Walnut Creek council adopts 2025 legislative agenda, asks staff to add federal and finance priorities

The Walnut Creek City Council on Feb. 18 unanimously approved its proposed 2025 legislative agenda, with council members asking staff to broaden some language so it can be used in both state and federal advocacy and to add a finance-oriented statement opposing measures that would limit municipal financing options.

The agenda, prepared by city staff with input from Townsend Public Affairs, is the city’s framework for state advocacy during the 2025–26 legislative session. Deputy City Manager Carla Hansen said the agenda is an annual action that provides “the framework for advocacy at the state level for the upcoming legislative cycle.”

Council members asked for three edits before finalization: (1) remove or reduce wording that limits the document to state-only advocacy so it can also guide federal outreach; (2) allow alignment with positions taken by national organizations such as the National League of Cities when those positions are consistent with Walnut Creek’s priorities; and (3) add finance language opposing measures that would constrain local governments’ ability to use traditional municipal funding mechanisms. Casey Elliott, vice president at Townsend Public Affairs, described the package he presented and the state priorities it reflects.

Councilmember comments emphasized wildfire resiliency, transit funding and municipal finance. Council members also noted additions to the agenda supporting the full implementation and funding of Proposition 36 and a recently adopted package of state laws aimed at organized retail theft and related public-safety matters.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to adopt the consent calendar (items 2A–2G): motion called and seconded; roll call vote recorded as Silva — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Wilk — Aye; Councilmember Divini — Aye; Councilmember Francois — Aye; Mayor Cindy Darling — Aye. Outcome: approved (motion carries). - Motion to adopt the 2025 legislative agenda with the amendments described at the dais (broaden federal/state language, allow consistent National League of Cities positions, add finance language regarding municipal funding measures): motion made and seconded; roll call recorded as Silva — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Wilk — Aye; Councilmember Divini — Aye; Councilmember Francois — Aye; Mayor Cindy Darling — Aye. Outcome: approved, unanimous.

Why it matters: the legislative agenda guides the city’s positions on bills, funding and regulatory changes that can affect local planning, zoning, infrastructure and public-safety funding. Elliott told the council the document will be shared with the city’s Sacramento delegation and used to prioritize staff time on bills the city may wish to support or oppose.

The council instructed staff and the legislative committee to finalize the language and to return materials to the council’s legislative committee (LEHI) for any final technical edits rather than requiring a separate full-council reconsideration. The agenda will also be used as the basis for future position letters and for outreach about federal and state grant opportunities.

The council’s adoption came after a roughly hour-long presentation from Townsend Public Affairs that reviewed state budget dynamics, wildfire and recovery proposals, housing legislation and potential housing-bond conversations ahead of 2026. Elliott noted the state is considering changes to how housing and homelessness functions are organized at the agency level and warned that natural disasters and wildfire responses will shape the May budget revision.

Less-critical details: the city’s legislative agenda document, once finalized, will be posted on the city website and used by staff when coordinating with Walnut Creek’s state and federal delegations. Elliott told the council he will continue bill-monitoring and will send a first cut of bills filtered to the agenda’s priorities after bill-introduction deadlines.