Coronado Mayor John Duncan sent three letters to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in late September, requesting that he veto three specific bills on his desk. However, it’s too late — all three pieces of legislation have already been signed into law.
The letters were sent from Duncan to the Governor’s Office regarding Senate Bill (SB) 707, 79 and Assembly Bill (AB) 339. Those measures will create new state laws covering government transparency, local zoning and notification of local government contracts.
Duncan’s letters, although signed only by him, represent the city’s legislative interests and positions as a whole, according to the city’s legislative policy guidelines.
SB 707 was signed by Newsom on Oct. 3, SB 79 was signed on Oct. 10 and AB 339 was signed on Oct. 13.
SB 707: public meetings
This law, starting July 1, 2026, will require public meetings held by legislative bodies such as city councils to open and include two-way telephonic or audiovisual communication for all who want to attend and participate.
Currently, Coronado City Council meetings are livestreamed of their proceedings, allowing phone-in comments during public communications and other agenda items. However, individuals must contact the city clerk’s office at least 24 hours in advance if they wish to speak via Zoom.
SB 707 would also require translation of agendas into any language spoken by more than 20% of the city’s population who speak English less than “very well.”
According to Duncan’s letter, SB 707 would “impose costly and inequitable new mandates on cities like ours without providing the resources or flexibility needed for implementation.”
The mayor contended that providing two-way telephonic or audiovisual access and translating agendas would create financial and operational challenges for the city.
“These obligations would mean the technology redesign for council chambers and other rooms where public meetings are held,” he wrote. “The city does not have funds budgeted or the technology project capacity.”
However, SB 707 was signed and will go into effect next year.
To my chagrin, the governor did sign SB 707. To be clear, transparency is so important – we think about it all the time – and this bill places a lot of onerous requirements on local government.
Coronado City Manager Tina Friend
City Manager Tina Friend commented on the passing of this bill in a recent City Council meeting on Oct. 7. “To my chagrin, the governor did sign SB 707,” Friend said. “To be clear, transparency is so important – we think about it all the time – and this bill places a lot of onerous requirements on local government.”
SB 79: transit-oriented development
The other bill that passed just a few days ago, SB 79, overrides some local zoning restrictions near transit zones, requiring cities to allow denser housing in those areas.
It will allow housing development in transit zones without any say from local jurisdictions. The housing development would have certain requirements for the project tied to their proximity to the transit stop and what kind of transit service it is.
Duncan’s letter says SB 79 would undermine the “diligent and years-long efforts of local communities and the state” to develop local housing plans.
He argued that the measure would significantly impact large areas of the community without regard to local zoning requirements, and it would undercut the housing element process.
“This careful effort is overridden with a one-size-fits-all approach that can impose substantial development and density on the sole basis of transit and without regard to the many other factors considered in the housing element drafting,” Duncan wrote in the letter.
Duncan stated his understanding for the housing crises in California, but pushed that the solution to it cannot be to diminish local authority.
AB 339: written notice
AB 339 was the last bill out of the three Duncan requested to veto that was just signed.
AB 339 will require government agencies to give at least 120 days of written notice to public employee organizations before issuing a number of different contracts, including request for proposals and request for quotes.
The letter urged Newsom to veto AB 339 because, Duncan asserted, it is overly broad, impractical and will add costs and workloads to local governments.
