January 12, 2022
Cal Cities News

California water officials enacted statewide drought rules similar to those mandated during the 2012-2016 drought. Although the regulations mostly focus on individual water use in urban areas, some apply directly to local agencies, such as the use of water on public medians. Read more

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the Final Rule on the use of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which were established under the American Rescue Plan Act. The Final Rule provides much-needed clarity, including on how cities can calculate revenue loss. Read more

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his proposed 2022-23 State Budget, building on the state’s efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, homelessness, wildfires, and drought. This initial proposal positions cities to protect existing local revenues and remain eligible for billions in resources.  Read more
Statement from the
Executive Director and CEO

Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s introduction of the 2022-23 State Budget, League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman issued the following statement:

"The Governor’s proposed 2022-23 State Budget includes significant investments in the supply and affordability of housing, critical infrastructure, homelessness, and disaster preparedness — challenges that California cities identified as their top priorities this year."  Read the full statement

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the Final Rule on the use of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, providing much-needed clarity on several issues. The National League of Cities is holding a related grant writing and reporting webinar on Jan. 24, at 10:30 a.m. PST. Additionally, $1 billion in mortgage relief funding is available for California homeowners who have fallen behind on their housing payments due to the pandemic. Read more
Education and Events

In accordance with city, county, state, and federal requirements and recommendations, Cal Cities is committed to planning events designed to keep all participants healthy, safe, and comfortable. Safety is a top priority for Cal Cities, and every participant — attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and staff — plays a critical role in risk mitigation. These meeting and event requirements will be in place through the end of March 2022. Read more

Jan. 20-21 and Jan. 27-28  — Join the League of California Cities for four days of virtual educational sessions and peer-to-peer sharing at the New Mayors and Council Members Academy. This virtual conference is a must-attend for newly elected officials or seasoned city leaders who would like a refresher course on the basic legal and practical framework in which city officials operate. Delve into critical training on important, fundamental topics for local government taught by peers and subject matter experts. Register today

The City Leaders Summit is a brand new Cal Cities event where city officials can influence policy decisions in the Capitol and gain top-notch leadership skills. This pinnacle event offers city officials exceptional opportunities to meet with legislators to advocate for cities’ top priorities, as well as participate in peer-to-peer discussions and in-depth sessions covering topics ranging from leadership to emerging issues facing cities. Cal Cities is seeking strong session proposals on leadership abilities, how to improve communities, and critical issues facing cities. Proposals must be submitted by Monday, Jan. 31. Read more

Feb. 2-4 — The City Managers Conference provides city managers and assistant city managers with essential information to help them better lead their cities. This year's conference covers a wide range of topics that will enhance the professional capabilities of city managers and prepare them for a variety of situations — with ample opportunities for peer-to-peer sharing and learning. During the conference, city managers can learn how to work more effectively with city council members, find new programs for unhoused residents, and discover how to create a more diverse workforce. Registration closes Jan. 21. Register today

March 16-18 — Set in San Ramon, the Planning Commissioners Academy is designed for new and veteran planning commissioners and provides city officials with updates about recent legislative and regulatory changes, as well as an overview of the roles and responsibilities of a planning commissioner. This year's conference covers introductory and advanced California Environmental Quality Act procedures, tips on how to navigate SB 9 (Atkins, 2021) processes, planning commission roles and responsibilities, relationships between commission, staff, and city council, and key housing legislation. Register today
Opportunities for Cities

$57 million in noncompetitive grants is available to local jurisdictions, including cities and joint powers authorities, to implement SB 1383 (Lara, Statutes of 2016) organic waste regulations. Eligible projects include collection, education and outreach, edible food recovery, capacity planning, procurement requirements, and more. Base award amounts are set at $20,000 for eligible entities: Expenditures or costs incurred before the term start date are not eligible for reimbursement. Questions can be submitted in writing to grants@calrecycle.ca.gov. Read more

The California Statewide Communities Development Authority recently announced the issuance of $597,270,000 to acquire workforce housing in Escondido and Pleasant Hill. Workforce housing is intended for those that have been termed the "missing middle" — individuals and families that earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing, but not enough to afford market-rate rents in the communities where they work. Read more

Four outgoing and former elected officials from throughout the state shared the most important elements of leadership, their advice for newly electeds, and the local projects that they are most proud of. Hear from John F. Dunbar, Yountville; Neysa Fligor, Los Altos; John Fasana, Duarte; and Sam Pedroza, Claremont. Read more
More News and Events

The Senate and Assembly reconvened last week, kicking off the second year of California's two-year legislative session. Fast-approaching legislative deadlines have lawmakers focused on finishing last year’s business. This Friday is the last day for policy committees to approve fiscal bills introduced in 2021, and lawmakers face an end-of-the-month deadline to move any bills from last year still in their house of origin. Read more

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 10 a.m. — The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CALPERS) Board of Administration is gathering virtually next week to discuss several issues, including employer rule updates, healthcare priorities initiatives, disability retirement changes, investment strategy, climate change-related issues, and other key pension issues. An open discussion will take place after each agenda item, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to learn and engage with CalPERS leaders in a less formal setting. Register today

Monday, Jan. 24, 12:30 p.m.  In the past two years, local governments pivoted to virtual and hybrid meetings to ensure transparency while maintaining safe opportunities for public engagement. Now, with new changes to open meeting laws and the return to more in-person activities, local governments are being asked to pivot yet again. Join the Institute for Local Government, legal experts, and local government colleagues to hear updates on the open meeting laws, the best practices for running virtual public meetings, and the lessons learned from navigating virtual, in-person, and hybrid meetings. Register today

The deadline for eligible cities to submit their signed forms to participate in a $26 billion national opioid litigation settlement has been extended to Jan. 26 in light of rising COVID-19 cases and pending state allocation agreements. The proposed settlement is the result of thousands of lawsuits filed by states and local governments to recover monetary damages to abate the opioid public health crisis. In order to bring the maximum amount of money (more than $2 billion) into California, the settlement requires eligible local governments — whether they have filed a lawsuit or not — to participate. Read more

Sacramento was one of six cities nationwide selected to receive a $150,000 grant, along with specialized assistance from the National League of Cities and other national experts to advance the city’s efforts to expand STEM career pathways for marginalized young people. Read more
Cal Cities in the News
Newsom on homelessness: ‘We’ve gotta clean up those encampments, Cal Matters, Lake County Record-Bee, and 7 others, Jan. 11

In his budget proposal, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted his support for cities to remove homeless encampments but conceded it’s only a bridge to permanent housing...“The proposal makes good on last year’s promises by the state to continue investing in housing production, as well as housing coupled with mental health services for those experiencing homelessness,” [Cal Cities CEO] Carolyn Coleman said in a statement. “These proposed investments are a critical down payment by the state on the long-term funding needed to solve a decades-in-the-making crisis.” Read more
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