HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-18; City Council Legislative Subcommittee; Minutes; Regular SessionCouncil Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
November 18, 2025, 9 a.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 9 a.m.
ROLL CALL: Burkholder, Acosta.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Subcommittee Member Burkholder led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held Oct. 14, 2025.
Motion by Subcommittee Member Burkholder, seconded by Subcommittee Member Acosta to
approve the minutes as presented, motion carried unanimously, 2/0.
SUBCOMMITTEE COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
1.STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE REPORTS – Receive updates from representatives of U.S.
Congressman Mike Levin, State Senator Catherine Blakespear, and State Assemblymember
Tasha Boerner, and provide feedback. (Staff contact: Jason Haber, City Manager Department)
Recommendation: Receive the updates and provide feedback.
The subcommittee received updates from Salome Tash representing Congressman Mike
Levin’s office, Francine Busby representing Senator Catherine Blakespear’s office, and Ana
Mladenovic representing Assemblymember Tasha Boerner’s office.
The subcommittee received the reports.
2.LEGISLATIVE AND ADVOCACY UPDATE – Receive updates on federal and state legislative and
budget activity and recent and ongoing advocacy efforts; discuss and provide feedback to
staff, including identifying high-priority bills, advocacy positions, funding opportunities, and
items for future City Council consideration. (Staff contact: Jason Haber, City Manager
Department)
Recommendation: Receive the updates and provide feedback.
Nov. 18, 2025 Legislative Subcommittee Meeting Page 2
Carpi and Clay Government Relations partner Laura Morgan-Kessler presented a report on
federal lobbying efforts.
California Public Policy Group Director of Government Affairs Sharon Gonsalves presented a
report on state lobbying efforts, including a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of
the City Clerk).
The subcommittee received the reports.
Steve Linke, representing Equitable Land Use Alliance, advocated for an amendment to the
California Constitution that restores local control over local land use issues.
3. 2026 STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGET PRIORITIES AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS – Discuss and
determine proposed state and federal budget priorities and state legislative proposals to
recommend to the City Council. (Staff contact: Jason Haber, City Manager Department)
Recommendation: Discuss and determine the Subcommittee’s recommendation, if any,
for future consideration by the City Council.
Intergovernmental Affairs Director Jason Haber presented and reviewed the City’s Proposed
2026 State and Federal Budget Priorities.
Motion by Subcommittee Member Burkholder, seconded by Subcommittee Member
Acosta, to remove under Parks and Trails Projects: Tier II the Business Park Recreational
Facility (Zone 5 Park). Motion carried unanimously, 2/0.
Motion by Subcommittee Member Burkholder, seconded by Subcommittee Member
Acosta, to direct staff to come back with additional project(s) located in City Council
Districts 3 and 4 to achieve a more equitable distribution of funding requests across
districts. Motion carried unanimously, 2/0.
Intergovernmental Affairs Director Jason Haber presented and reviewed the City’s
Carryover Legislative Proposals (2025) and the New Legislative Proposals (2026).
Steve Linke representing Equitable Land Use Alliance, advocated to retain No. 3 in the
Carryover Legislative Proposals (2025) relating to short term vacation rentals and to pursue
the adoption of a revised definition of "major transit stop" in state law to include more
frequent, higher quality transit service.
Motion by Subcommittee Member Burkholder, seconded by Subcommittee Member
Acosta, to keep the Carryover Legislative Proposals (2025) and accept the New Legislative
Proposals (2026). Motion carried unanimously, 2/0.
Nov. 18, 2025 Legislative Subcommittee Meeting Page 3
4.DRAFT CITY OF CARLSBAD 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM – Discuss and determine proposed
amendments to the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform, including the proposed 2026
Legislative Priorities, to recommend to the City Council. (Staff contact: Jason Haber, City
Manager Department)
Recommendation: Discuss and determine the Subcommittee’s recommendation, if any,
for future consideration by the City Council.
Intergovernmental Affairs Director Jason Haber presented and reviewed the proposed
underlined amendments to the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform as follows:
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.
Support legislation that enables local agencies to effectively address issues concerning public
safety and proper management of recovery-based group homes, including proposals to
establish discretionary permitting and inspection authority for cities, 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.
Support legislation that excludes ADA and EV parking and water and sewer utility
infrastructure engineering standards, including those deemed necessary to address
cumulative life-safety impacts, from the project elements eligible for relief through
development standard waivers and concessions under state density bonus law.
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.
Support legislation that increases the ability of local agencies to conduct fire hazard
mitigation on protected habitat areas.
Support legislation that reforms traffic impact analysis protocols to more effectively account
for clean mobility solutions in calculating vehicle miles travelled.
Support legislation that extends the responsibility for traffic violations by juvenile E-bike
riders to parents.
Lexi Han, a volunteer from the nonprofit organization San Diego 350, advocated for the
California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (This comment was heard during public
comments).
Nov. 18, 2025 Legislative Subcommittee Meeting Page 4
Page DeCino spoke in support of San Diego 350 and Polluters California Polluters Pay Climate
Superfund Act.
Jeffrey Sardina spoke about the negative environmental impacts of data centers and in
support of regulation for data centers.
Steve Linke, representing Equitable Land Use Alliance, gave suggestions for housing language
to be added to the 2026 Legislative Platform as shown in the Power Point presentation
submitted (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Motion by Subcommittee Member Burkholder, seconded by Subcommittee Member Acosta,
to accept the draft underlined version of the Legislative Platform. Motion carried
unanimously, 2/0.
Motion by Subcommittee Member Acosta to add to the draft Legislative Platform 2026
language submitted by Carlsbad High School students and the San Diego 350 organization to
read as follows: Support Legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas emitting
companies financially accountable for damage caused to California's environment and
communities.
Motion by Subcommittee Member Burkholder, seconded by Subcommittee Member Acosta
to hold a Special Meeting of the Legislative Subcommittee on December 2, 2025, pending
availability of the room, and to cancel the December 9, 2025, Legislative Subcommittee
meeting. Motion carried unanimously, 2/0.
SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: None.
SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Subcommittee Members
reported on activities and meetings of some committees and subcommittees of which they are
members.
ADJOURNMENT: Subcommittee Member Acosta adjourned the duly noticed meeting at 11:19 a.m.
R binNuschy, Minutes Cler ~
Executive Assistant