Encinitas council narrows legislative priorities, restores inclusivity language and adds public‑safety clauses
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Summary
After an hour of public comment and debate, the City Council unanimously amended its 2026 legislative priorities to reinstate language on promoting an inclusive community, add support for gun‑violence prevention tied to mental‑health measures, and direct staff to return with a clean, finalized document for adoption.
The Encinitas City Council on Jan. 28 reversed a proposed trimming of its legislative priorities and approved a package of clarifications aimed at keeping the document focused on locally actionable issues.
At the meeting, Deputy City Manager Mike James and the council’s Sacramento lobbyist, Jonathan Clay, framed the annual review as an effort to align the city’s legislative guidance with its general plan and strategic priorities. The item drew an unusually large public turnout: roughly 20 speakers concentrated on the draft’s treatment of gun‑violence prevention, language about inclusivity, and references to federal enforcement and climate policy.
Mayor Ehlers and council members said they wanted to avoid a partisan document but acknowledged public concern about removing specific safety and equity language. The mayor proposed, and the council approved, reinstating the section title promoting “a just, equitable and inclusive community,” removing stray editorial marks in the draft, and adding concise language under public safety. The council agreed to "support legislation that promotes gun‑violence prevention, improves gun safety and addresses mental‑health‑related issues," and to "support improved communication and public safety for federal agency actions in our community." Staff were directed to return with a clean, edited policy for final approval.
Council members said the revisions aim to give the city’s lobbyist clear guidance without turning the policy into an exhaustive statement on national issues. Multiple residents, veterans and public‑safety advocates urged preserving explicit commitments on gun‑violence prevention and safe‑storage rules; others asked the council to avoid duplicating statewide or national policy positions.
The motion, moved by Mayor Ehlers and seconded by Councilmember Schaeffer, passed unanimously. City staff will prepare the revised document and bring it back to council for adoption as soon as feasible.