Issue highlights:
Read below for more news and events.
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SB 9 would require nearly all cities, regardless of existing circumstances, to ministerially approve, without condition or discretion, a housing development containing up to four units on a parcel that was otherwise designated for one single-family home. Additionally, this measure would require local governments to ministerially approve an urban lot split, thus creating two independent lots that may be sold separately. SB 9 is a bad bill that does not guarantee the construction of affordable housing, and will not spur additional housing development in a manner that supports local flexibility, local decision-making, and community input. The bill is on the Governor’s desk and we urge cities to:
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Contact your regional public affairs manager and have your city join more than 225 cities on a coalition letter urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to VETO SB 9. We need your city’s logo by end of day Thursday, Sept. 9.
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Send an individual letter from your city as well, telling Gov. Gavin Newsom to VETO SB 9. Sample letter.
Be on the lookout for an email from your regional public affairs manager with more ways to ensure cities’ opposition to SB 9 is heard loud and clear.
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This measure would allow cities to continue holding meetings with modified Brown Act requirements during a declared state of emergency. This bill has an urgency statute, meaning it requires a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the Assembly to move to the Governor’s desk. AB 361 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow morning, Thursday, Sept. 9! If you have a member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, let them know that your city needs the flexibility provided in AB 361. All members should call their senators and assembly members and urge their YES VOTE. Contact your regional public affairs manager to learn more.
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The League of California Cities has made progress on multiple priority issues for cities. However, there are several bills impacting cities that Cal Cities is still actively working on, including Brown Act requirements, housing, broadband, and public safety. Read more
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Residents in Menifee and the surrounding Riverside County can check out books, experience learning opportunities, and participate in engaging events — such as family fun nights — at a new, state-of-the-art library. The project was made possible by a partnership with Riverside County. Read more
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On Sept. 13, CalPERS will begin discussing changes to the discount rate, the long-term interest rate used to fund future pension benefits. Changes to the discount rate — which may be voted on in Nov. — could significantly impact cities. Read more
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The program includes general information, the full conference schedule (session descriptions, times, and locations), information about getting involved with Cal Cities, a list of exhibitors, a convention center map, and more. View the program
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Preparing for the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo in advance is a necessary ingredient to creating a valuable and memorable experience. Cal Cities has compiled a list of tips to help get you back to in-person events and ensure you get the most out of your time. Read more
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Thursday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. — The Governor has until Oct. 10 to sign or veto bills that have reached his desk. This is the final opportunity for city officials to express their support or opposition on key bills. Join the League of California Cities for a briefing on the bills that cities need the Governor to sign or veto. Together with a strong, united voice, we can protect and promote cities’ interests. Your voice can make a difference! Register today
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The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced seven new policies to accelerate the spending of Emergency Rental Assistance funds. Additionally, the National League of Cities is hosting two webinars in the coming week — one on municipal employee vaccine mandates and another on the usage of American Rescue Plan Act funds to address water infrastructure needs. Read more
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Marin County, like many of California’s cities, towns, special districts, and counties, provides fire prevention services. In Marin, nineteen different agencies have this responsibility — plus several regional, state, and federal land managers as well. With nearly 70,000 housing units in Marin’s wildland-urban interface, fire danger is a very real and immediate concern for many residents. The county worked together to create a comprehensive fire prevention plan. Read more
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After seeing thousands of San Luis Obispo residents march the streets for George Floyd, the San Luis Obispo community and city council knew more work needed to be done to create a diverse, inclusive community. While diversity and inclusivity have long been core values on which our city government’s decision-making process is built, it became clear that there was much more work to be done. Read more
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Thursday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m. — Cosponsored by the League of California Cities, CalTRUST is a Joint Powers Authority that provides a convenient method for public agencies to pool their assets for investment purposes. Join CalTRUST's Investment Management team at BlackRock to discuss the ins and outs of market risk and its impact on short-term investors. The webinar includes an update from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's Jackson Hole Symposium and a Q&A. Register today
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Managed by the Institute for Local Government and the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), the BOOST Program helps under-resourced cities and towns advance their climate action, resilience, and equity objectives. SGC will select five to seven disadvantaged and/or low-income communities to receive capacity-building support. The application is open to all California cities and towns that are designated as low-income and/or disadvantaged communities, with priority given to those with demonstrated staff capacity challenges. The application period closes Friday, Sept. 10. Apply today
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The League of California Cities is now accepting leadership applications for the chair and vice chair positions in all seven policy committees through Sept. 20. In order to accurately reflect the state’s diverse communities and perspectives, leaders from all regions are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants will be reviewed on their leadership skills, policy awareness, and experience within Cal Cities. Applications must be submitted online. Read more
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The League of California Cities is accepting leadership committee applications for the Coastal Cities Group through Sept. 20. Composed of the 61 cities located within the coastal zone, the Coastal Cities Group collaborates on sea level rise mitigation efforts, land use regulations, and works to foster a more collaborative relationship between cities and the California Coastal Commission. Read more
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SB 16...would expand the public’s access to police records — allowing them to view sustained findings in which an officer used unreasonable force, failed to intervene when another officer used excessive force, engaged in racist or biased behavior, or conducted unlawful arrests and searches...Originally opponents included the League of California Cities, which argued that the bill would place a substantial burden on city budgets, and the California State Sheriffs’ Association, which contended the bill was too broad. Both dropped their opposition after the bill was amended to limit mandatory release of information only in sustained cases, not every incident. Read more
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The Legislature approved a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would enhance California’s ability to prevent and respond to the continuing wildfire threat by encouraging the development of cutting-edge firefighting and prevention technology...It is supported by numerous groups including the California Fire Chiefs Association, the League of California Cities, Breathe California and the counties of Napa and Yolo. Read more
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Law enforcement organizations and those who opposed the bill agreed that the state needs a way of removing bad officers. But they objected that the bill by Democratic Sen. Steven Bradford is biased because it relies on a nine-member disciplinary board with just two police representatives and seven members with professional or personal backgrounds related to police accountability...The League of California Cities was among opponents, objecting that the bill “would eliminate the federally held doctrine of qualified immunity and create a largely unworkable peace officer decertification process.” Read more
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Gov. Gavin Newsom has been given the option to sign a bill that backers say will ease the expansion of broadband, but detractors call it a way to undermine local government’s control of what goes on utility poles....according to the League of California Cities, “SB 556 is an attempt by the telecommunications industry to undermine local authority in broadband permitting while making no meaningful progress towards closing the digital divide in California's unserved and underserved communities." Read more
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Sept. 14
Sept. 15
Sept. 15
Sept. 17
Sept. 22-24
Sept. 22-24 (during the Annual Conference and Expo)
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Sept. 28
Sept. 29
Sept. 30
Dec. 8-9 (Save the date!)
Dec. 8-10 (Save the date!)
Jan. 20-21 and 27-28 (Save the date!)
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