DATE: August 18, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Clerk and City Manager
SUBJECT: Cal Cities 202 6 Annual Conference: Adopt a Resolution Designating a Voting Delegate and Alternates for the Conference Scheduled for September 23-25, 2026; and Adopt a Resolution Directing the City’s Voting Delegate to Vote on a Proposed League of California Cities General Assembly Resolution Calling for a Working Group to Consider a State Constitutional Amendment or Other Form of Initiative to Ensure Final Local Authority Over Housing and Land Use Decisions
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council adopts two resolutions (Attachments II and III) 1) Designating a voting delegate and alternates to represent Hayward at the General Assembly during the Cal Cities 2026 Annual Conference, and 2) D irecting the City’s voting delegate to vote to support the proposed League of California Cities General Assembly resolution calling for the formation of a working group to consider a state constitutional amendment or other form of initiative to ensure final local authority over housing and land use decisions.
SUMMARY
The Cal Cities Annual Conference will be held September 23-25, 2026, in Anaheim at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Attending League of Cities conferences provides the Mayor and Councilmembers with the opportunity to defend local authority, shape state policy, and lobby for the City’s interest effectively. In addition, the conference provides education and professional growth regarding legal, financial, and ethical duties, successful policy solutions enacted by other agencies, and updates on state regulations as well as the opportunity to network with peers in other local organizations to share best practices and discuss challenges and opportunities.
The Cal Cities Annual Conference includes an Annual Business Meeting (General Assembly), scheduled for Friday, September 25, where voting delegates from municipalities consider and vote on proposed Cal Cities resolutions. To participate in the voting process, the City Council must designate a voting delegate and up to two alternates.
One resolution that the 2026 General Assembly will consider is a resolution calling for a working group to develop potential strategies to strengthen local authority over housing and land use decisions while preserving the State Legislature’s authority to establish broad statewide goals, including a state constitutional amendment, legislation, policy changes, or a ballot initiative. Staff recommends that Council support this effort to strengthen local authority.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated expense of attending the conference is approximately $9,500, which is included within the approved Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the Mayor and City Council.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Consistent with the Cal Cities’ bylaws, the City Council must designate the City’s voting delegate and up to two alternate voting delegates by formal resolution. All designated delegates must be registered to attend the Annual Conference. To cast a vote at the Annual Business Meeting, at least one designated delegate must be present and in possession of the voting delegate card.
The voting delegate card may be freely transferred between the voting delegate and alternates as needed.
Currently, Mayor Salinas is the City’s delegate to the Cal Cities East Bay Division and Mayor Pro Tempore Syrop is the City’s alternate. Mayor Salinas and Council Members Bonilla Jr., Roche, and Syrop have registered and plan to attend the Cal Cities’ Annual Conference and are available to represent the City Council’s position on legislative matters at the Annual Business Meeting.
Cal Cities’ memo includes the General Assembly Guidelines and Information Sheet for Cal Cities Resolutions and the General Assembly, provided as Attachment IV for the Council’s reference.
The 2026 Cal Cities Resolution Packet is provided as Attachment V for the City Council’s reference.
Resolution Calling for Working Group on Local Control
On August 10, 2026, Cal Cities released details of one resolution to be considered by the General Assembly. Submitted by the City of Murrieta, the resolution states that statewide housing mandates can override locally adopted plans, zoning standards, and public review procedures without adequately accounting for local circumstances. It calls for a working group to consider a state constitutional amendment or other legislative, policy, or ballot -based strategy. As summarized by Cal Cities, the working group would seek a framework that preserves the State’s role in establishing broad housing goals and enforcing civil rights, fair housing, building, life- safety, and environmental requirements while giving cities greater authority to implement statewide objectives based on local conditions.
The resolution aligns with the City’s Strategic Roadmap priority to “Preserve, Produce, and Protect Housing for All” and its legislative program principle of maintaining home rule authority and supporting policies that maintain or improve local regulatory control. Staff also recognizes that statewide housing requirements have developed partly in response to uneven
local accommodation of needed housing and that restrictions in one jurisdiction may increase regional housing costs and shift development and infrastructure pressures to jurisdictions such as Hayward that accommodate growth. The proposed working-group process would provide an opportunity to address these concerns.
Attachment III includes a blank to record whether the City Council directs the voting delegate to support or oppose the proposed resolution; staff recommends that “support” be entered.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item is a routine operational item and does not relate to any of the six priorities outlined in the Council’s Strategic Roadmap.
PUBLIC CONTACT
The report does not require public notice.
NEXT STEPS
Delegates will attend the Cal Cities 2026 Annual Conference and represent the City Council’s position on legislative matters. The City Clerk will submit the City’s delegate information through the online submission portal by September 1, 2026.
Prepared and Recommended by: Miriam Lens, City Clerk
Ember Padro y Pereira, Management Analyst
Approved by:
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Jennifer Ott, City Manager