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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />July 23, 2026 <br /> <br />Mr. Gabe Quinto, President <br />League of California Cities <br />1400 K Street, Suite 400 <br />Sacramento, CA 95814 <br /> <br />Subject: Support for the City of Murrieta's Resolution Establishing a <br />Working Group to Evaluate a State Constitutional Amendment or <br />Other Initiative to Restore Local Housing and Land Use Authority <br /> <br />Dear President Quinto: <br /> <br />I am writing in my individual capacity as Mayor of the City of Temecula to express my <br />strong support for the City of Murrieta's proposed resolution for consideration by the <br />General Assembly of the League of California Cities at the 2026 Annual Conference. <br /> <br />The proposed resolution presents an important opportunity to thoughtfully evaluate the <br />appropriate balance between California's statewide housing objectives and the <br />constitutional principle of local governance. Establishing a statewide working group to <br />examine a potential constitutional amendment, legislative reforms, or other policy <br />initiatives will provide a meaningful forum to assess how local authority over housing <br />and land use decisions can be strengthened while continuing to address the State's <br />housing challenges. <br /> <br />Cities are uniquely positioned to understand the needs, opportunities, and constraints <br />of their communities. Local elected officials are accountable to the residents they serve <br />and are best equipped to make land use decisions that reflect a community's character, <br />infrastructure capacity, economic development goals, environmental stewardship, and <br />long-term vision. Equally important, local governments bear the primary responsibility <br />for protecting public safety. Decisions regarding housing density, transportation, <br />emergency access, wildfire preparedness, evacuation routes, police and fire service <br />capacity, water availability, and critical infrastructure are inherently local matters that <br />require the knowledge and judgment of those who serve their communities every day. <br /> <br />While the State has an important role in addressing California's housing needs, a <br />collaborative approach that respects local expertise and preserves meaningful local <br />discretion will produce stronger, safer, and more sustainable communities. The <br />proposed working group offers an opportunity to evaluate policies that achieve these <br />shared objectives while restoring an appropriate balance between state direction and <br />local authority. <br /> <br />21 <br />Page 311 of 318