[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6474725,"mediaKeyId","5739709-2b3ac4fe3fbecf8a8fd9dbfc573ea4b1","parentId",5739709,"title","Carlsbad lobbyists outline end-of-session activity and several bills that could affect local housing and coastal policy","audioSeconds",976,"startMs",476000,"endMs",1452000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739709-2b3ac4fe3fbecf8a8fd9dbfc573ea4b1&start=476&end=1452","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739709-2b3ac4fe3fbecf8a8fd9dbfc573ea4b1/thumbnail_476000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6474725/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Carlsbad-lobbyists-outline-end-of-session-activity-and-several-bills-that-could-affect-local-housing-and-coastal-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474725-03ad6c4dca709f4ff50abefbdbd3f215/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442846&Signature=WxXgPn-hqUJqF-jkuOFMqwNljDvvCtKoaDsPVeZqnbpk6fh47GYgm4YA7LUhDMw~1UBjYzHUFGR15kfiPW74XzZ~FmwD2Ynk3KiaPGXeqp1-1MU4swIvorN4mArEjsyE2FjDXCbpL4Rfok81GSM~~CyTBdAgkyJaCHwE9iWguatV-vt9DSRBp73XfQ14ZxBvaozi81KU~j~Je4Cy0N~pS3ethjcQwetJpIUfWgNmcrO6z5-x2cmLcZszaE6SXBkYcL7G4zZ3tLOjATGejqBNwsKXO0ehmaVY99svX0s88PWQ82g1MdH2-HtM4txI3d2fNqMDQexHESkPjcYG~xCiYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Carlsbad","date","2025-09-09T00:00:00Z","article","State and contract lobbyists updated the Carlsbad Legislative Subcommittee on Sept. 9 about numerous bills moving through the California Legislature and potential next steps for city advocacy.

Matt Rubel, from state Sen. Catherine Blakespear’s office, and Sharon Gonzales, the city’s Sacramento lobbyist with the California Public Policy Group, outlined a wide range of measures that could affect Carlsbad policy and operations, including housing, permitting, short-term rentals and coastal planning. Gonzales said the legislature was in a high-volume end-of-session week and that amendment and chaptering-out activity was ongoing.

Key items discussed included SB 92 and AB 87, bills that amend density bonus law to limit the ability of developers to count short-term rentals or transient lodging when seeking density bonus concessions. Council members affirmed the city’s support position on SB 92, and staff noted AB 87 addresses similar concerns. Gonzales said both bills were amended so they could become law without one superseding the other.

The committee also discussed AB 253, a bill that would allow a private permitting company to perform inspections when a local agency cannot meet inspection timelines. Gonzales said amendments to AB 253 had removed opposition from several statewide associations, but city members expressed concern about liability and staff burden; the subcommittee did not change its local position that evening.

Other bills noted by lobbyists included SB 79 (housing/transit-related provisions that subcommittee members described as harmful to village areas), SB 707 (teleconferencing and Brown Act adjustments), AB 339 (notification to bargaining units before RFPs go out), AB 379 (human trafficking enforcement changes signed into law), and SB 358 (reduced vehicle mitigation fees for housing near transit). Gonzales also summarized recent action to place a special-election measure on the Nov. 4 ballot to adjust congressional maps for 2026, 2028 and 2030 (measures AB 604, ACA 8 and SB 280).

Why it matters: subcommittee members said housing, short‑term rentals, permitting timelines and coastal planning are core city concerns. Council member Burkholder emphasized the density bonus/short‑term rental issue and confirmed Carlsbad had a support position on SB 92. Members asked lobbyists for vote counts and additional information; Gonzales supplied vote totals for AB 604 (56–20 in the Assembly, 30–9 in the Senate) on request.

The lobbyists and staff said they would continue to prepare letters for the governor’s desk as bills advance and would return to the committee with deeper briefings and any requests for active advocacy. No formal subcommittee votes were taken at the meeting.

Provenance: The state legislative update began with remarks from Matt Rubel representing Sen. Blakespear’s office and continued through an extended Sacramento briefing by Sharon Gonzales, who listed specific bills and amendments affecting Carlsbad.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Carlsbad - Legislative Subcommittee","oneSentenceSummary","Contract lobbyists and legislative staff told the Carlsbad Legislative Subcommittee on Sept. 9 that a cluster of housing, permitting and coastal bills are active in Sacramento as the legislature finishes its session, and that the city may be asked to send letters or take positions as bills go to the governor.","taxTitle","Carlsbad, San Diego County, California","taxId",2843,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6474730,"Carlsbad officials warned federal funding could be at risk if Congress allows shutdown",1107,137000,1244000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739709-2b3ac4fe3fbecf8a8fd9dbfc573ea4b1&start=137&end=1244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739709-2b3ac4fe3fbecf8a8fd9dbfc573ea4b1/thumbnail_137000.jpg","/articles/6474730/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Carlsbad-officials-warned-federal-funding-could-be-at-risk-if-Congress-allows-shutdown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474730-02cf9868201696126e9911f9a7a56a32/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442846&Signature=Z0tY~EgL0MV9UftmrsmMawMoCrCtxVimmX~n-mtLfGJtFuibu-7FHlNmhIUCKeismPMIpRxVSdtyuv8jMMTP-3w37sIazlHyxyv-P8OdMfA3onhSYrrSvC1TjZumRKbVpmpK8OQLCO3pUcwwaK95~WRQaVS6D3EtmOYCCqGmRBPmccPe~OB35nAoghqKbhHIC1e2DctKBVnXr1zYULoqzM2iQieuyxcSgVArFAQ1ZUhF-XoM2qAuU-jbIr05xi8pe5m5XgK6WCQqIIxHWPnciv-O-lqNh6Izm1o8vkhi21UTMj4WPWeslSiD8S4Xt9JokbNYrvsHh5Z7C8Eqx2z7Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ally Pena, a Green and Gold fellow in Rep. Mike Levin’s office, told the Carlsbad Legislative Subcommittee on Sept. 9 that federal funding is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30 and — without congressional action — a government shutdown could halt work on projects across the district.

The warning came as the House had returned from recess and negotiators in Washington had yet to pass the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal 2026. “Federal funding is set to expire on September 30, and without congressional action, there will be a government shutdown,” Pena said. She said Rep. Levin has highlighted roughly $16,600,000 in district projects that could be jeopardized if funding lapses, including the Carlsbad Village railroad double track and trenching and the Buena Vista Lagoon Enhancement Project.

Why it matters: city staff and contract lobbyists said a shutdown would limit federal employees’ ability to process approvals or respond to inquiries, which could delay permits, funding disbursements and other time-sensitive federal interactions. Laura Morgan Kessler of Carpe & Clay government relations, the city’s federal lobbyist team, told the committee that, in past shutdowns, federal agency staff were not permitted to respond to emails or take phone calls, effectively pausing ongoing federal approvals.

City staff and the lobbyists said they would provide a written memo for city departments describing probable impacts and recommended contingencies. “We are working on an updated memo that we'll share with city staff that they can share with you to talk a little bit more about the potential impacts of a shutdown if that is indeed where we find ourselves,” Morgan Kessler said. The subcommittee asked that the memo identify specific federal engagements likely to be affected.

Subcommittee members reiterated that the city should rely on its contract lobbyists and internal staff resources to track and, where possible, protect active projects. Council member Burkholder noted the trenching funding for the village railroad as an example of a local project that could be delayed and asked staff to assure continuity of coverage.

The committee did not take any formal action at the meeting. Staff said the memo will be distributed to council and departmental staff and that the city would use internal resources to follow up on specific federal approvals that could be affected if a shutdown occurs.

Provenance: The committee’s federal update began with a report from Ally (Ally) Pena of Rep. Levin’s office and continued with a detailed briefing from Carpe & Clay lobbyists Laura Morgan Kessler and David Wetmore; the lobbyists described the continuing resolution process and explained operational impacts of a shutdown to city interactions with federal agencies. The city’s memo was described as forthcoming.","City staff and contract lobbyists told the Carlsbad Legislative Subcommittee that federal funding for local projects could be jeopardized if Congress fails to act by Sept. 30; city lobbyists will provide a memo outlining likely impacts and next steps.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6474720,"Carlsbad council members seek follow-ups on sober living homes, state parks and coastal projects",375,3304000,3679000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739709-2b3ac4fe3fbecf8a8fd9dbfc573ea4b1&start=3304&end=3679","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739709-2b3ac4fe3fbecf8a8fd9dbfc573ea4b1/thumbnail_3304000.jpg","/articles/6474720/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Carlsbad-council-members-seek-follow-ups-on-sober-living-homes-state-parks-and-coastal-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474720-bcd737bedaa56afbae281f371d0ae125/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442846&Signature=NaSPQxyuZ4yyUnsVlRIG65vZagQPcxrEHYdozPmVZYBwRpEchbXZQuRY5i9xPJUyz-JHgxgGFkXSIbFnZOfB8VAX8AyW662kRlKwV9EEdkIjjhq~7cOnJT3NIxo4XaNX9WypyONTz3ByG0-USFThp2MjThKKz~A-7wm0lwJ4TzWt7o3hcpi~WQaBaHx19zU1Uv~TiKLfvY05i0LTDMu0qEJ-aTOm6HcJ3F00XVR0knoKPLNZpkcxKkm3zAQGBwrVh2FtBEUtUSlWZJScbooy1IbZopNgiQ0EVuZu-Hdj~XZHSiEqPRPn~YeaIUWCqFiN40NuagV3vYlk6v7tU5febQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members used the subcommittee’s comment period on Sept. 9 to request follow‑up briefings and local outreach on sober living homes, state parks maintenance and coastal projects.

Council member Burkholder said she is organizing a meeting on Sept. 11 to discuss sober living homes and noted the city has materials from state offices to support local conversations. “We are just opening a conversation,” she said. Council member Acosta said he has worked with people in recovery who live in sober living homes and asked staff to assemble information about the number and distribution of those homes in Carlsbad so the council can better understand whether regulatory or support actions are warranted.

Members also asked staff to invite representatives from California State Parks to discuss facility management, recent ADA access work at South Carlsbad State Beach and a pilot native-habitat restoration area at Ponto. Burkholder said residents frequently ask about the cordoned-off area at Ponto and suggested a State Parks briefing describe the goals and science behind the restoration project.

Mr. Haber, city administrative staff, said the California Coastal Commission was unable to provide a speaker because of staffing capacity but that the committee could seek the city’s local coastal commissioner as an alternative. Council members requested the city continue outreach to find an appropriate presenter and suggested coordinating the parks discussion with questions about sea-level-rise planning and campground management.

No formal action was taken; council members asked staff to report back with options and potential dates for the requested briefings.","Subcommittee members asked staff to pursue briefings and local meetings on sober living homes, state parks maintenance and coastal projects such as habitat restoration at Ponto and surfboard storage at Tamarack.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Carlsbad lobbyists outline end-of-session activity and several bills that could affect local housing and coastal policy

Carlsbad officials warned federal funding could be at risk if Congress allows shutdown

Carlsbad council members seek follow-ups on sober living homes, state parks and coastal projects