April 28, 2026
Agenda Item No. 5
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
Tara Finnigan, Assistant City Manager - 949-644-3001, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Lorig Harutunian, Management Analyst - 949-644-3028,
[email protected]
TITLE:
Resolution No. 2026-24: Approving a Legislative Platform ABSTRACT:
The proposed update to the City’s Legislative Platform reflects current priorities and emerging legislative issues affecting the City of Newport Beach (City). The revisions include minor grammatical changes, updates to existing policy positions, and the addition of new sections addressing technology, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and communications. The platform is intended to provide ongoing guidance for the City’s legislative advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, with staff returning to the City Council for direction on issues not addressed in the platform.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-24, A Resolution of the City of Newport Beach, California, Approving a Legislative Platform.
DISCUSSION:
The City actively engages in legislative advocacy at the local, state and federal levels to protect and advance the interests of its residents, businesses and visitors. The legislative platform defines the City’s policy positions on key legislative matters and provides guiding principles that direct the City’s advocacy efforts.
The legislative platform is periodically reviewed to ensure it reflects current priorities and evolving legislative trends. It was last updated in February 2023. For this update, the City Manager’s Office worked with department directors and federal and state lobbyists to evaluate the existing platform and current legislation affecting Newport Beach.
The proposed updates include minor grammatical revisions, updates to reflect current priorities, and the addition of two new sections addressing technology, digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, and communications. The proposed platform is included as Exhibit A (Attachment A), with a redline version provided as Attachment B.
A representative of the Transportation Corridor Agencies contacted City staff about position statement listed under Transportation (see section V.f.) which pertains to the State Route 73 and suggested a wording modification. Staff reviewed the request and recommends modifying the language to read: “support efforts to facilitate early bond paydowns of the State Route 73 toll road to provide more flexibility in removing or reducing tolls.” The proposed term of the legislative platform is indefinite rather than tied to a specific legislative session. If an issue arises that is not addressed in the platform, staff will return to the City Council for direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Resolution No. 2026-24
Attachment B – Legislative Platform Redline Copy
Resolution No. 2026-24: Approving a Legislative Platform April 28, 2026
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