February 26, 2020
League News

City projects and initiatives will be celebrated on a variety of platforms, including the League’s social media pages, Western City magazine, and a dedicated page on the League’s website. Learn how you can share how #LocalWorks in your city. 


City leaders met with Gov. Gavin Newsom during the League’s board meeting where he vowed to partner with cities to develop strategies to spur housing production and highlighted the critical role local governments play in addressing the state’s homeless crisis. 


Each year, the League honors outstanding work in member cities throughout the state through the League Partner-sponsored Helen Putnam Awards for Excellence. Apply online by April 9 at 5 p.m.

Education and Conferences

League of California Cities’ members and other stakeholders have an opportunity to create session topics for upcoming educational conferences this fall. Check out the current call for session proposals open for consideration.


Does your local agency need an innovative, cost-effective strategy for talent development? Apprenticeship, for trades and non-trades positions, is one solution that can meet your agency's talent development needs for new and incumbent employees. 


Registration is now open for the City Attorneys Department 2020 Municipal Law Institute symposium, entitled “A Vision for 2020: Applying Lessons Learned in Elections, Voting, and Security for the Municipal Practitioner.” The one-day event, scheduled for March 6 at the Bar Association of San Francisco Conference Center, will provide an in-depth exploration of elections issues facing municipal lawyers in 2020, including concerns regarding tax initiatives, voting rights litigation, redistricting after the census, and election security.

Opportunities for Cities

The California Department of Housing and Community Development announced its Notice of Funding Availability f or approximately $119 million to help cities and counties with the preparation, planning, and streamlining activities that fast-track housing production.


CalTRUST, a joint powers authority co-sponsored by the League, will host free events in both Northern and Southern California to provide valuable educational programs to existing shareholders and any California public agency interested in investing with CalTRUST. 


The 2019 State Budget Act makes $27.5 million available in funding for competitive grants to cities and community-based organizations to support evidence-based violence reduction initiatives. The California Board of State and Community Corrections recently approved the release of the California Violence Intervention and Prevention grant Request for Proposals (RFP). Cities can review the RFP and apply today! 


Affordable apartments for low-income families and seniors in Los Angeles are getting renovations and funding with tax-exempt, multi-family affordable housing bonds issued by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority.

More News and Events

The Legislature will host a number of oversight and informational hearings on a variety of policy areas of interest to cities in the coming weeks. The Senate and Assembly publish weekly television schedules online, as well as audio and video links when available.


When the Pacific Gas & Electric utility-initiated power shutoffs put residents and cities throughout California at great risk, the City of San José took prompt action to protect its most vulnerable populations. Read about the city’s response and the five key take-aways in “ Lessons Learned From Utility-Initiated Power Shutoffs ” in this month’s issue of Western City magazine.
League in the News
“Any successful strategies will require a sustainable long-term funding commitment from the state and sufficient revenue to provide services to current and future residents that they not only deserve, but require,” League of California Cities spokeswoman Jill Oviatt said in a statement.

(appeared in 100 media sources including ABC7 Orange County, CBS Sacramento, Daily Herald, East Bay Times, Fox40, Fresno Bee, KSBW Monterey, KSBY Central Coast, Marin Independent Journal, Mercury News, Modesto Bee, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Santa Ynez Valley News, Telegraph, Ventura County Star)
 
“Finding the most effective strategies to spur housing is a top priority in California and the League is currently reviewing the proposals in the recently introduced package of housing bills,” said Jill Oviatt, spokeswoman for League of California Cities, which opposed the SB 50. “The League is a ready partner to find approaches that effectively address housing and homelessness.”
 
Following his State of the State address, the Governor will travel the state meeting with service providers and homeless individuals and hearing directly from Californians about his Administration’s homelessness response. He kicked off this tour in Yountville yesterday, where he met with over 50 leaders at the League of California Cities meeting, outlining his vision and inviting partnerships.

(appeared in 5 media sources including the East County Today, New Santa Ana, Paso Robles Daily News, Ridgecrest Daily Independent, YubaNet.com)