Attachment 2
2025 LEGISLATIVE
POLICY GUIDELINES
February 18, 2025
CITY OF CORONADO
2025 LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES
Revised February 18, 2025 i
INTRODUCTION
The following guidelines will be utilized to take positions on state and federal legislative issues affecting the City of Coronado. These guidelines allow for the efficient transmittal of correspondence from the City to advocate for desired policy outcomes.
In accordance with the guidelines, staff is authorized to communicate the City’s position, engage with the City’s state and federal advocacy teams and prepare correspondence on behalf of the City for the Mayor’s or City Manager’s signature, if the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore are unavailable to sign. If there are new factors not contemplated in the guidelines, the issue shall go to the City Council for direction.
Additionally, in accordance with Council Policy #26, legislative correspondence signed by the Mayor shall be presented to the full City Council, subject to agenda deadlines, at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting as a non-action item under the Agenda Heading of COMMUNICATIONS – WRITTEN.
As needed, staff will provide periodic updates on important legislative issues at regular City Council meetings. City Council will then have an opportunity to make a position statement on the issues or specific legislation.
These guidelines are reviewed annually by the City Council and revised to reflect positions the Council has taken on previous legislative issues or may want to take based on recommendations from staff.
CITY OF CORONADO
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
A. State-Federal Mandated Programs 1
B. Long-Term Financing of Local Agencies 1
C. Revenue, Fees and Taxes 1
D. Border Area Economic Development 2
E. Local Educational Funding 2
II. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
A. Workers’ Compensation 3
B. Unemployment Compensation 3
C. Labor Relations 3
D. State and Local Government Relations 4
E. Pension Reform 4
III. PUBLIC PROTECTION
A. Crimes 5
B. Drugs 5
C. Fire Protection 6
D. Medical Care 6
E. Homeland Security 6
F. San Diego-Coronado Bridge 7
IV. TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS
A. Transportation 8
B. Solid Waste and Recycling 9
C. Public Rights-of-Way 9
D. Public Works 9
V. RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
A. California Environmental Quality Act 10
B. Offshore Drilling 10
C. Waterfront 10
D. Water 11
E. Storm Drain and Sewer 11
F. Cross-Border Water Pollution 12
G. Regional Growth Management 12
H. Air Quality 12
I. Wetlands 13
J. Energy 13
K. Land Use 13
CITY OF CORONADO
2025 LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES
Revised February 18, 2025 iii
VI. HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT DISSOLUTION
A. Housing 14
B. Successor Agency 14
VII. RECREATION 15
VIII. CITY-NAVY RELATIONS 16
CITY OF CORONADO
2025 LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES
Revised February 18, 2025 1
I. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
A. State-Federal Mandated Programs
1. Support legislation requiring the State and Federal Government to provide full cost reimbursement to cities for all mandated programs and for all programs resulting in revenue losses.
2. Oppose legislation that fails to provide adequate funding for State and Federally mandated programs.
3. Oppose any measure that mandates procedures (such as maintenance-ofeffort) that would make local government more dependent on the State for financial stability.
4. Support legislation that further protects local government revenue from being taken, confiscated, shifted, diverted or otherwise used to fund State government operations and responsibilities.
B. Long-Term Financing of Local Agencies
1. Support legislation to stabilize local government financing, to increase funding to local agencies and to permit the most cost-efficient management of State- mandated programs.
2. Oppose legislation which shifts revenue from local government to the State for any purpose or reduces local discretion in the use of local government revenues.
3. Oppose legislation that would punitively reduce local government funding for transportation or other discretionary funding for not meeting state housing goals.
C. Revenues, Fees and Taxes
1. Support legislation which increases local revenues or improves local government’s ability to generate revenue.
2. Oppose legislation that would change the property tax allocation method or formula that would result in less property tax to the City of Coronado.
3. Oppose legislation that would transfer a local government’s reserves, or designated reserves, to the state or other agency, caps a local government’s reserves or reduces local government revenue due to the level of reserves it maintains.
4. Support legislation to protect and preserve local control over locally imposed taxes (such as transient occupancy tax and franchise fees).
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5. Support legislation that would repeal FY 92-93 and FY 93-94 property tax shift from cities.
6. Support legislation to protect critical local programs and services from State budget cuts during the current legislative session.
7. Support legislation that would create cost recovery for local police, fire, and emergency medical services to state/military properties, including military housing.
8. Support legislation that would create cost recovery for local non-safety public services to state/military properties, including military housing.
9. Support legislation that would amend the State Constitution Article XIID, Section
6.C. to include storm drain fees among the list of types of fees that are exempt from the voting requirements imposed by Proposition 218.
10. Support legislation that would provide an exclusion from retirement pay received by uniformed services members from the federal government during the taxable year. Support an additional exclusion from income annuity payments received by a surviving spouse of a member of the uniformed services.
11. Support legislation funding and streamlining major capital projects such as utility undergrounding, solar panels, vehicle charging stations, parks rehabilitation, coastline remediation, fire station construction and climate resiliency.
D. Border Area Economic Development
1. Support legislation which would provide aid to and assist in the development of the economies of South Bay and border cities.
E. Local Educational Funding
1. Support legislation that guarantees Federal Impact Aid Funds to Coronado schools.
2. Support legislation that provides flexibility for use of 2% pass-through funds (Health & Safety Code section 33676) on school district operations.
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II. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
A. Workers’ Compensation
1. Oppose legislation which would increase employee benefits without system reforms which would offset increased employer costs.
2. Oppose legislation which would provide presumptive eligibility for the award of benefits for Workers’ Compensation or other employee health benefits.
3. Support legislation which would remove existing presumptive eligibility for the award of benefits for Workers’ Compensation or other employee health benefits.
4. Support legislation which would reform the Workers’ Compensation system to reduce employer costs through the reduction of system abuse.
B. Unemployment Compensation
1. Oppose legislation which would increase employer liability for unemployment compensation or which would reduce local discretion to manage this risk.
C. Labor Relations
1. Oppose legislation which would impede local administration of labor relations.
2. Oppose legislation which would require, impose, or expand compulsory binding arbitration for public employees.
3. Oppose legislation which would increase the cost of benefits, the cost of administering benefits, or mandate that a special group health and welfare benefit be provided to all employees.
4. Oppose legislation which reduces local control over public employee disputes and/or imposes regulations from an outside agency.
5. Oppose legislation which makes disciplinary proceedings for public safety employees similar to criminal proceedings, making it virtually impossible for employers to prove an administrative violation.
6. Oppose legislation restricting the availability of evidence in administrative investigations and hearings involving public safety employees.
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D. State and Local Government Relations
1. Oppose legislative efforts that restrict the City from contacting and representing itself on issues of importance before state agencies and commissions.
E. Pension Reform
1. Support legislation for pension reform that provides sustainable pensions for local government employees.
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III. PUBLIC SAFETY
A. Crimes
1. Oppose efforts that would impede local law enforcement from addressing crime within the community and recovering costs resulting from a crime committed by a guilty party.
2. Support legislation that would protect the public from the dangerous and improper use of weapons and enact necessary regulations to control their use.
3. Oppose legislation which would weaken the authority of local law enforcement to control the issuance of concealed weapon permits.
4. Support legislation which strengthens State graffiti law and provides local government revenue and resources for graffiti abatement.
5. Support legislation that would protect the public from identity theft.
6. Support legislation that would provide funds for local law enforcement technology.
7. Support legislation that would provide funds for additional equipment, services, and/or personnel.
8. Support legislation that would prohibit transient rental hosting platforms from facilitating occupancy of a residential unit offered for tourist or transient use in violation of any ordinance, regulation, or law of the city; and require transient rental hosting platforms to report quarterly activities sufficient to enforce local transient rental regulations and zoning.
9. Support legislation that would increase the ability of local law enforcement officers to issue a citation to any motor vehicle (including motorcycles) that emit an excessively loud or disturbing noise not necessary for its operation.
10. Support legislation that would allow a local agency to develop their own bail schedule for violations of the Vehicle Code by bicyclists and/or allow a local agency to develop its own municipal code for said purpose.
11. Support legislation that broadens the threshold for auto burglary by removing the requirement for a vehicle to have locked doors and rolled-up windows in order to meet the definition.
B. Drugs
1. Support legislation which strengthens State and Federal drug laws to give local government the power to restrict or regulate the sale, manufacture and the use of alcohol and/or controlled substances.
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2. Oppose legislation that would limit a city’s authority to regulate, permit, license, or prohibit the cultivation, distribution, or sale of marijuana.
3. Support legislation which would provide a greater share of seized assets to localities.
C. Fire Protection
1. Support legislation protecting local discretion regarding building and fire code standards.
2. Support legislation that provides funding for local emergency operations including equipment, services and personnel.
3. Support legislation that explores innovation efforts and pilot programs that enable emergency providers to control costs.
D. Medical Care
1. Support legislation protecting or increasing municipal discretion regarding the provision of emergency medical services.
2. Support legislation to regularly update the Geographic Practice Cost Index to provide for adequate reimbursement schedules for physicians in San Diego County who treat Medicare and Medicaid patients.
3. Support legislation that provides State and Federal funding for local hospital operations and capital improvement projects.
4. Support legislation that would enhance or provide funding sources for the delivery of emergency medical and ambulance transportation services.
5. Support legislation that would reduce the amount of time City emergency medical and ambulance services must wait at hospitals until patients can be released from their care.
E. Homeland Security
1. Support legislation that would provide funding for Homeland Security measures.
2. Support legislation that would require communicating with city officials regarding threats to local safety, as threats occur.
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F. San Diego-Coronado Bridge
1. Support legislation for the establishment and allocation for state and federal funding of a suicide prevention barrier for the Coronado Bridge.
2. Support legislation that seeks City of Coronado concurrence to any modifications to the appearance of the Coronado Bridge as it relates to the establishment of a suicide prevention barrier.
3. Oppose legislation that would require the City of Coronado to pay, or otherwise diverts funding intended for the benefit of Coronado, for the purpose of a study or construction of a suicide prevention barrier for the Coronado Bridge.
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IV. TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS
A. Transportation
1. Seek and support legislation that would provide Department of Defense/Department of Navy funding and encourage participation in congestion relief for the SR 75/282 Transportation Corridor.
2. Support legislation which provides equitable amounts of State and Federal funding for roads and highways and facilitates the timely construction of local transportation projects.
3. Support legislation which reaffirms State responsibility for highway funding and oppose legislation that would relinquish State Routes to local governments without appropriate consideration or concurrence.
4. Support legislation which assures Federal and State funding efforts for local transportation projects and for alternative forms of transportation.
5. Support legislation providing funds for local agencies to establish peak hour traffic management plans.
6. Support legislation to authorize State financial incentives for employees who commute to work in carpools or use public transportation.
7. Support legislation that allows the use of speed cameras in 25 M.P.H. school zones and residential neighborhoods based solely on safety concerns.
8. Support legislation that would allow the lowering of the speed limit on State Route 282 and State Route 75/Silver Strand Highway.
9. Support legislation for active transportation methods and the implementation of complete streets in the City of Coronado to improve bikeability and walkability throughout the City.
10. Support legislation to facilitate the expedited relinquishment of State Routes 75 and 282, should the City of Coronado decide to take ownership of all or a portion of these roadways.
11. Support legislation that would allow local governments to establish reasonable control and regulations over taxicabs that operate within their jurisdictions.
12. Support legislation that enhances funding for commuter ferry service to and from Coronado and neighboring military bases, including the use of alternative fuel and/or electric vessels for this service.
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13. Support legislation that would allow local governments to establish reasonable controls and regulations over electric bikes and other electric modes of transportation.
B. Solid Waste and Recycling
1. Support legislation for local agencies providing assistance to help prepare and implement recycling plans.
2. Support legislation which encourages the State to provide funding for added costs of implementing mandatory solid waste, household hazardous waste, organic waste, and recycling programs to local agencies.
3. Support legislation which sets reasonable and flexible recycling standards.
4. Support legislation that would exempt a city from AB 939 penalties due to a federal installation’s excessive contribution to the city’s waste stream.
5. Support legislation encouraging active development of markets for recycled goods.
6. Support legislation requiring local agencies to prepare and implement household hazardous waste collection plans and provide state funding for the development of those efforts.
7. Support legislation which reduces local government's superfund liability for solid waste.
C. Public Rights-of-Way
1. Support legislation to retain local control over public rights-of-way.
2. Oppose legislation that would limit the City’s ability to regulate or prohibit activity in the public rights-of-way or on public property.
D. Public Works
1. Support legislation that provides cities the ability to impose consequences regarding future work opportunities on contractors selected under low bid contract requirements that deliver unsatisfactory contract performance.
2. Support legislation that would allow general law cities to use design build or other delivery methods for constructing capital improvement programs.
3. Support legislation that would provide greater flexibility in the use of City forces to complete minor Public Works contracts.
4. Support legislation that would allow general law cities to use a two-step, best value contract acquisition method for service contracts.
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V. RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
A. California Environmental Quality Act
1. Support legislation which improves CEQA requirements to aid in a thorough environmental review of future projects.
2. Support legislation that would exempt local agencies from completing CEQA or obtaining additional permits from State or Federal agencies for temporary events such as aerial fireworks displays.
B. Offshore Drilling
1. Oppose legislation which includes any San Diego coastal areas in the lease/sale program until environmental protection has been assured and the need for this resource has been demonstrated.
2. Support legislation which provides for oil spill prevention and response.
3. Support legislation which creates a Coastal Sanctuary which prohibits a State agency from entering into a new lease for the extraction of oil in State waters.
C. Waterfront
1. Support legislation which provides funding for waterfront coastal restoration, protection, and enhancement.
2. Monitor efforts to improve or modify facilities at Silver Strand State Beach with the intent of preserving the environment for the Coronado residents who are adjacent to the State Beach.
3. Monitor the status of legislation and seek state cooperation and funding for protecting the Silver Strand and Coronado Bridge Scenic Highways, including maintenance and operations of the Silver Strand State Park, master planning efforts, ridge line fence improvements, and rehabilitating and upgrading the environmental preserve north of the bayside beach picnic area.
4. Oppose projects that diminish or have a negative impact on the Silver Strand and Coronado Bridge Scenic Highways.
5. Support legislation to fund advance planning and mitigation efforts for sea level rise.
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D. Water
1. Support legislative efforts to feasibly improve the water quality in San Diego Bay.
2. Support legislation to provide Southern California with a stable source of water.
3. Support legislation which would provide incentives and funding for alternative water sources and for water conservation measures sponsored by local agencies.
4. Support legislation that would advance the opportunity to secure and utilize reclaimed/recycled water.
5. Support legislation that would support the development of a Long-Range Regional Water Reuse Plan that would not preclude a local agency from pursuing its own reclaimed water initiative.
6. Support legislation that would expand the ability of local government officials, staff, and the public to serve on the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
E. Storm Drain and Sewer
1. Support legislation that provides funding and grants for recycled water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure.
2. Support legislation to provide funding for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit compliance and other mitigation measures and projects to reuse, divert, or treat urban runoff.
3. Oppose legislation that imposes more stringent requirements on storm drain runoff without providing funding and/or consideration of the feasibility of monitoring and mitigation of such requirements.
4. Monitor any new or reviewed requirements by State or Federal agencies for testing water quality and water body closures.
5. Support legislation that would provide funding for the Transbay wastewater system and other projects in the sewer and storm water master plans.
6. Support Federal and State legislation to allow for smaller secondary equivalency at the Point Loma Wastewater Plant (including the proposed Pure Water San Diego Program) rather than upgrading the plant to full secondary treatment as long as the discharges from the plant are not harming the environment.
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7. Support legislation to fund programs for the proper disposal of prescription drugs.
F. Cross Border Water Pollution
1. Support Federal and State legislation that provides Federal and State funding or enables other funding sources for the study, design, construction, maintenance and operation of improved sewage wastewater treatment, water conservation, flood control and other infrastructure facilities, and environmental mitigation and restoration projects in Mexico and the United States.
2. Support legislation that provides authority to the International Boundary and Water Commission to accept funding from other State and Federal agencies and a non-Federal entity and/or non-profit organizations to fund improvements to sewage wastewater infrastructure, water conservation or flood control projects and other structure to support the function of the IBWC.
3. Monitor requirements and protocols by County, State or Federal agencies for ocean water quality testing and water body closures, and advocate for properly calibrated testing that properly informs residents and visitors of water conditions without creating unnecessary water closures.
G. Regional Growth Management
1. Support legislation that would produce additional resources, including adequate funding, to local agencies to address regional growth issues.
2. Support legislation that would authorize local agencies to establish regional authorities to address growth management issues on a voluntary basis.
3. Support legislation which provides for regional governance but does not compromise the City of Coronado’s membership or role in regional governance issues or local municipal land use authority.
4. Support legislation that would return the SANDAG Executive Board voting structure to a tally vote rather than a weighted vote which currently disenfranchises smaller cities within the San Diego region.
H. Air Quality
1. Support legislation to feasibly improve the air quality in San Diego County.
2. Support legislation which allocates State and/or Federal funds for compliance with Federal and State air quality standards.
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3. Support legislation that would provide funding for alternative fuel vehicles and charging stations for electric vehicles.
I. Wetlands
1. Oppose legislation which adversely impacts wetlands adjacent to Coronado.
J. Energy
1. Support legislation that effectively stabilizes energy availability and reduces energy costs.
2. Support legislation that would provide funding for alternative energy sources, energy efficiency and conservation measures.
K. Land Use
1. Oppose legislation that takes a punitive approach to City General Plan Housing Element reform and the imposition of any extraordinary powers in State agencies with regard to City Housing Elements.
2. Oppose legislation, or other agency actions, that would usurp local control of land use decision-making.
3. Oppose legislation that would impose State-mandated development standards or procedures that are contrary to the Coronado General Plan or local land use policy.
4. Oppose legislation that would circumvent a local agency’s land use authority by requiring a local agency to allow commercial uses in residential zones or residential uses in commercial zones.
5. Oppose land use legislation that is inflexible and cannot be modified through local review.
6. Oppose proposals that would alter air traffic that could result in negative impacts to Coronado.
7. Support actions by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA) related to the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) that do not adversely impact properties in Coronado based on the Air Installation Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) study from the Navy.
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Revised February 18, 2025 14
VI. HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT DISSOLUTION
A. Housing
1. Oppose legislation which restricts local discretion in the use of housing funds or in the assessment of housing needs.
2. Support legislation which exempts military jobs from Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) formulas or provides credit for housing units contained within adjacent military installations.
3. Require HCD and Regional Planning Agencies to consider growth limitations imposed by other state and regional planning agencies, such as the Coastal Commission and airport authorities, when analyzing Housing Elements for compliance.
4. Support reform legislation of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process to provide cities with more flexibility meeting State housing law and more direct authority into the methodologies used to assign housing units to respective cities.
5. Oppose legislation that penalizes a city if units identified in the Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA) are not constructed.
6. Support legislation which provides a funding source, e.g. tax increment financing, for affordable housing projects and programs similar to the former redevelopment affordable housing set-aside.
7. Support efforts that provide funding and resources to assure local governments have the ability to address the needs of the homeless in their communities and protects the City’s ability to preserve public safety and livability.
B. Successor Agency
1. Oppose legislation which reduces the amount of Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF) revenues allocable to successor agencies.
2. Oppose legislation which shifts revenue from successor agencies to the State to cure State budget deficits.
3. Oppose legislation which authorizes other agencies to assess successor agencies in excess of costs for actual services rendered.
4. Oppose legislation that prohibits a successor agency from repaying loans from a City that were provided to the agency for a lawful purpose.
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VII. RECREATION
1. Support legislation that would provide funds for local and regional recreation areas, parks, facilities, and services.
2. Support legislation that provides funding from SANDAG, the State, and/or the Federal Government to complete and maintain the Bayshore Bikeway project around the entire San Diego Bay and other bikeway networks in San Diego County.
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VIII. CITY - NAVY RELATIONS
A. Support the Navy on matters of mutual concern that are consistent with the City’s best interests to maintain a high quality of life for the community, dealing with base security, mission priorities, training facilities, air traffic safety, and ground traffic congestion.
B. Support the Navy’s efforts in retaining Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) as a long-term, exclusive military facility under BRAC.
C. Oppose efforts for joint use of commercial air passenger or cargo use of Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI).
D. Oppose legislation that interferes with the City’s land use authority to retain existing uses and allow for reasonable expansion of structures within any landing zones.
E. Support Navy policy interpretation that provides for public participation in the preparation of an Air Installation Compatible Use Zone study for NASNI.
F. Support efforts to reintroduce passenger ferry service as a commuter ferry service to and from Coronado and neighboring military bases.
G. Continue to collaborate with the Navy to minimize impacts of Navy aircraft flying in close proximity to residential homes.