City of San Mateo
City Legislative Policy &
Platform Study Session
February 2, 2026
Zack Reda, Senior Management Analyst
Dane Hutchings, CEO & Founder, CPPG
Claire Sullivan, Associate Lobbyist
Douglas Andreasen, Legislative Aide
1 CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Highlights of Platform Statements
• Fire and Emergency Medical Services
• Community Development and Housing
• Transportation and Public Works
• Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
• Governmental Transparency and Public
Meeting Access
• Utilities, Infrastructure, Climate Adaptations
• Administration and Fiscal Sustainability
• Public Safety and Homelessness Services
Session Overview
• 2026 Legislative State-of-Play
• Legislative Platform Background and
Purpose
• Drafting Process
• Advocacy Engagement Process
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM 2026 Legislative State-of-Play
Budget uncertainty
More Than 225 Measures Introduced So Far Touching On Many Areas of Interest • Governmental Transparency
• Housing, Land Use and Planning
• Local Government Revenues
• E-bike Safety
• Energy, Utilities, Water and Solid Waste
• Public Safety and EMS
Projected ~1,000+ Individual Pieces Of Legislation To Be Introduced By February 20, 2026 CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Timing
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative State Timing
February 20: Bill introduction deadline
March 25: Spring Recess
April 6: Legislature reconvenes
Mid-May: Governor releases the May Revise
Budget
May 29: Last day for the Legislature to pass bills
out of their house of origin
June 15: Legislature must pass the budget bill
June 30: Governor must sign the budget bill
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Platform
(the platform in its entirety is included with meeting
materials)
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Platform development process
Department Meetings
• Met with:
• City Managers Office
• Economic Development
• Sustainability
• Community Development, Planning and
Housing
• Public Works
• San Mateo Consolidated Fire Authority
• Police Department
• Parks and Recreation
Documents Reviewed
• Reviewed:
• Housing element
• DEI Strategic Plan, Council Resolutions on Racial Justice • City Mission and Values Statements
• San Mateo General Plan 2040
Aligned priorities from department heads with known position statements from similar agencies to develop proposed
legislative platform
Platform statements were added to respond to emerging
legislative trends
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Advocacy Engagement Process
If a legislative proposal clearly aligns with the adopted platform, the City Manager may authorize the Mayor, or in their absence the Vice Mayor, to sign advocacy letters without additional Council or Sub-Committee approval.
In accordance with State and Federal legislative procedures, advocacy letters and related activities may be updated and resubmitted throughout the legislative process.
Examples Include:
• Resubmitting advocacy letters and modifying advocacy letters based on amendments • Testifying in policy committees
• Attending meetings with state legislative, regulatory and administrative agencies • Negotiating amendments/ comments/ policy on legislative, regulatory or administrative actions. • Seeking funding for key programs and city initiatives • Meeting with stakeholders involved in the state legislative, regulatory and administrative proposal.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Advocacy Engagement Process
Extenuating Circumstances
Because State and Federal legislative timelines differ from local government procedures governed by the Ralph M. Brown Act, immediate action may sometimes be required.
If urgent action is needed before Council approval can be obtained as outlined in Section 1, the Mayor or City Manager may act without prior approval, provided the proposal:
a. Does not conflict with the adopted legislative platform; AND b. Directly affects the City’s finances, authority, operations, or a substantial portion of the San Mateo community; AND
c. Seeks to protect or enhance local revenues, control, or funding; OR d. Provides benefits to City programs, services, or infrastructure; OR e. Opposes an unfunded mandate; AND
f. Aligns with League of California Cities or National League of Cities positions; AND g. Has been reviewed by the City Attorney or designee.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Draft Platform Statement(s) [7 total]:
“Support legislation, ballot measures, and funding
mechanisms that advance the development of a
regional fire training center.”
“Support legislation that studies and mitigates the
health and safety impacts of electric vehicle battery
combustion.”
Fire Training
Center
Fleet
Maintenance
Fire Fleet Tax
Exemption
EV Mandate
Safety
Recruitment
and
Retention
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Community Development and Housing
Draft Platform Statement(s) [15 total]:
“Support comprehensive housing legislation
that addresses all contributing factors to
California’s housing crisis.”
“Support efforts to preserve existing
affordable housing and protect housing
options for extremely low-, very low-, low-,
and middle-income residents.”
Preserve and
Protect Housing
Options
Expand Affordable
Homeownership
Opportunities
Housing
Production
Incentives
Local Phasing
Authority for
Housing in Mixed-
Use Dev.
Promote Public
Participation
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Transportation and Public Works
Draft Platform Statement(s) [16 total]:
“Support legislation that promotes innovation in
emerging technologies, particularly those that
creatively address congestion and improve
overall transportation system management.”
“Oppose legislation that restricts local authority
over transportation permitting, utility relocation,
or dispute resolution by imposing rigid state
timelines or bypassing local planning,
environmental review, or decision-making.”
Regional Public
Transportation
Collaboration
Vision Zero
Goals
Sustainable
EV Adoption
Bicycle and
Pedestrian
Infrastructure
Funding
“Quiet
Zones”
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Draft Platform Statement(s) [12 total]:
“Support legislation that advances youth development,
including initiatives that expand student enrollment,
equitable access to internet and technology, and youth
services.”
“Oppose efforts that reduce funding for regional and
community services that provide access to parks, open
space, bike lanes, after-school programs, youth
services, food programs, recreation facilities, and other essential resources supporting health, safety, and
sustainability.”
Promote
Youth Well-
Being
Increase
Childcare
Resources
Encourage
Healthy
Lifestyles
Scholarships
for Inclusive
Programming
Invest in
Clean Air,
Water, Parks,
History, and
Art
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Governmental Transparency and Public Meeting
Access
Draft Platform Statement(s) [8
total]:
“Support legislation that enhances public
trust, confidence, and access to public
meetings while recognizing the fiscal and
operational constraints of local
government.”
“Oppose legislation that increases the cost
of municipal hearings through unnecessary
or burdensome new requirements.”
Expand Civic
Participation
Streamline
Remote
Participation
Improve
Access and
Ensure
Security
Public Records
Act
Increase
Public Trust
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Utilities, Infrastructure, Climate Adaptation
Draft Platform Statement(s) [9 total]:
“Support legislation that strengthens the
City’s ability to maintain and enhance
local utilities and infrastructure.”
“Oppose legislation that transfers
wildfire-related costs from investor-
owned utilities to cities or their
residents.”
Support
Sustainabilit
y
Invest in
Stormwater
Management
Ensure
Ratepayer
Equity
Enhance
Local
Utilities
Mitigate Sea
Level Rise
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Administration and Fiscal Sustainability
Draft Platform Statement(s) [6 total]:
“Support legislation that advances San Mateo County’s
efforts to revise statutes related to the Vehicle Licensing Fee (VLF) shortfall to ensure the appropriate allocation of excess Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund
(ERAF) monies..”
“Oppose legislation that restricts the City’s authority to contract for professional services or imposes
unnecessary and costly delays in the contracting
process.”
Advocate for
Fulfillment of
State Funding
Obligations
Improve Public
Infrastructure
Stabilize Pension
Obligations
Enhance
Services to
Benefit Residents
Preserve
Contracting
Autonomy
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Public Safety and Homelessness Services
Draft Platform Statement(s) [13 total]:
“Support legislation that advances community-
oriented public safety practices, including the
integration of mental health service providers
when appropriate.”
“Support legislation that strengthens local law
enforcement capacity and promotes regional
collaboration in resource deployment and
specialized task force operations.”
Community-
Oriented Public
Safety
Invest in Rapid
Rehousing and
Support Services
Collaborative
Response
Enhanced
Penalties for
Repeat Retail
Crime
Electric Bike
Safety
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Next Steps
Council note: Please review and discuss the proposed platform and submit suggestions. Staff and consultants will make edits based upon feedback and bring back for adoption at a later council meeting.
Considerations for feedback:
• State policies that have an impact on departmental operations. • Assessing major issues/projects/ initiatives within the City that need to be considered or shared.
• Major policy areas of importance that CPPG should be monitoring more closely. • Critical funding priorities for the City that CPPG should know more about. • How can CPPG best support the City in its advocacy efforts.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Questions / Thank You!
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM