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Council adopts 2025 state and federal legislative guidelines with additions on housing, transportation and aviation
Summary
The council unanimously adopted the City’s 2025 state and federal legislative guidelines, adding language to emphasize active-transportation safety, aviation noise/emissions, housing‑RHNA reform and funding for victims’ services; staff and Townsend Public Affairs will use the guidelines to guide fast-moving state and federal advocacy this year.
PALO ALTO, Calif. — The City Council unanimously adopted Palo Alto’s 2025 state and federal legislative guidelines Monday, adding a set of clarifications and topic priorities the council asked staff and the city’s contracted advocates to pursue this legislative year.
Council members heard a short update from Townsend Public Affairs, the City’s state and federal advocacy firm, which reviewed the state and federal policy calendars for 2025. The firm told the council it is tracking housing financing proposals, possible reauthorization of cap-and-trade spending, wildfire-related funding and other emerging items; on the federal side it noted the delayed appropriations calendar and the city’s pending earmark for Fire Station 4 improvements.
During council discussion, members proposed several targeted additions to the draft guidelines that had been recommended by the Policy and Services Committee. Council accepted amendments including: explicit language supporting pedestrian and cyclist safety and infrastructure in transportation priorities; a statement supporting regional coordination among transportation agencies; language referencing the need for RHNA reforms that promote fact‑based standards and balanced housing mixes; a request to track and support legislation addressing wildfire impacts; and a council request to support enhanced resources for crime victims and victim-compensation processes.
Councilmembers also asked the consultant and staff to monitor aviation noise and emissions and to advocate for measures that reduce overflight noise and related emissions impacting Palo Alto neighborhoods. Townsend Public Affairs said it would work closely with the mayor and city staff to raise the city’s priorities quickly when bills move fast through Sacramento or Congress.
Townsend staff described their suite of services: state and federal lobbying, congressional appropriations and earmark assistance, and grant-writing and grant-liaison services. The firm reported more than $44.5 million in grant awards secured for Palo Alto during 2024 and identified a handful of pending applications and opportunities for 2025.
By adopting the guidelines, the council directed staff and Townsend Public Affairs to use the document as the city’s policy framework when weighing and responding to legislation and budget proposals this year.
Why it matters: The guidelines give city staff and contracted advocates standing direction to act quickly on short windows of state and federal legislative opportunity; the additional language reflects priorities raised in council discussion, including safety, housing reform and wildfire and aviation impacts.
What’s next: Staff and Townsend will continue outreach to the city’s legislative delegation in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., prepare situational briefings for council as urgent items arise, and continue to pursue competitive grant and appropriations opportunities on the city’s behalf.
