September 23, 2020
League News

Advancing equity within city institutions and communities will be covered during three general and concurrent sessions at the League Annual Conference & Expo. The sessions, including a panel, interactive discussions, and a Q&A, will explore the latest research and feature case studies and best practices to eliminate racial disparities, heal racial divisions, and build more equitable communities. These are sessions you don’t want to miss! Read more

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the first recipients of funding under Homekey, a statewide program designed to house those experiencing homelessness. California’s $600 million Homekey program provides funding for cities and other public entities to purchase and rehabilitate housing and convert them into permanent, long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Read more
 
The deadline to fill out the 2020 Census is just one week away! Don’t miss your opportunity to help secure billions of dollars in funding for your community and state. Cities have been great partners in the statewide effort, especially on reaching the hardest to count individuals, and these efforts are making a difference. Keep encouraging Californians to complete the 2020 Census by Sept. 30. It’s not too late to be counted. Visit CACensus.org for more information and take your Census today.
Executive Director's Message

Last Friday, we heard the devastating news that the Honorable Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had lost her years long battle with pancreatic cancer. In the days since, we have come to know more about this 87 year-old American jurist who was also a wife, a mother, grandmother, mentor, friend, role model, trailblazer, bridge builder and warrior for equality, especially gender equality for women and men. Despite her small stature, she was by any measure a giant. The second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, after Sandra Day O’Connor, she served for 27 years from 1993 until her death last week. Read more
 
The third CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund installment from the state was distributed on Sept. 17. Cities can access resources related to CARES Act funding reporting, frequently asked questions, and a user guide on the Department of Finance (DOF) website. The League will continue to share additional information when it is made available. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the first and second round of funding for Homekey, California’s $600 million program to purchase and rehabilitate housing for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Read more

League members are encouraged to attend department business meetings and caucus meetings during the Annual Conference. These meetings provide the opportunity to discuss challenges cities are facing, hear timely legislative updates, and share experiences and best practices. Read more
Opportunities for Cities

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) recently posted draft model tools on its SB 1383 education and outreach webpage to assist jurisdictions and stakeholders with the imminent implementation of SB 1383 regulations, which seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste. The model tools are drafts until the Office of Administrative Law approves the SB 1383 regulations. Read more
More News and Events

The League, California State Association of Counties, Rural County Representatives of California, California Special Districts Association, and Institute for Local Government is partnering with Listos California (anchored in the Governor's Office of Emergency Services) and adopted its five steps for disaster preparedness. The organizations also committed to future activities in recognition of National Preparedness Month and encouraging wider adoption of the five steps at the local level. Read more
 
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1:30-2:30 p.m. — During this virtual conversation, current and former city leaders and policy experts will discuss how large and small communities are coping with the pandemic and what that could mean for services, jobs, and an inclusive economic recovery. Presenters: League of California Cities Executive Director Carolyn Coleman; Chattanooga, Tennessee Mayor Andy Berke; Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center Senior Fellow Tracy Gordon; Philadelphia former Mayor Michael Nutter; and Urban Institute Director Kim Rueben. Register now
 
Thursday, Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. — Hear from experts in public finance, fiscal preparedness, and labor negotiations in this Institute for Local Government webinar as they explore the financial challenges California local governments face, share practical solutions, and steps public agencies can take to mitigate problems and create practical solutions during COVID-19. Presenters: Renne Public Law Group Founding Partner Jon Holtzman, Consultant and Former City Manager Kurt Wilson, and Russ Branson Consulting Founder Russ Branson. Register now
 
Friday, Oct. 2, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. — During this Institute for Local Government webinar, local government elections officials and experts from the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will share best practices from the field about elections and campaigning during COVID-19. Elected officials, clerks, and local agency staff from cities, counties, and special districts are encouraged to participate and share their questions and ideas for creating the new normal in the 2020 elections. Presenters: FPPC Education Program Manager Alana S. Jeydel, PhD, and Santa Clara Assistant City Clerk Nora Pimentel. Register now  
 
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 5:30-7 p.m. — Join us for a fun “virtual” CitiPAC Trivia Night event! Teams will be broken into regional divisions and will compete against each other.  Contestants will be asked several rounds of questions with the ability to break into separate zoom rooms to discuss and confer on their final answers. The event will provide a fun informal way to interact and connect with conference attendees while supporting CitiPAC in its efforts to protect local control at the ballot box. Attendance is free and a suggested contribution of $25 will get you a CitiPAC martini glass and mixology package to be used during the virtual reception. Register now  
 
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cities were suddenly forced to make virtual work the standard mode of operation for many employees. In Culver City, human resources leaders scrambled to establish and update administrative policies on issues, while internet technology leadership had to procure laptops and issue mobile devices for remote workers, ensure employees could access internal shared drives, and devise new security measures because employees were no longer working behind a typical firewall. Learn more about Culver City’s virtual transition in Western City magazine.