TO:City Council
FROM:Bob Engler, Mayor Pro Tem
David Newman, Councilmember
DATE:February 10, 2026
SUBJECT: Update on League of California Cities Winter Policy Committee Meetings - January 22-23, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive report.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time to prepare report as well as direct travel costs are included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so they may influence State policy decisions that affect cities.
Founded in 1898 on the principles of local control and interagency cooperation, Cal Cities has grown from a handful of public officials to include the voluntary membership of 478 California cities. Cal Cities and its member cities are working hard to strengthen the effectiveness of their advocacy efforts. Cal Cities’ mission statement reflects this commitment to "restore and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians."
Cal Cities Winter Policy Committee Meetings- January 22-23, 2026 February 10, 2026
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DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Cal Cities coordinates seven policy committees on a variety of topics including Public Safety, Community Services, Environmental Quality, and Revenue and Taxation. Every year, Cal Cities accepts applications for council members to serve on these committees. Councilmember David Newman was appointed to serve on the Environmental Quality Committee, and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Engler to serve on the Transportation, Communication, and Public Works Committee. Both represent the Channel Counties Division for the 2026 term.
Each year Cal Cities hosts quarterly policy committee meetings. Two of the meetings are in-person, one in Sacramento in January, one in Costa Mesa in March, and a virtual meeting in June. As needed, the last meeting will be held at the Annual Conference in Anaheim in September.
The Transportation, Communication, and Public Works Committee meeting was held on Thursday, January 22, and the Environmental Quality Committee on Friday, January 23, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sacramento as follows:
A. General Briefing
A general briefing was held each day before policy committees broke out into their separate meetings.
1. Welcome: Cal Cities President Gabe Quinto and Executive Director Carolyn Coleman welcomed committee members and thanked them for their service.
Cal Cities leaders are meeting with newly elected legislators and leadership to share the organization’s priorities and interests.
2. Updates by Policy Lobbyists: Cal Cities lobbyists representing each of the seven policy areas provided a brief overview of key issues they will be working on in 2026.
B. Transportation Communications and Public Works (TCPW) - Mayor Pro Tem Bob Engler
1. Committee Orientation: After committee introductions, TCPW lobbyist Damon Conklin reviewed parliamentary procedures, guiding principles, and the meeting schedule for 2026.
2. Review of 2026 Cal Cities Priorities
• Protect and enhance local revenues and expand economic development tools.
Cal Cities Winter Policy Committee Meetings- January 22-23, 2026 February 10, 2026
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• Strengthen partnerships with the state to improve public safety. • Secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.
• Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness.
3. Adoption of 2026 Work Plan: The committee discussed the outcome of the member survey and adopted its work plan.
4. Electric Bikes (Ebike) Roundtable Discussion: With the popularity of ebikes, the committee discussed policy considerations surrounding their use, including speed, battery safety, travel on sidewalks and streets, and use by children.
5. Transportation Funding and Governor’s Budget: Frank Jimenez, Senior Fiscal Analyst from the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO), shared that the proposed transportation budget will remain the same and focus on maintenance of existing programs. The only exception is the additional $1 billion in High-Speed Rail funding. A major concern that the legislature will need to address is the continual loss of Senate Bill (SB) 1/gas tax funding for streets and roads. With more drivers opting for electric or hybrid vehicles, the fund is decreasing. The LAO deficit projection differs from the State. It projects $18 billion compared to the $2.9 billion announced by the Governor. LAO also anticipates the State general fund budget will go into deficit in future years.
6. Lauren Prehoda, CA Department of Transportation (Caltrans) - Road Charge Program: The speaker provided an update on SB 1, the Road User Charge Pilot. The pilot is intended to address the fuel-tax revenue gap caused by the rise of electric vehicles. The feasibility report is due to the Legislature by December 31, 2026.
7. Legislative Update: Damon Conklin, TCPW Policy Lobbyist, shared ideas of what bill topics he anticipates will be introduced during the 2026 session, such as self-driving vehicles, ebike regulations, and automated food delivery robots.
C. Environmental Quality (EQ) - Councilmember David Newman
1. Committee Orientation: EQ lobbyist Melissa Sparks- Kranz provided an overview of parliamentary procedures. Policy meetings operate in the spirit of the Brown Act. The committee reviewed and discussed its guiding principles.
2. Review of 2026 Cal Cities Priorities:
• Protect and enhance local revenues and expand economic development tools.
• Strengthen partnerships with the state to improve public safety.
Cal Cities Winter Policy Committee Meetings- January 22-23, 2026 February 10, 2026
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• Secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.
• Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness.
3. Adoption of Committee Workplan: EQ committee reviewed their member survey results and adopted their workplan for 2026 in cooperation with the Cal Cities 2026 priorities:
• Advocate for key state budget investments and other funding-related initiatives for climate resiliency and adaptation efforts including climate change planning, organic waste diversion, extreme weather response, community and wildfire resilience, and coastal protection. • Advocate for natural disaster preparedness to support the public safety of cities and their communities from extreme weather events, such as wildfire, drought and flood impacts, earthquake, sea level rise, and other natural catastrophes.
• Take the lead role in policy development associated with this strategic priority by prioritizing both climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness this year.
• Take the lead in addressing priority legislation and regulatory advocacy efforts related to climate change adaptation planning and funding, water supply management and conservation, clean energy policies, wildfire and disaster preparedness, solid waste and recycling, air quality, coastal, and other environmental issues exacerbated by a changing climate. • Partner with other Policy Committees and Regional Divisions to incorporate climate considerations and perspectives into the policy, advocacy, and educational efforts.
• Sponsor legislation, as well as prioritize policies that support city efforts to prepare, prevent, and adapt to natural disasters and the impacts of climate change.
4. 2025-26 State Budget Update: Lobbyist Sparks-Kranz reviewed the Governor’s budget proposal affecting EQ. A major highlight of the Governor’s 2026 budget is the rebranding of the Cap-and-Trade program to Cap-and- Invest. The program relies heavily on a "polluter-pays" model and the $10 billion Climate Bond (Proposition 4) approved by voters in 2024.
5. SB 254 (2025) Update: Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study: SB 254, the landmark Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study was signed by the Governor in September 2025. The bill aims to overhaul how the state manages the escalating financial and physical risks of climate-driven disasters—specifically wildfires, floods, and droughts. The study is currently in its active "Stakeholder Contribution" phase, with a final report due to the Governor and Legislature by April 1, 2026.
Cal Cities Winter Policy Committee Meetings- January 22-23, 2026 February 10, 2026
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6. Overview of Inverse Condemnation Michael Colantuono, Attorney- Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC: Under Article 19, inverse condemnation allows property owners to seek compensation for damage caused by public improvements, bypassing the Government Claims Act. To prevail, a plaintiff must prove the agency constructed, owned, or maintained an asset that was a substantial cause of property damage. While agencies are not liable for "Mother Nature" (e.g., natural coastal flooding), they are responsible if a flood control project fails or functions in a way that harms private property.
Because liability often hinges on whether a public improvement significantly contributed to the loss, rather than just natural forces, the speaker suggests agencies should be diligent with maintenance and documentation. To manage these risks, agencies should consider housing high-liability assets within special hazard abatement districts.
7. Legislative Update: Lobbyist Sparks-Kranz reviewed two-year bills that are moving forward in 2026 including:
• Assembly Bill (AB) 35 (Alvarez) Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024: Administrative Procedure Act: exemption: program guidelines and selection criteria. • AB 262 (Caloza) California Individual Assistance Act. • AB 762 (Irwin) Disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device:
prohibition.
D. Next Policy Committee Meetings: Thursday, March 26, - Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Orange County Hilton, Costa Mesa, CA.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
PREPARED BY: Mina Layba, Legislative Affairs Manager
cmo:150-20\H:\COMMON\City Council\Council Items\2026\021026\ CalCities Policy Committee Mtgs Jan Staff Report