Consultants from JEA & Associates briefed the Seaside City Council on Nov. 6 about state legislative trends and federal advocacy to support the city’s capital and planning priorities.

Lori Johnson summarized California’s 2025 legislative themes: affordability and housing, extension of the cap-and-trade program to 2045, disaster resilience and infrastructure, increasing attention to AI regulation, and a major CEQA trailer bill (SB 131) aimed at streamlining approvals for certain large infrastructure projects. Johnson noted the state budget shows higher-than-expected receipts but warned of longer-term structural pressures as expenditures grow faster than revenues.

At the federal level, John Arriaga and colleagues described outreach to members of Congress and U.S. senators and their staff to press Seaside’s priority projects. The consultants said they are pursuing appropriations/earmarks and grants and cited ongoing work on four local priorities: replacement of the San Pablo pedestrian bridge, leasing or transfer options for the Fort Ord chapel/cultural center, improved access to Fort Ord’s monument/trail network, and municipal water-well projects. Arriaga said a $850,000 federal request for the San Pablo pedestrian bridge is in the appropriations process but noted earmark outcomes depend on the federal budget timeline.

Staff and consultants stressed coordination with federal and state staff matters when projects need specific technical or funding matches. The consultants also said they will deliver an annual report and schedule fall engagement and a legislative workshop so councilmembers can meet legislators and staff in early 2026.

Ending: JEA said it will provide a written annual report and continue outreach; councilmembers asked staff to identify the council’s legislative priorities before the consultants’ January engagement so Seaside is prepared for state and federal advocacy.