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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-09; City Council; 10; 2026 Legislative Platform and Legislative Program UpdateCA Review CKM Meeting Date: Dec. 9, 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: 2026 Legislative Platform and Legislative Program Update Districts: All Recommended Actions 1)Adopt a resolution approving the City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform; and 2)Direct staff to advocate for eight potential city-sponsored state legislative proposals and for federal, state and county funding for specified city projects; and 3)Receive reports on state and federal legislative and budget activity and recent and ongoing advocacy efforts and provide feedback to staff. 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 along with state and federal 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 2026 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. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 1 of 94 As part of the annual review of the platform, staff and the city’s legislative consultant, California Public Policy Group, met with representatives of city departments 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 2025 Legislative Platform. These changes have been incorporated into the proposed City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform (Exhibit 2), which staff and the subcommittee recommend the City Council approve. The proposed City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform has also been modified since it was reviewed by the Legislative Subcommittee to reflect the direction the City Council provided during its consideration of e-bike safety strategy options at its Dec. 2, 2025, meeting. State and federal 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 and/or federal funding in the coming year. The types of projects 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 the anticipated degree of competitiveness for the funding. Exhibit 3 includes the La Costa Avenue Traffic Improvements: El Camino Real to Rancho Santa Fe, which is included under Transportation and Mobility Projects: Tier II. This project was not presented for consideration by the Legislative Subcommittee due to a subcommittee member’s conflict of interest and the resulting lack of a quorum to make a recommendation to the City Council. For 2026, the Legislative Subcommittee recommends that the City Council direct staff to engage Carlsbad’s state and federal 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. This recommendation does not include the La Costa Avenue Traffic Improvements project, which the Legislative Subcommittee did not consider. City Council consideration of this item will be segmented during the meeting to avoid any potential conflict(s) of interest concerning specific projects. The process of trying to obtain 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: Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 2 of 94 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 (UTVs) on city streets 3. Disallow short-term vacation rental use of units in projects receiving waivers of normal development standards, concessions or density bonuses1 4. Reallocate 50 existing beds at the La Posada de Guadalupe Homeless Shelter that are currently limited to farmworker occupancy only so they can be occupied by people experiencing homelessness 5. Require occupants of permanent supportive housing units funded by California Behavioral Health Services Act or federal Mental Health Services Act programs to agree to receive case management services 6. Exclude disabled and electric vehicle parking and water and sewer utility infrastructure engineering standards, including those deemed necessary to address cumulative impacts, from the elements of a development project that are eligible for development standard waivers and concessions under state density bonus law. 7. Further enable local government agencies to establish requirements for e-bike rider safety, training and licensing, including prohibiting the operation of Class 2 e-bikes by those under 16, requiring Class 2 e-bike riders to wear helmets and prohibiting e- bike riders under 16 from carrying passengers.2 (Note: This item has been modified to reflect the direction the City Council gave to staff during the City Council’s consideration of e-bike safety strategy options on Dec. 2, 2025.) 8. Enable local government agencies to effectively address issues concerning public safety and proper management of recovery-based group homes, including reestablishing local discretionary permitting and inspection authority, requiring operators to obtain a conditional use permit, allowing cities to establish a separation standard, and requiring the presence of on-site managers and/or security personnel at all times, while being mindful of group home residents’ potential vulnerabilities. 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. 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. 2 A Class 2 e-bike in California is an e-bike with a motor that can be used to propel the bike without pedaling up to 20 mph. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 3 of 94 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. The agreement may be extended for two additional two-year periods. 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 2025 End of Year Report, included as Exhibit 4, provides an overview of the services provided to the City of Carlsbad during the 2025 legislative year and insights into the 2026 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 February 2025, to provide federal lobbyist and government relations services during 2025. 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 2025 End of Year Report, included as Exhibit 5, provides an overview of the services provided to the city during 2025, along with a look ahead into 2026. The city is in the process of extending Carpi & Clay’s contract to continue providing services to the city in 2026. 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 to pursue other legislative priorities and initiatives or refer the matter back to the subcommittee. Next Steps The adopted City of Carlsbad 2026 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. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 4 of 94 Exhibits 1.City Council resolution 2.Proposed amendments to City of Carlsbad 2025 Legislative Platform, with revisions highlighted 3. 2026 State and Federal Budget Priorities 4.California Public Policy Group - 2025 End of Year Report 5.Carpi & Clay - 2025 Year in Review Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 5 of 94 Exhibit 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-265 . A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE CITY OF CARLSBAD 2026 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 2026 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 adopting the City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform 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. 3.That the City Council adopts the City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform as shown in Attachment A. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 6 of 94 Docusign Envelope ID: 27CAB627-D3BA-4E59-997B-54A6228A5150 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 9th day of December, 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin. NAYS: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. ______________________________________ KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor ______________________________________ SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk (SEAL) Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 7 of 94 Docusign Envelope ID: 27CAB627-D3BA-4E59-997B-54A6228A5150 Attachment A CITY OF CARLSBAD 2026 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 • 2026 Legislative Priorities • 2026 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 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. 2026 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 2026 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. 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. 4 (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. 5 (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. (h) Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting companies financially accountable for damages caused to our California environment and communities. 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. 6 (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. 7 (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. 8 (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. (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. 9 (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. (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. 10 (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. 11 (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. (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. 12 (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. (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. 13 (j) Oppose measures that would expand release time for union business. (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. 14 (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. 15 (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. (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. (u) Support legislation that allows public agencies to deliver sealed public records subpoenaed for trial either by electronic transfer or courier, rather than requiring hand-delivery and in-person testimony regarding the public record. 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. 16 (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 recovery- based group homes, including reestablishing local discretionary permitting and inspection authority, requiring operators to obtain a conditional use permit, allowing cities to establish a separation standard, and requiring 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. 17 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. (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. 18 (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. (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. 19 (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 requires applicants utilizing concessions, incentives and waivers under density bonus law to provide compelling evidence documenting that the requested deviation from established development standards is necessary for the viability of affordable units. (x) Support legislation that maintains local decision-making regarding the development of Accessory Dwelling Units. (y) Support measures that allow cities to deny or condition housing development to reconcile documented deficiencies in water, wastewater, or transportation system service capacity. (z) Support legislation that allows for local decision-making regarding parking requirements, including legislation that allows local jurisdictions to impose on-site parking standards necessary to accommodate new development and growth in order to reduce reliance on off-site parking. (aa) Support legislation that revises the methodology for measuring the distance to a major transit stop to reflect the actual walkable distance between the transit stop and the project entrance along established pedestrian routes. (bb) Support legislation that excludes disabled and electric vehicle parking and water and sewer utility infrastructure engineering standards, including those deemed necessary to address cumulative life-safety impacts, from the elements of a development project that are eligible for development standard waivers and concessions under state density bonus law. (cc) Support legislation that provides that when parking and other project amenities are voluntarily provided beyond that which is required, they be proportionately assigned, distributed or made accessible to residents of deed-restricted and market-rate housing units. 20 (dd) Support legislation that exempts areas in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones from state housing laws that could adversely affect emergency responses to or evacuation from wildfires. 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. 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. 21 (b) Support legislation that increases the ability of local agencies to conduct fire hazard mitigation on protected habitat areas. (c) Oppose legislation that would diminish local control to set and assess fire inspection fees. (d) 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. (e) Support legislation that would enhance statewide wildland fire safety infrastructure. (f) 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. (g) Support legislation allowing public safety officials to drive off-highway utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) on city streets. 22 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. 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. 23 (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. (e) Support measures that require occupants of permanent supportive housing units funded by California Behavioral Health Services Act or federal Mental Health Services Act programs to agree to receive case management services. 24 (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. (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. 25 (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 eliminate the obligation of any online travel agency to pay transient occupancy taxes under state or local law. 26 (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. (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. 27 (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 legislation that reforms traffic impact analysis protocols to more effectively account for clean mobility solutions in calculating vehicle miles travelled. (d) Support funding and legislation that provides direct support to cities to advance roadway safety through education, engineering and enforcement. (e) Support legislation that establishes requirements for e-bike rider safety, training and licensing, including prohibiting the operation of Class 2 e-bikes by those under 16, requiring Class 2 e-bike riders to wear helmets and prohibiting e-bike riders under 16 from carrying passengers. 28 (f) Support legislation that extends the responsibility for traffic violations by juvenile e-bike riders to parents. (g) 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. (h) 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. (i) Oppose legislation that diminishes local control over the regulation and deployment of micro-mobility solutions. (j) Oppose measures that would result in the consolidation of the North County Transit District and Metropolitan Transit System. (k) Support measures that protect residents, businesses and visitors from the adverse impacts of aircraft operating at McClellan-Palomar Airport. (l) Oppose changes in aviation policies that would allow McClellan-Palomar Airport to expand without authorization from the city. (m) Support legislative and regulatory initiatives to study and mitigate the noise and air quality impacts associated with air traffic overflights. (n) Support a modification of the McClellan-Palomar Airport Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedures (VNAP), which is designed to minimize noise over neighborhoods, to establish mandatory flight paths and enforceable, mandatory quiet hours restricting flight activity at Palomar Airport to occur between 7 am and 10 pm. 29 (o) 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. (p) 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. (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. 30 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. (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. Exhibit 2 CITY OF CARLSBAD 20256 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 • 20265 Legislative Priorities • 20265 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 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. 20265 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 20265 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. 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. 4 (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. 5 (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. (g)(h) Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting companies financially accountable for damages caused to our California environment and communities. 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. 6 (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. 7 (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. 8 (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. (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. 9 (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. (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. 10 (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. 11 (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. (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. 12 (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. (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. 13 (j) Oppose measures that would expand release time for union business. (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. 14 (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. 15 (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. (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. (u) Support legislation that allows public agencies to deliver sealed public records subpoenaed for trial either by electronic transfer or courier, rather than requiring hand-delivery and in-person testimony regarding the public record. 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. 16 (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 recovery- based group homes, including proposals to reestablishing local discretionary permitting and inspection authority, requiring operators to obtain a conditional use permit, allowing cities to establish a separation standard, and requiringe 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. 17 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. (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. 18 (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. (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. 19 (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. (v)(w) Support legislation that requires applicants utilizing concessions, incentives and waivers under density bonus law to provide compelling evidence documenting that the requested deviation from established development standards is necessary for the viability of affordable units. (w)(x) Support legislation that maintains local decision-making regarding the development of Accessory Dwelling Units. (x)(y) Support measures that allow cities to deny or condition housing development to reconcile documented deficiencies in water, wastewater, or transportation system service capacity. (y)(z) Support legislation that allows for local decision-making regarding parking requirements, including legislation that allows local jurisdictions to impose on-site parking standards necessary to accommodate new development and growth in order to reduce reliance on off-site parking. (aa) 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. (bb) Support legislation that excludes disabled and electric vehicle parking and water and sewer utility infrastructure engineering standards, including those deemed necessary to address cumulative life-safety impacts, from the elements of a development project that are eligible for development standard waivers and concessions under state density bonus law. (cc) Support legislation that provides that when parking and other project amenities are voluntarily provided beyond that which is required, they be proportionately assigned, distributed or made accessible to residents of deed-restricted and market-rate housing units. 20 (dd) Support legislation that exempts areas in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones from state housing laws that could adversely affect emergency responses to or evacuation from wildfires. 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. 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. 21 (b) Support legislation that increases the ability of local agencies to conduct fire hazard mitigation on protected habitat areas. (a)(c) Oppose legislation that would diminish local control to set and assess fire inspection fees. (b)(d) 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. (e) Support legislation that would enhance statewide wildland fire safety infrastructure. (c)(f) 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. (g) Support legislation allowing public safety officials to drive off-highway uUtility-Tterrain Vvehicles (UTVs) on city streets. 22 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. 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. 23 (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. (e) Support measures that require occupants of permanent supportive housing units funded by California Behavioral Health Services Act or federal Mental Health Services Act programs to agree to receive case management services. 24 (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. (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. 25 (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 eliminate the obligation of any online travel agency to pay transient occupancy taxes under state or local law. 26 (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. (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. 27 (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 legislation that reforms traffic impact analysis protocols to more effectively account for clean mobility solutions in calculating vehicle miles travelled. (c)(d) Support funding and legislation that provides direct support to cities to advance roadway safety through education, engineering and enforcement. (e) Support legislation that establishes requirements for Ee-bike rider safety, training and licensing, including prohibiting the operation of Class 2 e-bikes by those under 16, requiring Class 2 e-bike riders to wear helmets and prohibiting e-bike riders under 16 from carrying passengers.. 28 (d)(f) Support legislation that extends the responsibility for traffic violations by juvenile e-bike riders to parents. (ge) 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. (fh) 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. (i) Oppose legislation that diminishes local control over the regulation and deployment of micro-mobility solutions. (j) Oppose measures that would result in the consolidation of the North County Transit District and Metropolitan Transit System. (k) Support measures that protect residents, businesses and visitors from the adverse impacts of aircraft operating at McClellan-Palomar Airport. (l) Oppose changes in aviation policies that would allow McClellan-Palomar Airport to expand without authorization from the city. (m) Support legislative and regulatory initiatives to study and mitigate the noise and air quality impacts associated with air traffic overflights. (n) Support a modification of the McClellan-Palomar Airport Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedures (VNAP), which is designed to minimize noise over neighborhoods, to establish mandatory flight paths and enforceable, mandatory quiet hours restricting flight activity at Palomar Airport to occur between 7 am and 10 pm. 29 (n)(o) 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. (p) 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. (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. 30 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. (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. Pr o p o s e d 2 0 2 6 S t a t e a n d F e d e r a l B u d g e t P r i o r i t i e s Pr o j e c t Es t i m a t e d F i s c a l Ye a r o f Ex p e n d i t u r e Pr o j e c t P h a s e Es t i m a t e d P r i o r Ap p r o p r i a t i o n Es t i m a t e d Fu n d i n g N e e d Co u n c i l D i s t r i c t Pu b l i c S a f e t y : T i e r I Vi l l a g e A r e a P e d e s t r i a n L i g h t i n g 20 2 7 - 2 0 3 1 Co n s t r u c t i o n $1 , 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 $5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 1 Pu b l i c S a f e t y : T i e r I I Fi r e S t a t i o n 7 : D e s i g n 20 2 8 Pl a n n i n g $1 0 0 , 0 0 0 $1 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 2 Su s t a i n a b i l i t y a n d C l i m a t e A d a p t a t i o n : T i e r I El e c t r i c V e h i c l e C h a r g i n g S t a t i o n s : Mo n r o e S t r e e t P o o l a n d V e t e r a n s M e m o r i a l P a r k 20 2 5 - 2 0 2 6 Co n s t r u c t i o n $0 $6 0 0 , 0 0 0 1, 2 So u t h C a r l s b a d B l v d . C l i m a t e A d a p t a t i o n S t u d i e s 20 2 7 - 2 0 3 2 Pl a n n i n g $1 , 7 0 0 , 0 0 0 $4 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 2, 3 , 4 Su s t a i n a b i l i t y a n d C l i m a t e A d a p t a t i o n : T i e r I I Ca r l s b a d W a t e r R e c y c l i n g F a c i l i t y I m p r o v e m e n t s 20 2 7 + Pl a n n i n g $6 , 1 7 5 , 0 0 0 $5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 3 Se a L e v e l R i s e A d a p t a t i o n a n d S h o r e l i n e P r e s e r v a t i o n 20 2 8 Fe a s i b i l i t y $2 7 , 0 0 0 $T B D 1, 2 , 3 , 4 1 Exhibit 3 Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 67 of 94 Pr o p o s e d 2 0 2 6 S t a t e a n d F e d e r a l B u d g e t P r i o r i t i e s Pr o j e c t Es t i m a t e d F i s c a l Ye a r o f Ex p e n d i t u r e Pr o j e c t P h a s e Es t i m a t e d P r i o r Ap p r o p r i a t i o n Es t i m a t e d Fu n d i n g N e e d Co u n c i l D i s t r i c t Pa r k s a n d T r a i l s P r o j e c t s : T i e r I Av e n i d a E n c i n a s C o a s t a l R a i l T r a i l a n d P e d e s t r i a n I m p r o v e m e n t s 20 2 6 - 2 0 2 7 Co n s t r u c t i o n $7 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 $5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 2, 3 Pi c k l e b a l l C o u r t s : Ca l a v e r a H i l l s a n d S t a g e c o a c h C o m m u n i t y P a r k s 20 2 6 Pl a n n i n g $3 0 0 , 0 0 0 $3 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 2, 4 AD A B e a c h A c c e s s I m p r o v e m e n t s – P i n e A v e . t o T a m a r a c k A v e . 20 2 7 Pl a n n i n g $1 , 1 4 4 , 0 0 0 $1 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 1 Pa r k s a n d T r a i l s P r o j e c t s : T i e r I I Le o C a r r i l l o R a n c h P a r k P h a s e 3 B 20 2 7 Pl a n n i n g $7 0 0 , 0 0 0 $3 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 3 Ro b e r t s o n R a n c h P a r k D e v e l o p m e n t 20 2 8 Co n s t r u c t i o n $2 , 1 0 7 , 0 0 0 $3 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 2 Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d M o b i l i t y P r o j e c t s : T i e r I Ke l l y D r . a n d P a r k D r . C o m p l e t e S t r e e t I m p r o v e m e n t s 20 2 7 - 2 0 2 8 Co n s t r u c t i o n $5 , 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 $3 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 2 Lo w e r i n g t h e R a i l r o a d T r a c k s i n t h e V i l l a g e : D e s i g n & E n v i r o n m e n t a l 20 2 7 Pl a n n i n g $5 , 2 2 0 , 0 0 0 $2 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 1 2 Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 68 of 94 2025 END OF YEAR REPORT CITY OF CARLSBAD Prepared by: Sharon Gonsalves, Managing Director (916) 849-5536 sgonsalves@publicpolicygroup.com Exhibit 4 Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 69 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TRANSMITTAL LETTER.............................................................................................. 3 CPPG/CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS ........................................ 5 YEAR IN REVIEW ..................................................................................................... 6 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ............................................................................ 8 HIGHLIGHTS: LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SUCCESS .......................................... 8 SUMMARY OF ADVOCACY DELIVERABLES.................................................... 13 LOOKING AHEAD .................................................................................................. 14 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE.................................................................. 14 HOUSING AND LAND USE ........................................................................... 15 CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT CLEAN UP ............................... 15 ELECTION YEAR POLITICS ........................................................................... 16 GRANT FUNDING ....................................................................................... 17 Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 70 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 3 TRANSMITTAL LETTER November 20, 2025 To: Geoff Patnoe City Manager City of Carlsbad From: Sharon Gonsalves Managing Director California Public Policy Group Dear Mr. Patnoe: On behalf of the California Public Policy Group (CPPG), I want to thank you, your team, and the City of Carlsbad City Council for continuing to engage our firm for state legislative advocacy services. This End of Year Report provides an overview of our work with the City during the 2025 legislative year and outlines next steps as we prepare for 2026. Over the past year, CPPG worked closely with your staff to strengthen the City’s presence in Sacramento and advance its policy objectives. Through consistent engagement with the Administration, state agencies, and legislative leadership, we continued to elevate the City’s profile and ensure that your local priorities were clearly understood in state-level policy discussions. Our team actively monitored and engaged with more than 900 pieces of legislation, with the City taking positions on 25 measures and achieving positive outcomes on most of them. CPPG’s advocacy included direct meetings with legislators, drafting and coordinating position letters, developing policy analyses, and collaborating with stakeholder coalitions to mitigate adverse impacts and advance favorable outcomes. These efforts resulted in more than 430 meaningful touchpoints with your staff or on your behalf. This year’s legislative advocacy program was strengthened by increased City engagement, including weekly check-ins, monthly subcommittee meetings, and a Sacramento trip by both subcommittee members to advocate for the City’s interests. We have taken a measured approach to advocating for the City by issuing strategic positions and working with statewide associations to deliver the most effective messaging possible. Although the City did not sponsor a bill this year, CPPG engaged with several stakeholders and policy consultants on proposals developed by the City for consideration in the upcoming year. As always, our work reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that state policies remain workable, fiscally responsible, and reflective of the needs of local agencies like the City of Carlsbad. We are grateful for your continued partnership and for the opportunity to represent your interests at the State Capitol. We look forward to building on the progress made in 2025 and continuing to deliver results in the year ahead. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 71 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 4 Sincerely, Sharon Gonsalves Managing Director California Public Policy Group, Inc. CC: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, City of Carlsbad Cindie McMahon, City Attorney, City of Carlsbad Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 72 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 5 CPPG/CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS PIECES OF LEGISLATION TRACKED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY Legislation tracked and assessed for impacts on the City to its legal, operational, or fiscal authority and decision making. 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. (13 desired outcomes out of 24 total positions.) * Some bills that the City positioned in support of were made into two-year bills. COMBINED DELIVERABLES AND TOUCHPOINTS 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, 2024 to October 31, 2025. 920+ 13/24 460+ Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 73 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 6 YEAR IN REVIEW The Legislature Returns: The California State Legislature held its Organizational Session in early December 2024, officially launching the 2025-26 legislative session, and reconvened in early January to begin regular business. The session welcomed 35 newly elected state legislators—25 Assemblymembers and 10 Senators—who joined a Legislature led by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Geyserville). In the Assembly, Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) was appointed the new Speaker Pro Tempore, with Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) remaining as Majority Leader. The 2024 election brought a minor shift in the Legislature’s composition, with Republicans gaining two seats in the Assembly and one seat in the Senate. In early May, a reorganization plan was introduced to dissolve the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and create two new entities: the Business and Consumer Services Agency and the California Housing and Homelessness Agency. The plan will take effect on July 1, 2026. The Governor’s Budget: In early January, Governor Gavin Newsom revealed his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26 during a press conference. The proposal projected total state spending at $322.27 billion, with a minor surplus of $363 million. The May revision to the January proposal indicated a slight reduction in total spending to $321.9 billion, with a deficit now projected at $12 billion. The deficit was based on the increasing costs of state programs and declining economic conditions from a “growth recession” caused by federal policies in conjunction with the wildfires which devastated Southern California, resulting in over 18,000 homes being destroyed. In mid-June, the Legislature met its constitutional deadline to advance a balanced state budget for fiscal year 2025-26, passing SB 101 (Wiener) [Chapter 4, Statutes of 2025]. The final budget totaled $324.7 billion in spending—about 10% higher than in 2024-25—and closed a $12.3 billion deficit. In late June, provisions of several bills having to do with building standards and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) were added into AB 130 (Committee on Budget) [Chapter 22, Statutes of 2025], the housing budget trailer bill. The final version of AB 130 represented one of the most consequential housing and land use measures of 2025. The bill established a moratorium on new or amended state and local residential building standards—including energy, green building, and design requirements—from October 1, 2025, through June 1, 2031. Changes to CEQA in the bill included new categorical exemptions for certain infill and mixed-income projects, streamlined litigation timelines, and restrictions on the scope of CEQA challenges that can be brought against projects consistent with certified housing elements. These CEQA changes were among the most far-reaching in years and signaled a broader legislative effort to reduce procedural barriers to housing construction. Perhaps most notably, AB 130 marked the first time in recent memory that major policy reforms were included in a budget bill instead of being pursued through standalone legislation. This approach enabled the provisions to advance rapidly through the legislative process, bypass most policy and fiscal debate, and take effect immediately rather than at the start of 2026. More Housing Laws Aimed at Targeting Local Agencies: In 2025, the Legislature once again placed much of the responsibility for solving California’s housing crisis on local governments. As in prior years, a central theme of the legislative agenda was curbing or preempting local control over land Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 74 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 7 use and housing decisions. Lawmakers advanced a series of measures designed to streamline approvals, override local zoning, and impose new state-level mandates on production targets and permitting timelines. These actions reflect a persistent narrative that local governments continue to act as barriers to housing growth—a view that continues to shape state policy. Yet this approach often overlooks the substantial progress many cities and counties have already made. Across the state, local governments have implemented innovative programs to incentivize affordable housing, expedite approvals for infill and accessory dwelling units, and adopt more flexible zoning standards to support density and mixed-use development. Notably, there has been a subtle but important shift in tone among some lawmakers, signaling a growing recognition that local agencies are not solely responsible for California’s housing shortfall. For example, the Senate Housing Committee declined to advance Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) proposal to dramatically expand the controversial SB 9 (Atkins, 2022), citing the need to respect local community planning processes and acknowledging that eliminating all development fees would undermine the ability of local governments to fund essential public services. Similarly, SB 499 (Stern) [Chapter 543, Statutes of 2025] was passed and signed by Governor Newsom, marking a rare acknowledgement of the balance between housing production and community infrastructure. The measure reaffirms the importance of parks and open space as critical public safety assets and restores the ability of public utilities to assess connection and capacity charges at the time of development—recognizing that such tools are vital for maintaining sustainable growth. While these developments suggest a modest rebalancing of the state-local relationship, the Legislature’s broader framework still largely frames California’s housing crisis as a failure of local governance. This ongoing tension between state mandates and local innovation risks complicating, rather than accelerating, the state’s long-term housing production goals. Leadership Change Announced: In mid-June, Senator McGuire announced that Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) would succeed him as Senate President pro Tempore. Senator McGuire, who had served as pro Tem since early 2024, is running for one of the newly drawn congressional districts created by Proposition 50. Senator Limón, a former Assemblymember, was formally elected Senate leader on September 13 and officially took office on November 17. She will lead the Senate through the remainder of the 2025-26 session and will term out in 2028. Late Session Gut-and-Amends: In mid-August, Governor Newsom and legislative leaders introduced a legislative package that called for a special election to seek voter approval of Proposition 50. Voters approved the measure, which temporarily replaces California’s existing congressional redistricting process until the next certification in 2031. In early September, with only days left in the legislative session, the Legislature introduced several bills to address affordability, including gasoline and energy costs, and greenhouse gas emissions targets. The legislation included two measures that extended the state’s Cap-and-Invest Program, which is funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and overseen by the California Air Resources Board. The legislation also allocated $1 billion annually from the Program to High-Speed Rail and an additional $1 billion in 2026-27 for other appropriations. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 75 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 8 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Our legislative advocacy for your City involves the CPPG team engaging with individual lawmakers— both within and beyond the City’s legislative district—as well as committee staff, the Governor’s Administration, and regulatory officials to advance the City’s policy objectives. This collaborative approach is designed not only to move the City’s priorities forward but also to mitigate potential legal, operational, and fiscal challenges arising from state legislation. Effective advocacy depends on raising awareness and sharing key information about priority issues. Empowering your City Council, staff, and advocacy team is essential to advancing your state policy priorities. Our efforts range from collaborating with lawmakers and legislative staff to refine bill language and offer technical amendments, to building strong coalitions that align with the City’s goals. These efforts include educating legislators, mobilizing supporters, engaging the media, and forging strategic partnerships—all while maintaining a clear and 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 legal, operational, or fiscal hurdles. The following highlights summarize our key accomplishments for your City in 2025, demonstrating how our efforts advanced your interests or reduced potential impacts on your agency. Highlights: Legislative Advocacy Success ✓SB 423 (Gonzalez) Housing: real property transfer taxes: affordability covenants (City of Carlsbad: Oppose) [Please note: an official position was not adopted due to time constraints.] In the final days of the 2025 legislative session, SB 423 was “gut and amended” to include language that would have prohibited cities from imposing a real estate transfer tax on certain newly constructed residential and commercial properties. The proposal would have barred transfer taxes for 15 years following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for multifamily and commercial developments and for five years on single-family homes rebuilt after a disaster. Another version of the proposal extended these restrictions to document transfer taxes, posing significant fiscal impacts for local governments statewide. CPPG mobilized immediately, working directly with city clients to quantify potential revenue losses and prepare city-specific impact analyses. Our team also coordinated with each city’s legislative delegation, the League of California Cities, and external partners such as the California Professional Firefighters, amplifying statewide opposition and elevating the issue politically. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 76 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 9 Our coordinated advocacy resulted in SB 423 being narrowed to apply only to the City of Los Angeles before ultimately stalling at the end of session. ✓AB 379 (Schultz) Crimes: prostitution (City of Carlsbad: Support) AB 379 strengthens California’s legal framework to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of minors and supports survivors of human trafficking. The bill expands penalties for offenders, establishes a Survivor Support Fund, and creates new diversion opportunities for individuals engaged in prostitution under certain conditions. This bill builds on prior reforms by balancing accountability with rehabilitation and expanding resources for victim-centered programs statewide. Due to significant opposition from progressive groups, the Assembly Public Safety Committee removed the proposed felony provision for soliciting 16- and 17-year-olds in order for the bill to advance—causing public tension. CPPG engaged with legislative staff, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and survivor advocacy groups to ensure balanced consideration of enforcement and implementation impacts. CPPG monitored amendments and collaborated with public safety partners to align the bill with local operational realities while maintaining its protective intent. The bill passed both chambers with broad bipartisan support, reflecting consensus around the need for stronger protections and survivor resources. After a series of amendments, AB 379 was signed into law by Governor Newsom on July 30 (Chapter 82, Statutes of 2025). ✓AB 1337 (Ward) Information Practices Act of 1977 (City of Carlsbad: Oppose) AB 1337 sought to expand the Information Practices Act of 1977 to include all local agencies—cities, counties, schools, and special districts—removing their long-standing exemption from the Act. The proposal would have imposed sweeping new data collection and disclosure mandates on local governments, conflicting with existing privacy laws and creating significant operational, fiscal, and legal challenges for city staff. Acting on behalf of the City of Carlsbad, CPPG provided a detailed legislative analysis outlining the bill’s fiscal and administrative impacts, convened a multi-association coalition to strengthen local government opposition, and worked directly with the Senate Judiciary Committee to convey city- specific concerns about implementation feasibility and unfunded mandates. As a result of this collective effort, AB 1337 did not advance from the Senate Judiciary Committee, halting its progress in 2025 and marking a significant success for local governments by preserving existing local data governance practices. ✓SB 315 (Grayson) Quimby Act (City of Carlsbad: Oppose) SB 315 proposed sweeping changes to the Quimby Act, including capping parkland dedications at 25% for infill projects and prohibiting Quimby fees within a half-mile of existing parks—undermining the ability of local governments to secure resources for park infrastructure in growing communities. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 77 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 10 On behalf of the City of Carlsbad, CPPG led an aggressive, multi-pronged advocacy campaign to defeat the bill. We developed and mobilized a broad, statewide coalition that included local governments, environmental advocates, planning professionals, and equity-focused organizations. We made the case that SB 315 would significantly harm community health, reduce access to green space, and compromise local fiscal stability—especially in rapidly growing or historically underserved areas. CPPG worked hand-in-hand with the Senate Local Government Committee and engaged directly with individual legislative offices to walk through the bill’s consequences in real-world terms. Our team’s work helped shift the narrative, dispel misconceptions, and build meaningful legislative resistance. The result was the preservation of a critical funding and planning tool for local agencies. As a direct result of our efforts, SB 315 was held in the Senate Local Government Committee, halting its progress in 2025. ✓SB 346 (Durazo) Local agencies: transient occupancy taxes: short-term rental facilitator (City of Carlsbad: Support) SB 346 authorizes local agencies (e.g., cities) to enact an ordinance to require a short-term rental facilitator to report the physical address of each short-term rental. The bill also authorizes a local agency to request additional information when the physical address is not sufficient for the local agency to identify a specific short-term rental. The bill authorizes local agencies to impose an administrative fine or penalty for failure to file the report and authorizes the local agency to initiate an audit of a short-term rental facilitator. SB 346 is permissive, not a new mandate. The lack of licensing from 25% to 75% of short-term rentals results in uncollected taxes, causing local governments to lose money and exacerbating housing shortages and rising rent levels. CPPG engaged with the broader local government advocacy community—including the League of California Cities, the Urban Counties of California, the Rural County Representatives of California, among others—to create a robust support coalition to educate the legislature on specific impacts to local agencies and encourage passage. On October 13, SB 346 was signed into law by Governor Newsom (Chapter 751, Statutes of 2025). ✓SB 677 (Wiener) Housing development: streamlined approvals (City of Carlsbad: Oppose) SB 677 sought to make sweeping changes to SB 9 (Atkins, 2021) and SB 35 (Wiener, 2017), expanding state authority over local land use and weakening long-standing local discretion. The bill would have ministerially authorized up to four housing units on a single-family parcel—and as many as six or more units on certain subdivided or multifamily parcels—without local review or affordability requirements, representing a substantial power shift from local agencies to private developers. It also would have eliminated impact fees for SB 9 units under 1,750 square feet, shifting infrastructure and service costs from developers to cities. CPPG worked directly with the City of Carlsbad to evaluate fiscal and operational impacts, preparing detailed analyses of lost revenue and the challenges cities would face in providing essential services Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 78 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 11 under these provisions. Our team also worked proactively with the Senate Housing Committee chair and staff to emphasize the bill’s far-reaching implications and its erosion of local planning authority. Following sustained advocacy by CPPG and local government stakeholders, SB 677 failed to advance out of the Senate Housing Committee, halting the proposal for 2025 and preserving local discretion over housing and infrastructure planning. On April 23, SB 677 failed to garner enough support and failed in the Senate Housing Committee, halting its progress in 2025. ❖AB 253 (Ward) California Residential Private Permitting Review Act: residential building permits (City of Carlsbad: Oppose) AB 253 allows applicants to hire licensed private professionals—such as certified engineers or architects—to conduct plan checks for certain residential permits when local building departments cannot complete reviews within 30 business days. CPPG worked with local government advocates and met with the author’s office to express concerns about safety, liability, and oversight of state mandates. The bill was amended to limit local government liability and ensure that local governments will retain final authority to approve or deny permits to ensure compliance with California’s building standards. On October 10, AB 253 was signed into law by Governor Newsom (Chapter 487, Statutes of 2025). ❖SB 79 (Wiener) Housing development: transit-oriented development (City of Carlsbad: Oppose) SB 79 establishes statewide standards for housing development within one-half mile of major transit stops, making qualifying “transit-oriented housing developments” an allowed use regardless of local zoning restrictions. It overrides local government planning authority by setting minimum height, density, and floor area ratios that cities and counties cannot reduce, and by deeming compliant projects automatically consistent with local plans under the Housing Accountability Act. This centralizes land-use control for transit-adjacent areas, limiting local discretion and presuming local denials unlawful in high-resource areas beginning January 1, 2027. SB 79 reappropriates local land use authority to transit agencies despite local governments investing heavily in planning through the state mandated housing element process that prioritize public participation. Immediately upon introduction, CPPG worked with advocates in the broader local government advocacy community—including the League of California Cities, among others—to create a robust opposition coalition to educate the Legislature on specific impacts to local agencies. As a direct result of our efforts with a coalition of stakeholders, SB 79 was substantially amended prior to making its way to Governor Newsom to create exemptions for sites in high fire hazard zones, sites vulnerable to sea level rise, and sites with historic resources. CPPG set up and attended a series of meetings in Sacramento with Councilmember Burkholder educating lawmakers on how SB 79 would impact the City of Carlsbad and unattended consequences. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 79 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 12 While we continued to advocate for a veto, the bill’s impact was reduced through a series of negotiated amendments. On October 10, a significantly amended version of SB 79 was signed into law by Governor Newsom (Chapter 512, Statutes of 2025). ❖SB 358 (Becker) Mitigation Fee Act: mitigating vehicular traffic impacts (City of Carlsbad: Oppose) As introduced, SB 358 required a blanket 50% reduction in local vehicle mitigation fees for transit- oriented developments, prompting opposition from cities concerned about the fiscal and operational impacts of a one-size-fits-all mandate. CPPG engaged early with the author’s office and worked closely with the both the Senate and Assembly Local Government Committees to secure amendments that shifted the bill to a trip-generation-based framework, allowing local governments to use their existing nexus and VMT data to determine fee reductions. Additional amendments established amenity-based eligibility, requiring projects to be within one-half mile of at least three qualifying destinations—such as grocery stores, parks, restaurants, or schools—to ensure reductions are limited to genuinely transit-oriented areas. These revisions considerably reduced fiscal and operational impacts. On October 10, Governor Newsom signed a significantly amended version of SB 358 into law (Chapter 515, Statutes of 2025). ❖SB 707 (Durazo) Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements (City of Carlsbad: Oppose Unless Amended) Upon introduction, SB 707 proposed sweeping changes to California’s Brown Act, dramatically broadening the definition of “legislative bodies” and imposing a series of costly new mandates on local agencies. As introduced, the bill would have required all legislative bodies to: •Provide opportunities for remote public participation; •Translate meeting agendas into multiple languages using human translators; •Offer live interpretation services during meetings; •Provide physical public access to computers during meetings; •Require all employment matters discussed in closed session to be publicly disclosed; •Obtain a four-fifths vote for any closed-session action or to conduct a special meeting. Recognizing the significant fiscal and operational impacts, CPPG immediately engaged alongside a broad coalition of local government stakeholders to oppose the measure. As chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, Senator Durazo later merged four separate—largely favorable— Brown Act-related proposals into SB 707, creating a challenging dynamic in which local agencies supported certain provisions while strongly opposing others. Throughout the spring, CPPG played a central role in negotiations, working closely with committee staff, the author’s office, key legislators, and other stakeholders to secure substantial amendments that removed or narrowed nearly all of the bill’s most burdensome provisions. These changes significantly reduced the measure’s fiscal and operational impacts while introducing new flexibility for legislative bodies subject to the Brown Act. However, the combining of measures effectively split the local government coalition, with three statewide local government organizations shifting their position to support the bill and another moving to neutral. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 80 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 13 Despite these improvements, several problematic provisions remained. In the final month of the legislative session—with a fractured local government coalition, CPPG directly led the opposition coalition, meeting with virtually every member of the Assembly to urge rejection of the bill. As the session drew to a close, CPPG successfully led efforts to have SB 707 placed on the Inactive File on September 11, effectively stalling it for the year. However, due to commitments Senator Durazo had made to the authors of the consolidated measures, the bill was pulled from the Inactive File in the final hours of session and passed both houses on September 13. While disappointing that the bill ultimately advanced, CPPG’s advocacy directly resulted in major amendments that dramatically mitigated local agency impacts and preserved greater flexibility within open meeting requirements. On October 3, Governor Newsom signed a significantly amended version of SB 707 into law (Chapter 327, Statutes of 2025). Summary of Advocacy Deliverables At CPPG, our commitment extends far beyond traditional state legislative advocacy—it’s a year- round partnership dedicated to serving the City of Carlsbad 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 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 2025, CPPG sent your team 31 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 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 presentations for your staff and Council whenever necessary, providing insights on legislative 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 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. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 81 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 14 Updates on Legislative and Regulatory Processes, and Detailed Legislative Analyses: 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. CPPG also provided timely informational reports during critical stages of the budget and policy processes and followed up 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: •Analysis of AB 1337 (Ward) •Analyses of SB 79 (Wiener) [Chapter 512, Statutes of 2025] •Analysis of SB 677 (Wiener) •Analysis of SB 681 (Wahab) •Advanced Clean Fleets regulations •Organizational Session •California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Bills •Homeless funding accountability •Howard Jarvis initiative •National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) •Budget updates: January proposal, May revision, and June final •Housing package budget trailer bills •Appropriations Suspense Files •End of session LOOKING AHEAD Local Government Revenue California continues to face a structural deficit, compounded by growing uncertainty around federal health care policy. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO)—the Legislature’s nonpartisan research and advisory division—recently warned that new federal actions reducing Medi-Cal reimbursements and provider tax revenues could cost the state’s General Fund billions of dollars annually. These losses—combined with lower federal participation and higher county administrative burdens—will likely intensify pressure on state finances and heighten the risk of future cost shifts to local governments. In lean fiscal years, both the Administration and the Legislature have historically viewed local revenue sources as soft targets for backfilling state shortfalls. As the state contends with federal retrenchment in Medi-Cal and other programs, legislation in 2026 is likely to push additional costs, enforcement duties, and programmatic responsibilities onto local agencies. In one of its earlier forms, SB 423 (Gonzalez) proposed a cap on local document transfer fees—a measure with significant implications for municipal revenue stability. While the bill was ultimately narrowed to apply solely to Los Angeles and stalled in committee, it reflected a broader trend of proposals seeking to limit local fiscal authority. Similar statewide measures affecting multiple jurisdictions are expected to reemerge in 2026. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 82 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 15 Additionally, development impact fees, Quimby fees, and other local cost-recovery mechanisms may once again be targeted as part of broader efforts to “reduce barriers” to housing and economic development. Restricting or eliminating these local funding tools would undermine the ability of local governments to maintain infrastructure, parks, affordable housing programs, and essential public services. As the fiscal and policy landscape continues to evolve, local governments must remain vigilant in safeguarding existing revenue streams and defending against legislation that creates new unfunded mandates. Ensuring that local governments retain the authority and resources necessary to meet community needs will be a central advocacy priority heading into the 2026 legislative session. Housing and Land Use Continuing a trend of recent years, the 2025 legislative session saw the introduction of hundreds of housing-related measures, exceeding the volume introduced in prior years. In an unprecedented move, about 300 pages of statutory changes were enacted through the 2025-26 state budget. The pace of housing legislation is expected to remain intense in 2026. Anticipated trends include proposals to increase densities and building heights around transit corridors, expand zoning reforms to promote infill development, and impose new or expanded planning and reporting requirements. Lawmakers are also likely to pursue further changes to accessory dwelling unit and duplex laws, as well as adjustments to the Davis-Stirling Act aimed at limiting common-interest development restrictions. Recent state housing measures have increasingly shifted costs and responsibilities onto local governments while limiting their discretion in land use planning. These policies often overlook the broader factors contributing to California’s housing crisis, including construction labor shortages, financing constraints, rising materials costs, and speculative ownership of existing housing stock. Despite these challenges, cities and counties continue to demonstrate leadership by approving and entitling housing projects at significant levels. Local governments remain committed partners in addressing the state’s housing needs; however, mandates imposed without corresponding resources or flexibility risk undermining sustainable, long-term progress. California Environmental Quality Act Clean Up Significant reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) were enacted in 2025 through the state budget process—marking the most substantial changes to the law in decades. Despite the scale of that reform package, several issues remain unresolved. Some legislators who reluctantly supported the 2025 reforms have signaled their intent to pursue further “clean-up” legislation, focusing on concerns such as more prescriptive requirements for tribal consultation and clarification of the definition of “advanced manufacturing.” Additional CEQA-related bills may therefore emerge in 2026 to address these outstanding matters. Although many of these proposals are framed as technical adjustments, they carry the potential to introduce new mandates or increase litigation risks for local governments. Because cities and counties serve as the primary implementers of CEQA, it will be critical that any reforms remain both workable and adequately Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 83 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 16 resourced—in order to maintain environmental protections while supporting responsible and sustainable development. Advanced Manufacturing: The 2025 CEQA reforms exempt nine project types from environmental review, including “advanced manufacturing,” defined broadly to encompass big tech, semiconductors, aerospace, and electronics industries. Stakeholders have raised concerns— especially labor and environmental groups—that the definition is overly expansive and could erode environmental or community protections unless narrowly tailored and clearly defined. Tribal Consultations: Under current law, local governments must offer consultation within 14 days and allow a 60-day period for consultation to conclude. Local officials continue to seek clearer guidance on those timelines; tribal and indigenous organizations, conversely, are advocating for more time and meaningful engagement to ensure consultation is substantive. Endangered Species Act: With the passage of SB 131 and AB 130 (both chaptered June 30, 2025), the definition of “natural and protected lands” was narrowed, prompting stakeholders to demand clarification that this change does not weaken conservation protections for critical species habitat. Ballot Measure & Legislative Implications: In addition to statutory reforms, a proposed statewide ballot initiative titled the “Building an Affordable California Act”—filed by the California Chamber of Commerce and expected to appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot if qualified—seeks to further redefine the CEQA review process. The measure would establish strict deadlines for lead agencies (e.g., 365 days for EIRs, 180 days for Negative Declarations) and impose accelerated judicial-review timelines under a “substantial evidence” standard rather than “prejudicial abuse of discretion.” Because the ballot initiative could drastically shift how CEQA is implemented statewide, it may in turn influence the Legislature’s approach to any follow-up statutory changes. In practical terms, local governments should anticipate that reforms in 2026 may come not only through bills but also through the interplay of voter-driven mandates and legislative reactions. This means advocates should maintain a dual focus: (1) refining the technical statutory language governing CEQA implementation, and (2) monitoring how ballot measure outcomes could prompt additional legislative or budgetary changes. Election Year Politics Political Climate: With the upcoming national midterm elections, California’s political environment is expected to become increasingly charged and unpredictable. Voters will choose a new Governor on November 3, 2026, marking the end of Governor Newsom’s tenure as he positions himself for a likely presidential run. In the lead-up, the Administration is expected to double down on policies that contrast sharply with those of the Trump Administration—particularly around climate action, healthcare access, and housing production. Election years often amplify high-profile policy debates, and 2026 will be no exception. The Governor and legislative leaders will be eager to showcase tangible progress on housing, homelessness, and cost-of-living issues—areas where public frustration remains high. We can expect an increased emphasis on high-visibility housing enforcement measures, streamlined development proposals, Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 84 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 17 and budget initiatives designed to demonstrate fiscal responsibility while maintaining progressive priorities. Public safety will also remain a central political issue, as lawmakers seek to balance community concerns over rising property crime and retail theft with ongoing efforts to reform the criminal justice system. One area that we are focusing on is the ongoing funding for Proposition 36. Despite the overwhelming voter approval rating, the Administration and the Legislature only allocated $100 million in this year’s budget for implementation. Next year could see a refocus on additional funding for the measure. The combination of federal-state political tension, economic uncertainty, and leadership transitions will make 2026 a uniquely volatile year in Sacramento—one where policy outcomes are increasingly shaped by electoral dynamics as much as by sound governance. Governmental Operations Measures: Even-numbered years traditionally bring a wave of labor- sponsored legislation. While often directed at large corporations, many of these proposals extend to the public sector—adding costs, compliance obligations, and new restrictions on local discretion. Measures that limit a local agency’s ability to contract for specialized or temporary services, increase employer costs, or undermine the collective bargaining process are expected to resurface in 2026. Growing concern over the public-sector use of artificial intelligence (AI) is also expected to drive new legislation in 2026. Labor organizations view AI as a potential threat to public-sector jobs, while privacy and community advocates are focused on data protection, algorithmic bias, and the preservation of human oversight. Together, these interests are likely to fuel a broad push for regulation. Anticipated proposals may require agencies to disclose AI use in decision-making, hiring, procurement, or public safety operations; conduct bias and privacy assessments; or establish internal AI governance frameworks. While intended to enhance transparency and accountability, these measures could impose significant new reporting and compliance burdens—particularly for smaller agencies with limited technical capacity. Similarly, “transparency” and “good governance” reforms are expected to return in 2026. This year’s SB 707 (Durazo) [Chapter 327, Statutes of 2025] enacted one of the most complex revisions to the Ralph M. Brown Act in decades, creating new requirements for remote participation, agenda posting, and language access. While the bill’s intent was to enhance public participation, its implementation has already proved to be administratively burdensome for local agencies. Following pushback from community groups who argued the bill did not go far enough, Senator Durazo has signaled plans to expand translation, accessibility, and recordkeeping requirements in the upcoming session. Grant Funding Prepared by: Jake Whitaker, Director of Grant Services After a tumultuous year with major changes in the landscape of federal funding, many municipalities have started to pivot away from pursuing federal grant opportunities due to new requirements included in grant award agreements prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and requiring cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. However, the state of California Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 85 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 18 faces a multi-year structural deficit, limits the state’s ability to backfill the loss of federal funding opportunities across the multitude of impacted areas, including transportation, clean energy adoption, and public safety. Funding through Proposition 4, colloquially known as the “Climate Bond,” is currently being rolled out and represents the most immediate opportunity for municipalities to apply for discretionary grant funding. Due to the legislature’s failure to include an exemption to the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) for Climate Bond programs, the grant funding solicitations must follow the full administrative approval process which has contributed to a delay of approximately six months. Some early appropriations made in January 2025 are currently going through public comment on the draft grant program guidelines, while other Climate Bond programs appropriated at the end of session in September 2025 are just now undertaking the APA approval process. The FY 25-26 budget appropriated $3.3 billion of the total $10 billion in spending authorized by the Climate Bond. While these funding opportunities are a welcome reprieve, grant funding is anticipated to be highly competitive with increased demand and the structure of the Climate Bond itself spreads these dollars across many different areas of investment—making this a wide yet shallow pool of funding. Transportation • Cycle 8 of the California Transportation Commission (CTC)’s Active Transportation Program is anticipated to be released in March 2026. The goals of the program are to increase biking and walking trips, increase the safety and mobility of non-motorized users, advance efforts of regional agencies, and enhance public health. • The CTC has announced the Local Partnership Program for another round of funding. This program provides funding to projects where voters have approved fees or taxes dedicated solely to transportation improvements or that have imposed fees. Eligible activities include projects that address aging infrastructure, road conditions, active transportation, transit, and rail. The State has appropriated $202 million for this program. Applications are anticipated to be released around summer of next year. • The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) was planning to release a solicitation for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program in November 2025 (potentially delayed due to the prolonged government shutdown). Funding can be used for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. • The USDOT is currently reviewing the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), which has one remaining fiscal year of funding appropriated by the IIJA. BIP focuses on projects that address existing bridges that are either in poor condition or at-risk of falling into poor condition. The timeline for the re-release of the BIP solicitation is currently unclear. • The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is anticipated to hold competitions for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program and Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) program in 2026. These two programs are popular opportunities for jurisdictions pursuing grade separation projects. Timelines for these competitions are unclear. Currently, funding for FY 25 and FY 26 appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) have not been obligated for projects. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 86 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 19 Parks and Recreation • The State has appropriated $188.5 million through the Climate Bond (Prop 4) for the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program. The program’s intent is to create new parks and new recreation opportunities in critically underserved communities across California. Draft guidelines will be released soon for public comment. The upcoming Round 5 competition, which will be held in Summer/Fall 2026, will be the only Climate Bond-funded round of grants. • The Art in California Parks Grant Program is anticipated to be released in Spring 2026 for Round 3. The goal of the program is to revitalize local parks with diverse experiences that foster creativity, community connection and transform them into hubs of art, culture, and nature. • The federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program is currently paused for administrative review. ORLP funds a wide variety of recreational projects and facilities, from sports fields and playgrounds to walking trails and community gardens. The timeline for review and resumption of grant funding competitions is currently unclear. • The federally funded Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), however, has not been impacted by shifts in federal policy or administrative procedures. LWCF dollars are managed and awarded by the State as a federal pass-through grant. The LWCF provides matching grants to local governments for outdoor recreation projects. Grant competitions are typically held annually. The California State Parks Office of Grants and Local Assistance (OGALS) notes that the next LWCF competition is “coming soon.” • The California State Parks Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) had a public comment period for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Non-Motorized this summer and are working on revisions of the guidelines. The next application cycle is anticipated to be released in 2026 or 2027. • OGALS also had a public comment period for the Habitat Conservation Fund this spring and are working on revising the guidelines. The next application cycle is anticipated to be released in 2026 or 2027. This program funds projects for nature interpretation programs to bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, protection of various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails. Water Quality and Conservation • The Bureau of Reclamation has stated that several WaterSMART funding opportunities were planned to be launched in Fall 2025 prior to the government shutdown: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Program, Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, and Drought Resiliency Projects. • The State Water Resources Control Board accepts applications for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund on a rolling basis. The annual Intended Use Plan drafts are published in November/December of each year. The RLF programs are funded through a combination of annual state and federal investments. However, available funding is expected to tighten in the coming years with the expiration of IIJA supplemental federal funding. • The State Water Resources Control Board is currently accepting applications for the Water Recycling Planning Grant. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until 6/30/2027. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 87 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 20 Projects can include recycled water treatment, recycled water storage, distribution, and pumping, and groundwater recharge. Economic Development •The Economic Development Administration has announced the Disaster Supplemental Grant Program for areas that received major disaster declarations because of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, or other natural disasters in 2023-2024. The program provides funding to support economic recovery in these affected areas. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for Readiness and Implementation projects until funds are exhausted. For the Industry Transformation Path, applications are due 3/3/2026. Housing Construction •The California Department of Housing and Community Development (CalHCD) has appropriated $120 million for FY 25-26 for the Multifamily Housing Program. The program funds projects for new construction or rehabilitation of existing housing development, as well as the conversion of nonresidential structures into residential structures. Funding is anticipated to be released in 2026. •The Strategic Growth Council’s Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities receives a continuous annual appropriation from Cap-and-Invest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. This program provides funds for projects that achieve GHG reductions and benefit communities through accessibility of affordable housing, employment centers, and key destinations via low-carbon transportation. Guidelines are anticipated to be released early 2026. •The legislature appropriated an additional $100 million for the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) program for FY 25-26. However, this funding will be used for “look back” awards for unfunded projects from the ERF Round 3 competition. CPPG does not anticipate a Round 4 ERF competition in 2026. Sustainability, Resilience, and Climate Action •The Strategic Growth Council has released the draft guidelines for Round 6 of the Transformative Climate Communities Program. This program provides funds for community- led development and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health, and economic benefits. The State has appropriated $100 million from the Climate Bond for this program. Draft guidelines are currently open for public comment until 1/2/2026. •The Strategic Growth Council has released the draft guidelines for Round 2 of the Community Resilience Center Program. This program provides funds for development and implementation of community resilience centers that mitigate the public health impacts of extreme heat and other emergency situations. The State has appropriated $55 million from the Climate Bond for this program. Draft guidelines are currently open for public comment until 1/2/2026. •The Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program has announced a second round of funding. The Climate Bond appropriated $22 million for FY 25-26. Funding will be used for planning projects that combine community services and physical improvements to protect Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 88 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 21 communities from extreme heat. The RFP and Pre-Application Interest Form are anticipated to be released early 2026. • The Climate Bond appropriated $46 million for the Urban Greening Program in FY 25-26. This program funds projects that result in the conversion of existing built environments into green space and green infrastructure. NOFOs are anticipated in early 2026. • The Coastal Conservancy has received Climate Bond funding appropriations of $62 million in FY 25-26 for coastal resilience projects and $32.5 million in FY 25-26 for sea level rise adaptation projects. Proposals are being accepted through the Coastal Conservancy Grants rolling application process. • The EPA’s Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup Grants were anticipated to be released November 2025, but were delayed due to shutdown. These grants provide funds to conduct planning activities, develop cleanup plans, and implement cleanup activities for brownfield sites. It is currently unknown when the NOFOs will be released, but applications are expected to be due 60 days after solicitations are released. Fire and Emergency Response • FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is anticipated to be released Winter 25/26. This program funds equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other necessary resources for protecting the public and emergency personnel. • The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant is anticipated to come out Winter 25/26. The SAFER Grant is designed to directly fund fire departments or volunteer firefighter organizations to help increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters. • The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) is anticipated to release solicitations Winter 25/26. The goal of this program is to reduce injury and prevent death through fire prevention programs and firefighter health and safety research and development. • Future funding remains uncertain for FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation programs, which include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). These programs fund a wide variety of mitigation activities, including flood protection, hazardous fuels treatment, retrofitting structures, and supplying backup power via generators for critical facilities. Going forward, options to fund these types of projects may be limited to the Congressional appropriations aka “earmarks” process. • The Community Microgrid Enablement Program through PG&E is anticipated to announce a Third Round in 2026. This program provides funding to enable a community microgrid through studies and equipment for a safe transition. Public Safety • The California Office of Traffic Safety annual OTS Grant is due January 31, 2026. This program provides funding for a variety of priority program areas with local crash data that demonstrates a need for funding. These priority program areas include: Alcohol Impaired Driving, Distracted Driving, Drug-Impaired Driving, Emergency Medical Services, Motorcycle Safety, Occupant Protection, Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety, Police Traffic Services, Communications and Public Affairs, and Roadway Safety and Traffic Records. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 89 of 94 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 22 •The U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) is currently accepting applications for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP), with a due date of 12/19/2025. BVP reimburses local government agencies for up to 50% of the cost of body armor vests purchased for law enforcement officers. These reimbursements are awarded on a competitive basis. Libraries •The current administration has taken action to terminate funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), which is passed through to the California State Library from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. LSTA funds a variety of programmatic grant programs available to local libraries from the State Library. While there are active lawsuits challenging the administration’s actions, future funding availability remains uncertain. ———————————————— END OF REPORT Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 90 of 94 1 December 2, 2025 City of Carlsbad 2025 Federal Year in Review www.carpiclay.com Exhibit 5 2025: A Year in Review Congress 2025 began with the start of the 119th Congress, in which Republicans found themselves in the majority in both the House and the Senate. The City had a new Member of its congressional delegation, as Senator Adam Schiff was sworn in as California’s junior Senator. As has been the case for several years now, Congress began the new calendar year with some unfinished business from 2024: the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) appropriations bills. The federal government was still being funded by a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that ran until March 14th. Unfortunately, Congress was unable to come to agreement on any of the FY25 appropriations bills, and was forced to pass a year-long CR. This CR meant that the entire federal government was funded through September 30, 2025 at current funding levels. Additionally, the year-long CR meant no funding for Community Project Requests (formerly known as earmarks), would be provided, including the $850,000 that Rep. Mike Levin included in the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill for the City’s Carlsbad Village Railroad Double Track Trenching project. As soon as Congress finished work on the CR, it immediately turned to begin work on the FY26 funding bills. The City resubmitted the request for the Carlsbad Village Railroad Double Track Trenching project to the City’s congressional delegation. Rep. Levin, now a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, was successful in getting $1,000,000 included for the project in the House THUD Appropriations bill. Outside of the annual appropriations bills, Congress spent much of the year working on a budget reconciliation package. This package, which later was renamed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), included provisions on a wide range of topics including taxes, health care, defense and homeland security. President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4th, recording the first major legislative accomplishment of his second term. With much of Congress’ attention focused on OBBBA, no further progress was made on the FY26 appropriations bills. As a result, when the calendar turned to October 1st, and Congress was still unable to pass any of the FY26 appropriations bills or a short-term CR, the federal government shutdown. Unfortunately, it took Congress a record 43 days to work together to pass legislation to finally end the shutdown and reopen the government. Congress passed a short-term CR that Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 91 of 94 2 www.carpiclay.com keeps the federal government open and funded through January 30, 2026. This CR gives Congress more time to finish the remaining appropriations bills. Trump Administration On January 20th, Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term in office. Starting on his first day in office, President Trump has chosen to govern through signing Executive Orders. So far in his second term, he has signed more than 210 Executive Orders, compared to 220 Executive Orders he signed during his entire first term. The topic of these Executives Orders has been wide ranging, including on issues such as immigration, federal funding and grants, federal hiring, and DEI. Additionally, President Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While not an official federal agency, DOGE played a large role in the early months of the Trump Administration, with DOGE staff being placed at many federal agencies. These staff were involved in decision-making activities related to federal funding and federal employees. In recent months, the role of DOGE within the federal agencies has been reduced with the departure of Elon Musk. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) elevated two budgetary terms—impoundment and rescission—into more frequent use in Washington, D.C. Impoundment occurs when the Executive Branch withholds or delays funds that Congress has directed it to spend. The Constitution provides Congress with the power of the purse, and federal agencies are required to administer funds in accordance with enacted appropriations. During the early months of President Trump’s second term, OMB undertook several efforts to impound appropriated funds. Many of these actions were challenged in court and determined to be inconsistent with the requirements of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Following these legal challenges, the Administration shifted its approach by submitting a formal rescission package to Congress. The Impoundment Control Act provides a mechanism through which an Administration may request congressional approval to rescind or withhold funding; however, such rescissions can only take effect if Congress passes legislation authorizing them. This past summer, OMB transmitted a rescission proposal totaling approximately $9 billion, identifying funding the Administration viewed as no longer necessary. Congress approved the measure, and as a result, additional rescission proposals are anticipated in the months ahead. 2026: A Look Ahead When the calendar turns to January, it will officially be an election year for all Members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Typically, during an election year, Congress’ activities become even more polarized as neither side of the aisle wants to give the other a win in any capacity. Despite this environment, Congress will still have its hand full with plenty to do. First and foremost, Congress has until January 30th to finalize the remaining nine FY26 appropriations funding bills. While there appears to be momentum to try and get at least some of these bills done before the holiday recess at the end of the month, it is very possible that these bills could Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 92 of 94 3 www.carpiclay.com slip into January. Also, Congressional Republicans and the White House could try and move another budget reconciliation bill while they hold majorities in both houses of Congress. Additionally, there are several large, multi-year bills that Congress could consider next year, including the following: Transportation Reauthorization bill Water Resources Development Act Farm Bill Reauthorization National Defense Authorization Act Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program Looking to the Administration, federal agencies will likely continue moving forward to implementing President Trump’s regulatory agenda. These actions will likely include finalizing rules at various agencies including the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency. 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 2026 community project requests to the City’s congressional delegation. As a result of these efforts, Rep. Mike Levin included $1,000,000 for the City’s Carlsbad Village Railroad Double Track Trench project. Kept City staff updated regarding all aspects of federal funding, including the President’s FY26 budget proposal, the annual appropriations process, Executive Orders, and federal agency competitive funding opportunities. Planned and executed three federal advocacy trips to Washington, D.C. for City officials in April, May and November of 2025. During these trips, the Legislative Subcommittee Councilmembers met with the City’s Congressional delegation, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, the National League of Cities, and offices of other Members of the California Congressional delegation including Reps. Jay Obernolte, Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Doug LaMalfa, Juan Vargas, Scott Peters, and Sara Jacobs. Provided the City with several issue-specific memos on the following topics: o President Trump’s Day One Presidential Actions, including Executive Orders o Federal Funding Freeze o Impoundment o Budget Reconciliation Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 93 of 94 4 www.carpiclay.com  Drafted letters of support for the City to send on the following bills: o Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act (H.R. 973) o Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act (H.R. 2786) o Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act (H.R. 1267) o Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act (H.R. 2862)  Provided weekly transportation memos and 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 regarding the potential impacts to the City of a federal government shutdown. Additionally, provided the City weekly updates during the government shutdown.  Kept the City updated in real-time on the latest related to the federal funding freeze that occurred in January and February.  Provided real-time grant funding opportunities to the City for federal programs of interest to the City.  Worked with City staff to submit formal comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed rules regarding telecommunications issues.  Participated on monthly conference calls with City staff and presented monthly federal updates to the City’s Legislative Subcommittee meetings. Dec. 9, 2025 Item #10 Page 94 of 94 Adriana Trujillo All Receive - Agenda Item # JO For the Information of the: CITY COUNCIL Date 11.-N 2-VCA CC CM i/ACM --DCM (3) From: City Clerk Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 9:27 AM To: Adriana Trujillo Subject: FW: Letter for City Council (Meeting on 12/9/25) Attachments: Youth v. Oil City of Carlsbad Clause Proposal.pdf From: Lexie <lexieh4280@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2025 6:28 PM To: Jason Haber <Jason.Haber@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: McGarrah Wilson <mcgarrah@sandiego350.org> Subject: Letter for City Council (Meeting on 12/9/25) Hi! This is Lexie from Carlsbad High School with Youth v. Oil. I attached a letter to the city council members, regarding Agenda Item 10 for Tuesday's meeting. We are asking that the council adopt our proposed clause, which would also support the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act. Looking forward to the meeting! Thank you for your help, Lexie Han CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 City of Carlsbad Council members: My name is Lexie Han, and I'm a senior at Carlsbad High School and a member of Youth v. Oil. Youth v. Oil is a youth-led team under local climate action non-profit SanDiego350 that works to end California's reliance on fossil fuels and achieve a just, rapid transition to renewable energy. We would like the City of Carlsbad to add the following clause to its legislative platform: •Proposed clause (potentially under the subsection Climate Change): o (x) Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they've caused. Here are some existing clauses in the Carlsbad Legislative Platform that support our proposed clause: •Under Section 1) Community Services, Subsection Healthy Cities O (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. •Under Section 2) Environmental Quality: O (a) Support legislation that complements the city's Environmental and Sustainability Guiding Principles. o (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. O (e) Support funding and legislation that supports climate change adaptation and resilience efforts. O Subsection 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. •(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. •Under Section 6) Public Safety, Subsection Fire Services o (d) Support legislation that would enhance statewide wildland fire safety infrastructure. •Under Section 8) Transportation, Communication and Public Works, Subsection Transportation o (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. These clauses could be used to justify the City of Carlsbad supporting the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 (SB 684 and AB 1243). We ask that the City of Carlsbad add our proposed clause to their legislative platform with the intention of then having a letter of support for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund sent to California State Legislators. The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund will be voted on in January and needs to pass the first house by the end of January 2026. Because of this, we respectfully request the City of Carlsbad to add our proposed clause to their legislative platform and send a letter of support for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund to state legislators by early January 2026 (or ideally December 2025). Our Youth v. Oil team has already passed Polluters Pay Climate Superfund City Council resolutions at San Diego, La Mesa, and Vista. We are also hoping to pass resolutions in Chula Vista and San Diego County in the next two months. Other places in California that have officially endorsed the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund include the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Corte Madera, Cotati, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Richmond, San Jose, and Sebastopol, as well as the Counties of Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Additionally, Vermont and New York have passed similar climate superfund bills. Resources about the California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act: •SB 684 and AB 1243 •2-pager Factsheet •Understanding Climate Attribution Science •Myth Buster Factsheet •Legal Support Factsheet Climate Superfund •CA Polluters Pay Climate Superfund - Health Factsheet •American Academy of Pediatrics CA Support Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act The climate crisis is a fossil-fuel crisis. A small number of the world's largest corporations have emitted the bulk of global greenhouse pollution, raking in immense profits while California taxpayers pay the price. The Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 & AB 1243) would ensure polluters pay their fair share for the climate damage they have caused in California. This bill would: •Direct CalEPA to complete a climate cost study: to quantify total damages to the state (through 2045), caused by fossil fuel emissions. •Direct CalEPA to identify responsible parties and assess compensatory fees: on the largest fossil fuel polluters, proportional to their fossil fuel emissions from 1990 through 2024, to address damages quantified in the cost study. •Fund California's future: Fees collected will fund projects and programs to mitigate, remedy, or prevent climate change costs and harms. This bill aims to prioritize strong labor and job standards and dedicate at least 40% of the funds to benefit communities hit hardest by fossil fuel pollution". It will protect Californians and lower costs by funding critical climate solutions, including investments in a clean energy transition, community resilience, home hardening, sustainable infrastructure, and essential workers responding to climate disasters. The authors of these twin bills are Senator Menjivar and Assemblymember Addis. Co-authors of the bills include Assemblymembers Ward (San Diego), Connolly, Garcia, Haney, KaIra, Pellerin, Rogers, and Schultz, and Senators Allen, Gonzalez, Stern, and Wiener. Additionally, locally in San Diego, Senators Blakespear and Padilla have already voted in support of this bill in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Supporters of the bill include: •Unions: American Federation of Teachers (AFT), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), California Nurses Association (CNA), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and San Diego Education Association (SDEA) •Organizations and businesses: See the over 100 supporting organizations listed here on page 2 o See the organizations and businesses in San Diego County who signed onto our letter of support here Opponents of the bill include: •Fossil fuel companies, Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), California Independent Petroleum Association •Building trades unions Complete list of supporters and opponents here. Adriana Trujillo From: Steve Linke <splinke@gmaitcom> Sent: Friday, December 5, 2025 3:42 PM To: City Clerk Cc: Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin; Jason Haber Subject: Public comment on 12/9/2025 Item #10: 2026 Legislative Platform and Proposals Attachments: 2025-12-09 CC 2026 Legislative platform - ELUA public commentpdf Please include the attached public comment in the public record for this item. There is no need to include this cover email. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Equitable Land Use Alliance 300 Carlsbad Village Dr, PMB 108A-79 Carlsbad, CA 92008 December 5, 2025 Re: 12/9/2025 City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform and Proposals City Council: Equitable Land Use Alliance (ELUA) thanks the Legislative Subcommittee and staff for considering and incorporating the following three ELUA Position Statement proposals into the Housing section of the Legislative Platform in various forms: • W. Shift burden of proof of need for development concessions, incentives and waivers to density bonus applicants (rather than city) • Z. Restore ability of city to impose parking minimums due to lack of high-quality transit alternatives • AA. Change method of determining proximity to transit to “walkable distance” (from “straight line”) That said, we would like council to consider adding the following three additional Position Statements to the Legislative Platform, and including the above three Position Statements, as well as the last two below, in the list of Legislative Proposals. 1. Planning and Zoning Position Statement C: Support measures legislation or constitutional amendments that authorize local land use planning and zoning law to override conflicting state law. This existing Position Statement already generically supports so-called “measures” that would restore local control, which could include either legislation or constitutional amendments. Our proposed amendment simply replaces the word “measures” with the phrase “legislation or constitutional amendments” for clarification. This identical phrase appears in two other Position Statements in the Legislative Platform: • Governance and Ethics Position Statement A: “Oppose legislation or constitutional amendments that weaken or interfere with the powers of charter cities and diminish local autonomy or home rule authority.” Equitable Land Use Alliance 2 • Planning and Zoning Position Statement F: “Oppose legislation or constitutional amendments that would restrict the power of California cities to use eminent domain for public purpose projects.” Great effort has been expended by the City of Carlsbad to influence a handful of the hundreds of individual housing bills introduced each legislative cycle. Some modest victories have been achieved, but the erosion of local control continues to accelerate each year. This amendment would demonstrate council’s broad support for restoration of local control through either legislative or constitutional changes. It is important to include constitutional changes, because they are a far more powerful tool—a single one could address a multitude of laws. As part of the City Council’s 6/17/2025 2-3 decision not to endorse the “Our Neighborhood Voices” constitutional amendment, a couple of councilmembers expressed concern about the vetting of that organization and the language in their proposed amendment. However, this current proposed amendment does not endorse any specific organization or language, and there is no commitment to spend any public resources for campaigning on any specific ballot measures—which is also the case for the other existing Position Statements that include references to constitutional amendments. 4. Support legislation that revises the definition of “major transit stop” to require more frequent and comprehensive local service to key destinations. State laws currently allow projects in proximity (e.g., within one-half mile) of so-called “major transit stops” to avoid environmental review and many local development standards under the rationale that housing near high-quality transit has a lower impact. Under the current state definition, train stations are considered “major transit stops,” which includes the Carlsbad Village and Poinsettia Train Stations. However, just because trains stop there does not mean they are high-quality transit centers. The trains have limited stops along the coast, and Carlsbad’s bus service is low-frequency, does not run all day or weekends, and does not create a transit network that can reliably get people to key destinations in reasonable amounts of time. Staff largely agrees with this observation. Thus, making the definition of “major transit stop” more stringent could exclude Carlsbad’s train stations, thereby restoring some local control in the areas around them. Equitable Land Use Alliance 3 7. Support legislation that exempts areas in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones from state housing laws that could adversely affect emergency responses to or evacuation from wildfires. State laws force the city to allow increases in residential density, including areas designated as High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. In parallel, other state laws decrease the ability of the city to require minimum setbacks to inhibit fire spread, and decrease the ability to collect impact fees to fund emergency response and evacuation route enhancements. Many areas do not have the infrastructure to accommodate the increased density, creating safety hazards. Legislation consistent with ELUA’s proposed amendment would restore local control in the hazard severity zones to reduce safety hazards. While staff largely agrees with this rationale, they identified other positions in the Fire Services section of the platform that they suggested might cover the concern: • 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. • Support legislation that increases the ability of local agencies to conduct fire hazard mitigation on protected habitat area. However, our proposal is distinctly different than these two, which only refer to fire mitigation within wildland and protected habitat areas. Our proposals apply to areas with housing and would nullify waivers/concessions for setbacks, infrastructure improvements, etc. Sincerely, Steve Linke On behalf of the ELUA Board of Directors: Steve Linke Kris Wright Diane Bedrosian Martin Danner Equitable Land Use Alliance 4 The Equitable Land Use Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit group based in Carlsbad, CA. We are dedicated to educating, engaging, and empowering residents to take part in housing policy decisions. Our mission is to support community self-determination and encourage thoughtful, sustainable development. Adriana Trujillo From: Diana A <dra805©gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, December 6, 2025 3:42 PM To: City Clerk Subject: 12/9 agenda #10 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM UPDATE Dear Mayor & City Council Members, I am writing to express my support for adding a proposed clause to our legislative platform that holds fossil fuel companies accountable. Specifically, I advocate for endorsing the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (California SB 684 and AB 1243). This crucial legislation aims to make polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they have caused. I believe that actively promoting this bill to our state legislators will significantly influence legislative votes. Since the 1960s, fossil fuel companies like Exxon have buried findings from their own scientists regarding the planet-warming effects of their emissions while continuing to reap massive profits at the expense of our communities. Clearly, polluters are at fault, yet the financial burden is being forced onto California's taxpayers. I learned about this initiative through Youth v. Oil at Carlsbad High School, and I fully support their efforts. Including this clause would reinforce the City's commitment to our Climate Action Plan. Proposed Clause (to be added under Climate Change): (x)Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they've caused. Additionally, the following existing clauses in the Carlsbad Legislative Platform support my proposal: -Section 1: Community Services, Subsection Healthy Cities** -(a) Support legislation recognizing and preventing adverse impacts affecting public health, particularly for our youth. -Section 2: Environmental Quality** -(a) Support legislation complementing the City's Environmental and Sustainability Guiding Principles. -(b) Support funding to improve and protect recreational water quality. -(e) Support funding for climate change adaptation and resilience efforts. -Section 8: Transportation, Communication, and Public Works, Subsection Transportation** -(a) Support measures financing regional transportation improvements, 1 including alternative modes of transportation. These clauses provide a strong foundation for the City of Carlsbad to support the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act. I respectfully request the addition of the proposed clause to our legislative platform, followed by sending a letter of support to California State Legislators. The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund will be voted on in January 2026, and it is vital to pass it by the end of the month. Therefore, I urge the City to take action by adding this clause and sending the letter of support by early January 2026, or ideally by December 2025. Thank you for considering this important matter. Sincerely, Diana Aguirre D3 Resident Citizen's Academy Graduate CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 2 Adriana Trujillo From: Mary Hassing <mehassing@msn.com> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 9:43 AM To: City Clerk Subject: Agenda item #10 -- Make Polluters Pay, Legislative Platform Dear Mayor Blackburn and Council Members, I write to ask the Legislative Subcommittee to add the clause supported by Youth v. Oil and SanDiego350 to your legislative platform. The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act California, SB 684 and AB 1243, is an essential piece of the work of saving the environment. For too many years, fossil fuel companies have known of the damage to our environment caused by their emissions but have hidden that information while reaping massive profits. It is time to force them to take responsibility and pay into a Superfund dedicated to mitigating the damage they have caused. Please support the young people of Carlsbad who are working hard to save our environment, save the earth, for the future. All our children deserve to live with clean air, clean water, and healthy forests and ocean waters. Let's hold the polluters accountable and make it better business practice for them to champion clean, renewable energy. Mary Hassing Carlsbad, CA CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is -s7e1 Adriana Trujillo All Receive - Agenda Item # 10 For the Information of the: CITY COUNCIL Date/4945— CA i----CC i---- CM t'ACM jDCM (3) '----- From: Riley Gattorna <rileygattorna@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 4:43 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Upcoming Bills: SB 684 and AB 1243 Dear Carlsbad City Council, Greetings my name is Riley Gattorna, and I'm a student at Carlsbad High School. I'm here to ask you to support AB 1243 and SB 684, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund bills, because these corporations need to be held accountable for their contributions to climate change. These bills will help us reach zero greenhouse gas emissions as well as help ease the cost that forces taxpayers to contribute due to these companies' faults. In the past year the Amazon Rainforest has suffered fires reaching around 44 million acres of burnt forest. This is a result of increased greenhouse gas emissions which cause drastic changes to the climate such as rainforests. It lengthens the dry seasons and creates extreme drought. Due to this the soil becomes very dry which makes the soil's flammable fuels such as pyrogenic carbon become easily ignited. Additionally, many neighboring populations such as Rio De Janeiro are suffering poor air quality because of the smoke from these fires. Based on this evidence, one can conclude that these bills are very relevant to California because we suffer lots of forest fires yearly, especially the Palisades fire this year. Some people might argue that these companies should not be charged for all of society's mistakes and tendencies. While this concern is true, these big corporations are focused only on profit and not the long standing effect of their businesses. Without holding them accountable, these companies will continue to stampede through and destroy important ecosystems with no boundaries. By passing these two bills, the state of California can do their part to counteract the rapid effect we are now seeing due to climate change. Supporting AB 1243 and SB 684 California will be able to set up the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund that will influence big corporations for the better and help reduce greenhouse emissions immensely. Thank you for your time. From, Riley Gattorna, Carlsbad High School Student CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Kathy Parker <casparker©outlook.com> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 5:52 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Item 10 on Tuesday, December 14 City Council meeting agenda Council members, this is a no-brainer. Why wouldn't we want polluters to pay? Added benefit, what better incentive for them to find ways to reduce their pollution. Please don't hesitate to add the Youth V Oil clause to our existing platform. Kathy Parker 3784 Skyline Rd Carlsbad! 92008 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sofia Carrasco <sofia@youth4climate350.org> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 6:46 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Item 10 - Endorse the Polluters Pay Clause My name is Sofia Carrasco, I'm 16 years old and I live in San Diego; my family recently bought a house in Carlsbad and I'll be moving there soon. I support the endorsement of the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 because the Big Oil industry— not our community— deserves to pay for the disasters they've knowingly caused. You can do this by adding the Polluters Pay clause to your legislative platform. Thank you for your time! CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is 's7atel 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Miles Wakeham <milestwakeham@grnail.com> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 6:49 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Polluter Pay Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 & AB 1243) My name is Miles Wakeham, and I am a 9th grader in high school. I support the endorsement of the Polluter Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 because the Big Oil industry — not our community — deserves to pay for the disasters they've knowingly caused. You can do this by adding the Polluters Pay clause to your legislative platform. The Superfund would be dedicated to funding projects responding to, or attempting to mitigate damage caused by climate change. This includes fire & flood recovery, coastal restoration, and renewable energy projects. Carlsbad would benefit from funding for its Climate Action Plan and climate resilience, and clean energy infrastructure. Thank you for your time, Miles Wakeham CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Paige DeCino <pdecino@hotmail.corn> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 7:53 PM To: City Clerk Subject: City Council comments to item 10 on Dec. 9, 2025 agenda Dear Mayor and Council Members, The Carlsbad city council is adopting their legislative platform tonight. I ask you to include language that supporting CA bills SB 684 and AB 1243 which aim to hold industries extracting or refining fossil fuels contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 through 2024 responsible for the climate damages they've caused. These bills, often called "Make Polluters Pay or the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund," align with language already within Carlsbad's legislative platform such as •Under Community Services, Healthy Cities subsection that Support(s) "legislation that recognizes and prevents adverse impacts affecting public health and the welfare of all residents, visitors and workers, and especially the young." .Under Environmental Quality that support(s) "legislation that complements the city's Environmental and Sustainability Guiding Principles." SD350.org's youth program has already successfully lobbied the cities of SD, La Mesa and Vista to pass resolutions in support of the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund. Multiple cities throughout the state have done likewise. At issue is who is to foot the bill for climate change impacts. As l'm sure you're aware, communities throughout the state have seen homeowner insurance rates skyrocket or canceled altogether due to the increased threat of wildfires. Much of the cost to deal with climate change is forced upon taxpayers, not the industries creating the problem. And frontline communities throughout the state suffer from health and environmental impacts from neighboring fossil fuel industries. It will be the large companies involved in extraction and processing of fossil fuels that these bills are targeting, not small businesses. So, please include in your platform language that shows our city supports the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund. Thank you. Sincerely, Paige DeGino I _C_ AUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content id sag] 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Ken Kobayashi <kobayashiken4@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 9:07 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Public comment supporting Making Polluters Pay Superfund proposal My name is Ken Kobayashi.1 am a retired oncologist and currently a biotech executive. I am writing in support of the Youth v. Oil request to add the following clause to your legislative platform's subsection on Climate Change: "(x) Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they've caused." !further ask that the Council support the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act California state legislation (SB 684 and AB 1243) and actively promote them to state legislators. This is Item number 10 on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting (12/9/2025). !support this action for the following reasons: Extreme weather events have become more frequent, damaging, and expensive. The financial cost of these events is growing exponentially— the LA fires alone are predicted to cost $250 billion for taxpayers. The human cost is incalculable. Since the 1960s, fossil fuel companies like Exxon have buried the findings of even their own scientists about the planet-warming effects of their emissions. They have perpetuated a series of fabrications and denials that human activity is not responsible for climate change. This strategy follows a ptaybook that is being used successfully by multiple large industries such as the tobacco and processed food industries. Even the simple act of capping and inactivating wells that are no longer active is being ignored. This negligence leads to leakage and contamination of groundwater, soil, and surrounding air. At the same time, they continue to reap massive profits at the expense of our communities. Despite mountains of evidence and multiple consensus findings by credible and authoritative scientists and other organizations that polluters are clearly at fault for global warming, the costs of cleaning up the damage caused by these polluters is being forced onto California's taxpayers. This is unfair in the extreme and wastes public resources that can be put to much better use. As an example, Superfund funds would be dedicated to supporting projects responding to or attempting to mitigate damage caused by climate change. This includes fire & flood recovery, coastal restoration, and renewable energy projects. Chula Vista would benefit from funding for its Climate Action Plan and climate resilience and clean energy infrastructure. 40% of the bill's funding is allocated towards frontline disadvantaged communities, who are the ones suffering most from catastrophic disasters, heat, and air pollution. These vulnerable communities are majority low income and BIPOC —this bill would help alleviate historical injustices in our state. 1 As a physician, I am disturbed by the health consequences of the ongoing pollution and extreme climate events, such as heat injury, exacerbations of chronic cardiovascular, respiratory, and allergic conditions that result in unnecessary hospitalizations and treatment and significantly cause deteriorations of community and individual health and burden an already overstressed health care system. I urge you to support this important legislation. Ken Kobayash, MD, FACP CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is 2 Adriana Trujillo From: Claire Henriod <henriodc163@carlsbadusd.net> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 7:56 AM To: City Clerk Subject: In Support of Polluters Pay Climate Superfund My name is Claire Henriod, and I am a junior at Carlsbad High School. I'm writing to ask you to support AB 1243 and SB 684, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund bills, because communities shouldn't have to pay the full cost of climate disasters that are caused by major fossil fuel emissions. These bills would make the largest fossil fuel companies pay into a fund used for wildfire recovery, infrastructure repairs, and climate-related health impacts. Recent events like the LA wildfires show how climate change is making extreme weather more destructive and expensive. California is already dealing with severe wildfire damage and smoke-related health problems. Even though some are concerned about economic impacts, it is more fair for companies that profited from decades of emissions to help cover the cost of climate damage, not local families and cities. Support AB 1243 and SB 684 and help secure that funds reach the communities on the front lines of climate impacts directly. Thank you for your time and consideration, Claire Henriod Carlsbad citizen, Carlsbad High School student CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is TR*071 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Maggie Walker <walkerm364@carlsbadusanet> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 9:57 AM To: City Clerk Subject: make polluters pay. Hello, my name is Maggie Walker, and I'm a junior at Carlsbad High School. I'm writing to urge you to add the Polluters Pay clause to your legislative platform to hold polluting industries accountable for the damages they've caused. As a young person, I want to experience the Earth healthy and thriving-- not destroyed. This petition will fund essential projects such as fire and flood recovery, coastal restoration, and renewable energy projects. It is important we take this step now, before the damage becomes irreversible. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is Z -le:1 1 Adriana Trujillo All Receive - Agenda Item # /0 For the Information of the: CITY COUNCIL Dates/905CA fr---CC ,--- CM ACM i.---MCM (3) From: Rebecca Rebecca Berke <berker103©carlsbadusd.net> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 10:07 AM To: City Clerk Subject: Students for Making Polluters Pay Superfund My name is Rebecca Berke and I am a student at Carlsbad High School. I am writing in support of the CA SB684 bill, otherwise known as the Polluter Pays Climate Superfund Act. This bill not only holds those at fault for climate change accountable, but also, alleviates the weight of the funds needed from innocent taxpayers. In order to stop the rising temperatures and global suffering that is well on its way, we must begin to find real solutions, and this bill is a step in the right direction. The Palisades fire is just one example of many impacts on California in particular. This one event alone caused damage and suffering to thousands of innocent people. Air quality, homes, families, and lives were destroyed, and holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for the damage rather than those who are taking the loss only seems fair. Companies such as Exxon know what they are doing- they have buried scientific findings of their companies detrimental impacts on the environment in the quest for more money. However- profits cannot matter more than people. California needs to vote yes on this bill in order to help those suffering and make those responsible be held accountable for their actions. Thank you, Rebecca Berke CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Mike McMahon <2mmcmahon@gmailcom> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 11:02 AM To: City Clerk Subject: Item #10 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM UPDATE Honorable Mayor and City Council: I urge this city council to add the Youth v. Oil clause in the legislative platform and to actively campaign and add AB684 and AB1243 to our letters of support. Our community is particularly threatened by immediate costs to our climate, health and sea level rise. As we continue to commit more municipal resources year after year to reduce greenhouse gasses to stabilize our planet's warming, the support of these bills will help in the mounting costs of climate change today and the future and hold polluting industries responsible. Our city should demonstrate a strong, proactive commitment to environmental quality and climate action, ensuring our actions align with the principles outlined in Item 2 ,Environmental Quality of the 2026 Legislative Platform and ultimately protect our quality of life. The cities of San Diego, Vista and La Mesa have already passed Polluters Pay Climate Superfund resolutions along with Los Angeles and many other towns in California and the States. This will have a legislative state vote early in January 2026, so our city needs to add its support as soon as possible Mike McMahon D2, Carlsbad CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sharon Bodon <sharonbodonca@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 11:30 AM To: City Clerk Subject: Support for New Climate Initiative Clause December 9th, 2025 Dear City of Carlsbad Council Members, As a concerned resident of Carlsbad, California and co-chair of North County San Diego 350 Environmental Action Team, I am writing to express support for an additional clause to be added to the Carlsbad legislative platform: "Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they've caused." There are already several clauses in the Carlsbad Legislative Platform that support this addition, including those that prevent adverse public health impacts, support wildland fire safety infrastructure and complement the city's existing environmental and sustainability guiding principles. We ask that Carlsbad support the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 by adding the proposed clause to the legislative platform and quickly send a letter of support for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund to California State Legislators by the end of the month as a vote is imminent. Why is this so important? The Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 & AB 1243) would ensure polluters pay their fair share for the climate damage they have caused in California. The bill would fund a climate cost study, scientifically quantifying damage caused by emissions. It will lower costs for all Californians by funding climate solutions and encourage investments in clean energy and a sustainable infrastructure. This bill has received strong support from unions, teachers' federations, nursing associations and hundreds of other organizations and businesses which all agree: As the 5th biggest economy in the world, we must take the lead in bringing about the more equitable future we deserve. HCAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo X W From: Kennedie Gilson <gilsonk328@carisbadusd.net> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 12:44 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (AB 1243/ SB 648) Dear Carlsbad City Council, My name is Kennedie Gilson, a Carlsbad resident and high school student concerned about the growing cost of climate change-related disasters. I urge you to adopt a resolution of the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund (AB 1243/ SB 648). We have already seen how bad these disasters can get. Please recall the Pickett Fires up in Napa County earlier this year; 6,800 acres were burned, hundreds of residents were evacuated, and there were serious blows to the air quality throughout the region. Climate change is directly correlated with the intensity of these wildfires, as the increased temperatures and drier conditions in California have been priming it for more. The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act would force the biggest fossil fuel companies to pay for the climate change-related damages that they have caused based on their emissions from 1990 to now. The bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency to estimate how much damage has been inflicted on California, and then once that number is calculated the big companies would have to contribute a fair share to the fund. I hope the council will pass a resolution supporting AB 12431 SB 648 and send their support to our state legislators. California would greatly benefit from holding polluters responsible and protecting its communities. Sincerely, Kennedie Gilson Carlsbad Resident/ Carlsbad High School Junior CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless Lou recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Lexie Hart <lexienhan©gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 12:48 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Comment on Item 10 Hi! My name is Lexie Han, and I am a resident of Carlsbad. urge the Carlsbad City Council to support the proposed clause ("Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they've caused") in Item 10 of the agenda for today's meeting on December 9. Adding this clause to Carlsbad's Legislative Platform would shift the cost of climate damages from taxpayers to the polluting industries that cause environmental disasters. This clause could be added to the Climate Change subsection of our city's platform, thereby helping Carlsbad support future legislation, such as the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, that strengthens communities and mitigates climate impacts, including rising sea levels, wildfires, and floods. The California Teachers Association, California Nurses Association, and over 100 other organizations and businesses support the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act. Under this CA act, only companies whose products resulted in more than 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2024 would contribute to the fund. These bills would also create jobs, and oil companies would not be able to increase prices for consumers without becoming significantly less competitive in the market. It is essential for Carlsbad to support projects that address the intensifying effects of climate change and hold major polluters accountable for the harm people and the environment faces. Thank you, Lexie Han CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Vaia Dhiman <dhimanv576@carlsbadusd.net> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 12:48 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Fossil Fuels Dear Carlsbad City Council, My name is Vaia Dhiman. I am currently a junior at Carlsbad High School, sitting in my APES class, required to write this message for a grade. But after researching the California Assembly Bill 1243, the Senate Bill 684, and the Polluter Pays Climate Superfund Act of 2025, I have realized this problem is much bigger than just cost recovery. As a 16-year-old, I have lived for barely one-fifth of my life. It is estimated that fossil fuels, specifically oils and natural gas, may run out in about 50 years, which is in the lifetime of my peers around me. These two fossil fuels are extremely important, as they power transportation, generate electricity, create jobs, and fuel everyday life. I think that the Polluter Pays Climate Superfund Act of 2025 will help fossil fuel companies rethink and reduce the rate at which they are taking fossil fuels from the Earth, by forcing them to be accountable for the cost. We must preserve fossil fuels not only because they are a finite resource, but I still want to be able to drive in my 70s! Thank you! CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Geri Ingram <geriingram@gmailcom> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 1:20 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Public Comment: 10. 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM UPDATE Dear Clerk of the Council, I wish to speak this evening on Item #10 concerning the Legislative Platform, My name is Geri Ingram, Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the issue of the Legislative Platform. I am a retired librarian and 25-yr resident of the Alga Hills development in South Carlsbad. Please add this clause to Carlsbad's Legislative platform: Carlsbad supports legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they have caused By adding this to our Legislative Platform, Carlsbad will be able to advocate on a statewide level for laws calling for accountability from fossil fuel companies. One such critical bill is the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (PPCF) which would empower CalEPA to identify the polluters most responsible for historic greenhouse gas emissions in our state and force them to pay for the climate destruction from which they continue to profit. Across our state (and all coastal states), we're seeing insurance companies drop existing customers, refuse to cover new builds, and to raise the cost of home insurance out of reach of the average homeowner. And why? Because the risks of wildfire and flood destruction rise exponentially with the extreme weather events made worse with climate change, and the costs to insure against them is unsupportable. Just months ago, wealthy AND low-income neighborhoods alike in LA experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in history, causing an unprecedented $250 billion in damage, destroying more than 16,000 structures, and killing 29 people. These are fossil-fuel driven disasters--the science is clear. For decades, the fossil fuel industry has known that their actions would trigger climate change, yet they continued their destructive practices and suppressed science on the topic to cover their tracks. Since the 1.960s, fossil fuel companies like Exxon have buried the findings of even their own scientists about the planet- warming effects of their emissions and continue to reap massive profits at the expense of our communities. Vermont and New York have led the nation by passing their own Polluters Pay acts; now, it's California's turn. We should not have to carry the financial burden of dealing with polluters' mess any longer. Adding this clause to our Legislative Platform will mean that Carlsbad will be able to advocate for the Polluters Pay Climate Fund. Passage of this would mean more funding for climate mitigation and infrastructure adaptation, including public transportation and updating aging stormwater systems, while rebuilding and reinforcing our communities. Additionally, with 40% of the funds being reserved for frontline communities, those most affected will receive direct financial support. The catastrophic 1 effects of fossil fuel polluters' failure to pay are felt as much in Carlsbad as in Miami; it's time we demanded accountability. Geri Ingram 2359 Terraza Guitara Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 2 Adriana Trujillo From: Vanessa Forsythe <vforsythe13@gmailcom> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 1:43 PM To: City Clerk; Melanie Burkholder; Keith Blackburn; Teresa Acosta; Priya Bhat-Patel; Kevin Shin; Geoff Patnoe; Jason Haber Subject: 1/9/25 Agnda Item #10 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM UPDATE to Include Supporting Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Dear Mayor Blackburn, Pro-Tern Bhat-Patet, Council Member Acosta, Council Member Shin and Council Member Burkholder Tonight the City of Carlsbad is asked to stand with the local group Youth v. Oil and add their clause to Carlsbad's legislative platform supporting the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund, that holds the largest fossil fuel companies accountable for the climate damages they caused. Our state elected officials need to hear that the City of Carlsbad supports the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 (SB 684 and AB 1243). As the recent fires in LA made evident, the changing climate is a real thing and we the taxpayers are forced to cover the cost of damages resulting from greenhouse gas emissions and pollution by oil and gas companies - while they get tax breaks and make increased profits. The state of California faces a major budget deficit and with the loss of federal regulation and funds to mitigate the costs of the climate crisis, localities need to take a stand on environmental issues that impact us all. The climate crisis is not going away, its impact is happening now and will continue to be more drastic into the future. We are forced to address mitigation now - including our own community environmental, public health, transportation and fire concerns. I ask that you vote for inclusion of the "Make Polluters Pay" clause as presented to our City of Carlsbad legislative platform. Also add the forwarding of a letter to our state elected officials (including Governor Newsom) indicating the City of Carlsbad's support of the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 (SB 684 and AB 1243). Urgent, timely action is needed as the state legislative process for the second year session begins in January. Sincerely, Vanessa Vanessa Forsythe RN MSN 2177 Vista La Nisa Carlsbad CA 92009 CPC Co-Chair Mission & Stewardship Committee Califomie_Nurs_es for..Endronmutalliealth & Justice CteanEarth4Kids Lgue of Women Voters North Qouray_San Diego "To refuse to participate in the shaping of our future is to give it up. Do not be misled into passivity either by false security (they don't mean. rne) or by despair (there's nothing we can do)." - Aud.re Lorde CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is 777. 2 Adriana Trujillo From: Kathy Railings <krallings@sandiego350.org> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 1:44 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Make Polluters Pay Dear Mayor and Members of the Carlsbad City Council, On behalf of The North County San Diego 350 Team, I am writing to encourage the City of Carlsbad to strengthen its Legislative Platform by adding the following statement: "Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries accountable for the climate impacts they have caused." Carlsbad has already made significant commitments to public health, wildfire prevention, and environmental sustainability. Adding this clause would align with those priorities and reinforce the city's leadership in advancing climate resilience. We respectfully request that the City include this language in the Legislative Platform and send a formal letter of support for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act before the end of the month. The Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 & AB 1243) ensures that major emitters—not taxpayers—bear responsibility for the impacts of climate change. North County residents are united in our belief that communities, workers, and future generations deserve a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment. We hope Carlsbad will join us in advancing this shared goal by supporting the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act and adopting the recommended clause. Thank you for your consideration and for your ongoing commitment to protecting the well-being of our community. Sincerely, VathAyRattincp, Co-Chair S0350 North County Team CA UTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe] 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Council Internet Email Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 1:51 PM Subject: FW: Pouters should pay (Dec. 9, Item #10) From: Barbara Diamond <diamondbarb@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 1:24 PM To: Council Internet Email <Council @ca risbadca.goy> Subject: Poluters should pay Council Members, I want the polluters to pay for all the damage they have done to our sacred land and air. This is not only fair but will also serve to discourage more potential polluters in the future. Sincerely, Barbara Diamond (District One) --Barbara Diamond— CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo All Receive - Agenda Item #10 For the Information of the: CITY COUNCIL Date J1-1194s-CA v"- CC "--- CM v"-ACM i--15CM (3) '--- From: Geri Ingram <geriingram@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 3:48 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Re: Public Comment: 10. 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM UPDATE Good evening Mayor, Council members, My name is Geri Ingram. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the issue of the Legislative Platform. And thank you, Youth v Oil for your diligence and enthusiasm for making polluters pay. I am a retired librarian and 25-yr resident of the Alga Hills development in South Carlsbad. I urge you to add this clause to Carlsbad's Legislative platform: Carlsbad supports legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they have caused. By adding this to our Platform, Carlsbad will be able to advocate on a statewide level for laws calling for accountability from fossil fuel companies. One such critical bill is the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act which would empower CalEPA to identify the polluters most responsible for historic greenhouse gas emissions in our state and force them to pay for the climate destruction from which they continue to profit. Across our state (and all coastal states), we're seeing insurance companies drop existing customers, refuse to cover new builds, and to raise the cost of home insurance out of reach of the average homeowner. And why? Because the risks of wildfire and flood destruction rise exponentially with the extreme weather events made worse with climate change, and the costs to insure against them is unsupportable. Just months ago, wealthy AND low-income neighborhoods alike in LA experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in history, causing an unprecedented $250 billion in damage, destroying more than 16,000 structures, and killing 29 people. These are fossil-fuel driven disasters--the science is clear. For decades, the fossil fuel industry has known that their actions would trigger climate change, yet they continued their destructive practices and suppressed science on the topic to cover their tracks. Since the 1960s, fossil fuel companies like Exxon have buried the findings of even their own scientists about the planet-warming effects of their emissions and continue to reap massive profits at the expense of our communities. Vermont and New York have led the nation by passing their own Polluters Pay acts; now, it's California's turn. Adding this clause to our Legislative Platform will mean that Carlsbad will be able to advocate for the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act. When passed, this would mean more funding for climate 1 mitigation and infrastructure adaptation, including public transportation and updating aging stormwater systems, while rebuilding and reinforcing our communities. Additionally, with 40% of the funds being reserved for frontline communities, those most affected will receive direct financial support. The catastrophic effects of fossil fuel pollution are felt as much in Carlsbad as in Miami; it's time we demanded accountability. Geri Ingram 2359 Terraza Guitara Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content id safe. 2 Adriana Trujillo From: Mike Borrello <maborrello@roadrunner.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 7:08 AM To: Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Kevin Shin; Melanie Burkholder; Council Internet Email; City Clerk Cc: carfsbad.c2o@gmail.com; kelly.leberthon12@gmail.com; 'George Corrales'; 'Krisha Wolter; 'Glenn Bernard' Subject: RE: City Council general Meeting Dec 9, 2025, AGENDA 10 Attachments: Letter_AGENDA_10_CityCouncil_2025_Dec_09.docx Dear Mayor and City Council, I regret not being able to attend council last evening, nevertheless, please accept my position on AGENDA 10 for your review. Mike Borretto CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the contenA safe. 1 December 10, 2025 Dear Mayor and City Council Members, This letter concerns AGENDA item 10 from the General City Council Meeting held on December 9, 2025, of which I regret I was unable to attend in person, but which I must address. First, the report claims: "This item has no fiscal impact." I strongly disagree. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be: "The fiscal impact of this agenda item is complex, uncertain, and difficult to estimate, however could cause significant increases in taxes and fees affecting affordable living in Carlsbad and many other cities in California. While adopting the legislative platform you've proposed may not incur immediate costs, it sets in motion advocacy for state and federal legislation that could have significant indirect fiscal burdens on Carlsbad residents' burdens the committee and its report have failed to analyze or estimate. Consider for example the platform's strong stance on 'climate change' under Environmental Quality. It supports measures for greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy mandates, and climate adaptation projects. If the city lobbies successfully in Sacramento, resulting state laws could mandate costly local compliance—like retrofitting buildings, expanding EV infrastructure, or funding resiliency grants, all over presumed remedies for a highly contested issue that the Federal Government has only began to claw back from a misled and misinformed public.1 While the city's compassion for those that were harmed by wildfires and concern for the safety of Carlsbad residents is highly commendable, it steam rolls over considering truthful attribution. And whenever there is a single failure in determining root cause, there will be a plethora of failed solutions — solutions today's tight economy just can't tolerate. Jumping to solutions will be our undoing! I strongly advise the committee to educate themselves on the difference between science and The Science as Steven Koonin so aptly delineated in his book, http.s.://Www.e.nergy.goviartic.le.s/d.epartment-Qpergy-issues-report-evaluating-impact-greenhouse-gasses- us-climate-invites 1 "Unsettled." Let me just say that the alleged "increase" in extreme weather events including wildfires has largely been advocated by The Science: science that has been hijacked and exploited by policy makers and mass media — not for solutions but other goals. The facts provided by hard data (presented in Koonin's book) do not support this attribution, even according to the IPCC reports written by the scientists — and cited in the City's Declaration of a Climate Emergency. Any funding you would apply for resulting from your advocacy would not be "free money" but rather funded by state revenues derived from our tax dollars, fees, and bonds. Carlsbad residents would face even higher utility bills, property taxes, or development costs, potentially in the millions annually, without proper informed consent to the community (i.e., "no fiscal impact"), exposing the city to further The City Manager's role includes thorough fiscal oversight. This legislative report shortchanges us by ignoring potential downstream impacts. Furthermore, there's no evidence in this update indicating the City's legislative positions reflect the residents' positions. The document describes the platform as developed through internal processes involving staff, city departments, the Legislative Subcommittee, and consultants. I don't recall ever receiving a survey or even a disclosure other than what was presented at the meeting. When you take actions that can leverage more taxing — I demand to be informed. The city has failed in this communication. While the Guiding Principles mention supporting citizens' authority and quality of life for residents, it's framed as the City's stance, not derived from resident's views. This item should not have passed vote. It should have been sent back to the City Manager and Committee, demanding the report be revised to reflect the true potential costs with confidence bounds, and that the City's positions reflect truthful foundation and the people's will. That's the way government should work. Mike Borrello maborTello@roadrunner.com 2 Adriana Trujillo From: Sara McDonogh <mcdonoghs122@carlsbadusd.net> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 9:53 AM To: City Clerk Subject: Student Perspective on AB 1243/S8 684 and Climate Accountability Hi there, my name is Sara McDonogh and I attend Carlsbad High School. In my AP environmental science classroom we researched these bills and decided whether or not they were beneficial not only to communities but also to the environment. After careful research, I agree with AB 1243/SB 684 because it holds large fossil fuel corporations that are largely responsible for Greenhouse gas emissions accountable for their actions financially in order to repair the climate and environment rather than leaving it to California tax payers and vulnerable communities. A recent peer-reviewed study from 2025 traced emissions from 111 top fossil-fuel companies to climate-driven damage totaling about US$ 28 trillion between 1991 and 2020. (Science Daily). This proves that major fossil-fuel corporations are major contributors to greenhouse-gas emissions, and that climate impacts have massive financial costs, costs currently paid by taxpayers. California should establish a climate superfund program like the one mentioned in AB 1243/SB 684, that requires the largest fossil fuel companies to pay into a dedicated fund based on their known major greenhouse gas emissions. This fund would be saved exclusively for climate-disaster recovery, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, wildfire and flood prevention, climate-health protections, and community resilience projects. This plan works because it aligns responsibility with the harm caused by these companies, and it could cause these companies to change their ways to be more environmentally friendly to avoid paying the superfund. Not only will the environment thank you, but the California communities will as well because they no longer have to pay for something they didn't cause, and in return would have cleaner, safer air to breathe in everyday. Thank you for your time and consideration on this important issue. Sincerely, -Sara McDonogh CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is ;17 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Darlene Gillis <darlenegillis@msn.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 1:09 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Agenda Item 10 Legislative Platform Please support ELUA's proposals to the Legislative Platform which includes support for a Constitutional Amendment. Warmest regards Darlene Gillis CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Jason Haber Intergovernmental Affairs Director December 9, 2025 2026 Legislative Platform and Program Update PROPOSED ACTION •Adopt a resolution approving the City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform. •Direct staff to advocate for city-sponsored legislative proposals and funding. •Receive a presentation on state & federal advocacy and provide feedback. ITEM 10: Legislative Update City of Carlsbad City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 Sharon Gonsalves, Managing Director, California Public Policy Group CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM 2025 Year in Review Key Dates and Numbers •First year of a two-year session. •The legislative session ended September 13 and the deadline for the Governor to sign or veto legislation was October 13. •2,833 total measures introduced in 2025. •917 bills reached the Governor’s desk. •794 were signed. •123 were vetoed. •Vetoes were primarily based on the State’s ongoing budget challenges. 2025-26 Legislative Themes •Budget Deficit •More Housing Laws Aimed at Targeting Local Agencies •Cost of living/Affordability •Gut and Amends •Leadership Change City of Carlsbad 2025 Bills of Interest CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM 2025 Key Areas of Positioned Bills •Government Operations •Housing and Land Use •Sober Living Homes •Climate Change •Public Safety Looking Ahead CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM Looking Ahead 2026 2026 Key Dates •January 1, 2026: All bills signed into law in 2025, unless otherwise stated, go into effect. •January 5, 2026: Legislature reconvenes for second year of 2025-26 legislative session. •January 10, 2026: Governor releases 2026-27 budget proposal. •$18B budget deficit •February 20: Bill introduction deadline. 2026 Policy Trends •Local Taxes and Fees •Howard Jarvis initiatives •AB 698 (Wicks) reintroduction •SB 423 (Gonzalez) reintroduction •CEQA Reforms—Unfinished Business •Local Governmental Operations Measures Looking Ahead 2026: Elections •All 80 Assemblymembers and 20 Senators up for reelection •Governor’s race •Ballot Measures •ACA 13 (Ward) [Chapter 176, Statutes of 2023] •SCA 1 (Newman) [Chapter 204, Statutes of 2024] •SB 42 (Umberg) [Chapter 245, Statutes of 2025] Thank You! CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM •City Council Policy 39 / Resolution 2019-137 •Legislative Subcommittee annual review •City Council approves changes as needed •Departmental/Consultant/Public review and input ITEM 10: Legislative Update 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM 2026 Legislative Priorities 1. Community Character2. Quality of Life & Safety3. Sustainability & the Natural Environment4. Economic Vitality5. Organizational Excellence & Fiscal Health ITEM 10: Legislative Update 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM Proposed Amendments •E-bikes •Group Homes •Housing and Land Use •Fire Protection ITEM 10: Legislative Update STATE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS •Allow E-filing and virtual appearance for workplace violence/harassment restraining orders •Allow public safety officials to drive off-highway UTVs on city streets •Disallow short-term rental of units in projects receiving waivers/concessions/density bonuses ITEM 10: Legislative Update STATE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS •Reallocate 50 farmworker beds at La Posada de Guadalupe Homeless Shelter so they can be occupied by people experiencing homelessness •Require occupants of permanent supportive housing units to agree to receive case management services •Exclude ADA and EV parking, water and sewer utility standards from elements eligible for waivers and concessions under state density bonus law. ITEM 10: Legislative Update STATE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS •E-bike rider safety, training and licensing - prohibiting operation of Class 2 e-bikes under 16, requiring Class 2 e-bike riders to wear helmets and prohibiting e-bike riders under 16 from carrying passengers. ITEM 10: Legislative Update STATE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ITEM 10: Legislative Update •Public safety and proper management of recovery-based group homes, local permitting and inspection authority, requiring a conditional use permit, allowing separation standards, and requiring on-site managers and/or security personnel at all times, while being mindful of group home residents’ vulnerabilities. STATE BUDGET REQUESTS •Grants and discretionary budget appropriations •CIP projects in need of funding and aligned with state timelines and funding priorities •Multi-year effort ITEM 10: Legislative Update BUDGET REQUESTS – TIER I •Village Pedestrian Lighting •EV Charging Stations Monroe and Veterans •South Carlsbad Blvd. Climate Adaptation •Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail •Pickleball Courts Calavera Hills and Stagecoach ITEM 10: Legislative Update BUDGET REQUESTS – TIER I •ADA Beach Access Pine to Tamarack •Kelly and Park Complete Streets •Lowering the Railroad Tracks •Safe Routes to School Sage Creek and Hope ITEM 10: Legislative Update BUDGET REQUESTS – TIER II ITEM 10: Legislative Update •La Costa Avenue El Camino Real to Rancho Santa Fe BUDGET REQUESTS – TIER II •Fire Station 7 •Carlsbad Water Recycling Facility •Sea Level Rise Adaptation and Shoreline Preservation •Leo Carrillo Ranch Park Phase 3B •Robertson Ranch Park ITEM 10: Legislative Update PROPOSED ACTION •Adopt a resolution approving the City of Carlsbad 2026 Legislative Platform. •Direct staff to advocate for city-sponsored legislative proposals and funding. •Receive a presentation on state & federal advocacy and provide feedback. ITEM 10: Legislative Update 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND PROPOSALS UPDATE Carlsbad City Council Agenda Item #10December 9, 2025 Kris Wright Equitable Land Use Alliance Carlsbad THANK YOU And support the CA Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 Youth v. Oil Support our Polluters Pay Cla us e Senate Bill 684 & Assembly Bill 1243 We are a youth led campaign under the nonprofit SanDiego350 that advocates for an end to extraction and dependence on fossil fuels, as well as a just transitionto a more sustainable future ●Helped end new backyard oil drilling in CA (SB 1137)●Empower youth voices in the fight for climate justice for all current and future generations Who We Are —Yo u t h v . Oi l Lexie Han●Youth v. Oil member●Senior at Carlsbad High School●Ocean Club, Speech and Debate, & President of Animal Advocacy Club We are Carlsbad students Piper Murphy●Senior at Carlsbad High School●President of Green Club●Member of Ocean Club Our Asks Add our clause to your legislative platform: Support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas-emitting industries responsible for the climate damages they've caused. We call upon the City of Carlsbad to: Send a letter supporting the CA Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 (SB 684 and AB 1243) to state legislators. Existing clauses that support ours ●Under Section 1) Community Services, Subsection 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. ●Under Section 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. ○(e) Support funding and legislation that supports climate change adaptation and resilience efforts. ○Subsection 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. ■(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. ●Under Section 6) Public Safety, Subsection Fire Services ○(d) Support legislation that would enhance statewide wildland fire safety infrastructure. ●Under Section 8) Transportation, Communication and Public Works, Subsection 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. US billion dollar disasters events are increasing and will only get more destructive, deadly, and costly. Flooding in San Diego County last year 1,200 people were displaced and caused millions of dollars of damage to public infrastructure. Earlier this year, wildfires ravaged Los Angeles. Millions lost their homes with a total of $250 billion in damage, who is going to pay? The Issue ●In 2023, ExxonMobil and Chevron reported $36 billion and $21 billion in profits respectively. ●These companies own scientists told them their products would cause climate disasters since the 1960s. ●They’ve misled the public and avoided accountability ○Why should we suffer the consequences? Climate Damages Cost Too Much: And We Know Who’s At Fault ●The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 (SB 684 & AB 1243) will hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for the damage they knowingly caused How exactly? ●Emissions attribution study by CalEPA (Study tracks who is responsible for emissions) ●Money will go in a superfund towards projects responding to/mitigating climate change, combating its effects ●40% of funds must go towards frontline communities The Solution ●Enforced on companies if their oil/gas products resulted in over 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2024 ●Funds for: ○Improved infrastructure ○Decarbonization ○Just fossil fuel transition ○Public transit ○Emergency disaster management ○And more! How does it work? ●Carlsbad would benefit continually from this bill’s funding —including the city’s goals of reducing air pollution, supporting local economic development, and improving public health ●These funds will help the city stay on track with its climate action plan and projects such as: ○Stormwater infrastructure ○Sea level rise ○Wildfire preparedness ○NCTD ○Clean energy ●All people are affected by climate change, but youth will be most affected –the city has a duty to fight for our rights Why this matters to the City of Carlsbad? Some FAQs ●Won’t oil companies raise prices? No, this bill only targets the largest polluting companies leaving plenty of other companies to offer competitive prices. The Superfund fee does not threaten bankruptcy and has well-codified legal language. ●Aren’t these companies already regulated? Not to the extent they should be. The Superfund ensures that California taxpayers don’t have to bear the full financial cost of fossil fuel companies’ historical pollution. It doesn’t impact other accountability efforts like lawsuits or cap and trade. ●Meetings with local legislators ●16 youth went to Sacramento and spoke at a committee hearing ●Passed San Diego, La Mesa, and Vista City Council resolutions and SDEA resolution ●Participated in Polluters Pay Youth Walkouts on Oct. 24 ○Over 2,000 youth across CA, 50 schools ○Over 1,300 youth, 19 schools in SD County ○Got great news coverage and inspired students across the country What we’ve been doing A snapshot of the local organizations who have signed onto our letter so far Coalition Support Many cities have passed Polluters Pay Resolutions! These include:San Diego, La Mesa, Vista, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oxnard, and more! Thank You! ELUA Proposed Amendments to 2026 Legislative Platform and Proposals Carlsbad City Council 12/9/2025 Item #10 Steve Linke, Equitable Land Use Alliance 1 Legislative Platform vs. Proposals •Legislative Platform (Position Statements) –Passive  Position taken if legislation is introduced –ELUA: Consider 3 new statements •Legislative Proposals –Active  Encourage legislature to introduce –ELUA: Consider 5 new proposals 2 Shift burden of proof of need for development concessions, incentives and waivers to density bonus applicants (rather than city) •Planning and Zoning (w): –Support legislation that requires applicants utilizing concessions, incentives and waivers under density bonus law to provide compelling evidence documenting that the requested deviation from established development standards is necessary for the viability of affordable units. 3 Examples of concessions and waivers •Building heights and massing increased •Setbacks to neighboring lots and streets reduced •Reduced ability to require sidewalk/street widening •Minimum parking and sizes unenforceable •Reduced open and community recreation space •Reduced ability to require utility improvements •Deeper excavation into hillsides and higher retaining walls Local control over fire hazard zones •Support legislation that exempts areas in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones from state housing laws that could adversely affect emergency responses to or evacuation from wildfires. 5 6 Transit-oriented development bills •“One-half mile” of “major transit stops” 7 Re-define “major transit stop” •Support legislation that revises the definition of “major transit stop” to require more frequent and comprehensive local service to key destinations. 8 Restore ability of city to impose parking minimums near transit due to lack of quality transit service •Planning and Zoning (z): –Support legislation that allows for local decision-making regarding parking requirements, including legislation that allows local jurisdictions to impose on-site parking standards necessary to accommodate new development and growth in order to reduce reliance on off-site parking. 9 Change method of determining proximity to transit to “walkable distance” (from “straight line”) •Planning and Zoning (aa): –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. 10 Summary Platform Proposal Support for constitutional amendment for local control Add -- Burden of proof on developer for concessions/waivers Exists Add Local control over High and Very High Fire Hazard Zones Add Add Re-define “major transit stop”Add Add Restore ability to set parking minimums Exists Add Walkable distance method to determine proximity to transit Exists Add 11