governor Newsom and Democratic
lawmakers’ actions led to a political fight over what is now known as Proposition 36. Stating that the
ballot measure was not necessary, they amended the public safety legislative package with
controversial amendments that added an urgency clause but also an inoperability clause, which
states that if the measure was approved the bills would effectively be repealed. The Administration
went as far as attempting to rush through an alternative ballot measure to compete with Proposition
36, which was overwhelmingly approved by over 70% of voters.
CPPG worked to strengthen the public outcry on a serious issue that was of the utmost importance
to a majority of Californians and urge the City’s delegation to oppose the amendments. The press
questioned the motives in a press conference, Republicans claimed gamesmanship, and fellow
democrats removed their support of the package, even some removing their name as an author.
Ultimately the controversial amendments were removed and the legislative package
passed with bipartisan support.
✓ AB 1779 (Irwin) Theft: jurisdiction (City of Carlsbad, Support)
AB 1779 permits the consolidation of specifled theft charges, as well as all associated offenses,
occurring in different counties into a single trial if the district attorneys in all involved jurisdictions
agree. This is a bill that the author has attempted for multiple years and the City was pleased to
support this common sense measure.
AB 1779 was signed by the Governor on August 16, 2024 (Chapter 165, Statutes of 2024).
✓ AB 1802 (Jones-Sawyer) Crimes: organized theft (City of Carlsbad, Support)
AB 1802 permanently removes the sunset clause on California’s Organized Retail Theft statute,
which was initially established in 2018. This change makes permanent the provisions that allow law
enforcement and prosecutors to tackle organized retail crime with measures such as the California
Highway Patrol’s Property Crimes Task Force.
AB 1802 was signed by the Governor on August 16, 2024 (Chapter 166, Statutes of 2024).
✓ AB 2943 (Zbur) Crimes: shoplifting (City of Carlsbad, Support)
The California Retail Theft Reduction Act was the most substantial bill of the overall package,
creating speciflc penalties for serial retail theft, allowing the aggregation of theft incidents across
different locations and victims to reach a grand theft charge, if speciflc criteria are met.
AB 2943 was signed by the Governor on August 16, 2024 (Chapter 168, Statutes of 2024).
✓ SB 905 (Wiener) Crimes: theft from a vehicle (City of Carlsbad, Support)
SB 905 clarifled what is known as the locked door loophole which stated that a broken car was not
sufficient to convict a suspect of auto burglary unless prosecutors can prove the door was locked at
the time. SB 905 eliminates the hurdle by making forcible entry sufficient to prove intent of auto
burglary.
SB 905 was signed by the Governor on August 16, 2024 (Chapter 170, Statutes of 2024).
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✓ Labor Relations Bill Package: AB 2557 (Ortega) and AB 2561 (McKinnor)
This year, there was a package of bills aimed at targeting public sector employers. Collectively, these
measures would all but eliminate contract service work for local agencies given the broad
applicability, elimination of administrative discretion, and new avenues for litigation. CPPG engaged
with the broader local government advocacy community—including the League of California Cities,
the California State Association of Counties, the Urban Counties of California, the Rural County
Representatives of California, the California Special Districts Association, and K-12 and higher
education organizations, among others—to create a robust opposition coalition to educate the
legislature on specific impacts to local agencies and work with authors and sponsors to remove the
impacts. It quickly became clear that the bill sponsors were unwilling to work with locals, and CPPG
worked to further broaden the coalition, to educate the City on the impacts of these measures, and
to ultimately seek to stop the measures from moving forward.
✓ AB 2557 (Ortega) Local agencies: contracts for special services and temporary help:
performance reports (City of Carlsbad, Oppose)
AB 2557 aimed to eliminate or signiflcantly reduce the ability of local entities to contract for services,
including with non-proflts and for many temporary or seasonal positions. Additionally, it expanded
deflnitions to encompass specialized services that are in high demand and often difficult to flll, such
as engineering.
Among other issues, the bill would have mandated that local agencies notify specified employee
organizations at least ten months prior to initiating a procurement process for contracting special
services currently or previously provided by a member of those organizations. One of the most
troubling provisions would have placed a designated labor representative on par with elected
officials in contractual decision-making processes. This would be done by granting the designated
labor representative the ability to declare a current service contract null and void if they believed the
contract service worker was out of compliance with the law. Notably, the bill did not include any
exemptions for emergency events. Furthermore, it proposed requirements that would have
subjected private employee data to the California Public Records Act, potentially deterring effective
partnerships with the private sector.
In response to these concerns, CPPG provided a detailed analysis to the City of Carlsbad on this
measure, and we additionally provided our analysis to the League of California Cities who used it as
the basis for its Action Alert to drive more individual agencies to oppose the bill. We continued to
work closely with local partners, City staff, and coalition advocates throughout the legislative
process.
As a direct result of our efforts, and a coalition of stakeholders, AB 2557 was held on the
Senate Appropriations Suspense File, halting its progress in 2024.
❖ AB 2561 (McKinnor) Local public employees: vacant positions (City of Carlsbad, Oppose)
In its introduced form, AB 2561 would have required local agencies with bargaining unit vacancy rates
exceeding 10% for more than 180 days (approximately 6 months) to produce, implement, and publish
a plan to reduce their vacancy rates to 0% within the subsequent 180 days. The bill also required the
public agency to present this plan during a public hearing—for every violation in every bargaining
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unit—to the governing legislative body and to publish the plan on its website for public review for at
least one year. CPPG worked diligently in tandem with local partners, City staff, and coalition
advocates to meet with the author’s office, legislators, bill sponsors, and committee staff to seek
amendments to reduce the cost, timelines, and impacts of the bill. CPPG also met with legislative
leadership and ultimately the Governor’s Office to communicate the signiflcant concerns with
implementation.
As a direct result of our efforts, and a coalition of stakeholders, this bill was substantially
amended prior to making its way to the Governor to increase the vacancy threshold to 20%
and instead require just one annual public hearing on the status of vacancies per fiscal year.
These amendments were vetted by CPPG as part of the local government working group and
brokered by representatives of the local government coalition. While we continued to
advocate for a veto, the impact of the bill was significantly lessened through the negotiated
language. This bill was signed by the Governor on September 22, 2024 (Chapter 409,
Statutes of 2024).
❖ Impact Fee Bills: AB 2729 (Patterson) and SB 937 (Wiener)
This year, there was a concerted effort from housing advocates and some legislators to look to local
development impact fees as a source of cost control for housing development. These proposals
stopped short of eliminating a local agency’s ability to collect impact fees, but across the board, the
proposals shifted fiscal risk from for-profit developers to taxpayer-funded local governments. CPPG
quickly mobilized to form an opposition coalition, enlisting the support of various local government
associations, including the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties,
and the California Special Districts Association. This coalition sought to educate the Legislature on
the necessity and application of impact fees while working with the authors and sponsors to address
and remove any fiscal impacts associated with the bills.
❖ AB 2729 (Patterson) Development projects: permits and other entitlements (City of
Carlsbad, Oppose)
AB 2729 was amended in June to limit collection of impact fees and timing of collection, in similar
ways to SB 937 but more limiting. We mobilized our development impact fee coalition and
approached the author’s office and bill sponsors. The author and sponsors were unwilling to amend
the bill to address our concerns. In response our team worked with the Senate Appropriations
committee staff, Senate Local Government committee staff, and with the bill sponsors of SB 937
who felt this measure may confiict with their bill to eliminate the impact fee requirements from this
bill.
As a direct result of our advocacy efforts, and a coalition of stakeholders, AB 2729
provisions relating to timing of development impact fee collection and fiscal backstops was
stripped from the bill, leaving our negotiated language in SB 937 as the official deal. This bill
was signed by the Governor on September 27, 2024 (Chapter 737, Statutes of 2024).
❖ SB 937 (Wiener) Development projects: fees and charges (City of Carlsbad, Oppose)
In its original form, SB 937 raised signiflcant concerns. This measure applied to all development
projects and deferred the payment of local fees until the issuance of a certiflcate of occupancy. It
proposed consolidating utility and park fees into new sections of the Mitigation Fee Act. Furthermore,
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the bill aimed to eliminate the existing flscal guardrails that local jurisdictions depend on to secure
payments and ensure flscal accountability for ongoing projects within their communities. In
response, we collaborated with the Senate Local Government Committee, the author, and the
sponsors early in the year to secure signiflcant amendments that addressed key concerns. The bill
was amended to apply solely to affordable housing projects, marking a considerable shift from its
original intent. It allowed fees to be collected in batches as projects come online or when a
construction plan is flnalized and ready to commence. Additionally, the inappropriate commingling
of utility and park fees was eliminated, and, importantly, the existing flscal guardrails were retained.
Unfortunately, in the eleventh hour of the legislative session, the author introduced amendments
that further restricted the bill’s fiexibility regarding the collection of fees in advance of when a project
is ready. The revised bill now permits pre-collection only under speciflc circumstances for a limited
list of approved project types. Notably, utility capacity charges, parks, and stormwater drainage fees
are excluded from this list.
While we successfully rallied over a dozen votes in both houses against these last-minute
amendments—which were made without local input—the bill ultimately passed and was signed by
the Governor. However, the version signed into law is signiflcantly different from the initial proposal,
which posed a broad threat to local revenues.
As a direct result of our efforts, and a coalition of stakeholders, SB 937 was narrowed to only
apply to affordable housing projects and the most harmful proposals were removed from
the bill. SB 937 was signed by the Governor on September 19, 2024 (Chapter 290, Statutes
of 2024).
Summary of Advocacy Deliverables
At CPPG, our commitment extends far beyond traditional state legislative advocacy—it’s a year-
round partnership dedicated to serving our clients in every capacity possible. We tackle local
challenges that intersect with state interests, collaborate with City staff on innovative policies, and
deliver educational resources that enhance the Council’s and the staff’s understanding of critical
issues.
In advocating for your City, consistent communication with your staff and Council is a top priority for
our team. Keeping you well-informed supports our ability to effectively and successfully represent
your interests. To this end, we provide memos tailored to your City that include specific analyses of
legislation and regulatory matters, and updates on the legislative process, as needed. In 2024, CPPG
sent your team 36 memos with analyses or updates that illustrated City-specific impacts and/or
potential funding sources for the City. These memos kept you informed about specific legislation
and policies of potential interest to your City, especially those that may impact your City’s
operations, authority, or decision making.
We kept you updated on important developments in the Capitol through regularly scheduled Zoom
meetings. These weekly check-in meetings served as essential touchpoints, framing the continuous
and often daily dialogue we maintained with City staff through calls, texts, and emails. Additionally,
we held monthly presentations to the legislative subcommittee providing insights on legislative
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developments and highlighting the City’s active participation in the legislative process. This
consistent exchange of information ensured that everyone stayed aligned and informed as we
navigated the complexities of governance together.
Each month, CPPG supplied your City with a written legislative summary that highlighted key
developments in the Legislature and updates on legislation, along with announcements from the
Administration, all of which were tailored to your City’s specific interests. Additionally, our Monthly
Activity Reports meticulously documented every touchpoint CPPG had with and on behalf of the
City.
Meeting with the Department of Housing and Community Development: On April 22, CPPG
facilitated a meeting between the City and the Department of Housing and Community Development
to discuss challenges pertaining to the Windsor Pointe affordable housing project.
Modification of the Legislative Platform: The legislative platform is a set of guiding principles that
reflects the overarching ideals and vision of the Council. This document is critical to the overall
legislative advocacy program as it provides broad policy statements that enable the City and its
legislative advocacy firm to sift through the thousands of legislative proposals introduced each
legislative session to evaluate those measures that fall within the scope of the platform. Working in
conjunction with City staff, CPPG met with several department directors or team members and
received feedback from staff to make major changes to the City’s legislative platform.
Detailed Legislative Analysis: CPPG provided the City with several detailed analyses of pieces of
legislation. These analyses were critical in helping the City assess pending legislation’s potential
implications for operations, local discretion, and/or authority. Examples of analysis include but are
not limited to:
• Analysis of AB 205 (Committee on Budget) [Chapter 61, Statutes of 2022]
• Analysis of AB 1886 (Alvarez) [Chapter 267, Statutes of 2024]
• Analysis of AB 1893 (Wicks) [Chapter 268, Statutes of 2024]
• Analysis of AB 2023 (Quirk-Silva) [Chapter 269, Statutes of 2024]
• Analysis of AB 2489 (Ward)
• Analysis of AB 2557 (Ortega)
• Analysis of AB 2583 (Berman)
• Analysis of ACA 10 (Aguiar-Curry) [Chapter 134, Statutes of 2024]
• Analysis of SB 450 (Atkins) [Chapter 286, Statutes of 2024]
• Analysis of SB 1037 (Wiener) [Chapter 293, Statutes of 2024]
• Analysis of SB 1123 (Caballero) [Chapter 294, Statutes of 2024]
Updates on Legislative, Regulatory, and Fiscal Processes: CPPG provided timely informational
reports during critical stages of the budget and policy processes, and followed up with your staff to
answer any questions and close the loop. These updates provided your City with the necessary
situational awareness of statewide trends and of regulatory, fiscal, and legislative developments.
Examples of these reports include but are not limited to:
• California Business Roundtable initiative
• Carrier of last resort
• Ballot measures
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• Bill introduction deadline
• Budget updates: January proposal, May revision, and June final
• Climate bond
• Department of Housing and Community Development webinar
• House of origin deadline
• Housing legislation approved by the Governor
• Behavioral health bond
• State Auditor report on homelessness
• Appropriations Suspense File
LOOKING AHEAD
Legislature Composition
On December 2, 2024, the California State Legislature will convene its organizing session. Both
incumbents and newly elected members will take their oaths of office, marking the commencement
of the new 2025-26 Legislative session. This event signifies the first full turnover of the Legislature
since the enactment of Proposition 28 in 2012, which established new twelve-year term limits.
Consequently, the past four years have witnessed a considerable turnover among members.
With a total of 34 new members—24 in the Assembly and 10 in the Senate—the new composition for
the upcoming session presents both challenges and opportunities. This influx is expected to lead to
a surge in the number of measures introduced during the first year of the session. Members will move
swiftly to honor campaign promises and vie for recognition as thought leaders in various policy areas.
While the turnover inevitably leads to a dilution of institutional knowledge, it simultaneously opens
the door to exciting new prospects. Agencies and advocates will find themselves starting from
scratch—cultivating relationships and introducing their priorities to a new class of members ready
to influence the legislative landscape for years to come.
As we begin the new two-year legislative session, we expect to see shifts in committee chairs and
their compositions. Although formal announcements are still pending, updates regarding policy
committees are anticipated between December and early January. These changes are crucial, as
they directly impact which bills will navigate through committees and in what form.
Although committee chairs had less dictatorial power in 2024 compared to previous years, their
influence over committee votes remains substantial. Chairs are chosen based on their favorability
with chamber leadership and their ability to navigate legislation through the complex legislative
process. Both Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire are
expected to remain in their leadership roles moving into 2025.
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Continued Budget Deficit
As projected in the final budget released in June 2025, we will likely continue to see budgetary
problems and therefore additional actions to continue to pass a balanced budget. In September,
California saw significant tax collections, with personal income taxes and corporation taxes both
exceeding budget forecasts by 20% and 22%, respectively. Quarterly estimated personal income tax
payments were particularly strong, driven by a rise in domestic stock prices. For the fiscal year 2024-
25 so far, personal income tax is 11% ahead of forecasts, and corporation taxes are 42% ahead.
While this is welcomed news, it’s likely that this revenue boost will primarily benefit public schools
due to obligations under Proposition 98.
In early November, it became clear that personal and corporate income taxes for October exceeded
2024 state budget projections by $1.2 billion. For fiscal year 2024-25 to date, income taxes are $5.2
billion above projections, and 2023-24 General Fund revenue receipts were $3.2 billion above
projections. Most of the revenue overage is already allocated for school funding obligations, new
ballot measures, unmet savings efforts, and future unfunded costs. Additionally, potential federal
changes and the Governor’s proposed expansion of the film and television tax credit may impact the
state budget going forward.
The Legislature’s non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) recently released a report
estimating that the fiscal year 2024-25 budget solved a $55 billion deficit, which is somewhat higher
than the $46.8 billion deficit the Administration had said it had closed. The LAO attributes this
difference to the treatment of baseline spending for schools and community colleges, and stated
that the key solutions for addressing the budget include reserve withdrawals, spending reductions,
revenue increases, and cost shifts. The Department of Finance is currently working with other
agencies to craft the Governor’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget, the proposal for which must be released
by January 10, 2025.
For local government, an extended period of state fiscal uncertainty has the potential of cutting both
ways. On the one hand, polices that aim to reduce local authority by mandating a new program have
the potential of being held due to the state’s budgetary concerns associated with new state
reimbursable mandates. On the other hand, the Legislature has a long history of raiding local
budgets to close that gap on its own budgetary challenge. Local governments need to remain vigilant
in aggressively fighting any attempts by the state to reduce local funding formulas, or other
longstanding tools that local agencies rely on to provide critical services.
Special Legislative Session and The “Trump Resistance”
Given the political dynamics and historical context of the Legislature, along with the Newsom
Administration’s response to the impending Trump Administration, we anticipate a variety of new
policy initiatives aimed at pushing back against policies that contradict progressive ideals. On
November 7, Governor Newsom announced in a press release the convening of an extraordinary
session, which is set to begin on December 2, 2024.
Typically, special session bills need to be in print for several days after the session starts, and
committee hearings may be expedited compared to those in a regular session. The stated intent of
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the special session is to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an
incoming Trump Administration” and to “focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect
civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families.”
Importantly, by calling a special session, lawmakers are not bound by the usual “bill limit.” This
means that they can introduce several measures during the special session, provided they are
germane to its purpose, while still advancing their normal number of bills during the regular session.
Generally, standing legislative committees must be established for each new regular or
extraordinary session, and it is common for special sessions to run concurrently with regular
sessions. More broadly, major policy areas of focus for the special legislative session will likely
center around the following:
Climate Change and Environmental Policies: One of the most significant areas of focus will likely
be environmental policies. California has positioned itself as a leader in climate change action.
Under a Trump presidency, which has been characterized by skepticism toward climate science and
a rollback of environmental regulations, California’s leadership may further emphasize sustainable
practices and push for stronger state-level regulations to counteract federal policies. Expect
initiatives aimed at green energy, emissions reduction, and conservation efforts to gain traction.
Healthcare: With the Trump Administration’s efforts to repeal or modify the Affordable Care Act
(Obamacare), California’s government may react by reinforcing its commitment to healthcare
access. This may include expanding Medi-Cal, promoting state-level insurance solutions, or even
exploring universal healthcare initiatives, as the state’s population leans towards protecting and
expanding healthcare access.
Immigration: California has a large immigrant population and has long opposed hardline
immigration policies. The state government is likely to double down on policies that protect
undocumented immigrants, such as sanctuary laws, and may actively resist federal immigration
enforcement actions, which could manifest in legal challenges against the Trump Administration’s
policies.
Social Justice and Equality: Given California’s progressive stance on social issues, expect a focus
on policies promoting racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic justice. Any perceived federal
efforts that threaten these rights or reverse progress in these areas will likely provoke a legislative
response aimed at bolstering protections at the state level.
Economic Policies: Economic policies will also be crucial, particularly in addressing any federal tax
changes or economic initiatives that could adversely affect California’s diverse economy. The state
may aim to protect its own industries, such as tech and entertainment, from any disruptive federal
policies.
Anticipated Policy Trends—Regular Legislative Session
At the end of the 2023-24 legislative session, there were several policy areas with specific impacts
on local agencies that were left unfinished. With no anticipated change to legislative leadership, we
anticipate that emerging policy trends in the regular session will include the following:
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Housing: As has been the case during the past several years, housing and land use policy will
continue to be a major policy area of focus for the Legislature. During the 2023-2024 legislative
session we saw a total of 127 housing related measures advance to the Governor’s desk where he
signed 97% into law. However, many of the housing measures introduced in 2024 were aimed
primarily at increasing production of market rate developments and reducing local planning
discretion.
Despite these legislative efforts, California has yet to realize the production boom that Governor
Newsom hoped for when he unveiled his “Marshall Plan for Housing” in 2019, which was a mandate
to build 3.5 million new housing units by 2025. Local government planning and land use is often
easier for legislators to focus on rather than grappling with the realities of private markets,
addressing the lack of adequate energy supply, allocating major funding for subsidized housing, and
challenging developers, environmental organizations, and other powerful interest groups. During a
press event in September to announce the signing of several housing bills, the Governor, along with
several other elected officials, doubled down on the narrative that local agencies bear sole
responsibility for California’s housing crisis.
In the summer of 2024, the Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform released a “Purpose
Statement“ and held its first informational hearing on “Understanding the Permitting Impediments
to Addressing the Housing and Climate Crises”. In a statement on the hearing, the chair of the
Committee, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), stated that the Committee would take “an
inclusive, equitable and evidence-based approach to address systemic issues within the state’s
permitting processes.” Areas of focus include “permitting impacts on housing, climate resilience,
including water and wildfire, and clean energy” across California. The Committee held another
informational hearing in October that focused on “Permitting Reform to Facilitate Climate
Resiliency”. The Committee, in consultation with Bay Area Council, a business association located
in San Francisco, is studying a broad range of permitting processes at the state and local levels that
it claims act as barriers to private investors. The goal of Committee members would be to eventually
introduce legislation that would aim to lower the overall number of permits required for a given
project, especially in cases where permits may overlap. A report with recommendations by the
Committee will be issued at the culmination of the Select Committee and will provide more insight
into potential legislation over the next two year legislative session.
Given the above, we will likely see housing policy proposals that focus on:
• Increased enforcement and oversight from the Attorney General and the Department of
Housing and Community Development, respectively.
• Further measures to streamline local permitting.
• Increased production and density measures in single-family neighborhoods.
• Reduced local authority on development impact fees.
Energy Package: In the final days of session, the Legislature passed several energy bills designed to
cut electric bills and streamline clean energy. However, two bills related to fast-tracking renewable
energy projects and increasing oversight of utilities’ wildfire costs did not advance to the Governor’s
desk. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has adopted updates to the Building Energy
Efficiency Standards, which will take effect on January 1, 2026. These standards aim to improve
energy efficiency in newly constructed buildings, renovations, and certain existing buildings. It is
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likely that the Legislature will continue to advance legislation surrounding clean energy, reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, and streamlining energy projects in order to continue to try to meet the
Governor’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045. The Governor’s plan includes accelerating the
development of solar, wind, and battery storage projects, and modernizing the electrical grid to be
more resilient and efficient.
Water: Water legislation in 2025 will also continue to focus on several key areas to address the
challenges posed by climate change and ensure sustainable water management, including
conservation, disaster preparedness and rate assistance for low-income households. We will likely
see more bills that aim to create a more resilient water supply system, protect against extreme
weather, and promote long-term sustainability. In addition, we are likely to see legislation designed
to protect the state’s wetlands and add new safeguards for the water supplies of rural communities.
Starting January 1, 2025, new regulations will require approximately 400 of California’s largest cities
and water districts to develop annual water-use budgets. These budgets will consider factors such
as residential indoor and outdoor water use, commercial and industrial landscapes, and allowable
water loss from leakage. We could also see legislation in 2025 designed to alter or address any
implementation issues that arise from these regulations, such as costs or regulatory hurdles.
AI and Technology: We anticipate that artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to be a “hot” issue
going forward in 2025. Legislation addressing several issues of concern regarding AI use, including
ethics, data, privacy, surveillance, transparency, job displacement, safety, and the environmental
impact of the technology will continue to emerge as AI continues to develop and integrate into
various aspects of society.
Grant Funding
Prepared by: Jake Whitaker, Director of Grant Services
Over the past several years, we have experienced a rollercoaster of state spending – with a sudden
whiplash from unprecedented surpluses and spending to large deficits and subsequent budget cuts.
While the state has had to pull back on discretionary spending programs during the past two budget
cycles, funding for “core” programs to address transportation, public safety, housing,
homelessness, and community infrastructure has largely been maintained at reduced levels.
Passage of Proposition 4 (the “Climate Bond”) will allow the state to fund a portion of its climate and
sustainability initiatives while state revenues recover. Proposition 4 authorizes the state to take out
$10 billion in bonds to fund projects and programs that reduce the severity, frequency, and impacts
of climate-related natural disasters including fires, drought, floods, extreme heat, and mudslides.
Various existing grant programs were folded into the climate bond and zeroed out in the budget
effectively as an anticipated “fund shift” to the climate bond funds.
At the federal level, we are entering the back half of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Passed
in 2021, the BIL authorized $1.2 trillion in spending over five fiscal years of augmented spending on
transportation, water, and sustainable infrastructure. At this point in time there are only two more
fiscal years of BIL funding remaining. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is entering the next phase of
its implementation. While some programs will continue to be implemented directly by the federal
government, many of the IRA’s most impactful investments have been awarded to states and
financing institutions to carry out implementation. This includes the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas
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Reduction Fund (GGRF) and several large-scale programs that have been awarded to states to solicit
subrecipients for. The IRA’s Direct Pay provisions for local government entities are also now in effect,
providing opportunities for local governments to claim funding that was formerly only available to
private entities in the form of tax credits through the IRS for sustainable infrastructure investments.
CPPG will continue to monitor new developments in the coming year as we prepare for changes in
the grant funding opportunity landscape. However, we encourage all clients to proactively begin
considering potential projects that align with identified upcoming grant programs to prepare for
competitive solicitations throughout the upcoming year.
Local Agency Grant Seeking in the Second Trump Presidency—
What to Expect
Prepared by: Jake Whitaker, Director of Grant Services
While President Trump has sought to publicly distance himself from The Heritage Foundation’s
Project 2025 in favor of his Agenda 47, CPPG has conducted a thorough review of both documents
to assess potential impacts on local government agencies resulting from changes to federal
grantmaking under a second Trump Administration. The 900+-page Project 2025 presents an
extremely detailed action plan for a second Trump Administration, while Agenda 47’s 16-page
platform outlines broad goals without providing details on administrative implementation of these
goals. We cannot ascertain the extent to which President-Elect Trump will draw from either Project
2025 or Agenda 47. However, a common theme in both initiatives seems to downplay the
investments made by the Biden Administration in underserved communities and environmental
justice.
Administrative Impacts: Both platforms emphasize a shift toward state and local control, seeking
to broadly limit federal involvement by decentralizing federal grantmaking and passing control of
formula funding back to the states. Both platforms also include a call for targeted cuts to eliminate
grant programs perceived as ideologically driven or inefficient. Agenda 47 justifies its proposed
changes to federal grantmaking through the lens of efficiency and simplification, with a stated goal
to reduce bureaucracy to allow quicker, clearer distribution of funds while making federal grants
more outcome focused. Project 2025 takes this a step further with a more explicit goal of realigning
federal grantmaking to support conservative policy priorities, with specific plans to reduce and
eliminate grant programs providing funding for environmental or educational programs that conflict
with conservative ideology. Given the lack of specific details in Agenda 47, much of our analysis
looks at the administrative actions proposed in Project 2025 as a basis for what we might expect
from the second Trump administration. Repeal of all Biden Administration Executive Orders
prioritizing equity and climate action in federal grantmaking is anticipated under a second Trump
Administration. Plans to reverse Biden’s climate-related Executive Orders are outlined in both
documents. Project 2025 also calls for the elimination of the Justice40 initiative, which sets a
baseline of directing at least 40% of federal spending to disadvantaged communities.
The Department of Transportation (USDOT): Project 2025 calls for the elimination of the
discretionary grant programs that are administered by USDOT. These discretionary programs would
be folded into the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) formula program distributed to the
states, and then sub-awarded by the states to local government entities. This goal is to shift
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transportation spending away from federal directives and towards a state-controlled funding model.
Furthermore, House Republicans have stated a goal of curbing “excessive” transportation spending
after the conclusion of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s funding cycle which concludes in FY 26.
The BIL itself has maintained strong support from legislators in both parties in the face of attempts
to reduce federal spending spearheaded by the House Republican Freedom Caucus members.
Project 2025 also calls for a tightening of transportation infrastructure financing through the Build
America Bureau (BAB) to enforce repayment standards and strengthen cost-benefit justification
requirements.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Project 2025 specifically calls for a pause and review of
all large grants administered by the EPA to ensure alignment with the new administration’s priorities.
The plan advocates for a political appointee to lead the EPA’s approximately $30 billion in
grantmaking, shifting this responsibility away from career civil servants. The stated goal of Project
2025’s approach to EPA grantmaking is to prioritize larger, impact-driven grants over numerous
small-dollar grants and crack down on grants awarded to academic institutions for research that the
administration deems “radical.” The administration would also explore shifting responsibility for
environmental initiatives to state and local governments, similar to their plans for transportation
funding, in alignment with the plan’s call for a broader move to “cooperative federalism.”
Housing and Urban Development (HUD): A recurring theme of Project 2025 is the stated desire to
shift responsibilities of federal grant programs to state and local governments. HUD is no exception.
Project 2025 calls for devolving programs such as housing vouchers to states, while promoting
mobility over site-based subsidies. This could have significant impacts on federally subsidized
affordable housing in communities throughout the country. The plan also calls for a focus on shorter-
term rental assistance, eliminating programs deemed redundant, and streamlining HUD’s financial
reporting and internal controls. One other notable policy shift would be a prioritization of transitional
housing over permanent supportive housing as a solution for addressing homelessness. This would
mark a federal shift away from the “Housing First” model.
For federal grant programs that remain, CPPG anticipates significant changes to reporting
requirements for local government agencies. Project 2025 calls for data collection to be
standardized across federal agencies, with the goal of streamlining reporting to reduce
administrative burdens with a specific callout to address the burdens placed on small and mid-sized
local agencies. A similar effort began under the Biden Administration with the 2024 update to the
Uniform Grant Guidance, but it remains to be seen how a second Trump Administration will go about
implementing the 2024 Update – or whether they will pursue a subsequent update of their own. The
shift away from procedural benchmarks as a measurement of success to outcome-based metrics
may significantly change reporting requirements for federal grant programs.
Legislative Impacts: President Trump will enter his second term with narrow control of the House
and Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson is no stranger to navigating the challenges of a slim majority, and
he had to rely on a bipartisan compromise with Democrats to enact the FY 24 federal budget deal.
Will Trump’s return to office unify the House Republican caucus? Early indicators suggest that this
will be the case, but it remains to be seen. With a projected 221 seat majority and three
Representatives being nominated for cabinet posts, the margins will be even tighter and there will
be plenty of opportunities for coalitions of members to leverage that slim majority to advance their
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own policy priorities within the legislative process – which, as we have seen over the past two years,
can create a very chaotic policymaking environment.
The Senate Republican caucus has historically been more moderate than the House Republican
caucus on the issue of spending reductions, but there are fiscal hawks within the caucus that will
push to make their goals a priority for leadership. Newly elected Majority Leader John Thune will have
to navigate the challenges of a 53-seat majority. Thune has stated that the 60-vote legislative
filibuster will remain intact, but budget cuts and/or changes to tax law could be enacted through the
“reconciliation” process which lowers the threshold to a simple majority to pass legislation.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: The BIL has survived multiple attempts in budget negotiations to cut
its funding and maintains bipartisan support in the Senate. While clearly the dynamics have changed
with a Republican trifecta, the BIL feels relatively safe compared to some of President Biden’s other
legislative and administrative accomplishments. There are two fiscal years’ worth of funding still
available through the BIL for FY 25 and FY 26 – the first three years of funding has already been
obligated. CPPG anticipates a shift in priorities under the new administration, moving away from
equity-based competitive scoring and restructuring the programs to de-emphasize climate action.
However, should Congress push forward with a traditional devolution model, California leaders
would still set the stage for eligibility criteria.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): With Republicans controlling the House, the Senate, and the White
House, CPPG will be closely following new developments related to the partial or full repeal of the
IRA. Under a second Trump Administration, there is a possibility that climate-related programs
would be significantly reduced or eliminated entirely. Trump has stated his desire to rescind unspent
IRA funds, but most of the discretionary grant funding authorized under the IRA has already been
obligated or is in the process of being obligated prior to the transfer of power. There is some growing
support from Republicans in Congress for key provisions of the IRA. While not a single Republican
voted in favor of enacting the law, a group of 18 Republican Congressmen—including
representatives from Orange County and the Central Valley—signed onto a letter in August 2024
asking Speaker Mike Johnson to keep the IRA’s energy tax credits in place – arguing that these tax
credit programs, a major component of the IRA, are beneficial for local economic development.
Conversely, there is a group of Republicans who are adamantly demanding full repeal of the law.
This could be a point of conflict within the caucus, with enough Republicans signaling partial support
for some of the IRA’s provisions to block a budget deal that does not include them.
More generally, it is expected that the Trump Administration will pursue budget cuts to existing
formula grant programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Surface
Transportation Block Grant (STBG) programs. Project 2025 calls for revenue responsibility for these
formula grant programs to shift to the states over a 10-year period, which would represent a massive
cut to federal grant funding. CPPG also expects cuts to other discretionary programs if Republicans
in Congress make good on their rhetoric about getting the budget deficit under control. Historically,
this has not been the case – but there will be a push to curb “excessive” spending from fiscal hawks
in Congress and in the administration.
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1
January 7, 2025
City of Carlsbad
2024 Federal Year in Review
www.carpiclay.com
Exhibit 5
2024: A Year in Review
The second session of the 118th Congress was heavily focused on the annual appropriations bills. Congress returned to Washington, DC in January of this year having passed none of the twelve Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills. Congress needed to pass two different Continuing Resolutions (CR) to keep the federal government open and funded. Finally, in March, Congress was able to pass two minibus appropriations bills containing all
twelve FY24 appropriations bills. Additionally, for the third year in a row, the FY24 appropriations bills contained community project requests (formerly known as earmarks). Specifically for the City, Representative Levin and Senators Feinstein and Padilla secured $850,000 for the Carlsbad Traffic Safety Improvement project.
As soon as Congress finished work on the FY24 appropriations bills, it was immediately time to begin work on FY25. In March, President Biden released his FY25 budget proposal to Congress. The annual release of the President’s budget proposal is what kicks off the appropriations process on Capitol Hill. Members of Congress also released their FY25 community project request forms. On the House side, Rep. Levin submitted the City’s
Carlsbad Village Railroad Double Track Trenching project to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. His effort has resulted in $850,000 being included in the House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill for the project. Congress did not finish work on any of the FY25 appropriations bills before the end of the year. As such, Congress had to pass another short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that will
allow the federal government to remain open and funded until March 14th. The City’s community project request is still pending upon completion of these bills. Outside of the appropriations bills, Congress continued to work on several bills that could impact City services. Over the course of the past year, the City worked to support the
“Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act” (H.R. 1048) and the “Housing Unhoused
Disabled Veterans Act” (H.R. 8340). The City also submitted a grant application to the Department of Transportation for the Safe Streets for All Program. 2025: A Look Ahead
On January 3rd, the 119th Congress was officially sworn in with the GOP retaining its very slim House majority (219-215) and retaking the Senate majority (53-47). The City has a new member of its Congressional delegation with the election of Senator Adam Schiff (he takes
over the seat held by Dianne Feinstein and Laphonza Butler). Senator Schiff’s committee
assignments include the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has
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jurisdiction over several critical projects at both the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency. Schiff’s other committee assignments are the Agriculture, Judiciary and Small Business committees.
President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office at 12:01 pm on January 20th. One of the first items on the new Administration’s to-do list will be to fill more than 4,000 political appointee positions across the federal agencies. The President-elect has announced nominees for his entire cabinet, which include former Congressman Sean Duffy (WI) to serve
as the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, former Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY) to serve as the Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency, and former Congressman Scott Turner to serve as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. All cabinet positions require Senate confirmation.
On the legislative front, Congress has until March 14th to finalize the FY24 funding bills. The GOP majority is also expected to use expedited procedures to advance a series of Trump priorities, including immigration measures and extension of the 2017 tax cuts.
Carpi & Clay Activities on behalf of the City of Carlsbad
Over the past year, Laura Morgan-Kessler and David Wetmore have been working on the following issues on behalf of the City:
Worked with City staff to draft and submit Fiscal Year 2025 community project requests to the City’s congressional delegation. As a result of these efforts, Rep. Mike Levin included $850,000 for the City’s Carlsbad Village Railroad Double Track project.
Kept City staff updated on the status with the annual appropriations process and
federal funding.
Planned and executed the City’s federal advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. in May 2024. During this trip, the City met with the City’s Congressional delegation, Members
of the House Quiet Skies Caucus, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Drafted letters of support for the City to send on the following bills: o Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act” (H.R. 1048)
o Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act” (H.R. 8340)
Provided the City with weekly transportation memos as well as monthly federal update memos.
Maintain strong relationships with the City’s Congressional delegation and staff. Additionally, kept the City updated on changes to staff within the City’s Congressional delegation.
Provided a memo to the City regarding the potential impacts to the City of a federal
government shutdown.
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Supported the City’s Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All grant application.
Shared the City’s FY24 Community Development Block Grant allocation of $579,728.
Provided real-time grant funding opportunities to the City for federal programs of interest to the City.
Participated on monthly conference calls with City staff and presented monthly federal updates to the City’s Legislative Subcommittee meetings.
Provided the City with post-election memo outlining the results of the November
election and the impacts to the City. ## ## ##
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Congress Passes Another Short-Term Continuing Resolution
On December 20th, Congress passed another short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that will
allow the federal government to remain open and funded until March 14, 2025. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 366-34, and the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 85-11. In addition
to extending government funding, the CR also included the following provisions:
$100 billion in disaster supplemental funding, including:
$31 billion in funding for economic assistance to agriculture producers
$29 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA)
Disaster Relief Fund and support response, recovery, and mitigation programs
$12 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program
$8.1 billion for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief
Program
$10 billion for economic aid to farmers
Extends the 2018 Farm Bill through September 30th
Extends both the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the National
Flood Insurance Program through March 14th
Extends flexibilities to allow for telehealth for Medicare through March 31st
$1.1 billion for the Community Health Center Fund
Extends increased Medicare payments to low-volume hospitals until March 31st
Extends the Medicare-dependent hospital program until March 31st
City of Carlsbad
Federal Update
December 31, 2024
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Congress Reauthorizes the Economic Development Administration
The WRDA 2024 bill included the Economic Development Reauthorization Act of 2024, which
reauthorized the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the first time since 2004. The
EDA falls under the Department of Commerce and provides grants and technical assistance for
economic development and workforce training programs in economically disadvantaged
communities. Among other provisions, the legislation designates recreation as a priority for EDA
funding to improve access to public lands, develop recreation infrastructure, and assist
communities depending on the outdoor recreation economy.
Congressional Leaders Set 2025 Schedule
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune
(R-WY) released the Congressional schedule for 2025 for their respective chambers. A
combined version of the calendar is available HERE.
119th Congress House Committee Leaders
House Republicans and Democrats announced leaders for committees in the 119th Congress.
The chart below lists the Chair and Ranking Member for each committee in the House, with
italics indicating a new chair or ranking member. The Speaker of the House appoints leaders
and members of the Ethics, House Administration, and Rules Committees once the new
Congress begins on January 3rd.
House Committee Chair Ranking Member
Agriculture Glenn Thompson (R-PA) Angie Craig (D-MN)
Appropriations Tom Cole (R-OK) Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Armed Services Mike Rogers (R-AL) Adam Smith (D-WA)
Budget Jodey Arrington (R-TX) Brendan Boyle (D-PA)
Education & the Workforce Tim Walberg (R-MI) Bobby Scott (D-VA)
Ethics TBD TBD
Energy & Commerce Brett Guthrie (R-KY) Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Financial Services French Hill (R-AR) Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Foreign Affairs Brian Mast (R-FL) Gregory Meeks (D-NY)
Homeland Security Mark Green (R-TN) Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
House Administration TBD TBD
Judiciary Jim Jordan (R-OH) Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Natural Resources Bruce Westerman (R-AR) Jared Huffman (D-CA)
Oversight and Accountability James Comer (R-KY) Gerry Connolly (D-VA)
Permanent Select Intelligence Mike Turner (R-OH) Jim Himes (D-CT)
Rules TBD TBD
Science, Space, & Technology Brian Babin (R-TX) Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Small Business Roger Williams (R-TX) Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
Transportation & Infrastructure Sam Graves (R-MO) Rick Larsen (D-WA)
Veterans’ Affairs Mike Bost (R-IL) Mark Takano (D-CA)
Ways & Means Jason Smith (R-MO) Richard Neal (D-MA)
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119th Congress Senate Committee Leaders
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) announced committee leaders in the 119th
Congress. The chart below lists the chair for each committee in the Senate. Democrats have
not yet announced Ranking Members for committees.
Senate Committee 119th Congress Chair
Aging Rick Scott (R-FL)
Agriculture John Boozman (R-AR)
Appropriations Susan Collins (R-MN)
Armed Services Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Banking Tim Scott (R-SC)
Budget Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Energy and Natural Resources Mike Lee (R-UT)
Environment and Public Works Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Ethics James Lankford (R-KY)
Finance Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Foreign Relations Jim Risch (ID)
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Rand Paul (R-KY)
Judiciary Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Indian Affairs Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Intelligence Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Rules Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Small Business Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Veterans Affairs Jerry Moran (R-KS)
President Biden Signs Grant Transparency Act into Law House
On December 11th, President Biden signed the Grant Transparency Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-140)
into law. The bipartisan legislation stipulates that each notice of funding opportunity (NOFO)
must include a description of any rating system, evaluation, and selection criteria a federal
agency will use to assess grant applications, a statement regarding the use of any weighted
scoring methods, and information on any other qualitative or quantitative method an agency
uses to evaluate grant applications.
Congress Passes Veterans Affairs Healthcare and Benefits
Improvement Act.
The House and Senate passed the bipartisan Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans
Healthcare and Benefits Improvement (Dole) Act (S. 141) to improve Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) healthcare and services. The legislation includes federal resources for a competitive
grant program to support providing VA services through a state, tribal, or territorial government.
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Aviation Safety Caucus Letter Urging FAA to Prioritize ATC
Modernization. The bipartisan House Aviation Safety Caucus sent a letter to the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) urging the enhancements to oversight and management of Air
Traffic Control (ATC) modernization projects, citing concerns over delays, cost overruns, and
unsustainable systems identified in recent assessments. The letter calls for stricter review
processes, improved transparency, and collaboration with aviation safety professionals to
ensure timely and effective implementation.
FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
NOAA Releases $100 Million Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience NOFO. The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a $100 million NOFO
through the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants program.
Funding will support projects that restore marine, estuarine, coastal, and Great Lakes
ecosystems through activities like enhancing coastal wetlands and rebuilding coral reefs.
Applications are due by April 16th.
GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
DOL Announces $99.3 Million for YouthBuild Program. The Department of Labor (DOL)
announced $99.3 million in grants to 71 organizations through the YouthBuild Program.
Funding will support pre-apprenticeships for individuals aged 16-24 who are neither enrolled in
school nor in the labor market for construction jobs and other high-demand industries. Projects
selected will also provide education and training for rehabilitating affordable housing in
underserved communities.
EPA Awards $1.275 Billion through Community Change Grants Program. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.275 billion in grants for 84 projects through the
Community Change Grants Program. The funding will support disadvantaged community
efforts to reduce and prevent air, water, and soil pollution, build resilient infrastructure, and
provide workforce development opportunities.
EPA Announces Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Grant Program Tentative Selections. EPA
announced over $735 million to 70 applications through its first-ever Clean Heavy-Duty
Vehicles Grant program. The funding will provide battery-electric box trucks, cargo trucks,
emergency vehicles, refuse/recycling haulers, school buses, shuttle buses, step vans, transit
buses, utility vehicles, other vocational vehicles, and several hydrogen fuel cell transit buses.
EPA Announces $7.7 Million through Brownfields Job Training Program. EPA announced
$7.7 million in grants for 16 organizations through the Brownfields Job Training Program. The
funding will support recruitment, training, and job placement for community revitalization and
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cleanup at brownfield sites. Programs funded in this round include certifications in lead and
asbestos abatement, mold remediation, environmental sampling and analysis, and
environmental health and safety training.
FHWA Announces Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program Grant Awards. FHWA announced $125
million to 16 wildlife crossings projects. The grants will help fund projects that will reduce
vehicle collisions with wildlife while also improving habitat connectivity and support the survival
of threatened or endangered species. The funding also supports studies and projects that
construct wildlife crossings over and below busy roads, add fencing to direct animals to the
crossings, and monitor performance of crossing systems.
FHWA Announces Highway Construction Training Program Grant Awards. FHWA
announced $4.2 million to 16 programs to recruit, train, and place highway construction jobs.
The new programs will include training for heavy-duty equipment operators, scholarships for
pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, and programs to obtain a commercial
driver’s license.
HUD Awards $225 Million through PRICE Program. HUD announced $225 million in grants for
17 awardees through the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community
Enhancement (PRICE) program. The funding will support low- and moderate-incoming
homeowners and residents of manufactured housing communities (MHCs) by rehabilitating
existing homes, accessibility upgrades, infrastructure improvements, mitigation and resiliency
strategies, resident services, and support for transitioning existing MHCs to resident-managed
communities.
Reclamation Announces $12.1 Million through WaterSMART Program. Reclamation
announced $12.1 million in grant awards for 43 projects in the WaterSMART Planning and
Design Grants program. The funding will support planning and designing water supply projects
that enhance groundwater discharge, design recycled water infrastructure, pipe water to
reduce water losses, backup infrastructure for water supply systems, and expand water reuse.
FEDERAL AGENCY REGULATORY ACTIONS
DOT Publishes Final Rule on Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities, Adoption of
Accessibility Standards for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way. DOT published
a final rule that amends the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations to adopt, without
modification, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board's Accessibility
Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG) as DOT's regulatory
standards for new construction and alterations of transit stops in the public right-of-way. The
rule is effective on January 17th.
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DOT Publishes Public Interest Waiver of the Application of Certain Domestic Preference
Requirements and Policies for Transit-Oriented Development Housing Projects. DOT is
proposing a waiver of the domestic preference requirements to transit-oriented development
(TOD) projects that receive credit assistance through BAB under the Transportation
Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and the Railroad Rehabilitation and
Improvement Refinancing (RRIF) credit programs.
DOT Publishes Interim Guidelines on Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. DOT
published interim guidelines on the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) which
aims to enhance the resilience of communities and Federal assets against flooding caused by
extreme events and climate change. To support this effort, DOT has created the FFRMS Interim
Guidelines. These guidelines clarify the specific actions DOT is taking to integrate the FFRMS
into its policies, programs, and operations, ensuring consistent implementation across the
Department. Comments are due by February 18th.
EPA Finalizes Amendments to PFAS and PBT Review Process under TSCA. EPA published a
final rule amending the agency’s review process for new chemicals under the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) to ensure that new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and
persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals undergo the full review process before
manufacturing. The rule eliminates exemptions for PFAS and PBTs with potential for human
exposure, aligns the chemical review process with laws requiring EPA to issue one of five safety
determinations for all newly submitted chemicals, and streamlines the review process. The rule
is effective on February 10th.
EPA Releases Final CWA Section 404 Rule. EPA published the final rule for the Clean Water
Act (CWA) Section 404 Tribal and State Assumption Program. The rule clarifies procedures and
requirements for states, territories, and authorized tribal governments to assume and
administer the Section 404 permitting program in the waters of the United States. EPA
responded to feedback from stakeholders during the development of the rule to identify and
address barriers preventing states, territories, and tribes from assuming control over the
program. The rule is effective on January 17th.
EPA Issues Waiver for CARB’s Advanced Clean Cars II Regulation. EPA issued a waiver of
preemption under Section 209(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the California Air Resource
Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Cars II regulation. CARB approved the regulation in 2022,
which would phase out the sale of most internal combustion engine vehicles in California by
2035. The regulation stipulates that 35% of new cars sold in the state by 2026 be zero-emission
vehicles (ZEVs), scaling up until 2035 when all new vehicles sold in the state will be required to
be ZEVs except in certain limited circumstances. The rule would allow for 20% of ZEVs sold to
be plug-in hybrid vehicles and does not affect used vehicles already on the road.
EPA Issues Waiver for CARB’s Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low NOx Regulation. EPA granted CARB
a waiver of preemption under Sections 209(b) and 209(e) of the CAA for its heavy-duty vehicle
Omnibus Low NOx regulation to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from internal combustion
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engines. The regulation requires a 75% reduction below current standards in NOx emissions
from heavy-duty vehicles beginning with model year (MY) 2024 vehicles, scaling up to a 90%
reduction for MY 2027 vehicles.
FHWA, FTA, and FRA Publishes Efficient Environmental Reviews for Project Decision-
making and One Federal Decision Interim Guidance. FHWA, FTA, and the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) published interim final guidance that explains the environmental review
process and best management practices for the surface transportation projects to which the
Section 139 environmental review process applies. This Interim Final Guidance supersedes and
replaces the SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process Final Guidance, jointly issued by
FHWA and FTA in 2006. This Interim Final Guidance reflects statutory amendments to the
Section 139 environmental review process and includes information on the FRA and railroad
projects. The interim final guidance became effective on December 17th. Comments are due by
February 18th.
FRA Publishes Freight Car Safety Standards Final Rule. FRA published a final rule that
amends the Freight Car Safety Standards (FCSS) to implement section 22425 of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Act). The Act places certain restrictions on newly built
freight cars placed into service in the United States including limiting content that originates
from a country of concern (COC) or is sourced from a state-owned enterprise (SOE) and
prohibiting sensitive technology that originates from a COC or is sourced from a SOE. The Act
mandates that FRA issue a regulation to monitor and enforce industry compliance with the Act's
standards. The rule is effective on January 21st.
FTA Publishes Buy America Waiver for Battery Electric Minibuses. FTA is proposing a general
non-availability waiver of limited duration for vehicles in this class that meet certain criteria.
FTA seeks public and industry comment on whether FTA should grant the waiver or a modified
version of the waiver. Comments are due by January 6th.
HUD Publishes OCAFs for 2025. HUD published a request for comment on its notice
establishing operating cost adjustment factors (OCAFs) for project-based assistance Section 8
contracts for 2025 with an effective date of February 11th. Comments are due by January 10th.
FEDERAL AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PERSONNEL CHANGES
DOE Announces Transportation Modal Action Plans. The Department of Energy (DOE), in
collaboration with federal agencies and industry stakeholders, published transportation modal
action plans that outline strategies to enhance the freight and transportation sectors and
present opportunities to reduce emissions.
An Action Plan for Rail Energy and Emissions Innovation
Convenient Transportation: An Action Plan for Energy and Emissions Innovation
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Efficient Transportation: An Action Plan for Energy and Emissions Innovation
United States Aviation Climate Action Plan
DOT Publishes Learning Agenda FY 2024 – 2026. DOT published the Learning Agenda: FY
2024 – 2026 which identifies priority evidence-building needs relevant to DOT programs,
policies, and regulations and creates an action plan to address them. The updated document
adds 17 new topic areas, each with a collection of priority questions that identify some of the
Department’s most important emerging evidence-building needs in alignment with five of
the previous DOT strategic plan’s strategic goals. The new topic areas include distracted
driving, railroad grade crossing safety, aviation surface safety, supply chain disruption,
transportation cost burden, safe disposal and transportation of batteries, and EV adoption.
DOT Publishes National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. DOT published the
USDOT Climate Strategies that Work Playbook, which is a resource to help guide cities,
regions, industry leaders, philanthropic strategists, and transportation professionals in
implementing effective strategies for reducing transportation sector greenhouse gas
emissions.
DOT Publishes Report Detailing Progress in Rebuilding Bridges. DOT published a report
detailing the reconstruction of 18 of America's most economically significant bridges,
surpassing the initial goal of repairing ten major bridges under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
These projects, each receiving grants of $100 million or more, aim to enhance safety, reduce
congestion, and strengthen supply chains, collectively impacting over 1.2 million vehicles daily
and supporting the nation's economic competitiveness.
EPA Administrator Announces Resignation. EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced he
will resign effective December 31st. Jane Nishida will serve as Acting EPA Administrator and Dan
Utech will serve as Acting Deputy Administrator until the end of the Biden Administration.
FAA Administrator to Step Down in January. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker announced his
resignation effective January 20th, coinciding with the presidential transition. Whitaker, who
assumed the role in October 2023, was serving a five-year term set to expire in 2028. The FAA
Administrator position is a presidential appointment with a fixed five-year term.
FHWA Publishes NEVI Build Out Certification Guidance. FHWA published a memorandum
on Build-Out Certification outlines the criteria and procedures for states to certify the
completion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure along designated Alternative Fuel
Corridors, a prerequisite for utilizing National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula
Program funds beyond these corridors. The document details the certification process,
including necessary documentation and evaluation metrics, to ensure a comprehensive and
reliable EV charging network nationwide.
FHWA Publishes NEVI Formula Program Q&A. FHWA published an updated questions &
answers (Q&A) clarifying that the existing NEVI guidance has always allowed for flexibility in
charging standards—including use of other connectors, such as J3400—so long as there is a
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Combined Charging System (CCS) connector. The updates do not represent a change to
existing NEVI minimum standards.
GAO Publishes Report on the Bridge Investment Program. The Government Accountability
Office (GAO) has released a report titled Bridge Investment Program: DOT Should Refine
Processes to Improve Consistency that evaluates the Bridge Investment Program, a grant
program aimed at addressing the nation's aging bridge infrastructure. The report highlights the
program's progress in supporting the repair and replacement of structurally deficient and
economically significant bridges, while also identifying areas for improvement in funding
allocation, project selection, and performance metrics. Recommendations include enhancing
transparency in project prioritization and developing more robust data collection methods to
ensure accountability and maximize program impact. The report provides valuable insights for
policymakers and stakeholders working to improve the safety and resilience of U.S. bridges.
USDA ARS Publishes Food Loss and Waste Webpage. USDA’s Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) published a webpage titled Innovations for Reducing Food Loss and Waste. The website
highlights ARS research on solutions to reduce food loss and waste in homes, schools, farms,
and businesses, and efforts to convert food waste into products such as bioplastics,
biochemicals, and biofuels.
## ## ##
Jan. 14, 2025 Item #16 Page 101 of 101
Jason Haber
Intergovernmental Affairs Director
Jan. 14, 2025
2025 Legislative Platform
and Program Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION
•Adopt a resolution approving the City of
Carlsbad 2025 Legislative Platform
•Direct staff to advocate for city-sponsored
legislative proposals and funding priorities
•Receive reports on state and federal
legislative and budget activity and provide
feedback
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
•City Council Policy 39: Intergovernmental Affairs Program
•Resolution 2019-137: Standing Legislative Subcommittee
•Legislative Platform
•League of California Cities
•National League of Cities
•Contract State & Federal Lobbyists
•Contract Grant Writer
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
City of Carlsbad
City Council Meeting
January 14, 2025
Sharon Gonsalves, Managing Director, California Public Policy Group
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
2024 Year in Review
•RPPG is now CPPG
•510+ individual “touchpoints” with or on behalf of the City
•CPPG tracked 1,850+ individual pieces of legislation for the City
•The City took positions on 37 pieces of legislation
•This includes two 2 sponsored bills, AB 2234 and AB 2715
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
2024 State Election Results
•Republicans gained two seats in the Assembly and one seat in the Senate
•Democratic majority now stands at 60-19 in the Assembly and 30-9 in the
Senate
•Assembly District 32 and Senate District 36 are currently vacant and
special elections for these seats will be held in April
•Approximately one-fourth of the Legislature is composed of new members
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
City Sponsored Legislation
AB 2234 (Boerner) Vehicles: electric bicycles
This bill authorizes a local authority within the County of San Diego to adopt an
ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age
from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle and require the county to submit a
report to the Legislature on specified outcomes.
City Position: Sponsor
Status: Signed into law by the Governor on September 28, 2024
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
City Sponsored Legislation
AB 2715 (Boerner) Ralph M. Brown Act: closed sessions
This bill authorizes a legislative body to hold a closed session with other law
enforcement or security personnel and to hold a closed session on a threat to
critical infrastructure controls or critical infrastructure information relating to
cybersecurity.
City Position: Sponsor
Status: Signed into law by the Governor on September 14, 2024
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
Labor Relations: Contracting
AB 2557 (Ortega) Local agencies: contracts for special services and temporary
help: performance reports
This bill would have required each city council that solicits for and enters into a
contract for special services to post that contract and any related documents
on its website.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
Housing and Land Use: Builder’s Remedy
AB 1886 (Alvarez) Housing Element Law: substantial compliance: Housing Accountability ActThis bill would state that a housing element shall be considered to be in substantial
compliance with housing element law when the local agency adopts the housing
element or amendment for the current planning period in accordance with housing
element law.
AB 1893 (Wicks) Housing Accountability Act: housing disapprovals: required local
findings
This bill makes numerous changes and additions to the Housing Accountability Act
(HAA) in an effort to advance “builder’s remedy” projects in jurisdictions which do not
have a housing element in compliance with the law.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
Housing and Land Use: Impact Fees
AB 2729 (Patterson) Residential fees and charges
This bill extends by 18 months the period for the expiration, effectuation, or
utilization of a housing entitlement that was issued before January 1, 2024,
and that will expire before December 31, 2025.
SB 937 (Wiener) Development projects: fees and charges
This bill prohibits a local government from requiring payment of fees or charges
for public improvements or facilities on a designated residential development
project before the development receives a certificate of occupancy.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
Public Safety: Retail Theft
AB 2943 (Zbur) Crimes: shoplifting
This bill makes it a crime for any person to possess property unlawfully that
was acquired through one or more acts of theft from a retail business with the
intent to sell the merchandise and its value exceeds $950.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
Looking Forward: 2025 State Budget
January 10 Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2025-26
•$363 million surplus
•$322.27 billion in total spending, with $228.9 billion for the General Fund
(9.2% increase in total state spending compared with FY 24-25)
•Special Session will allocate funds to the DOJ and Fire Relief
•Tax receipts for fire victims have been delayed until October
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM
Looking Forward: Legislative Priorities
•Legislatures Composition Creates Opportunity For Long-term Relationship Building
•Modest Budget Surplus But Locals Must Remain Vigilant
•Homeowner’s Insurance and Water Availability
•Local “Accountability” For Housing Production Will Remain Top of Mind
•How Will The Legislature Allocate The Recently Approved Climate Bond
•$10B Housing Bond to be Introduced
2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Guiding Principles:
•Preserve Local Control
•Maintain Fiscal Responsibility
•Protect Quality of Life
Legislative Priorities:
•Community Character
•Quality of Life & Safety
•Sustainability & the Natural Environment
•Economic Vitality
•Organizational Excellence &
Fiscal Health
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
HIGHLIGHTS
•Obtaining a long-term lease/operating agreement for maintenance and operation of State Parks lands
•Empowering cities to protect access to essential services
(i.e., grocery, pharmacy, housing) for senior residents
•Authorizing electronic filings and virtual appearances for workplace violence restraining orders and workplace harassment restraining orders.
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
HIGHLIGHTS
•Clarifying that records/identities of juvenile crime victims are not subject to release once those individuals reach
adulthood
•Ensuring ADUs and units in projects receiving development waivers, concessions or density bonus are not used for vacation rentals
•Allowing cities to deny or condition housing development to ensure water, wastewater, or transportation system capacity.
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
HIGHLIGHTS
•Revising methodology for measuring distance to a major transit stop
for determining project eligibility for a parking exemption
•Allowing mandated case management as a condition of occupancy
in publicly funded permanent supportive housing
•Allowing seasonal workers and individuals experiencing
homelessness to occupy congregate shelter beds funded through
the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 FUNDING PRIORITIES
•Discretionary budget appropriations and grants
•Projects in need of funding
•Prioritized based on readiness and alignment with
state/federal/regional priorities
•Multi-year effort
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 FUNDING PRIORITIES
•Public Safety
•Sustainability & Climate Adaptation
•Parks & Trails
•Transportation & Mobility
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 FUNDING PRIORITIES
•Village & Barrio: Street & Pedestrian Lighting
•EV Charging Stations
•S. Carlsbad Blvd. Climate Adaptation Studies
•Coastal Rail Trail
•Pickleball Courts
•ADA Beach Access
•Complete Streets
•Lowering the Railroad Tracks
•Safe Routes to School
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS
1.Authorize electronic filing and virtual appearance for workplace violence
restraining orders and workplace harassment restraining orders
2.Allow public safety officials to drive off-highway utility-terrain vehicles on
city streets
3.Disallow ADUs and units in projects receiving development waivers,
concessions or density bonuses to be used as short-term vacation rentals
4.Clarify density bonus law regarding replacement of existing affordable
units and application of local inclusionary housing requirements
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS
5.Limit damages to be paid by cities except in cases of gross
negligence
6.Streamline the process for obtaining a long-term lease/operating
agreement for maintenance and operation of State Parks lands
7.Allow beds at Carlsbad’s La Posada Homeless Shelter to be used by
homeless individuals, rather than being limited to only farmworkers
8.Require occupants of publicly funded permanent supportive housing
units to agree to receive case management services
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION
•Adopt a resolution approving the City of
Carlsbad 2025 Legislative Platform.
•Direct staff to advocate for city-sponsored
legislative proposals and funding priorities
•Receive reports on state and federal
legislative & budget activity and provide
feedback
ITEM 16: Legislative Update
QUESTIONS?