To establish city priorities that allow city staff the flexibility to track proposed legislation and pursue opportunities that support the well-being of the city and its residents, and to oppose proposed actions that are in opposition to the vision of the city. Staff can identify and inform council of local, state and federal action that could provide opportunities to realize goals, or that may create hardship for the city. The priorities listed below provide the focused parameters that staff will follow when tracking legislation or other potential council or city action.

The primary priority areas include:

• Protect funding for vital community services
• Protect local control
• Promote affordable housing opportunities at all income levels
• Support tenant protections
• Support solutions for those who are unhoused
• Support environmentally sustainable cities
• Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)
• Expand infrastructure investment
• Support public safety
• Support public health
• Support coastal protection and enhancement
• Promote a just, equitable, and inclusive community
• Support parks and open space
• Support active transportation

More specific City interests in the categories above include:

• Support reimbursement to cities for all state and federal mandates
• Support enhanced local government revenue resources
• Oppose state budget cuts targeting critical local programs and service
• Support Enhanced Community Development Block Grant and other federal funding
• Support affordable housing opportunities for all income levels
• Support funding for homeless services, outreach, prevention, and assistance

• Support state legislation that creates funding and provides resources for local municipalities for compliance with state mandates
• Support legislation that would provide or expand the ability of a local authority to impose and collect fees
• Support legislation that supports funding for housing affordability such as workforce housing, and keeps land use decisions local
• Support legislation that promotes local land use decisions which achieve these goals: adds affordable housing, expands community diversity and reduces the cities’ carbon footprint”
• Protect local control of land use decision-making and oppose legislation that would hinder or threaten local control
• Seek opportunities to regain local control on state-imposed density bonus law

• Support legislation providing funding to build or support affordable housing at all income levels and aging in place
• Oppose legislation that promotes housing construction not containing an affordable component
• Support legislation providing gap finance funding for low-income housing support
• Support programs and funding for housing opportunities for those who are unhoused 

SUPPORT TENANT PROTECTIONS

• Support legislation for tenant protection and anti-displacement measures 
• Support legislation that strengthens tenant rights and the prohibition of landlords from evicting tenants without proper cause
• Support legislation which gives mobile home park tenants more stability through support for mobile home park tenant land ownership programs

• Funding for local and regional supportive services
• Funding for local and regional transitional housing opportunities
• Funding for training and development

• Support all efforts to reverse the climate changing effects caused by human activity, including in the transportation, energy, building, and waste management sectors
• Support legislation protecting, enhancing, and updating existing water supply and water facilities, and facilitating development of new future water sources in Southern California
• Support initiatives that support water reuse programs and facilities
• Support legislation providing funding for the acquisition and restoration of wildlife habitat, bluffs, and lagoons
• Support legislation that incentivizes carbon sequestration
• Support legislation that expands, promotes, and/or incentivizes water conservation practices and programs
• Support legislation that facilitates and/or promotes the expanded use of local water resources including recycled water, graywater, and rainwater harvesting
• Support legislation that promotes the development of potable water reuse
• Support incentives for utilizing renewable energy resources  
• Support legislation for local small businesses that get displaced by landlords excessively raising rents

• Support the ability of local governments to implement Community Choice Aggregation for the purchase of electricity and oppose legislation that would place new burdens and requirements on the establishment of CCAs and/or procurement activities of CCAs
• Support legislation that expands the use of solar energy systems on residential and commercial properties
• Support initiatives that balance equity while promoting rooftop solar, energy storage, EV charging stations, and energy equity
• Support legislation that supports CCA program autonomy in policymaking and decision-making.
• Oppose legislation that unfairly discriminates against CCA programs or CCA customers or reduces CCA policymaking or decision-making autonomy
• Support legislation that streamlines, funds, and supports the undergrounding of utilities

• Support equitable long-range, statewide infrastructure investment
• Support state/federal facilitation of timely construction of local transportation projects
• Support local rail infrastructure investment, including the creation of a corridor-wide quiet zone and safe pedestrian crossings
• Support opportunities of state funding/cost sharing opportunities for state beaches in Encinitas, including Beacon’s Beach

• Support funding bills for local law enforcement equipment, services, or personnel
• Support funding bills for local emergency operations including equipment, services, and personnel
• Oppose bills that restrict local control of law enforcement
• Oppose bills that relax gun control or gun violence restrictions
• Support bills that restrict access to firearms and ammunition
• Support legislation protecting local discretion regarding building and fire code standards
• Support legislation that provides funding to enhance wildfire mitigation and emergency response efforts
• Oppose legislation and administrative action that would change or eliminate inverse condemnation and make utilities not liable for fires caused by their equipment with consideration of the conduct of the utility in the design, operation, and maintenance of its assets, and with consideration of factors outside of the control of the utility such as extreme climate
• Support legislation and administrative action that requires utilities to work cooperatively with local government to plan for reducing wildfire risks
• Support legislation that would sustain or enhance federal homeland security grants
• Support legislation that would encourage community safety and provide funding for Homeland Security measures
• Support legislation that would require communicating with city officials regarding threats to local safety, as threats occur
• Support legislation to enhance ebike and road safety

• Support legislation that ensures local discretion in the adoption and implementation of health and safety standards contained in the building and fire codes
• Support legislation protecting women's and public health
• Support funding of programs and activities that support public health
• Support legislation that promotes cannabis safety and enforcement measures

• Support legislation providing funding and other means for beach replenishment
• Support funding mechanisms to provide funding for any additionally mandated storm water pollution prevention measures
• Support ecosystem enhancing legislation
• Support regional and statewide sea level rise initiatives
• Oppose oil drilling, offshore and on land

• Support legislation and efforts that remove barriers and promotes access to the full enjoyment of society by all people regardless of sexual identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, and differently-abled people
• Support funding and programs for support of the LGBTQ+ community to enhance participation in society
• Support legislation that promotes and advances gender equity
• Support efforts to reduce violence in residents’ lives and to promote full electoral participation
• Support legislation that promotes equitable access to opportunities and investment for historically marginalized communities

• Support legislation that supports the development, expansion, and maintenance of parks and open space
• Support State, County, and Federal funding for park development, infrastructure, and maintenance
• Support Encinitas trails and trail development
• Support policies, legislation and funding that promotes equal treatment and protects the fundamental liberties of all families

SUPPORT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

• Support legislation that makes our roadways safer for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists   
• Support legislation for enhanced regulations and education for ebike riders
• Support legislation that automates enforcement for speeding and red-light violators 
• Support legislation that clearly defines guidelines and design standards for active transportation infrastructure
• Support legislation for grant funding of active transportation enhancement projects
• Support legislation that strengthens mode shift, multi-modal access and safety and ebike safety
• Support legislation that focuses on mobility mode shift and micro-mobility to reconfigure streets around people vs cars