DATE:
February 17, 2026
TO:
Mayor and Council Members
FROM:
Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY:
Melinda Sayre, Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Tammy Pelayes, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT:
Consideration of the 2026 Legislative Platform and Funding Priorities
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the 2026 Legislative Platform consisting of Legislative Policy Statements and Funding Priorities.
BACKGROUND
The City Manager’s office is responsible for maintaining the annual Legislative Platform. The purpose of this document is to provide City Council guidance and reference when responding to State and Federal legislative proposals that have the potential to impact the City of Hesperia. To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the City’s legislative advocacy program, the City Council adopts a Legislative Platform each year to serve as the foundation for the City’s advocacy strategy.
The 2026 Legislative Platform outlines the City’s priorities for this legislative year. Adopting the Legislative Platform provides the Mayor and City Manager with clarity on the position of the City Council regarding priority legislative issues. While this allows for consistent decision making, the adoption of the Legislative Platform also allows for flexibility to adapt to the variety of legislative and budgetary issues that arise throughout the year and in the prompt submission of letters of support or opposition, on behalf of the City of Hesperia, to the Legislature and Congress.
The Legislative Platform provides direction to the City Manager’s Office when responding to legislation and when prioritizing grant and funding opportunities. Additionally, the 2026 Legislative Platform provides guidance to the City’s Federal and State legislative advocates representing the City’s interests during the year.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
The Legislative Platform is comprised of three components: The Legislative Platform Process, the City Council Funding Priorities and the Legislative Policy Statements.
The Legislative Platform is a long term, multi-year effort that helps the City maintain a consistent approach in pursuing its legislative priorities; consequently, the Policy Statements and Council Funding Priorities are updated each year after review and input from Senior Management and from the City’s Federal and State legislative advocates.
For this year’s Funding Priorities, staff has identified Critical and Essential Projects that are of the highest priority to the City, and have the greatest potential for funding.
Critical Projects would immediately benefit the circulation, or improve drainage and can provide a significant impact to residents and economic development. Critical Projects include:
Critical Projects
City Wide Pavement Restoration
Cataba Road Basin
Water Service Line Improvements
Replacing Water Services
Replacing Steel Lines
North-South Corridor Improvements
Main Street Widening and Aqueduct Bridge Construction
Traffic Signals
Escondido Avenue and Sultana Street
Seventh Avenue and Sequoia Street
Cedar Street (Mariposa Road to Escondido Avenue Street Improvements Temecula Avenue Basin
Ranchero Corridor Project – Phase IV
I-15 Corridor Water Project
Essential projects will take time to fruition and do not serve as an immediate impact to residents but are anticipated to help relieve issues associated with future growth. Essential Projects include:
Essential Projects
Escondido Bridge
A-04 Corridor Flood Protection Program
Mesa Area Septic to Sewer
I Avenue Widening
Sultana Street and Muscatel Street Improvements
Bear Valley Road Rehabilitation and Widening Project
The Policy Statements in the 2026 Legislative Platform emphasize preserving and protecting local control over City revenue, land use, economic development, the advocacy of financial support to protect and increase revenue streams for local priorities and other activities that benefit and enhance Hesperia.
CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM
Future Development - Facilitate balanced growth to ensure cohesive community development and pursue economic development.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Legislative Platform is coordinated by the City Manager’s Office. Costs for any necessary travel and other related expenses by Council Members and Staff will be discussed during the City’s budget process or on a case-by-case basis.
ALTERNATIVE(S)
Provide alternative direction to staff
ATTACHMENT(S)
2026 Legislative Platform
City of Hesperia STAFF REPORT City of Hesperia STAFF REPORT City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT
City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT
Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Consideration of the 2026 Legislative Platform and Funding Priorities February 17, 2026