ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Manager Item No: C9
Prepared by:
Angie Baggett, Management Analyst
Imelda M. Huerta, Assistant City Manager Meeting Date: January 27, 2026 Approved by: John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Consent Calendar S
UBJECT: 2026 CITY LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the 2026 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: All goals.
PRIOR ACTION: On January 28, 2025, approved the 2025 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote:
5-0).
O
n February 27, 2024, approved the 2024 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 3 -1-1, Franklin opposed, Green abstained).
O
n February 13, 2024, directed staff to bring back the 2024 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives with the addition of Universal Health Care (No vote taken).
For
a complete list of prior City Council actions, please see Exhibit 3.
S
TATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: Each year, there are a number of issues before the State Legislature and U.S. Congress that impact local governments. City Council approval of a designated Legislative Platform enables staff to act in support of or in opposition to proposed legislation or policy that is covered by the platform without taking each item before the City Council for an approved position. Through the adoption of the legislative platform, staff can respond in a timely manner to pending legislation and have the City’s position considered during legislative hearings. Using broad policy guidelines allows the City to support legislation that aligns with City Council goals, including consistently advocating for local control, stronger public safety, and reduced regulation of local agencies, while opposing measures that would reduce City autonomy or impose greater restrictions or requirements on local governments, such as unfunded mandates.
The C
ity’s Legislative Platform covers a variety of topics, including protection of local control, funding sources and authority, local government finance, public safety, climate and environmental -related initiatives, homelessness and housing, parks and recreation, economic development, traffic, and labor relations. During the most recent legislative session, t he City took positions on fifteen bills. The City took five positions of opposition, and ten support positions. Topics covered addressed a range of issues, including environmental protection, amendments to teleconference requirements, homelessness, local agencies and short -term rentals, planning and zoning related to housing, theft prevention, public utilities commission proceedings, transit-oriented development, local public employee organizations, local finance and infrastructure, and AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Approved the 2026 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives. Vote: 5-0