February 10, 2026
Annual Review of New Legislation and
Proposed 2026 Priority Advocacy Issues and
Long-Term Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAPs)
2City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 • Review of 2026 Priority Advocacy Issues and Long-Term Advocacy Positions
• Annual Review of New Laws
• Legislative Update from Townsend Public Affairs
Agenda Outline
3City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 • Legislative Advocacy Positions (Council Policy 7.4.14) identify the City’s broad advocacy positions on issues and legislation.
short-term in nature and support the General Plan and guide Council and staff on intergovernmental matters.
Priority Advocacy Issues (Part of 7.4.14)
•issues where legislative activity is either already underway or imminent and expected to have significant impact on City business. • Long-term Advocacy Positions (LAPs)
ongoing policy positions adopted by Council.
Definitions
4City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 Legislative Advocacy Process
Council identifies Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions Annually (typically in January).
Council Adopts
Legislative Platform
Staff monitors legislation with potential City impacts. Staff Tracks Legislation
Staff coordinates quick responses to pending legislation based on Council-approved policies i.e., Council Policy Manual, General Plan, Municipal Code etc.*
Staff Submits
Position Letters
City position letters are posted on Sunnyvale.ca.gov and on Council meeting agendas (Info Only).
Staff Publishes City
Letters
*City Manager approval is required in cases when it is unclear if an official City policy supports performing advocacy.
5City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026
1. Funding and Local Strategy for Workforce Development
2. Interoperability/Public Safety Communications System
3. Environmental Regulatory & Conservation Issues
4. Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems by Law Enforcement and First Responder Immunity when interfering with Unmanned Aircraft Systems
5. Affordable Housing, Homelessness and Land Use
6. Engagement with the Federal Aviation Administration Regarding Airplane Noise Proposed 2026 Priority Advocacy Issues
6City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 Funding and Local Strategy for Workforce Development
Keep Priority Advocacy Issue.
• Updated policy language with current data and status.
Affordable Housing, Homelessness, and Land Use
Keep Priority Advocacy Issue.
• Updated policy language under Affordable Housing to reflect a broader policy position and clarifies an equity focus.
• Updated policy language under Homelessness to expand the policy scope to the full homelessness continuum and adds supportive housing and services language. • Updated policy language under Housing Element/Land Use to include local land- use authority and expand policy language to a complete-community approach.
Summary of Proposed Changes to Priority Advocacy Issues 7City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 Long-term Council Policies
Summary of Proposed Changes to Long-term Advocacy Positions (refer to Attachment 4 for redline version)
1.0 – Land Use and Transportation
2.0 – Community Development
3.0 – Environmental Management
4.0 – Public Safety
5.0 – Socio-Economic
6.0 – Cultural
7.0 – Planning and Management
Council Policy 5.0 – Socio-Economic
• To broaden the City’s position statements
and remove policy language that is
outdated or no longer necessary
Council Policy 7.0 – Planning and
Management
• To clarify language in the Elections
section.
Proposing clarifying edits to the
following sections:
8City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 Annual Review of New Laws
SB 79 (Wiener) – Housing development: transit-
oriented development.
SB 707 (Durazo) – Open meetings: meeting and
teleconference requirements.
AB 339 (Ortega) – Local public employee
organizations: notice requirements.
Three bills that will have significant impacts to the City… 9City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 SB 79 (Wiener) – Housing development: transit-oriented
development.
• Allows high-density housing within a half-mile of Caltrain and VTA light rail stations, overriding local standards
• Limits public engagement for eligible projects
• Effective July 1, 2026, requires ministerial approval for qualifying projects • Cities may exempt eligible areas or adopt an alternative transit-oriented development (TOD) plan, subject to HCD’s approval; Sunnyvale is evaluating feasibility
• SB 722 (Wahab) Transit-oriented housing development: excluded parcels and sites, is a pending bill, introduced at Sunnyvale’s request, that would exempt mobile home parks from the requirements of SB 79
10City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 SB 707 (Durazo) – Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements.
• Requires two-way remote public access to City Council meetings beginning July 1, 2026
• Modernizes teleconferencing rules, including remote participation and quorum requirements
• Mandates policies addressing meeting disruptions and enhances accessibility, including translation in limited cases
• Codifies Sunnyvale’s hybrid City Council meeting practice; Boards and Commissions not required to be hybrid
• Expands Councilmember “Just Cause” remote participation to five times per year
• Sunnyvale does not currently meet translation mandate thresholds; automated translation tools and posting infrastructure are in development 11City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 AB 339 (Ortega) – Local public employee organizations: notice requirements.
• Effective January 1, 2026
• Requires 45 days’ notice to employee organizations before issuing Request For Proposals, Request for Quotations, renewals or extensions of current contracts when contracted work overlaps with duties of represented classifications
• Allows shorter notice in emergencies, when necessary
• Requires added procurement lead time, updated workflows, and closer HR– Finance coordination
12City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – February 2026 • Receive a Legislative Update, including Annual Review of New Laws Report
• Review existing Priority Advocacy Issues and LAPs
• Consider staff recommendations
• Provide other direction on changes to Priority Issues and/or LAPs
Council Direction
Legislative Update for the City of
Sunnyvale
February 10, 2026
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Slide 14
Overview of Grant Efforts
Legislative Themes in 2026
State Budget
FY 26/FY 27 Federal Appropriations
Legislative Themes in 2026
Slide 15
SB 722 (Wahab) Mobile
Home Development
Protections
Illegal Dumping
Prevention and
Mitigation
Governor’s Last Year
New Leadership
Changes
Housing Legislation
Other Legislative
Proposals
STATE BUDGET UPDATE
Slide 16
Governor’s Budget
Expects $2.9B Deficit
Local Exposure to
Federal Cost Shifts
Early Action Budget
Items Anticipated –
Including Bay Area
Transit Operations Loan
FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
Slide 17
Congress is moving to pass the remaining FY 2026 Appropriation Bills to restore full funding to agencies affected by the partial federal shutdown that began January 3, 2026
Two Community Projects sponsored by Rep. Khanna moving
forward: Cleanwater Center ($1,092,000) and Safe Routes to Schools and Parks ($2,000,000)
Kicked off the FY 27 Community Project Funding effort which includes= identification, strategy, and application preparation
OVERVIEW OF GRANT EFFORTS
Slide 18
Leads Application
Debriefings with
Funding Agencies to
Strengthen Past
Grant Proposals
Individual Grant and
Project Consultation
for City Projects with
Program Experts
Monthly Department
Wide Grant Call to
Review Existing and
Upcoming Grant
Opportunities
Over 150 Unique
Grant Programs
Researched and
Highlighted to City
Staff in 2025
QUESTIONS?
Slide 19
California Advocacy | Federal Advocacy | Grant Writing
www.TownsendPA.com | (949) 399-9050
Kerri West,
Senior Associate
[email protected]
Niccolo De Luca,
Vice President/
Chief Advocacy
Officer
[email protected]
Alex Gibbs,
Grants Director
[email protected]
Joseph Melo,
Federal Advocacy
Manager
[email protected]
Thank You
Questions?