REDONDO
BEACH
Jim Light, tvloyor
415 Diomond Street
Redondo Beoch cA 90277
Tel: 310.697.3653
Redondo.org
March 10,2026
The Honorable lssac G. Bryan
Chair, Assembly Committee on Natural Resources
1021 O Street, Room 3230
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support - AB 2152 (Gonz6lez): California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption - Fire Stations (As lntroduced on February 18,20261
Dear Chair Bryan:
The City of Redondo Beach supports AB 2152, which would create a targeted exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of public fire stations under specified conditions.
Fire stations are essential public safety infrastructure that enable communities to respond quickly to structure fires, wildfires, medical emergencies, and natural disasters. However, the time and cost associated with CEQA review can signiflcantly delay the development, replacement, or modernization of these critical facilities. As a result, flre departments are often required to operate from aging or undersized stations while vital infrastructure projects move through lengthy environmental review processes.
With more than 36 years in the fire service, Patrick Butler, our Fire Chief & Harbor Master, has seen how outdated or poorly located stations can directly impact response times and firefighter safety. When station projects are delayed, communities are left relying on facilities that no longer reflect current risks or operational needs. AB 2152 otlers a balanced and responsible solution. The bill allows qualifying fire station projects to move forward more efficiently while maintaining important safeguards. lt limits the exemption to projects that avoid environmentally sensitive areas and requires the filing of a notice of exemption. The bill also includes strong labor protections by requiring a project labor agreement for construction contracts above $50,000.
By reducing unnecessary procedural delays, AB 2152 will help local governments deliver essential public safety infrastructure more quickly and cosleffectively. Accelerating the construction and rehabilitation of fire stations will improve emergency response capabilities, enhance flrefighter safety, and strengthen community resilience.
For these reasons, the City of Redondo Beach respectfully supports AB 2152. lf you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either myself at [email protected] or our Fire Chief & Harbor Master, Patrick Butler at Patrick. Butler redondo.oro Jim Light
Mayor
Patrick Butler
Fire Chief & Harbor Master
Sincerely,