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Carlsbad subcommittee hears wide public support for 'Our Neighborhood Voices' local‑control initiative; council debates timing of endorsement
Summary
Public speakers urged the subcommittee to endorse a proposed constitutional amendment, Our Neighborhood Voices, to restore local land‑use control; councilmembers praised the principle but deferred endorsement until initiative language is finalized and procedural questions about city action were clarified.
Dozens of residents and representatives of a statewide coalition urged the Carlsbad City Council legislative subcommittee to support a proposed constitutional amendment called Our Neighborhood Voices that would return broad land‑use authority to local governments.
Speakers during public comment included Dean Szabo, Steve Linke, Mike Lewis, Nils Narenheim and Diane Bedrosian. Many said state housing laws in recent years had diminished cities’ authority and produced market‑rate development without local input or affordable housing guarantees.
Mike Lewis read a statement from the Encinitas mayor that he said reflected many cities’ frustration: “This decision is based on the unavoidable ramifications of state housing policies coupled with credible threats from HCD that will result in unavoidable and even greater harm to the city's environment, traffic, flooding, and community character. … We are approving this project under duress and only because of the credible threats made by HCD and the state leaves us no choice.”
Representatives of the Our Neighborhood Voices campaign and the Equitable Land Use Alliance asked the subcommittee to consider a resolution endorsing the initiative and to forward the matter to the full City Council for consideration. They described prior efforts to qualify similar language for the ballot, said a previous title and summary had been politically problematic, and explained signature‑gathering timelines.
City staff reminded the subcommittee the council had already adopted a 2023 resolution and legislative platform supporting local control. Council members expressed broad sympathy for local control but differed on timing and process. City Attorney comment: a city may take positions on ballot measures if it holds a public hearing providing both sides an opportunity to be heard.
Council next steps: staff said the city could agendize a resolution for full City Council consideration in June if the subcommittee asked; council members discussed waiting until the initiative’s language is finalized and formally submitted to the attorney general, which starts the clock for signatures and finalizes the title and summary. Subcommittee members agreed to await final language before recommending an official municipal endorsement, but asked staff to notify the campaign about procedural options and to return the matter when language is submitted.
Why it matters: supporters contend a constitutional amendment would restore local flexibility to set land‑use rules and mitigate local impacts of forced development. Opponents and some council members cautioned that endorsement before final language can create political and legal complications and could affect the city’s leverage with state legislators.
Public record and timing: campaign representatives said a prior iteration of the proposal obtained a title and summary during the COVID period but could not complete signature gathering; they stated a new filing would restart the official clock and that realistic timelines range from 2026 to 2028 depending on funding, volunteer infrastructure and filing dates.
Action requested of the subcommittee: none formally adopted. Staff will return the item for consideration once the language is submitted to the state attorney general and/or the campaign requests a formal city resolution for full council action.
