PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 02/17/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER APPROVING PRELIMINARY STATE OF CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND COMMUNITY FUNDING NEEDS FOR 2026-27 STATE OF CA LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF SAN PABLO
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve by Minute Order
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2025-27 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statement
This request supports all adopted MAJOR POLICY AREAS for the FY 2025-27 City Council Priority Workplan, effective April 7, 2025.
BACKGROUND
Since November 2025 to date, the City’s State Legislative representatives listed below have shared information and legislative priorities with the City Council:
• State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-14)
• State Senator Jesse Arrequin (D-07)
Below is a summary of District 07 and District 014 scheduled meetings, where Councilmembers, including the Mayor and Vice-Mayor, have discussed preliminary City legislative priorities, projects, and support needed from State Legislators along with other District 07 and 014 City representatives, as follows:
November 2025
State Senator Jesse Arrequin (D-07) presented to the San Pablo City Council on November 3, 2025 his current priorities, recent accomplishments and opportunities for collaboration for 2026-27 State Legislative Cycle.
December 2025
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-14) Hosted District Meeting on December 17, 2025 to receive input from cities in District 07 regarding initial State legislative priorities and shared her upcoming District priorities and partnerships.
January 2026
State Senator Jesse Arrequin (D-07) hosted a District Meeting with local cities on current legislative priorities on January 23, 2026.
February - March 2026
Each year, during February through March 2026, the City's State Legislators will formally make community funding requests on behalf of individual District cities for possible inclusion in the 2026-27 State Budget process, to be potentially adopted by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor.
In preparation for these formal requests, the City Manager prepared a Preliminary State of CA Legislative Priorities and Community Funding Needs for 2026-27 State Legislative Session for the City of San Pablo for initial review by the City’s Budget, Fiscal and Legislative Standing Committee (BFLSC) consisting of Mayor Pabon-Alvarado and Councilmember Ponce (See Exhibit C attached to this staff report).
Budget, Fiscal & Legislative Standing Committee Review
On January 14, 2026, BFLSC reviewed the City Manager’s Preliminary State of CA Legislative Priorities and Community Funding Needs for 2026-27 State Legislative Session for the City of San Pablo which included an overview of the following:
• Exhibit A: Previous State CA Community Funding Request submitted for 2025-26; and
• Exhibit B: San Pablo City Council FY 2025-27 Priority Work Plan - Major Priorities (Amended 04/07/2025); and
• Exhibit C: New Preliminary 2026-27 State Legislative Priorities & Community Project Funding Needs
Following BFLSC discussion and review, the BFLSC members recommended its formal consideration and approval by the City Council.
City Council Action and Next Steps
Upon approval by the City Council this evening, the City Manager will prepare official correspondence for Mayor Pabon-Alvarado (on behalf of the City Council) to properly inform the City’s State Legislators of the City's Community Funding requests, and seek other State advocacy and legislative support in collaboration with the City’s lobbyist, Townsend Public Affairs, for all active City capital projects for potential consideration in the Proposed 2026-27 State CA Budget process.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact associated with this agenda item
ATTACHMENTS
1. Exhibit A: Previous State CA Community Funding Request submitted for 2025-26
2. Exhibit B: San Pablo City Council FY 2025-27 Priority Work Plan - Major Priorities (Amended 04/07/2025)
3. Exhibit C: New Preliminary 2026-27 State Legislative Priorities & Community Project Funding Needs