HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.1 2026 City of Dublin Legislative Platform Approval
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
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Agenda Item 8.1
DATE: February 3, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Colleen Tribby, City Manager
SUBJECT:
2026 City of Dublin Legislative Platform Approval
Prepared by: Jordan Foss, Senior Management Analyst
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a report and consider approving the 2026 Legislative Platform,
which guides the City’s response to potential and pending legislation, policies, programs, ballot
measures, mandates, and budgets at all levels of government.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report and adopt the Resolution Approving the 2026 City of Dublin Legislative
Platform.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
DESCRIPTION:
Background
Each year the City Council approves a Legislative Platform that includes the goals, strategies,
and priorities for organizing the City’s legislative advocacy efforts. The draft 2026 Platform
(Attachment 2) was prepared to initiate discussion with the City Council on the fundamental
legislative issues important to the City over the next year.
Overview of Draft 2026 Platform
The draft 2026 Platform is substantially similar to the 2025 Platform; however, it includes
modifications to account for changes in state law, anticipated issues for the current legislative
session, and non-substantive grammatical and wording changes.
The General Legislative Principles provide the overarching guidelines of the City’s legislative
advocacy efforts. These Principles were first adopted with the City’s initial Legislative Platform
in 2015 and have been reaffirmed by subsequent City Councils, demonstrating their continued
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relevance and importance. These Principles include:
Preserving and/or increasing local government discretion.
Promoting or enhancing revenue sources.
Advancing the City of Dublin’s Mission and Vision Statements.
The draft 2026 Platform includes eight Public Policy Priorities which have been shaped over
the years through alignment with the Tri-Valley Cities Coalition (TVCC) Legislative Framework,
input from legislative advocacy groups, and City Council feedback. The draft 2026 Platform
Public Policy Priorities remain unchanged from the prior year and incl ude:
1. General Administration
2. Fiscal Sustainability
3. Community and Economic Development
4. Transportation and Public Works
5. Public Safety and Public Health
6. Parks and Community Services
7. Climate and Environment
8. Technology and Cyber Security
The Public Policy Priorities guide the City’s position and advocacy on relevant legislation. Each
year, the Executive Team and the City’s legislative advocacy firm, Townsend Public Affairs,
reviews the Legislative Platform and updates advocacy positions based on anticipated
legislation, policies, programs, ballot measures, mandates, and budgets. Townsend Public
Affairs reviewed the draft 2026 Platform to ensure it includes relevant language for upcoming
legislation.
It should be noted that the list of Public Policy Priorities is not exhaustive. In those instances
where potential legislation, policies, programs, ballot measures, mandates, and budgets do not
fit within the specific Public Policy Priorities, the General Legislative Principles will guide City
action.
Update to Advocacy Positions
New or modified advocacy positions that are in line with the Public Policy Priorities include:
General Administration
Priority 1.7 – Support legislation that provides for additional flexibility and modernization
of open government initiatives and open meetings, including provisions of the Ralph M.
Brown Act at all levels of government, without burdening City resources. (MODIFIED)
o Modified to add the words “without burdening City resources” to address any
future legislation that may have a negative impact on City resources.
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Fiscal Sustainability
Priority 2.12 – Support legislation that provides for equitable funding distribution from
regional transit measures and maintains local decision authority over transportation
priorities. (NEW)
Public Works and Transportation
Priority 3.4 – Support legislation that promotes planning and implementation of regional
transportation improvements. (NEW)
Priority 3.5 – Support legislation that promotes maintenance and rehabilitation of aging
infrastructure. (NEW)
Priority 3.14 – Support legislation that invests in safe active transportation infrastructure
and local flexibility to manage e-bike use in sensitive areas, while opposing one-size-
fits-all mandates that shift enforcement or implementation costs to cities without
adequate resources or local discretion. (NEW)
Community and Economic Development
Priority 4.14 – Support legislation that provides state incentives for affordable, transit-
oriented, and mixed-income housing while preserving local planning authority over
design, infrastructure sequencing, fire safety, and community engagement. (NEW)
o This language is in reference to the recently passed SB 79, which accelerates
the construction of high-density, multi-family housing near major public transit
stops by overriding local zoning limitations, setting minimum density and height
standards, and requiring a portion of affordable units.
Public Safety and Public Health
Priority 5.14 – Support legislation that provides a balanced, statewide approach to e-
bike safety that improves public safety while preserving the mobility, climate, and equity
benefits of electric bicycles. (NEW)
Priority 5.15 – Support legislation that advocates for clear and consistent e-bike
definitions, age-appropriate use standards, and education-based safety measures that
are enforceable and practical for local governments. (NEW)
Climate and Environment
Priority 7.1 – Support legislation that assists and funds local governments in meeting or
exceeding local or state climate adaption goals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
developing alternate energy resources and fuel efficiency programs, and reducing fossil
fuel dependence. (MODIFIED)
o Modified to replace the words “global warming pollution levels” with “greenhouse
gas emissions” to match the modern language used to describe environmental
emissions.
Priority 7.3 – Support legislation that assists local governments in achieving current
waste diversion goals, meeting compliance obligations, and fulfilling related
measurement and reporting requirements. (MODIFIED)
o Modified to replace the word “establishes” with “assists local governments in
achieving”, replace “local compliance efforts” with “meeting compliance
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obligations”, and replace “associated” with “fulfilling related”.
Priority 7.4 – Support legislation that helps local governments and water purveyors in
meeting or exceeding goals to reduce water use and increase water supply without
preempting local planning decisions. (MODIFIED)
o Modified to replace “Assists the City” with “Helps local governments” and add the
words “and water purveyors” to allow for flexibility in supporting local water
agencies.
Priority 7.10 – Support legislation that reduces the financial impact to local governments
of state and federal funded and unfunded mandates related to compliance with
environmental programs and regulations. (MODIFIED)
o Modified to add the words “to local governments” to specifically protect local
agencies from unfunded mandates related to compliance with environmental
programs and regulations.
Technology and Cybersecurity
Priority 8.6 – Support legislation that encourages state-level cybersecurity investments
and responsible artificial intelligence standards that enhance municipal operations
without imposing burdensome mandates. (NEW)
Next Steps
Once approved, the 2026 Legislative Platform will be finalized and published on the City’s
website. For future year Legislative Platforms, Staff will be recommending a shift to a two-year
Legislative Platform that mirrors the California legislative cycle. The next two-year California
legislative cycle begins on January 1, 2027 and runs through December 31, 2029. Staff
anticipates bringing the draft two-year Legislative Platform to the City Council in November
2026 for consideration and approval.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
None.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Council Agenda was posted.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Resolution Approving the 2026 City of Dublin Legislative Platform
2) Exhibit A to the Resolution - 2026 City of Dublin Legislative Platform
3) Draft 2026 Legislative Platform (redlined)
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Attachment 1
Reso. No. XX-26, Item X.X, Adopted 02/03/2026 Page 1 of 1
RESOLUTION NO. XX – 26
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
APPROVING THE 2026 CITY OF DUBLIN LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
WHEREAS, the 2026 City of Dublin Legislative Platform (“Platform”) outlines the City’s
legislative priorities and positions to inform residents, representatives, and policy makers; and
WHEREAS, these legislative priorities are guided by three General Legislative Principles
and eight Public Policy Positions which will determine the City’s position on various legislative
proposals; and
WHEREAS, the Platform provides Staff with direction and authorizes them, on the City
Council’s behalf, to quickly respond in support or op position to bills, and other legislative or
gubernatorial actions in time sensitive situations, in accordance with the processes identified in
the Platform.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin adopts
the 2026 City of Dublin Legislative Platform attached hereto as Exhibit A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor or her designee is authorized to sign letters
of opposition or letters of support as drafted by City Staff for legislation as long as they are
consistent with the Platform.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Dublin this 3rd
day of February 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
______________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
City Clerk
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Attachment 2
2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY PRIORITIES
FEBRUARY 2026
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Introduction
Many public policies intersect with City priorities, programs, and services. This 2026 Legislative
Platform (Platform) outlines the City of Dublin’s legislative priorities and positions on these policies
to inform residents, representatives, and policymakers. These priorities are applicable to all relevant
legislation, policies, programs, grant funding opportunities, ballot measures, mandates, and budgets.
The Mission of the City of Dublin is to promote and support a high quality of life, ensure a safe,
secure, and sustainable environment, foster new opportunities, and champion a culture of diversity,
equity, and inclusion. This Mission shall guide the City’s Legislative Platform.
This Platform provides Staff with direction and authorizes them, on the City Council’s behalf, to
quickly respond in support of or in opposition to bills and other legislative or gubernatorial actions
in time-sensitive situations. Additionally, the Platform enables Staff to communicate Dublin-specific
issues and impacts with state legislators. Staff may draft letters, direct our legislative advocates, or
speak on behalf of the City regarding the legislative priorities this document outlines.
The City may also respond to Federal mandates, legislation, regulations, executive orders, activities,
funding opportunities, or uses of land within or boarding the City of Dublin in order to advocate for
the physical safety and financial security of Dublin and its residents. Any correspondence signifying
the City’s support or opposition of a given bill must be signed by the Mayor and / or City Manager
with notification to the City Council.
Any questions regarding this Legislative Platform can be directed to Jordan Foss, Senior
Management Analyst at jordan.foss@dublin.ca.gov.
Platform Overview and Coordination
This Legislative Platform serves as the foundation for City legislative advocacy at all levels of
government. It informs the City’s legislative representatives of the key issues and legislation that
could have a potential impact on the City and the process in which the City will participate in the
legislative process. The City will employ several strategies to advocate or advance the City’s public
policy interests, which include:
• Position Development
o Reviewing analyses and positions by the League of California Cities (Cal Cities),
legislative advocates, and other local government / professional associations in
formulating the City’s position.
o Working with City departments and legislative advocates to develop this platform
and identify positions on proposed legislative measures.
• Status Tracking
o Tracking key bills through the legislative process.
• Communication and Advocacy
o Communicating the City’s position, in accordance with this Platform, through
correspondence, testimony, and meetings.
o Working cooperatively with other cities (including the Tri-Valley Cities), associations,
and Cal Cities on advocating the City’s legislative position.
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o Meeting with legislators and their representatives, as well as other federal, state, and
county government officials on a regular basis, to discuss local government issues,
proposed legislation, requests for funding assistance, and City programs and services.
The City Manager’s Office will exercise day-to-day oversight of legislative matters. In addition to
coordinating formal action through the City Council, the City Manager and their designee will
manage the City’s Legislative Platform.
Staff will follow the process below when responding to all proposed and relevant legislation,
policies, programs, ballot measures, mandates, and budgets.
1. Review and determine whether a proposal will impact the City.
2. Prepare a letter outlining the City’s position for the Mayor’s or City Manager’s signature.
3. Distribute the letter to the legislation’s author(s), key legislative committees, the City
Council, and other relevant parties.
In scenarios where a proposal or regulation arises that may impact the City and is not covered by
this Legislative Platform, Staff will prepare a draft position letter for the City Council to review prior
to distribution.
General Legislative Principles
The guiding principles for the City’s legislative advocacy efforts include:
Advancing Existing City Mission, Vision, Values, and Policies
Preserving and/or Increasing Local Government Discretion
Promoting or Enhancing Revenue Sources
Public Policy Priorities
This Legislative Platform identifies specific Public Policy Priorities by topic area. Informed by the
General Legislative Principles, these priorities will guide the positions the City will take on all
relevant legislation, policies, programs, grant funding opportunities, ballot measures, mandates, and
budgets.
The Public Policy Priorities are categorized as follows:
1. General Administration
2. Fiscal Sustainability
3. Community and Economic Development
4. Transportation and Public Works
5. Public Safety and Public Health
6. Parks and Community Services
7. Climate and Environment
8. Technology and Cybersecurity
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1. General Administration
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Enhances or streamlines local control and allows cities to address the needs of local
constituents within a framework of regional cooperation.
2. Streamlines the process to apply for, to receive approval of, and to receive state or
federal funding.
3. Assures every person the right to equal treatment in and access to all government-
sponsored benefits or funded programs.
4. Provides flexibility in conducting public meetings using a hybrid approach that allows for
equitable access and participation of elected officials and the public while considering
privacy, health, and safety of all stakeholders.
5. Provides alternative methods of meeting public noticing requirements through cost-
effective, innovative, and technological methods of communication, and changes the
definition of “newspaper of general circulation” due to realities of consolidated
newspaper publications and the increase in on-line publications.
6. Increases the voting requirement for future measures to be approved by the same
proportion of votes cast as the measure requires, and preserves agency rights to place
advisory questions on the ballot.
7. Provides for additional flexibility and modernization of open government initiatives and
open meetings, including provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, at all levels of
government, without burdening City resources.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
8. Attempts to restrict local authority or decision-making whether by state or federal
legislation, regulations, or voter initiatives.
9. Diminishes or eliminates local governments’ ability to contract out for the provision of
services.
2. Fiscal Sustainability
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Maintains or enhances ongoing revenues to the City.
2. Updates the tax structure to enhance local government revenues that have declined due
to the expansion of e-commerce, increased consumption of services rather than durable
goods, and innovations in technology.
3. Ensures timely distribution of mandated reimbursements owed to the City.
4. Removes unnecessary state-imposed mandates.
5. Provides for the use of incentives for local government action rather than mandates
(funded or unfunded).
6. Establishes new and innovative revenue options and resources to finance public
infrastructure construction and maintenance.
7. Streamlines the establishment and utilization of infrastructure financing districts or other
funding mechanisms for infrastructure improvements.
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8. Changes the Communications Act of 1934 that removes the distinction between
“capital” and “operating” funds to provide more local control for community television
stations in the use of their public, educational, and government (PEG) channel fees.
9. Increases transparency of all public employee salaries and benefits.
10. Provides sustainable public pensions and other post-retirement benefits.
11. Lowers the necessary voter threshold from a two-thirds supermajority to 55-percent to
approve local general obligation bonds and special taxes for affordable housing and
public infrastructure projects.
12. Provides for equitable funding distribution from regional transit measures and maintains
local decision authority over transportation priorities.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
13. Undermines and preempts local authority over local taxes and fees.
14. Shifts funds from local governments to the state or federal government.
15. Imposes unfunded or inadequately funded federal and state mandates on local
governments.
16. Eliminates, limits, or delays the imposition or collection of development impact fees thus
restricting the City’s ability to provide for infrastructure or services.
17. Requires or expands state involvement in City financial audits, fiscal monitoring, general
oversight, or assistance by the State Treasurer, State Controller, or other state agencies.
18. Defers reimbursements for state mandated programs.
19. Requires new or expanded fiscal oversight by federal agencies or expanded reporting
requirements on existing federal grants.
3. Public Works and Transportation
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Ensures the City receives its fair share of transportation funding and keeps the funding
decisions at the local level.
2. Provides for more stable and equitable long-term funding sources for transportation.
3. Leverages local funds to the maximum extent possible to implement transportation
improvements through grants and partnerships with regional, state, and federal agencies.
4. Promotes planning and implementation of regional transportation improvements.
5. Promotes maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure.
6. Reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and encourages developing and implementing
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plans and strategies.
7. Expands opportunities and funding for connected and shared autonomous vehicles, high
occupancy vehicles, new technology deployment, resilient transportation communication
networks, and reducing traffic congestion and delay.
8. Improves multimodal freight movement between the San Francisco Bay Area and the
Central Valley and projects that reduce freight traffic on I-580.
9. Encourages active transportation, enhances the safety of all modes of transportation,
particularly bicycles and pedestrians, and reduces vehicle speeds and traffic congestion.
10. Increases and funds local control and local regulation of shared mobility, transportation
network companies (TNCs), and other emerging industries that use city infrastructure to
offer private services.
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11. Enables the sale of traffic data to recover the cost of data collection.
12. Enables innovative rail connectivity projects which aim to address the regional jobs,
housing, and transit imbalance (i.e., Valley Link).
13. Provides funding for climate-resilient transportation infrastructure to withstand weather
events, wildfires, and other climate-related challenges.
14. Invests in safe active transportation infrastructure and local flexibility to manage e-bike
use in sensitive areas, while opposing one-size-fits-all mandates that shift enforcement or
implementation costs to cities without adequate resources or local discretion.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
15. Infringes upon the ability of local governments to effectively administer and modify state
and local construction provisions and standards.
16. Takes away local control of managing and operating local streets and roads.
17. Reduces the City’s condemnation authority regarding acquisition of properties required
for public projects.
18. Reduces local government’s ability to enact transportation impact fees that fund
transportation improvements.
19. Diverts traffic from freeways or highways to local streets through measures that would
create toll roads on local highways.
20. Requires consolidation of transit agencies in the Bay Area.
4. Community and Economic Development
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Maintains the City’s authority over land use decisions.
2. Strengthens local regulatory authority and control over the citing of medical or
recreational marijuana dispensaries.
3. Creates a more equitable and transparent Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
process.
4. Creates more flexibility for local jurisdictions to work together to provide housing that
counts toward RHNA requirements.
5. Streamlines the CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) process by reducing
redundant, costly, and cumbersome mandates and restrictions.
6. Provides incentives or new funding mechanisms for affordable housing and transit-
oriented development.
7. Increases financial assistance to provide affordable, transitional, special needs and
emergency housing to the homeless, seniors, veterans, and people with special needs.
8. Expands STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs in K-12,
higher education, and libraries.
9. Enhances the City’s efforts to retain existing businesses and attract new businesses.
10. Provides tangible and productive tools and incentives to support job creation, business
attraction, and business retention.
11. Advances or encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, start-ups, small business
opportunities, and/or workforce development.
12. Funds policy modifications that require additional staffing resources be deployed by
HCD to ensure uniformity within the housing element compliance and review process.
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13. Provides for local input and control over the development of high-density development
in areas prone to fire and natural disasters.
14. Provides state incentives for affordable, transit-oriented, and mixed-income housing
while preserving local planning authority over design, infrastructure sequencing, fire
safety, and community engagement.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
15. Interferes with or reduces local land use control and decision making.
16. Diminishes or eliminates the authority of cities to zone and plan for the development of
telecommunications infrastructure, including the siting of cellular communications
towers or transmission sites.
17. Diminishes or eliminates cities’ authority to regulate condominium conversions.
18. Interferes with the ability to provide productive incentives to support job creation,
business attraction, and business retention.
5. Public Safety and Public Health
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Increases funding for local law enforcement, fire suppression and prevention, hazardous
materials mitigation, and emergency medical services.
2. Funds local agencies for training, disaster preparedness, crime prevention, public
outreach, and emergency planning.
3. Ensures cities have control of regulating local medical marijuana facilities instead of the
state, protects public safety with standardized security requirements, protects public
health with uniform health and safety standards, and ensures patient safety with a quality
assurance protocol.
4. Improves data and information dissemination, preparedness funding, and first-responder
training for oil-by-rail shipments.
5. Maintains or increases grant funding for the Community Oriented Police Services
(COPS) program.
6. Provides a greater share of asset forfeiture funds for cities and increases latitude for
spending local funds.
7. Funds the preparation, mitigation, adaptation, and response to extreme weather or
emergency events.
8. Funds alternative crisis response programs for mental health, substance abuse, or
homelessness related calls for emergency service.
9. Expands access and resources to public health care services, including mental health,
behavioral health, and substance abuse services.
10. Expands on sensible public safety reforms, especially regarding retail theft, burglary, and
assault.
11. Expands on sensible reforms regarding insurance availability and emergency
preparedness activities.
12. Provides for the stabilization and equitable assessment of property insurance premiums
in natural disaster prone areas, such as fire-prone and flood-prone areas.
13. Provides for public safety reforms that prioritize the safety, dignity, and fair treatment of
all individuals.
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14. Provides a balanced, statewide approach to e-bike safety that improves public safety
while preserving the mobility, climate, and equity benefits of electric bicycles.
15. Advocates for clear and consistent e-bike definitions, age-appropriate use standards, and
education-based safety measures that are enforceable and practical for local
governments.
6. Parks and Community Services
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Creates new funding opportunities for parks and community facilities.
2. Provides funding for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) facility and park upgrades.
3. Increases available financial assistance to local non-profit and community-based
organizations that provide social services and mental health services to residents in need.
4. Provides funding for the rehabilitation, development, and capital improvements for park
improvements to enhance the active and passive recreational infrastructure.
5. Funds or regulates cooling strategies in local and regional parks.
6. Funds or promotes parks and park-related amenities to increase community resilience,
including mitigating climate change effects and increasing access.
7. Expands funding sources available to make technological updates to existing and new
parks and recreation spaces.
8. Provides access and funding for the provision of before and after school childcare
through local programming.
9. Funds vital regional and community services delivered by parks and recreation
departments that impact access to parks, open space, bikeways, after school
programming, youth services, senior services, food programs, and facilities that promote
physical activity.
10. Expands the protection of natural resources and strengthens the safety and security of
these resources.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
11. Reduces or eliminates the City’s ability to levy park impact fees.
12. Imposes regulations that create cost prohibitive administrative burdens which may result
in the reduction of parks programming.
13. Captures or diverts local park and recreation revenue or efforts to shift responsibility for
State services or programs to park and recreation departments without commensurate
revenue.
7. Climate and Environment
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Assists and funds local governments in meeting or exceeding local or state climate
adaptation goals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, developing alternate energy
resources and fuel efficiency programs, and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
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2. Streamlines development of and provides funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging and
hydrogen fueling infrastructure locally and regionally.
3. Assists local governments in achieving current waste diversion goals, meeting
compliance obligations, and fulfilling related measurement and reporting requirements.
4. Helps local governments and water purveyors in meeting or exceeding goals to reduce
water use and increase water supply without preempting local planning decisions.
5. Sponsors circular economy solutions, extended producer responsibility, and requires
manufacturers are responsible for the end of useful life cost of collecting, processing,
recycling, and disposing of products they manufacture.
6. Protects the interest of Community Choice Aggregators, like Ava Community Energy,
that provide renewable and clean electricity to their customers.
7. Incentivizes regional and local government efforts to develop and implement programs
to reduce air pollution.
8. Funds compliance and full life cycle costs of current and new mandatory storm water
quality permit requirements.
9. Addresses litter control and abatement problems in California.
10. Reduces the financial impact to local governments of state and federal funded and
unfunded mandates related to compliance with environmental programs and regulations.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
11. Preempts local planning decisions regarding solid waste facility sites.
12. Preempts local solid waste and AB 939 fee setting authority or imposes taxes or fees on
local solid waste programs to fund state programs not directly related to solid waste
management.
8. Technology and Cybersecurity
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Promotes the use of data and technologies to create efficiencies, promote economic
development, enhance public safety, improve transportation and mobility, improve
sustainability, increase transparency to public information, enhance municipal quality of
life factors and help solve other civic challenges.
2. Maintains local control over municipal assets in the deployment of next generation
technological infrastructure.
3. Increases the City’s capacity to protect against cyber security attacks.
4. Provides funding for programs that seek to expand digital access for residents and
businesses.
5. Provides for the thoughtful and measured deployment of artificial intelligence
technologies to enhance local government capabilities, including public safety alerts.
6. Encourages state-level cybersecurity investments and responsible artificial intelligence
standards that enhance municipal operations without imposing burdensome mandates.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
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7. Limits or removes local review and permitting of emerging telecommunications
technologies, such as Small Cell technology.
Regional Collaboration
The City of Dublin is a member of the Tri-Valley Cities (TVC), a coalition of the five Tri-Valley
municipalities who work together to advocate for issues and funding at the regional, state, and
federal levels. The TVC is governed by the five Mayors of each municipality who develop and adopt
a TVC Legislative Framework which guides the advocacy efforts of the TVC.
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Attachment 3
20256 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY PRIORITIES
FEBRUARY 20256
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Introduction
Many public policies intersect with City priorities, programs, and services. This 20256 Legislative
Platform (Platform) outlines the City of Dublin’s legislative priorities and positions on these policies
to inform residents, representatives, and policymakers. These priorities are applicable to all relevant
legislation, policies, programs, grant funding opportunities, ballot measures, mandates, and budgets.
The Mission of the City of Dublin is to promote and support a high quality of life, ensure a safe,
secure, and sustainable environment, foster new opportunities, and champions a culture of diversity,
equity, and inclusion. This Mission shall guide the City’s Legislative Platform.
This Platform provides Staff with direction and authorizes them, on the City Council’s behalf, to
quickly respond in support of or in opposition to bills and other legislative or gubernatorial actions
in time-sensitive situations. Additionally, the Platform enables Staff to communicate Dublin-specific
issues and impacts with state legislators. Staff may draft letters, direct our legislative advocates, or
speak on behalf of the City regarding the legislative priorities this document outlines.
The City may also respond to Federal mandates, legislation, regulations, executive orders, activities,
funding opportunities, or uses of land within or boarding the City of Dublin in order to advocate for
the physical safety and financial security of Dublin and its residents. Any correspondence signifying
the City’s support or opposition of a given bill must be signed by the Mayor and / or City Manager
with notification to the City Council.
Any questions regarding this Legislative Platform can be directed to Jordan Foss, Senior
Management Analyst II at jordan.foss@dublin.ca.gov.
Platform Overview and Coordination
This Legislative Platform serves as the foundation for City legislative advocacy at all levels of
government. It informs the City’s legislative representatives of the key issues and legislation that
could have a potential impact on the City and the process in which the City will participate in the
legislative process. The City will employ several strategies to advocate or advance the City’s public
policy interests, which include:
• Position Development
o Reviewing analyses and positions by the League of California Cities (Cal Cities),
legislative advocates, and other local government / professional associations in
formulating the City’s position.
o Working with City departments and legislative advocates to develop this platform
and identify positions on proposed legislative measures.
• Status Tracking
o Tracking key bills through the legislative process.
• Communication and Advocacy
o Communicating the City’s position, in accordance with this Platform, through
correspondence, testimony, and meetings.
o Working cooperatively with other cities (including the Tri-Valley Cities), associations,
and Cal Cities on advocating the City’s legislative position.
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o Meeting with legislators and their representatives, as well as other federal, state, and
county government officials on a regular basis, to discuss local government issues,
proposed legislation, requests for funding assistance, and City programs and services.
The City Manager’s Office will exercise day-to-day oversight of legislative matters. In addition to
coordinating formal action through the City Council, the City Manager and their designee will
manage the City’s Legislative Platform.
Staff will follow the process below when responding to all proposed and relevant legislation,
policies, programs, ballot measures, mandates, and budgets.
1. Review and determine whether a proposal will impact the City.
2. Prepare a letter outlining the City’s position for the Mayor’s or City Manager’s signature.
3. Distribute the letter to the legislation’s author(s), key legislative committees, the City
Council, and other relevant parties.
In scenarios where a proposal or regulation arises that may impact the City and is not covered by
this Legislative Platform, Staff will prepare a draft position letter for the City Council to review prior
to distribution.
General Legislative Principles
The guiding principles for the City’s legislative advocacy efforts include:
Advancing Existing City Mission, Vision, Values, and Policies
Preserving and/or Increasing Local Government Discretion
Promoting or Enhancing Revenue Sources
Public Policy Priorities
This Legislative Platform identifies specific Public Policy Priorities by topic area. Informed by the
General Legislative Principles, these priorities will guide the positions the City will take on all
relevant legislation, policies, programs, grant funding opportunities, ballot measures, mandates, and
budgets.
The Public Policy Priorities are categorized as follows:
1. General Administration
2. Fiscal Sustainability
3. Community and Economic Development
4. Transportation and Public Works
5. Public Safety and Public Health
6. Parks and Community Services
7. Climate and Environment
8. Technology and Cybersecurity
1. General Administration
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
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1. Enhances or streamlines local control and allows cities to address the needs of local
constituents within a framework of regional cooperation.
2. Streamlines the process to apply for, to receive approval of, and to receive state or
federal funding.
3. Assures every person the right to equal treatment in and access to all government-
sponsored benefits or funded programs.
4. Provides the ability toProvides flexibility in conducting public meetings using a hybrid
approach that allows for equitable access and participation of elected officials and the
public while considering privacy, health, and safety of all stakeholders.
5. Provides alternative methods of meeting public noticing requirements through cost-
effective, innovative, and technological methods of communication, and changes the
definition of “newspaper of general circulation” due to realities of consolidated
newspaper publications and the increase in on-line publications.
6. Increases the voting requirement for future measures to be approved by the same
proportion of votes cast as the measure requires, and preserves agency rights to place
advisory questions on the ballot.
7. Provides for additional flexibility and modernization of open government initiatives and
open meetings, including provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, at all levels of
government, without burdening City resources..
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
8. Attempts to restrict local authority or decision-making whether by state or federal
legislation, regulations, or voter initiatives.
9. Diminishes or eliminates local governments’ ability to contract out for the provision of
services.
2. Fiscal Sustainability
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Maintains or enhances ongoing revenues to the City.
2. Updates the tax structure to enhance local government revenues that have declined due
to the expansion of e-commerce, increased consumption of services rather than durable
goods, and innovations in technology.
3. Ensures timely distribution of mandated reimbursements owed to the City.
4. Removes unnecessary state-imposed mandates.
5. Provides for the use of incentives for local government action rather than mandates
(funded or unfunded).
6. Establishes new and innovative revenue options and resources to finance public
infrastructure construction and maintenance.
7. Streamlines the establishment and utilization of infrastructure financing districts or other
funding mechanisms for infrastructure improvements.
8. Changes the Communications Act of 1934 that removes the distinction between
“capital” and “operating” funds to provide more local control for community television
stations in the use of their public, educational, and government (PEG) channel fees.
9. Increases transparency of all public employee salaries and benefits.
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10. Provides sustainable public pensions and other post-retirement benefits.
11. Lowers the necessary voter threshold from a two-thirds supermajority to 55-percent to
approved local general obligation bonds and special taxes for affordable housing and
public infrastructure projects.
11.12. Provides for equitable funding distribution from regional transit measures and
maintains local decision authority over transportation priorities.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
12.13. Undermines and preempts local authority over local taxes and fees.
13.14. Shifts funds from local governments to the state or federal government.
14.15. Imposes unfunded or inadequately funded federal and state mandates on local
governments.
15.16. Eliminates, limits, or delays the imposition or collection of development impact fees
thus restricting the City’s ability to provide for infrastructure or services.
16.17. Requires or expands state involvement in City financial audits, fiscal monitoring,
general oversight, or assistance by the State Treasurer, State Controller, or other state
agencies.
17.18. Defers reimbursements for state mandated programs.
18.19. Requires new or expanded fiscal oversight by federal agencies or expanded reporting
requirements on existing federal grants.
3. Public Works and Transportation
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Ensures the City receives its fair share of transportation funding and keeps the funding
decisions at the local level.
2. Provides for more stable and equitable long-term funding sources for transportation.
3. Leverages local funds to the maximum extent possible to implement transportation
improvements through grants and partnerships with regional, state, and federal agencies.
4. Promotes planning and implementation of regional transportation improvements.
5. Promotes maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure.
4.6. Reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and encourages developing and implementing
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plans and strategies.
5.7. Expands opportunities and funding for connected and shared autonomous vehicles, high
occupancy vehicles, new technology deployment, resilient transportation communication
networks, and reducing traffic congestion and delay.
6.8. Improves multimodal freight movement between the San Francisco Bay Area and the
Central Valley and projects that reduce freight traffic on I-580.
7.9. Encourages active transportation, enhances the safety of all modes of transportation,
particularly bicycles and pedestrians, and reduces vehicle speeds and traffic congestion.
8.10. Increases and funds local control and local regulation of shared mobility,
transportation network companies (TNCs), and other emerging industries that use city
infrastructure to offer private services.
9.11. Enables the sale of traffic data to recover the cost of data collection.
10.12. Enables innovative rail connectivity projects which aim to address the regional jobs,
housing, and transit imbalance (i.e., Valley Link).
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13. Provides funding for climate-resilient transportation infrastructure to withstand weather
events, wildfires, and other climate-related challenges.
11.14. Invests in safe active transportation infrastructure and local flexibility to manage e-
bike use in sensitive areas, while opposing one-size-fits-all mandates that shift
enforcement or implementation costs to cities without adequate resources or local
discretion.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
12.15. Infringes upon the ability of local governments to effectively administer and modify
state and local construction provisions and standards.
13.16. Takes away local control of managing and operating local streets and roads.
14.17. Reduces the City’s condemnation authority regarding acquisition of properties
required for public projects.
15.18. Reduces local government’s ability to enact transportation impact fees that fund
transportation improvements.
16.19. Diverts traffic from freeways or highways to local streets through measures that
would create toll roads on local highways.
17.20. Requires consolidation of transit agencies in the Bay Area.
4. Community and Economic Development
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Maintains the City’s authority over land use decisions.
2. Strengthens local regulatory authority and control over the citing of medical or
recreational marijuana dispensaries.
3. Creates a more equitable and transparent Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
process.
4. Creates more flexibility for local jurisdictions to work together to provide housing that
counts toward RHNA requirements.
5. Streamlines the CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) process by reducing
redundant, costly, and cumbersome mandates and restrictions.
6. Provides incentives or new funding mechanisms for affordable housing and transit-
oriented development.
7. Increases financial assistance to provide affordable, transitional, special needs and
emergency housing to the homeless, seniors, veterans, and people with special needs.
8. Expands STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs in K-12,
higher education, and libraries.
9. Enhances the City’s efforts to retain existing businesses and attract new businesses.
10. Provides tangible and productive tools and incentives to support job creation, business
attraction, and business retention.
11. Advances or encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, start-ups, small business
opportunities, and/or workforce development.
12. Funds policy modifications that require additional staffing resources be deployed by
HCD to ensure uniformity within the housing element compliance and review process.
13. Provides for local input and control over the development of high-density development
in areas prone to fire and natural disasters.
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13.14. Provides state incentives for affordable, transit-oriented, and mixed-income housing
while preserving local planning authority over design, infrastructure sequencing, fire
safety, and community engagement.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
14.15. Interferes with or reduces local land use control and decision making.
15.16. Diminishes or eliminates the authority of cities to zone and plan for the development
of telecommunications infrastructure, including the siting of cellular communications
towers or transmission sites.
16.17. Diminishes or eliminates cities’ authority to regulate condominium conversions.
17.18. Interferes with the ability to provide productive incentives to support job creation,
business attraction, and business retention.
5. Public Safety and Public Health
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Increases funding for local law enforcement, fire suppression and prevention, hazardous
materials mitigation, and emergency medical services.
2. Funds local agencies for training, disaster preparedness, crime prevention, public
outreach, and emergency planning.
3. Ensures cities have control of regulating local medical marijuana facilities instead of the
state, protects public safety with standardized security requirements, protects public
health with uniform health and safety standards, and ensures patient safety with a quality
assurance protocol.
4. Improves data and information dissemination, preparedness funding, and first-responder
training for oil-by-rail shipments.
5. Maintains or increases grant funding for the Community Oriented Police Services
(COPS) program.
6. Provides a greater share of asset forfeiture funds for cities and increases latitude for
spending local funds.
7. Funds the preparation, mitigation, adaptation, and response to extreme weather or
emergency events.
8. Funds alternative crisis response programs for mental health, substance abuse, or
homelessness related calls for emergency service.
9. Expands access and resources to public health care services, including mental health,
behavioral health, and substance abuse services.
10. Expands on sensible public safety reforms, especially regarding retail theft, burglary, and
assault.
11. Expands on sensible reforms regarding insurance availability and emergency
preparedness activities.
12. Provides for the stabilization and equitable assessment of property insurance premiums
in natural disaster prone areas, such as fire-prone and flood-prone areas.
13. Provides for public safety reforms that prioritize the safety, dignity, and fair treatment of
all individuals.
14. Provides a balanced, statewide approach to e-bike safety that improves public safety
while preserving the mobility, climate, and equity benefits of electric bicycles.
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15. Advocates for clear and consistent e-bike definitions, age-appropriate use standards, and
education-based safety measures that are enforceable and practical for local
governments.
6. Parks and Community Services
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Creates new funding opportunities for parks and community facilities.
2. Provides funding for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) facility and park upgrades.
3. Increases available financial assistance to local non-profit and community-based
organizations that provide social services and mental health services to residents in need.
4. Provides funding for the rehabilitation, development, and capital improvements for park
improvements to enhance the active and passive recreational infrastructure.
5. Funds or regulates cooling strategies in local and regional parks.
6. Funds or promotes parks and park-related amenities to increase community resilience,
including mitigating climate change effects and increasing access.
7. Expands funding sources available to make technological updates to existing and new
parks and recreation spaces.
8. Provides access and funding for the provision of before and after school childcare
through local programming.
9. Funds vital regional and community services delivered by parks and recreation
departments that impact access to parks, open space, bikeways, after school
programming, youth services, senior services, food programs, and facilities that promote
physical activity.
10. Expands the protection of natural resources and strengthens the safety and security of
these resources.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
11. Reduces or eliminates the City’s ability to levy park impact fees.
12. Imposes regulations that create cost prohibitive administrative burdens which may result
in the reduction of parks programming.
13. Captures or diverts local park and recreation revenue or efforts to shift responsibility for
State services or programs to park and recreation departments without commensurate
revenue.
7. Climate and Environment
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Assists and funds local governments in meeting or exceeding local or state climate
adaptation goals, reducinge global warming pollution levelsgreenhouse gas emissions,
developing alternate energy resources and fuel efficiency programs, and to reduceing
fossil fuel dependence.
2. Streamlines development of and provides funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging and
hydrogen fueling infrastructure locally and regionally.
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3. Establishes current waste diversion goals, local compliance efforts, and associated
measurement and reporting requirements.Assists local governments in achieving current
waste diversion goals, meeting compliance obligations, and fulfilling related
measurement and reporting requirements.
4. Assists the City in meeting or exceeding established goals of reducing water
consumption and increasing water supply without preempting local planning decisions.
4. Helps local governments and water purveyors in meeting or exceeding goals to reduce
water use and increase water supply without preempting local planning decisions.
5. Sponsors circular economy solutions, extended producer responsibility, and requires
manufacturers arebe responsible for the end of useful life cost of collecting, processing,
recycling, and disposing of products they manufacture.
6. Protects the interest of Community Choice Aggregators, like Ava Community Energy,
that provide renewable and clean electricity to their customers.
7. Incentivizes regional and local government efforts to develop and implement programs
to reduce air pollution.
8. Funds compliance and full life cycle costs of current and new mandatory storm water
quality permit requirements.
9. Addresses litter control and abatement problems in California.
10. Reduces the financial impact to local governments of state and federal funded and
unfunded mandates related to compliance with environmental programs and regulations.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
11. Preempts local planning decisions regarding solid waste facility sites.
12. Preempts local solid waste and AB 939 fee setting authority or imposes taxes or fees on
local solid waste programs to fund state programs not directly related to solid waste
management.
8. Technology and Cybersecurity
Staff recommends that the City Council support legislation that:
1. Promotes the use of data and technologies to create efficiencies, promote economic
development, enhance public safety, improve transportation and mobility, improve
sustainability, increase transparency to public information, enhance municipal quality of
life factors and help solve other civic challenges.
2. Maintains local control over municipal assets in the deployment of next generation
technological infrastructure.
3. Increases the City’s capacity to protect against cyber security attacks.
4. Provides funding for programs that seek to expand digital access for residents and
businesses.
5. Provides for the thoughtful and measured deployment of artificial intelligence
technologies to enhance local government capabilities, including public safety alerts.
5.6. Encourages state-level cybersecurity investments and responsible artificial intelligence
standards that enhance municipal operations without imposing burdensome mandates.
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Staff recommends that the City Council oppose legislation that:
6.7. Limits or removes local review and permitting of emerging telecommunications
technologies, such as Small Cell technology.
Regional Collaboration
The City of Dublin is a member of the Tri-Valley Cities (TVC), a coalition of the five Tri-Valley
municipalities who work together to advocate for issues and funding at the regional, state, and
federal levels. The TVC is governed by the five Mayors of each municipality who develop and adopt
a TVC Legislative Framework which guides the advocacy efforts of the TVC.
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2026 City of Dublin
Legislative Platform
February 3, 2026
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Background
•Each year the City Council adopts a Legislative Platform to guide
legislative advocacy efforts for the upcoming year.
•Structured in three tiers:
•Guiding Principles, which set the broad goals for advocacy efforts.
•Public Policy Priorities, which guide the City’s position on relevant
legislation.
•Advocacy Positions, which provide more specific positions in each
Public Policy Priority.
•Not an exhaustive list.
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Background, 2
•The draft 2026 Platform is substantially similar to the
2025 Platform.
•The 2026 Platform makes modifications to account
for:
•Changes in state law.
•Anticipated issues for the upcoming legislative
session.
•Non-substantive grammatical and wording changes.
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Modified 2026 Advocacy Positions
•The Platform modifies 2025 positions:
•Reference to flexibility and modernization of open government initiatives and
open meetings without burdening City resources.
•Reference to greenhouse gas emissions goals.
•Reference to assisting local governments in achieving waste diversion goals,
meeting compliance obligations and fulfilling reporting requirements.
•Reference to water purveyors in meeting or exceeding goals to reduce water
use and increase water supply.
•Reference to protecting local governments from unfunded mandates related
to environmental programs and regulations.
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New Policy Priority Additions
•New additions to the Platform include supporting legislation
that:
•Provides for equitable funding distribution from regional transit
measures.
•Promotes planning and implementation of regional transportation
improvements.
•Promotes maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure.
•Provides state incentives for affordable, transit-oriented, and
mixed income housing while preserving local planning authority.
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New Policy Priority Additions, 2
•New additions to the Platform include supporting legislation
that:
•Invests in safe active transportation infrastructure and local
flexibility to manage e-bike use in sensitive areas.
•Provides a balanced, statewide approach to e-bike safety.
•Advocates for clear and consistent e-bike definitions, use
standards, and safety measures that are enforceable and
practical.
•Encourages state-level cybersecurity investments and responsible
artificial intelligence standards that enhance operations.
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Next Steps
•Once approved, will be finalized and published on the
City’s website.
•Future Legislative Platforms:
•Shift to two-year platform that mirrors California
legislative cycle.
•January 1, 2027 –December 31, 2029.
•Council consideration in November 2026.
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Staff Recommendation
•Receive the report and adopt the Resolution Approving the
2026 City of Dublin Legislative Platform.
•Questions? Comments?
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