Encinitas council approves $445,000 contract to update Resource Management Element for new state mandates

The Encinitas City Council approved a contract with Ascent Environmental to prepare an updated Resource Management Element for the city's General Plan to comply with two recent state laws (SB 1425 and AB 1889). The contract budget is $445,000 plus a $25,000 contingency; the scope includes three public workshops, tailored tribal outreach, and a focused update addressing equitable access to open space, climate resiliency and habitat connectivity.

Deputy Mayor Joy Lyons introduced the item and asked staff to outline how the update aligns with existing city programs including the habitat stewardship program, the Climate Action Plan, the safety element and recently enacted mature tree and native plant ordinances. Staff (Senior Mobility Planner Evan Jednak) said the update is primarily a high‑level policy document that will take credit for existing work while setting policy direction and potential future studies. Staff noted that the State deadline to update resource management elements is Jan. 1, 2026; failure to meet the deadline may expose the city to legal challenge since the General Plan would not be consistent with state requirements.

Council discussion included a question about whether the city could do the work in‑house to reduce cost; staff said the technical requirements, tribal outreach and new statutory content require outside expertise and that the consultant is intended to provide an unbiased community outreach process. The motion to approve the contract carried unanimously.

Next steps: consultant onboarding, a year of public outreach, and preparation of draft policy changes to be returned to Council for review and adoption. The consultant will coordinate with existing programs and report back through staff.