REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on City Position on Proposed League of California Cities’ 2026 Resolution Calling for a Working Group to Consider a State Constitutional Amendment or Other Form of Initiative to Ensure Final Local Authority Over Housing and Land Use Decisions
Report
BACKGROUND
The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) will hold its Annual Conference and Expo (Annual Conference) in Anaheim on September 23-25, 2026. During the conference, Cal Cities convenes its General Assembly, where member cities’ voting delegates debate and act on general and petitioned resolutions. After a resolution is approved by the General Assembly, the resolution becomes an official Cal Cities policy.
This year, one general resolution submitted by the City of Murietta (2026 Cal Cities Resolution), will be considered during the Annual Conference.
The Cal Cities resolution submission and review process consists of the following steps:
Prior to the Annual Conference
1. Submit a General Resolution: Cal Cities members may submit a policy resolution at least 60 days before its Annual Conference and Expo. The resolution must have the concurrence of at least five additional member cities or individual members.
2. Policy Committee Review: The Cal Cities President assigns all proposed resolutions to the appropriate policy committee, which reviews and debates the proposal and makes a recommendation to the Resolutions Committee.
During the Annual Conference
3. Resolutions Committee Review: The Resolutions Committee considers the resolutions and the policy committee's recommendations. The Resolutions Committee may also amend a resolution before sending it to the General Assembly. A general resolution approved by either the policy committee or the Resolutions Committee advances to the General Assembly. If both committees do not “approve” the resolution or refer it for further study, the proposed resolutions does not advance to a vote.
4. Petitioned Resolutions: In addition to the general resolution process, Cal Cities allows petitioned resolutions to be introduced during their annual conference. A petitioned resolution must be signed by voting delegates representing at least 10% of Cal Cities member cities and submitted to the Cal Cities President at least 24 hours before the beginning of the General Assembly. Petitioned resolutions are considered by the General Assembly unless disqualified by the Resolutions Committee in accordance with Cal Cities bylaws.
5. General Assembly Vote: The General Assembly, consisting of one voting delegate from each member city, debates and considers general and petitioned resolutions. A resolution approved by the General Assembly becomes official Cal Cities policy and helps guide Cal Cities' advocacy efforts.
Attachment 1: How it Works: Cal Cities Resolutions and the General Assembly provides additional details regarding the resolution process.
In alignment with Cal Cities policy, the proposed 2026 Cal Cities resolution was referred to the Housing, Community, and Economic Development (HCED) Policy Committee for review. The HCED Policy Committee is scheduled to meet virtually on September 17, 2026 at 10: 00 AM. The HCED Policy meeting will include an opportunity for public comment. Members of the public who are interested in attending the meeting and/or submitting a public comment may register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lWDYhO7DRvWD2bWY-mdEyg#/registration
During the Annual Conference, on September 24, 2026, the Resolutions Committee will meet to consider the proposed resolution, including the HCED Policy Committee’s recommendation. At this meeting, the Resolutions Committee may forward the 2026 Cal Cities Resolution to the General Assembly for consideration, or potentially refer it for further study, in which case the resolution would not be considered by the General Assembly.
The General Assembly will convene on September 25, 2026, to consider resolutions forwarded by the Resolutions Committee.
Each city council must appoint a voting delegate to cast their city’s vote at the General Assembly. Additionally, Cal Cities asks each city council to take a position on the proposed resolution so that voting delegates can represent their city’s position on the resolution should it be voted on by the General Assembly.
On August 25, 2026, the City Council designated Mayor Gillmor as the City’s voting delegate and Councilmember Park as the alternate.
DISCUSSION
This report transmits the Cal Cities 2026 Resolutions Packet (Attachment 2), which contains the proposed 2026 Cal Cities Resolution, the letters of concurrence submitted with it, and an analysis prepared by Cal Cities.
Staff recommend that the City Council discuss and adopt a City position on the 2026 Cal Cities Resolution and authorize the City’s voting delegate to cast a vote consistent with that position.
Below is a description of the proposed Cal Cities 2026 Resolution followed by a resolution background and analysis prepared by staff and the City’s legislative consultant, Townsend Public Affairs.
Resolution of the General Assembly of the League of California Cities Calling for a Working Group to Consider a State Constitutional Amendment or Other Form of Initiative to Ensure Final Local Authority Over Housing and Land Use Decisions
The City of Murrieta has submitted a resolution calling for the establishment of a working group to consider a statewide constitutional amendment that would ensure local agencies retain final authority over local housing development and land use decisions. If adopted, the resolution would direct Cal Cities to:
1. Support the development and advancement of a state constitutional amendment or a legislative, policy, or ballot-based strategies that restore and strengthen local authority over housing and land use matters within municipal boundaries, including general plans, housing elements, zoning, density, design and development standards, project siting, and the approval or denial of housing development applications; and
2. Ensure any constitutional amendment or alternative strategy proposed would preserve the State’s authority to establish broad statewide housing goals and enforce constitutional and civil rights, fair housing requirements, building and life-safety standards, and generally applicable environmental health protections, while protecting cities form state actions that compel the approval of housing developments that are inconsistent with locally adopted housing or land use decisions when a city has planned in good faith to accommodate its regional housing needs allocation and maintains adequate capacity for housing at all income levels; and
3. Consider establishing a statewide working group or other appropriate committee(s) to evaluate and develop a proposed constitutional amendment or other legislative, policy, or ballot-based strategies to restore and strengthen local authority over housing and land use matters, including but not limited to: conducting legal, fiscal, and policy analyses; engaging cities and other stakeholders; and building a statewide coalition of proponent supporters in preparation for the November 2030 General Election, or within another reasonable time period.
Background
The proposed Cal Cities 2026 Resolution received eight concurrences from six cities and two city officials:
• City of Banning
• City of Calimesa
• City of Canyon Lake
• City of Moreno Valley
• City of Norco
• City of Torrance
• Crystal Ruiz, Mayor, City of San Jacinto
• Jessica Alexander, Mayor, City of Temecula
The City of Murrieta is sponsoring this resolution in response to concerns over state laws that have increasingly reduced city discretion over housing and land use decisions Since 2010, the State has enacted more than 500 laws related to housing that have progressively shifted housing and land use authority away from local governments. These laws have expanded by-right development, limited locally adopted standards and review processes, and established enforcement mechanisms, including the builder’s remedy, that can override local plans and zoning. In the background information provided with the Resolution, the City of Murrieta, maintains that although these measures are frequently presented as solutions to housing affordability, many increase development capacity or restrict local review without delivering the meaningful production of housing needed to address the housing crisis.
The resolution reflects the view that local elected officials are the ones who are most directly accountable to the residents who experience the effects of development decisions and are responsible for balancing housing production with infrastructure capacity, public safety, environmental protection, fiscal sustainability, and community needs. Cities of all types in California have been grappling with this dynamic, ranging from urban to rural, coastal to inland, small to large, northern to southern, voicing concerns to legislative representatives with minimal responsiveness. This is an issue of statewide concern that needs the strength and diversity of the League of California Cities to pursue a long-term solution.
The proposed resolution directs Cal Cities to establish a statewide working group to evaluate a constitutional amendment or other legislative, policy, or ballot-based strategies to restore and strengthen local authority over housing and land use decisions. The working group would be tasked with developing a more balanced framework that preserves the State’s role in establishing broad housing goals and enforcing constitutional, civil rights, fair housing, building, life-safety, and environmental requirements, while restoring meaningful local authority to allow cities to determine how statewide housing objectives should be implemented in a manner that reflects local conditions and community priorities while continuing to support responsible housing production.
Over the past several years, there have been grassroots efforts, most recently by Our Neighborhood Voices, to place a measure on the ballot that would provide local agencies with final authority over housing development and land use decisions. These efforts included provisions that would provide agencies with broad authority, as well as exemptions from state-level legislation related to ministerial approval of housing developments, land-use authority, and reduce the ability of the state to penalize local agencies.
While there have been previous efforts to place measures on the state ballot, those efforts were not able to secure sufficient valid signatures to be placed on the ballot. These efforts were largely driven by grassroots efforts, individual elected officials, and concerned community members.
As the primary statewide organization representing California cities, Cal Cities is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. Its established policy, legal, legislative, communications, and advocacy networks enable it to convene municipalities, evaluate potential strategies, conduct legal and fiscal analyses, build consensus, engage stakeholders, and coordinate with statewide decision-makers. Cal Cities’ leadership would help ensure that any recommendation reflects the collective interests of California municipalities and would provide credibility, organizational capacity, and statewide reach necessary to advance a viable strategy.
Analysis
The proposed resolution does not advance a specific ballot proposal. Rather, the resolution directs Cal Cities to establish a working group to evaluate approaches, which could include legislative proposals, a constitutional amendment or an initiative. Presumably, the working group would determine both the substance of any proposal and the best means to advance the proposal. Given the current composition of the State Legislature and support for many of the recently enacted bills that would be impacted, a final proposal would most likely need to be taken directly to voters, at a statewide election rather than pursued through the State Legislature.
If the working group concludes that an initiative or constitutional amendment is warranted, enactment will require voter approval at a statewide election. This could also require signature gathering efforts, coalition development, and a statewide campaign in order to be successful. While the development of a proposal, via a Cal Cities working group, would not create a financial burden on Cal Cities or its members, should a statewide campaign be necessary, significant resources would be needed. Based on recent initiative efforts, proponents spent between $8 - $18 million to qualify a measure for the ballot, and averaging about $100 million per ballot initiative.
Relevant City Policy
On March 10, 2026, the City Council adopted eleven (11) 2026 Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAPs), which directs the City’s position across a wide range of issues, including housing. Each LAP is accompanied by Guiding Principles, comprised of broad statements, intended to establish a basis for the individual legislative advocacy positions. The City’s LAPs and Guiding Principles are available at: https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-a-f/city-manager-s-office/special-projects/legislative-advocacy
The following position statements within the City’s Housing LAP, and Guiding Principle directly apply and provide guidance for the City’s position on the proposed resolution:
Housing LAP Position Statements
• Support legislation that provides local jurisdictions with authority over land use decisions and fully incorporates the involvement of local community members and an understanding of the conditions unique to the community.
• Oppose measures that reduce local control over land use and planning decisions and are punitive in nature towards local government.
Guiding Principle
• Protect and/or increase local government discretion.
It is important to note that the proposed Resolution may be amended during the deliberation process at the Cal Cities 2026 General Assembly and, should a resolution be adopted, further analysis will be conducted by Cal Cities staff, and adjustments/compromises to the proposed actions may occur through the Cal Cities legislative advocacy process.
Recommended Position: Approve
The City’s Housing LAP position statements and Guiding Principle described above provide guidance for the City and City’s voting delegate and alternate regarding how to vote on the proposed resolution. In alignment with this guidance, City staff recommend a position of “Approve” on the proposed Cal Cities 2026 Resolution.
Importantly, while support for the proposed resolution is consistent with the City’s LAPs and Guiding Principles, any specific recommendations developed by the working group will require additional review and evaluation by City staff.
Should the City Council take the recommended “Approve” position on the proposed Cal Cities 2026 Resolution, it is recommended that the City Council authorize its voting delegate, Mayor Gillmor, and alternate, Councilmember Kevin Park, to cast a vote consistent with the City Council’s position during the Cal Cities 2026 General Assembly.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no costs associated with this report or the recommended action other than administrative staff time to prepare and review this report.
The City has an existing agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for state and federal legislative advocacy services, which includes developing and implementing a legislative strategy. These services are included at no additional cost as part of the consultant’s monthly service fee.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City’s legislative consultant, Townsend Public Affairs and the City’s Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve a “Approve” position on the proposed Cal Cities 2026 Annual Conference Resolution Calling for a Working Group to Consider a State Constitutional Amendment or Other Form of Initiative to Ensure Final Local Authority Over Housing and Land Use Decisions; and authorize the City’s voting delegate to cast a vote consistent with the City Council’s adopted position.
Staff
Prepared by: Aracely Azevedo, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. How it Works: Cal Cities Resolutions and the General Assembly
2. League of California Cities 2026 Resolutions Packet