TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Patricia Matson, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Adopting the 2026 Legislative Platform (No Budget Impact) (City Manager Mirzakhanian).
(Estimated Time: 15 mins)
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-0008
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-0008, adopting the 2026 Legislative Platform, including any revisions agreed upon by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
In recent years, federal, State, and county governments have increased their involvement in local affairs, resulting in the City Council taking more frequent positions on pending legislation. The City has relied on the League of California Cities to flag or recommend positions that may affect the City. However, legislative bodies or actions by governments can require quick responses from the City that could not previously be accommodated due to the City’s former process for taking positions, which required up to three agendized City Council meetings to authorize an official position.
The City’s Legislative Platform was established in 2024 and is reviewed annually for edits and updates by staff and the Legislative Ad Hoc Subcommittee, comprised of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.
The Legislative Platform document is organized as follows: 1) Overview, 2) Process, 3) General Guidance, and 4) Top Specific Priorities.
The document outlines statements or positions on a variety of matters which clearly state the Council’s legislative objectives that assist the Legislative Ad Hoc Subcommittee, staff, and City Council to efficiently and appropriately address proposed legislation, administrative, or regulatory actions as necessary.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed Legislative Platform (Attachment) sets forth the City’s legislative objectives for the 2026 calendar year and provides direction for related advocacy efforts. The Platform contains broad policy statements pertaining to a variety of issues that impact the City of Manhattan Beach.
On January 8, 2026, the Legislative Ad Hoc Subcommittee met and discussed a draft version of the 2026 Legislative Platform. The 2026 Legislative Priorities from the League of California Cities and their LA County Division were considered along with relevant issues within the community. Following discussion, the Subcommittee considered revisions to the Platform. These potential edits are meant to provide clarity to existing processes and to incorporate additional general guidance and topic specific priority language. The potential edits are summarized as follows:
• Overview: language was added to confirm that the City may take a position on legislation that is contrary to the statements under the General Guidance and Topic Specific Priorities.
• Process:
o A statement was included to showcase that members of the public may also request the City Council’s review of specific legislation.
o Language was added to clarify that ongoing advocacy efforts outside of the initial position letter are allowable and may be done so via a variety of methods.
• Topic Specific Priority 5. Environmental Policies and Sustainability - Statement A.: Removed the specific environmental programs listed in the latter half of the sentence to make the statement broader. The statement now reads, “Advocate for cost-effective, sustainable, and responsible environmental policy and programs.”
• Topic Specific Priority 9. Electronic Bike Regulations: Included language to support the provision of grant funding. The statement now reads, “Support efforts that enhance regulations to address electric bicycle use and promotes public safety. Specifically, advocating for education requirements for all electric bike users, penalties for companies that market out of class electric bicycles, pilot programs that promote age restrictions for certain classes of electric bicycles, and the provision of grant funding.”
• New Topic Specific Priorities:
o Added additional statements under the following sections:
§ 3. Funding and Reimbursements:
• “Support legislation and funding tools that strengthen local economies, support small businesses, promote commercial vitality, and enhance economic resilience.”
• “Support State funding and intergovernmental partnerships to fully implement voter-approved initiatives, including Proposition 36.”
§ 6. Homeless, Mental Health, and At-Risk Population Services: “Advocate for direct, equitable or ongoing funding for homeless services, affordable housing, and supportive services.”
§ 7. Emergency Preparedness: “Support efforts to improve transparency and access to insurance coverage, especially following a natural disaster.”
o Added new sections:
§ “14. Major Regional Events, Transportation, and Public Safety Coordination: Support efforts that promote partnerships, communication, and funding that address local impacts of major regional events affecting transportation, public safety, emergency response, economic activity, and community engagement.”
§ “15. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Reform: Support legislation related to DUI reform.”
Attached to the report is a redlined version of the Platform showcasing the proposed edits as well as a version with all proposed edits accepted.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-0008, adopting the 2026 Legislative Platform, including any revisions agreed upon by the City Council.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
After analysis, staff determined that public outreach was not required for this issue.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City Council’s adoption of a Legislative Platform is not a “project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA, and no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-0008
2. Proposed 2026 Legislative Platform (Redline)
3. Proposed 2026 Legislative Platform (Final)