Board discusses 2026 legislative platform, signals opposition to Pelican Bay closure and seeks carve-outs for Last Chance Grade project

County staff presented a draft 2026 legislative platform that includes advocacy priorities developed with state and federal advocates. The board discussed a range of infrastructure and corrections issues and asked staff to return with a finalized platform for adoption in December.

Supervisor Howard and staff described work with Caltrans and a recent trip to Japan that exposed tunneling technologies that could lower costs or risks on the Last Chance Grade project. Howard suggested the board consider asking the California Coastal Commission or state legislature to credit the decade-plus of environmental work already completed so design and engineering can proceed in parallel. He also described a possible 'pilot tunnel'—a smaller-diameter tunnel in the already-analyzed footprint—to inform construction risk at a lower cost, citing a rough industry estimate of $100–150 million for a pilot versus a $2.2 billion main tunnel.

Supervisor Howard and others also said the platform should prepare the county to oppose any closure of Pelican Bay State Prison because of economic and community impacts; the board indicated it has not yet sent a formal letter but is gearing up to oppose closure if proposals surface. Staff said the platform will be brought back in December with requested additions for board approval.

Board members and the public asked clarifying questions about how an exception or legislative credit for prior environmental work would operate and what a pilot tunnel would entail; staff committed to return with suggested policy language for the platform.