Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-05; Environmental Sustainability Commission; 01; City Council Legislative Subcommittee UpdateMeeting Date: Feb. 5, 2026 To: Environmental Sustainability Commission From: James Wood, Environmental Sustainability Director Staff Contact: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2958 Subject: City Council Legislative Subcommittee Update Districts: All Recommended Action Receive a presentation regarding the work of the City Council Legislative Subcommittee, the City of Carlsbad Intergovernmental Affairs Program and the city’s recent and ongoing advocacy efforts related to the protection and long-term sustainability of Carlsbad’s natural environment. Executive Summary The City of Carlsbad City Council Legislative Subcommittee works in coordination with the city’s Intergovernmental Affairs Director, City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, other city departments, legislative consultants and the Carlsbad community to: 1.Receive information and advise the City Council on intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city 2.Continuously monitor state and federal proposed legislation a.Review proposed legislation for consistency with the city’s Legislative Platform b.Make recommendations to City Council to identify high priority bills c.Make recommendations to City Council to adopt advocacy positions on high priority bills not addressed by the Legislative Platform 3.Proactively seek to identify local and regional legislative needs and recommend bill sponsorship opportunities to the City Council 4.Engage and inform the Carlsbad community (residents, businesses, and stakeholder groups) and other governmental agencies on intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city. District 4 City Council Member and Legislative Subcommittee Member, Teresa Acosta, and Intergovernmental Affairs Director, Jason Haber, will provide an update on the city’s recent and ongoing advocacy efforts related to the protection and long-term sustainability of Carlsbad’s natural environment, including an overview of the city’s process for evaluating and pursuing grant opportunities, and the city’s current funding priorities. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Feb. 5, 2026 Item #1 Page 1 of 2 Fiscal Analysis This action has no fiscal impact. Environmental Evaluation The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by CEQA Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does not require environment review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3), because the proposed action to report on City Council Legislative Subcommittee Update is an organizational or administrative government activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Any subsequent action or direction stemming from the proposed action may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA or CEQA Guidelines. Exhibits None. Feb. 5, 2026 Item #1 Page 2 of 2 Teresa Acosta, District 4 City Council Member and Legislative Subcommittee Member Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Feb. 5, 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Legislative Subcommittee Update 1 TODAY’S PRESENTATION •Intergovernmental Affairs program overview •Legislative process & calendar •Legislative Platform position statements •City funding requests •Q & A Legislative Update 2 INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS •City Council policy & resolution •City Council Legislative Subcommittee •Legislative Platform •Cal Cities / National League of Cities •Departmental & lobbyist support •Legislative & regulatory advocacy •State/federal/other grant funding 3 LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY ADVOCACY •Watch / Support / Oppose / …If Amended •Letters / Testimony •Direct Engagement (legislators, staff, consultants, committee members, administration, agencies) •Bill Sponsorship •Regional partners – County, SANDAG, neighboring cities, etc. Legislative Update 4 CITY-SPONSORED BILLS 2022: AB 1672 – Ocean Lifeguards at City Pools AB 1682 – Lifeguard Rescue Vessel Speed Limit 2023: SB 428 – TRO for Employee Harassment 2024: AB 2234 – E-bike rider training and age minimum AB 2715 – Brown Act Exception: Cybersecurity 2026 Bill Proposals: - Allow public safety on-street use of UTVs - Electronic filing & virtual appearance for workplace harassment restraining orders - Expand allowable use of beds at La Posada Shelter 5 2025 LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR Jan 5, 2026 Legislature Reconvenes Feb 20 Bill Introduction Deadline Aug 3–Aug. 31 Fiscal Committees & Floor Sessions Jul 2–Aug 3 Summer Recess Sept. 30 Governor’s Sign/Veto Deadline Legislative Update Mar–Jul Policy & Fiscal Committees Jun 15 Legislative Budget Deadline You are here Jun 30 Governor’s Budget Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Statutes take effect 6 7 CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM 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. Legislative Update 8 CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM Legislative Priorities 1. Community Character 2. Quality of Life & Safety 3. Sustainability & the Natural Environment 4. Economic Vitality 5. Organizational Excellence & Fiscal Health Legislative Update 9 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM Community Services Arts, Cultural Resources, Historic Preservation and Education Child Care Park Bond Funds Public Parks/Recreational Facilities Public Libraries Seniors Healthy Cities Environmental Quality Climate Change California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Hazardous Materials Solid Waste, Recycling and Diversion Utilities Coastal Issues Water General Principles Water Conservation Water Recycling Water Quality Water Storage & Conveyance Systems New Technology Financial Considerations Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations Labor Relations Workers’ Compensation Governance and Ethics Elected Officials Housing, Community and Economic Development Planning and Zoning Housing Subdivision Map Act Economic Development Public Safety Fire Services Emergency Services and Preparedness Law Enforcement Drugs and Alcohol Homelessness Miscellaneous Revenue and Taxation State Mandates Transportation, Communication and Public Works Transportation Public Works Contracts Telecommunications Legislative Update 10 CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM – POSITIONS Environmental Quality -Support legislation that complements the city’s Environmental and Sustainability Guiding Principles. -Support funding and legislation that supports climate change adaptation and resilience efforts. Climate Change -Support funding and legislation that facilitates energy efficiency and decarbonization practices and actions to mitigate the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. -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. Legislative Update 11 CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM – POSITIONS California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) -Support legislation that streamlines federal and state environmental review, eliminates procedural redundancies, and limits court reviews of environmental documentation. Hazardous Materials -Support efforts for the proper and cost-effective disposal of solid, hazardous and medical waste. -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. Legislative Update 12 CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM – POSITIONS Solid Waste, Recycling and Diversion -Support legislation that preserves the ability of local governments to regulate solid waste and recyclable materials. -Support legislation that promotes source reduction, sustainability and re-use measures. -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. Legislative Update 13 CITY OF CARLSBAD 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM – POSITIONS Utilities -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. -Support legislation that preserves and protects net energy metering to continue incentivizing investments in rooftop solar energy systems. -Support legislation that provides funding to increase energy efficiency, improve reliability and reduce peak demand, including for demand-side management programs. -Support legislation that protects competitive neutrality, procurement autonomy, ratepayer affordability, reliability, decarbonization and social equity initiatives of community choice aggregation. Legislative Update 14 CITY OF CARLSBAD 2024 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM – POSITIONS Coastal Issues -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. -Support legislation that promotes aquatic research, education and aquaculture. -Oppose any new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in all State of California and U.S. waters in the Pacific Ocean. Legislative Update 15 Bills of Interest (2025) AB 130 (Committee on Budget) This bill included statutory changes to facilitate implementation of the Budget Act of 2025, as it relates to housing and homelessness. Included significant policy changes and incorporates several bills into the budget bill including: AB 306 (Schultz) Building regulations: state building standards. Places a six-year moratorium on local governments’ ability to adopt or amend local building standards beyond those contained in the California Building Standards Code. City Position: Oppose AB 609 (Wicks) CEQA Reform Establishes a CEQA exemption for qualifying “infill” housing rich projects and imposes a 30-day deadline for agencies to act to approve or disapprove a qualifying project. 16 Bills of Interest (2025) AB 131 (Committee on Budget) This bill included statutory changes to facilitate implementation of the Budget Act of 2025, as it relates to housing and homelessness. Included significant policy changes that were included in SB 607 (Wiener) as it pertains to the California Environmental Quality Act including: o Narrows the scope of environmental reviews to focus on harmful impacts, reducing delays and costs for projects in urban infill areas. o Establishes a process to review housing development projects that meet all but one exemption eligibility criteria. o Exempts from CEQA any rezoning that implements an approved housing element. o Exempts from CEQA the following types of projects: •Specified wildfire risk reduction projects •Updates to the state's climate adaptation strategy planning document •Projects that consist of the development, construction, or modification of a proposed passenger rail station, or design changes to a passenger rail station 17 2026 BILL POSITIONS Legislative Update AB 35 (Alvarez) Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024: Administrative Procedure Act: exemption: program guidelines and selection criteria. City Position:Support Makes a targeted process improvement to the distribution of Proposition 4 Climate Bond funds by exempting the development and adoption of program guidelines and selection criteria for the Bond’s programs from the Administrative Procedure Act. Approved by voters on November 5, 2024, Proposition 4 authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds to advance statewide climate priorities. 18 City Funding Requests •Priority projects in need of funding •Aligned with state/federal priorities and funding sources •Multi-year effort •Discretionary Budget Appropriations •Community Projects Funding •Competitive Grants •Formula Allocations 19 •Public Safety •Village Area Pedestrian Lighting •Fire Station 7 – Design •Sustainability & Climate Adaptation •EV Charging Stations – Monroe St. Pool & Veterans Memorial Park •S. Carlsbad Blvd. Climate Adaptation Studies •Carlsbad Water Recycling Facility Improvements •Sea Level Rise Adaptation & Shoreline Preservation •Parks & Trails Projects •Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail •Pickleball Courts – Calavera Hills & Stagecoach •ADA Beach Access Improvements: Pine/Tamarack •Leo Carrillo Ranch Park Phase 3B •Robertson Ranch Park Development •Transportation & Mobility Projects •Kelly Dr. & Park Dr. Complete Streets •Lowering the Railroad Tracks in the Village •Safe Routes to School Improvements: Sage Creek High School & Hope Elementary School •La Costa Ave. Traffic Improvements: ECR to RSF 2026 STATE & FEDERAL FUNDING PRIORITIES 20 Thank You! Legislative Update Teresa Acosta City Council Member - District 4 Legislative Subcommittee Member Teresa.Acosta@carlsbadca.gov 442-339-2830 (Office) 442-200-8748 (Direct) Jason Haber Intergovernmental Affairs Director jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov (442) 339-295821