Campbell extends SB79 urgency ordinance; mayor recuses after random draw

The Campbell City Council on June 16 extended an interim urgency ordinance enacted in response to Senate Bill 79 (the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act of 2025), adopting staff’s recommendation to extend the urgency measure for 10 months and 15 days to give staff time to develop permanent policies.

Because SB79 limits participation by council members who live or own property within specified distances of subject sites, three council members had previously noted potential recusals. To secure the four votes required for an urgency ordinance, the council invoked the rule of necessity and used a random draw to determine who would sit for the matter; the mayor drew the short straw and recused himself for the SB79 item. Acting leadership then invited Senior Planner Steven Rose to present the proposed extension, explaining the ordinance would preserve the city’s ability to identify eligible sites for exclusion (walking‑path exclusions and historic‑register sites) while staff completes permanent policy work.

After closing public comment, the council moved and adopted the interim ordinance extension by roll call. The extension preserves the currently identified site exclusions until staff returns with proposed permanent policies and implements a process for future site evaluation and council consideration.

The council’s recorded action instructs staff to complete the policy work in the allowed extension period; adoption of a permanent policy will require additional hearings and potential revisions to the zoning or general plan.