Carlsbad Council members and the city's intergovernmental affairs director briefed the Planning Commission on Oct. 15 on the city's legislative program, recent bills the city sponsored and local funding priorities, and warned that state changes under SB 79 may impose unfunded requirements on the city.

The presentation came from Jason Haber, the city's intergovernmental affairs director, and Councilmember Aspen DeMarche; Councilmember Burkholder attended and took part in discussion. Haber described how the city's legislative subcommittee develops an annual platform, retains state and federal lobbyists, and pursues sponsorship or position letters on bills that affect Carlsbad.

The nut of the discussion was SB 79, recently signed into law, which staff said raises questions about new height and density allowances near transit and about how tiers are defined by transit frequency. Council members warned the law could allow 5-to-7 story housing within a half-mile of transit stops, limit local discretion to deny projects and create what one councilmember called an "unfunded mandate" on city taxpayers for infrastructure impacts. Councilmember DeMarche said the city has requested a clarifying letter from the bill author and is evaluating whether the law applies to Carlsbad's Coaster station.

Haber described the subcommittee's track record: the city has sponsored bills that later became state law, including measures to let lifeguards certified locally assist at city pools and clarify conduct for rescues using personal watercraft. He said the subcommittee reviews bills for "watch, support, oppose or support if amended" positions, works with the League of California Cities and retained lobbyists in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and maintains a legislative platform aligned with the city's strategic plan.

Other bills the city supported or tracked this year include AB 610 (a general-plan chapter on governmental constraints), AB 996 (allowing reuse of sea-level-rise analysis in planning documents), and SB 346 (short-term rental platform transparency and facilitator requirements). Staff also highlighted local priorities for discretionary funding requests, including railroad trenching and EV charging station projects; staff noted a previous congressional community project allocation for railroad trenching and described ongoing interagency coordination with SANDAG and NCTD.

Commissioners asked about how the city communicates clarifications from Sacramento: Haber said clarifying letters or analysis would be circulated to staff and commissioners as memos, typically distributed on Wednesdays, and that the city attorney and departments would review legal ramifications before public release. Commissioners also pressed how community sentiment is reflected in the city's positions; DeMarche said the subcommittee relies on department input, constituent contacts and its lobbyists' technical review and then takes positions to the full council.

Why this matters: city leaders said the mix of new state laws, CEQA changes and proposals to delegate land-use authority to transit or special districts could reduce local control over planning and require Carlsbad to shoulder infrastructure costs when local approvals facilitate more dense development.

Councilmember Burkholder and Haber said the city will keep the Planning Commission updated if the author's clarification arrives and when the city attorney or planning staff determine local applicability.