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Council members discuss SB 79 and request further outreach to state lawmakers
Summary
Several council members discussed SB 79 during reports, expressing opposition to 'by-right' higher-density mandates near transit and seeking exclusion or local safeguards for San Marcos; they encouraged residents and staff to contact state legislators as the session reached its final days.
Members of the San Marcos City Council used the reports section of the Sept. 9 meeting to discuss SB 79, a state legislative proposal that would allow certain by-right housing up to seven stories near transit in some counties, and to urge outreach to state lawmakers.
Council members said the bill had been amended multiple times, currently applied to a limited set of counties that includes San Diego, and remained in flux in the final days of the legislative session. "SB 79 has been amended 13 times already," Council member LeBlanc said, and she noted the bill now covers five or six counties and San Diego County is one of them.
Council members expressed concern about by-right mandates that reduce local land-use discretion. "If it's by right housing up to 7 stories... it's devastating," one council member said during the report. Mayor Jones and others urged constituents to contact their state representative and noted legislative 'horse trading' in the final week. Council President Nunez (as reported at the meeting) said members should consider letters seeking county exclusion where appropriate.
The council also referenced ongoing local advocacy led by regional associations and the League of California Cities and noted an upcoming webinar and continuing conversation with state representatives. No formal city position or letter was adopted at the Sept. 9 meeting; council members instructed staff to continue monitoring developments and to share relevant updates via email and planned briefings.
