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M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Gary Singh, Mayor
Honorable Council Members, City of Union City
Joan Malloy, City Manager
Jennifer Phan, Deputy City Manager
From: Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Christopher Townsend, President
Niccolo De Luca, Vice President
Alex Gibbs, Grants Manager
Kerri West, Senior Associate
Joseph Melo, Federal Senior Associate
Date: May 13, 2025
Subject: 2025 State and Federal Legislative Platform
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA), alongside City staff, has prepared a draft 2025 State and Federal Legislative Platform for the City of Union City for discussion and adoption by the full City Council. The 2025 legislative platform will reflect the priorities of the City Council and includes advocating for legislation, regulations, and funding that is consistent with the City’s adopted goals, particularly those established and stated in the FY 2024-2025 City Council Strategic Plan.
Once adopted, this document will be shared with key stakeholders in the State Legislature, Governor’s Administration, Members of Congress, and Federal Administration.
Proposed Legislative Priorities for 2025
The State Legislature will maintain its focus on its recent priorities including Climate Resiliency, Homelessness and Behavioral Health, Housing and Greater Access, Public Safety, and Transportation and Infrastructure. In addition, the Governor, his Administration, and the State Legislature is focused on stopping and pushing back on the various proposals coming from President Trump.
In 2025, the Trump administration and Congress are prioritizing tax cuts, deregulation, and spending reductions, though republican lawmakers have not yet agreed on specifics and legislative approach.
Key focuses include border security, military funding, energy production, and strict immigration policies, such as large-scale deportations. The administration is also advancing efforts aimed to shrink the federal workforce and restructuring agencies.
Federal and State Legislative Monitoring and Potential Action The following legislative priorities are being recommended for monitoring, analysis, and potential action.
The City may choose to take a position on a piece of legislation, continue to monitor without a position, or determine if any further response is required.
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TPA will maintain a constantly updated matrix of state legislation and may also present strategic recommendations and provide rolling updates. TPA will monitor legislative activity in the following areas.
Fiscal Sustainability
Policy Priorities:
1) Support legislative efforts that will require regional collaboration when receiving direct allocation of homeless funds.
2) Advocate for legislative proposals that bring revenue ballot measures to address critical facilities and infrastructure needs.
3) Preserve and protect impact fees as a critical tool for providing necessary community infrastructure and services.
Funding Priorities:
1) Advocate for funding for projects typically paid for through the City General Fund, to help alleviate pressures on the General Fund.
2) Seek funding for community and recreation projects including parks, camps, and other facilities and services.
3) Seek funding for other projects with deferred maintenance that are part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Community Development/Housing and Social Services
Policy Priorities:
1) Advocate for legislation that makes it easier for jurisdictions to access financing for housing and related infrastructure needs.
2) Monitor and engage in legislation that reduces local land use control. 3) Support legislative efforts that increase services such as mental health, substance abuse, treatment beds and other services for people living in encampments and in unsheltered settings. 4) Support legislative efforts to enhance public transportation and transit services.
Funding Priorities:
1) Seek funding for innovative programs to prevent displacement and address hazardous housing conditions.
2) Enhance funding opportunities for existing state programs to help support bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in connection to housing.
3) Support for seismic retrofits.
4) Seek funding for homeless services (e.g., the wrap around services necessary for transitional and permanent housing), permanent supportive housing, non-congregate shelters and emergency shelters, as well as operating costs.
5) Support funding efforts relating to mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and other related services.
6) Seek funding for the build-out of the greater Station District Area through the construction of Quarry Lakes Parkway.
7) Seek funding to clean approximately 16 acres of the Waste Containment Area (WCA) located in City’s only transit-oriented development (TOD) area to build much needed housing. 8) Seek funding for new parks.
9) Seek funding for Capital Improvements such as a new City Hall, new Police Station, and other community buildings.
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Economic Development
Policy Priorities:
1) Support legislation aimed at fostering economic growth and vitality through the development and redevelopment of underutilized industrial and commercial buildings and sites. 2) Monitor and engage, where appropriate, in cannabis tax related legislation. 3) Engage in legislation relating to Online Sales Tax Distribution Formula reform. 4) Support legislative and other efforts for programs that create pathways to high-wage jobs including workforce development.
5) Support efforts that foster the growth and retention of small businesses.
Funding Priorities:
1) Advocate for funding to assist the City, in coordination with developers, create vibrant commercial properties that bring jobs and economic growth.
Public Safety
Policy Priorities:
1) Support the implementation of Proposition 36.
2) Support legislative efforts to address vehicular speeding and pedestrian and bicycle safety. 3) Support disaster preparedness, training, response, equipment (back-up generators, communication equipment, etc.), infrastructure (including new or upgraded City facilities) and resilience efforts.
4) Support efforts to reduce and prevent crimes against persons and property by using data, technology, and resources for purpose driving proactive policing. 5) Support efforts to increase neighborhood patrol resources to allow non-sworn and sworn employees more discretionary time to engage and build relationships with the community. 6) Support efforts for a “Service from the Heart” culture in the police department where care, compassion, and empathy is the foundation for all contacts with the community.
Funding Priorities:
1) Seek funding for public safety equipment such as license plate readers and other security measures. 2) Seek funding for youth violence prevention programs. 3) Seek funding to reduce organized retail theft in the City. 4) Seek funding for staffing and equipment for the City’s Police Force. 5) Seek funding to increase non-sworn positions to improve discretionary time for sworn positions. 6) Seek funding sources for the establishment of a City Dispatch Center, should Union City no longer continue contracting with neighbors for those services. 7) Seek funding for training on implementing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies to deter crime and promote public safety. 8) Seek funding for new fire equipment.
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Environmental Sustainability and Infrastructure
Policy Priorities:
1) Measures that support regional planning for climate change and adaptation strategies. 2) Increasing resiliency of public infrastructure from threats of climate change. 3) Increasing the ability for local agencies to access affordable broadband services to better serve their residents.
4) Monitor and engage on legislation related to collection services franchise agreements and organics regulations/waste diversion compliance.
Funding Priorities:
1) Seek funding for park improvements/maintenance efforts. 2) Seek funding for climate change planning and staffing to support sustainability efforts. 3) Seek funding for Zero Waste efforts.
4) Seek funding for more EV charging stations at both public and private facilities. 5) Seek funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. 6) Seek funding for pedestrian rail crossings, both at grade and grade separated safety projects. 7) Seek funding for the conversion of the UC Transit fleet to zero emissions. 8) Seek funding to convert (approximately 4,000) street light fixtures to LED to conserve energy, improve lighting levels and improve safety.
9) Seek funding for energy efficiency improvement projects at City facilities (i.e., windows, HVAC, etc.) One Time State and Federal Funding Priorities for “Member Request” Consideration As we have seen at both the Federal and State level, new initiatives and various funding opportunities have taken form over the last few years. This also includes both legislative provisions that direct approved funds to be spent on specific projects, sometimes referred to as “Member Requests” or “Congressionally Directed Spending.”
As it relates to state and federal “Member Requests” / “Congressionally Directed Spending,” our recommended strategy is for the adopted Legislative Platform to include a handful of funding buckets that capture various project themes. This provides the City with the highest amount of flexibility as it is important to not only reflect the priorities of the state and federal lawmakers who sponsor these requests, but also to ensure that the City’s projects fit the eligibility requirements of the various state and federal funding pots.
Process for Reporting/Next Steps
In addition to weekly legislative updates and other communications we send to the City Team, TPA suggests verbal reports to the City Council when the State Legislature is on recess. For example, we may report out in April while they are on Spring Recess and in November or December when Session has concluded.
Due to the ever-changing nature of legislation in Sacramento and Washington, TPA can also provide monthly updates which can be shared with the City Council.
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