City of Menifee
Legislative Platform
2026
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 Mayor at Large Bob Karwin Ben Diederich Dan Temple Dean Deines Ricky Estrada Elected 2024 Appointed 2025 Elected 2024 Elected 2022 Elected 2024
Four District Boundary Map
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL PURPOSE
The primary purpose of a Legislative Platform is to adopt official City positions on matters affecting the City at the local, regional, state and federal levels. The approved platform allows City staff and legislative advocates to address and track issues in a timely manner pursuant to established procedures.
The platform was developed based on Menifee’s historical actions (resolutions, minutes, letters) on legislative issues, policies, and guiding principles from the League of California Cities, and departmental review. The following seven categories have been utilized incorporating related topics. ➢ Community Services
➢ Environmental Quality
➢ Governance, Transparency & Labor Relations
➢ Housing, Community & Economic Development
➢ Public Safety
➢ Revenue & Taxation
➢ Transportation, Communications & Public Works
OVERARCHING GUIDELINES
The following guidelines represent the City of Menifee’s overarching principles and will be reflected in all aspects of the legislative platform and accompanying issue positions.
1. Preservation of Local Control
Support measures that preserve and protect the City’s general law powers and duties to enact legislation and policy direction concerning local affairs. Oppose measures that reduce, eliminate, preempt local control or authority, or conflict with other legislative priorities . In the spirit of local control, the City will also refrain from taking positions on issues that do not directly correlate with the City’s operations.
2. Promotion of Fiscal Stability
Support measures that promote fiscal stability, predictability, and financial independence. Support measures that preserve and promote the City’s revenue base. Oppose measures that shift local funds to the County, State, or Federal government without offsetting benefits or impose penalties on cities, or create an unfunded mandate.
3. Support Funding Opportunities
Support measures that allow the City to compete for its fair share of regional, State, and Federal funding including competitive grants and other funding programs. Support measures that promote dedicated funding streams at the regional, State, and Federal levels allowing the City to maximize local revenues, offset and leverage capital expenditures, and maintain City goals and standards. However, the City will not support funding that relies on new state or federal taxes or fees that will impact Menifee residents and/or businesses.
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
Community
Services
PARKS & RECREATION
• Parks & Recreation - Support legislation and funding for acquisition, development, operation and maintenance of open space, recreation, parks, libraries, and community services.
CULTURAL
• Art & Historical Sites - Support legislation that provides funding to support visual and performing public art and historical sites.
HUMAN SERVICES
• Social Services - Support collaborative partnerships on a regional basis that provide for social services programs/initiatives that serve the needs of the Menifee community.
• Health & Wellness - Support legislation and funding for programs for the physical and mental health and wellness of families, including youth, seniors, and veterans.
• Homeless - Support legislation and funding to address homelessness with comprehensive regional strategies for supportive services. Oppose legislation limiting local authority and restricting enforcement to address homelessness.
• Military/Veterans - Support legislation and funding for programs that preserve and expand military and veteran resources.
Environmental
Quality
Water and water quality, energy,
utilities, air, climate,
environmental regulations, and
waste management
WATER
• Watershed - Support legislation and funding addressing urban runoff pollution and flood control improvements.
• Water - Support legislation and funding for water efficiency improvements, including conservation, adequate supply of safe drinking water and desalination programs. Oppose legislation that imposes mandates or punitive measures on cities or unduly shifts costs.
• Stormwater - Support the incremental revision of stormwater regulation and permitting in a manner that retains local flexibility to determine how best to meet the State’s water quality objectives.
ENERGY
• Energy - Support legislation and funding for local control of renewable energy sources and balanced energy efficient solutions proven to be cost efficient, as well as construction of energy producing facilities needed to meet increased demand.
Parks, Recreation, Libraries,
Arts, Youth, Senior,
Community and Human
Services
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
AIR
• Air Quality - Support legislation that promotes regional improvement of air quality, recognizing that air pollution does not follow jurisdictional boundaries.
Oppose legislation that restricts local and regional authority.
• Air Quality District - Support legislation maintaining Air Quality Management District air credits. Oppose reduction of local official representation on the South Coast Air Quality Management Board.
ENVIRONMENTAL
• California Environmental Quality Act - Support legislation that improves and streamlines the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and provides funding to assist local agencies in implementing CEQA.
• Green - Support the National Environmental Policy Act and green procurement and sustainable practices policies. Oppose legislation that imposes undue hardship on local agencies to implement environmental regulations.
• Waste Management - Support legislation and funding for local control to regulate solid waste, single -use packaging, hazardous waste, recyclable materials, siting waste treatment facilities, and abandoned vehicles.
Governance,
Transparency &
Labor Relations
GOVERNANCE
• Local Control - Support legislation maintaining and providing greater local control by municipalities, including contracting for city services, and opposing contrary legislation.
• Elections - Support legislation reducing unnecessary and costly procedures for conducting a municipal election and oppose contrary legislation.
• Political Reform Act - Support legislation to improve and streamline the Political Reform Act and its implementation through regulations.
• Public Notices - Support legislation allowing alternative methods of meeting public notice and publication requirements through the use of technology and cost-effective communication.
• Liability - Support legislation limiting exposure of local governments to liability, including unimproved natural conditions and design immunity.
TRANSPARENCY
• Transparency - Support legislation for State and local government to conduct public business openly with appropriate access to public records. Oppose legislation to require records disclosure processes resulting in increased costs.
Elections, Open Access,
Public Records, Political
Reform Act, Employees &
Labor Relations, Liability
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
LABOR
• Labor Relations - Oppose legislation imposing mandated employee benefits and imposing restrictions over employer/employee negotiations or disputes.
• Pensions - Support legislation providing sustainable and secure public pensions and other post -retirement benefits to ensure responsive and affordable public services.
• Workers’ Compensation - Support legislation streamlining the Workers’ Compensation system, including registered volunteer disaster service workers.
Oppose legislation increasing employee Workers’ Compensation benefits without system reform to offset increased employer costs.
• Disability - Oppose legislation providing presumptive eligibility for the award of Workers’ Compensation or other employee health benefits.
• Unemployment Insurance - Oppose legislation increasing employer liability for unemployment compensation.
Housing,
Community &
Economic
Development
Land use, annexation, housing,
building standards, economic
development, redevelopment,
mobile homes, sign regulations.
LAND USE
• Land Use - Support legislation that strengthens local control on land use s, plans for responsible growth, development, redevelopment, zoning, and annexations.
Oppose legislation that reduces local control.
• Local Control - Oppose legislation that would limit or restrict local land use decision-making authority, including the imposition of one -size-fits-all, land-use, parking, building and development guidelines.
• Annexations - Oppose legislation that creates fiscal impediments to future annexations.
• Sphere of Influence - Support changes to Sphere of Influence legislation to limit county development that would impact city and allow cities to annex logical growth.
• Habitat Conservation - Support legislation that provides funding for habitat management planning, maintenance, and administration.
• Eminent Domain - Oppose legislation restricting the use of eminent domain to acquire land not zoned for residential use for redevelopment.
• Right-of-Way - Support legislation allowing cities to manage public right-of-way and receive compensation for its use.
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
• Environmental Barriers - Support legislation and funding to reduce environmental barriers to structure and land development and to clean up brownfields.
• Infrastructure - Support funding mechanisms encouraging infrastructure development and fair distribution of infrastructure bonds generally as well as filling the revenue gap resulting from dissolution of redevelopment.
• Building - Support legislation and funding for State building codes addressing safety, mitigation of natural hazards, and cost-effective green building standards.
HOUSING
• Housing - Support legislation and funding programs promoting production and rehabilitation of safe, affordable, and accessible housing; and support increasing the maximum home sale price allowed under Federal and State home ownership funded programs.
• Housing Element - Support legislation and funding to allow regional cooperation and establishing realistic housing goals and oppose legislation imposing mandates or penalties.
• Road Funding - Oppose legislation unfairly tying road funding to local decisions on density and affordable housing.
• Mortgage Debt Tax - Support legislation for cancellation of mortgage debt tax.
• Foreclosed Properties - Support non-profits, i.e., Habitat for Humanity to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosed properties in blighted areas.
• Group Homes - Support legislation that increases local control over location of community care facilities/group homes.
• Mobile Homes - Support legislation enhancing lives for mobile home residents, including requiring training for park managers , and prohibiting park managers from requiring residents to use a specific dealer or broker.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• Economic Development - Support legislation and funding for business-friendly principles to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses , including regional economic efforts.
• Jobs and Revenue - Support legislation providing tools and incentives necessary for economic development (i.e. jobs, revenue).
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
• Tax Increment - Support legislation for financing programs encouraging economic development including tax increment financing.
• Impact Fees - Oppose legislation that would inappropriately limit local government authority to impose impact fees.
• Operations/Construction - Support legislation that increases flexibility in the development and building process and streamlines environmental statutes.
Oppose legislation that would result in increased costs for businesses to operate/construct facilities.
• International Sales - Support legislation, including measures that remove barriers, allowing local businesses and industries to sell goods and services internationally.
• Cap and Trade - Support legislation and policy that maintains the “Cap and Trade” Program to support the CalRecycle Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) Loan Program. Oppose any legislation that proposes to make significant and/or controversial changes to the existing RMDZ Loan Program, up to and including the elimination of the program or funding support.
• Occupational Programs - Support legislation, funding and policies that promote Regional Occupation Programs, trade schools, investment in research and development technology, and tax incentives for manufacturing.
• Education - Support all attempts to bring higher education and pathway opportunities to the region.
• Base Realignment - Oppose closure of regional military installations.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
• Funding – Support the preservation of funding for the Community Development Block Grant program and increasing the funds available under the program.
• Reporting - Support legislation that would consolidate and streamline the administration and reporting requirements of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Advocate for greater flexibility of local appropriation and use of funds.
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL Public Safety
Law enforcement, fire and life
safety, emergency
communications, emergency
services, disaster preparedness,
nuisance abatement, and
animal control services
LAW ENFORCEMENT
• Law Enforcement - Support legislation, funding, and efforts strengthening State and local law enforcement efforts directed towards crime prevention and public safety to create a safer city.
• Crime - Support legislation and funding to address crime related to drug (including synthetics), alcohol, burglary, assault, sex offenders, domestic violence, gangs, mental health and juvenile-related (tobacco, bullying) problems.
• Crime Victims - Support legislation and funding to protect crime victims.
• Cost Recovery - Oppose legislation impeding local law enforcement from addressing crime problems and recovering costs resulting from the responsible party.
• Early Release - Oppose legislation for early release of prisoners, including low-risk serious and violent offenders without sustained funding to ensure adequate post- release supervision.
• Court - Support measures to provide adequate judicial and court services.
• Homeland Security - Support legislation and funding coordinating homeland security programs and training to respond to regional or national threats and adding security measures to protect residents against terrorist activity.
• Immigration - Recognize existing immigration laws and legitimate amnesty and support legislation solving the immigration crisis that adversely impacts local jurisdictions.
• Federal Worker Eligibility - Support efforts to improve the federal worker eligibility verification process to ensure employees are hired by businesses in the most efficient manner possible.
• Asset Forfeiture - Support legislation providing a greater share and increased latitude to spend asset forfeiture funds and to reimburse cities for overtime costs paid to public safety personnel who are required to appear in State and/or County courts.
• Peace Officer Compensation - Support legislation allowing local control of peace officers’ salaries and benefits.
• Community Oriented Policing - Oppose legislation that decreases funding to Community Oriented Policing efforts.
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
• Cybersecurity - Support legislation that strengthens and enhances cybersecurity efforts, helps protect against malicious cyber incidents, and enhances the security and resilience of critical infrastructure.
FIRE
• Fire and Life Safety Services - Support legislation and funding with local control for strengthening fire and life safety services, including fire suppression and prevention, hazardous materials mitigation, emergency medical services and training, and disaster preparedness. Oppose legislation that restricts local control over the enforcement of fire and life safety regulations.
• Wireless Communications - Support legislation and funding for providing public safety agencies greater access and adequate frequencies to wireless communication necessary for a multi -jurisdictional connectivity and national wireless broadband network, free from intrusion.
• Fire and Life Safety Codes - Support legislation increasing local control in adopting Fire and Life Safety Codes and development of the national fire code in an open, consensus-based process.
• Fire Prevention - Support legislation and funding for promoting installation of fire sprinklers in new non-residential buildings, requiring maintenance of defensible space and undergrounding overhead utilities in wildfire-prone areas.
• Disaster Preparedness - Support disaster and civil defense master mutual aid agreements and disaster relief and emergency assistance act.
ANIMAL SERVICES
• Animal Services - Support legislation and funding for programs to provide low or no-cost Spay/Neuter clinics to reduce animal shelter intake rates.
Revenue &
Taxation
Finance, tax reform, general and
special revenue at federal, state,
and local levels
REVENUE
• Revenue Protection - Support legislation to protect City revenue sources and to strengthen and expand ongoing revenue and independence for the City, including greater local control over how funds are expended . Oppose legislation that undermines or preempts local authority over local taxes and fees.
• City Revenue Sources - Oppose legislation seizing City tax funds or negatively changing revenue allocations to cities, such as property tax, street maintenance funds, vehicle license fees , sales tax, public safety augmentation funds, community-oriented policing (COPS) grants, gas tax, transient occupancy tax, and Community Block Grant funding.
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
• Funding - Support legislation and funding for dedicated revenue sources at all governmental levels, including funding for public facilities, such as libraries and open space. Allow the City to compete for its fair share of grants and funding programs. Support fe deral legislation requiring states to distribute federal pass - through funds in an equitable manner to local government.
• Mandates - Support full cost reimbursement to the City for all Federal, State and county mandates. Oppose legislation imposing unfunded State mandates.
• Contracting - Support legislation removing barriers to use in-house staff for public works construction contracts over $5,000. Oppose legislation limiting ability to contract out for provision of services and opposing limiting negotiation indemnification protection in public contracts.
• Municipal Bonds - Oppose legislation reducing or removing tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.
TAXATION
• Proposition 13 - Oppose legislation weakening taxpayer protections or to raise tax revenue at the expense of residential or business community.
• Tax-Exempt Debt - Oppose restrictions or limitations on the City to use tax-exempt debt or tax increment financing for the purchase or construction of public improvements.
• Voter-Approved Taxes - Support legislation preserving and enhancing the City’s ability to seek voter approval for taxes, i.e., transactions and use (sales) tax.
• Information Sharing - Support participation in local government information sharing with Franchise Tax Board.
Transportation,
Communications
& Public Works
Transportation, construction,
telecommunications, and public
works.
TRANSPORTATION
• Transportation - Support legislation and funding for multi-modal transportation planning and Intelligent Transportation System to achieve traffic efficiency , reducing traffic congestion, and increasing safety of City streets and arterials for vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian paths/trails.
• Transit - Support legislation and funding encouraging the use of transit and non - motorized transportation, including rail line, busses, reverse commute program, electric vehicles, transportation service and rapid transit.
CITY OF MENIFEE
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATE & FEDERAL
• Funding - Support legislation to protect dedicated revenue sources for transportation and transit and insure equitable distribution of funding with consideration of population growth. Support legislation providing additional funding opportunities, increasing local flexibility in allocation of transportation funds, and enhancing City’s ability to finance transportation/transit programs and facilities and use of design-build standards.
• Taxes/Fees - Oppose measures to raise Federal or State revenues for transportation with fees, such as miles-traveled.
COMMUNICATIONS
• Telecommunications - Oppose legislation limiting local authority for telecommunications infrastructure and support legislation to retain existing fees on telecommunications services.
• Broadband - Support grants and other funding opportunities that will help the City implement its Broadband Master Plan and Smart City key priorities.
PUBLIC WORKS
• Infrastructure - Support legislation and funding for statewide community infrastructure program, including interchanges, flood control, watershed management, wastewater, and exempting criteria for new septic tank regulations.