Local Control Housing Legislation

At a glance

What: During the 2026 Summer Intergovernmental Relations Report, Council chose how to push for state legislation on local control over housing and land use.
Where it stands: On September 22, 2026 Council accepted the report, reaffirmed federal and state legislative positions, and adopted a memorandum from Councilmember Casey and Councilmember Candelas 9-2. A competing approach from Councilmember Tordillos failed 4-7.
Next: A policy position supporting local control goes into the 2027 Legislative Program, and the City Manager writes a letter of concurrence on League of California Cities 2026 Annual Conference Resolution No. 1.

Councilmember Candelas moved (second Councilmember Casey) to accept the September 18 joint memorandum. Councilmember Kamei proposed a friendly amendment replacing item 2 with "Write a letter of concurrence on local control"; the maker declined.
Councilmember Tordillos made a substitute motion (second Councilmember Kamei) to accept staff's recommendation and have the City Manager's Office return in the January 2027 Legislative Program Update with ways to advocate for flexibility and local control for pro-housing cities acting in good faith, while keeping tools to hold bad-faith cities accountable and enforcing minimum statewide standards.

Substitute failed 4-7 (ayes Councilmember Kamei, Councilmember Campos, Councilmember Tordillos, Councilmember Cohen; noes Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember Mulcahy, Councilmember Doan, Councilmember Candelas, Councilmember Casey, Vice Mayor Foley, Mayor Mahan).
Main motion adopted 9-2 (noes Councilmember Kamei, Councilmember Tordillos). Councilmember Ortiz registered a verbal yes afterward. It accepted the report, reaffirmed all positions in the 2025-2026 federal and state priority legislation logs, and directed the City Manager to (1) add a 2027 Legislative Program position supporting legislation that restores and strengthens local control over housing and land use, such as the League's Resolution No. 1, and (2) write and submit a letter of concurrence on that resolution.
No public comment was recorded on the item.

Main motion by Councilmember Candelas adopted 9-2 after the Councilmember Tordillos substitute failed 4-7.