City Council
[email protected]
September 9, 2025
The Honorable Monique Limon The Honorable Jacqui Irwin 1021 O Street, Room 7610 1021 O Street, Room 6220
Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support Cap & Trade Reauthorization By Prioritizing Investments in Climate Safe Infrastructure
Dear Senator Limon and Assemblymember Irwin,
On behalf of the City of San Marcos, we write to you today to encourage legislators to prioritize climate safe infrastructure improvements as you reauthorize and improve the Cap-and-Trade program.
We support investments in physical and natural infrastructure proven to make California safer and more resilient to the impacts of climate change, while supporting good paying middle class jobs. We also encourage you to keep affordability in mind and ensure that reauthorization does not increase taxes or fees that are ultimately paid by consumers in the form of higher cost of living.
We need an improved Cap-and-Trade program that prioritizes effectiveness and accountability while preserving affordability.
While there are many programs that the current program funds that are deserving of consideration, we believe that continuous investments in the following priorities will deliver the most benefits to California achieving its greenhouse gas reduction goals while also delivering tangible benefits to Californians that improve their day-to-day lives.
State and Regional Clean Transit Infrastructure
• Invest in local and regional transit agencies to support the recovery, stabilization, and growth of transit and rail service statewide, including capital expansions, ZEV transition, and operations and maintenance
Clean Local Transportation Infrastructure
• Prioritize new funding for local governments to safely implement green transportation infrastructure, including:
o EV charging infrastructure
o Funding for local government and transit clean fleet compliance o Develop network of regional VMT mitigation banks to offset local transportation project costs
State Wildfire Resilience Infrastructure
• Dedicate funding for high wildfire risk counties, including:
o Firefighting capital infrastructure, fire engine procurement and training for local fire agencies, and mobile equipment management
o Statewide wildfire fuel mitigation projects, including landscape-scale reforestation, fuels reduction, pest management, prescribed fire, and forest biomass utilization o Public safety emergency water supply infrastructure
2 o Expansion of local fire evacuation routes including community fire planning and preparedness and wildfire response and readiness
Local Land Use Infrastructure to Support Development
• Invest in local, rural and regional governments to support projects consistent with a sustainable communities strategy, including:
o Conversion of underutilized urban office and commercial into housing o Continued funding for state and regional affordable housing, sustainable communities programs and transformative climate communities efforts and programs like Local and Regional Early Action Planning Grants (LEAP & REAP)
Locally, the City of San Marcos has been awarded REAP funding. These funds have supported planning and implementation efforts that facilitate infill housing, including projects that convert underutilized commercial properties into mixed-use developments. By investing in these types of initiatives, San Marcos has been able to expand housing opportunities while reducing vehicle miles traveled, supporting economic vitality, and furthering the State’s climate and affordability goals. Continued and expanded funding for REAP will allow us and other communities in the region to build upon these successes and deliver more housing solutions to address the statewide housing crisis.
The City of San Marcos respectfully asks that you prioritize the above investments as you reauthorize the Cap & Trade Program.
Sincerely,
Rebecca D. Jones
Mayor