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Port Hueneme council to send letter of support for ‘Polluters Pay’ climate superfund legislation
Summary
After extended public comment and debate, the council authorized staff to send a letter of support — rather than adopt a formal resolution — backing state-level legislation often described as the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act; the motion passed with one ‘no’ vote.
The City Council voted Tuesday to direct staff to prepare a letter of support for proposed state legislation informally known as the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (AB 1243 / SB 684), a draft bill that would levy fees on the largest fossil‑fuel producers to fund climate adaptation and remediation projects statewide.
The action followed nearly an hour of public comment — much of it from local climate and environmental groups — urging local elected officials to back the measure. Supporters said the bill would create a dedicated, non‑tax revenue stream to pay for shoreline protection, wetlands restoration, zero‑emission freight equipment and other resilience measures, with at least 40 percent of funds directed to disadvantaged communities.
City staff briefed the council on the bill’s structure and on arguments for and against it. Staff highlighted key concerns raised by opponents that could shape final legislative language, such as the potential for lengthy litigation by large producers, the risk that fees might be passed through to consumers and the competitive grant process that could favor better‑resourced jurisdictions. Staff also reported the draft includes language intended to prevent pass‑through of fees to consumers.
Why this matters: Port Hueneme is in a coastal, defense‑adjacent area cited as vulnerable to sea‑level rise and storm damage; supporters argued the bill could direct new funds toward projects that the city and region cannot currently afford from existing local or federal sources.
Council action: After discussion, Council directed staff to draft and send a letter of support rather than adopt a formal resolution. The motion passed with Council Member Gama voting no; Council Members Perez, Mayor Pro Tem Lopez and Mayor McQueen LaShawn voted yes. The measure will be revisited if and when a final bill is filed in the 2026 legislative session.
What happens next: Staff will prepare the letter of support and return the draft for council review; the city keeps the option to adopt a full resolution later if the bill’s language in Sacramento is stable.
Ending: Council members who supported the letter framed the action as an early signal to Sacramento that a coastal city wants state resources for resilience; dissenting members said they preferred to wait for final bill text before formally backing statewide legislation.
