Issue highlights:
Read below for more news and events.
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An effort is underway to get eligible cities and counties registered online to receive the information and documents necessary to join the proposed $26 billion opioid litigation settlement. As of Nov. 8, more than 200 eligible counties and cities had not registered. Read more
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Following a series of devastating fires throughout the state, Mill Valley accelerated its efforts to improve its wildfire evacuation plans. A recent simulation and citywide evacuation drill provided potentially lifesaving intelligence. Read more
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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides funding for roads, bridges, public transportation, internet, cybersecurity, clean water, and a network of electric vehicle charger, with a strong focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, and equity. Read more
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Wednesday, Dec. 1, 9:00 a.m. — More than 700 new laws are coming to California next year, many with positive effects for cities. Join League of California Cities President and Walnut Creek Council Member Cindy Silva, Cal Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman, and the advocacy team to learn about the most significant legislation signed into law this year. Topics include local land use authority and affordable housing; broadband infrastructure deployment and funding; disaster response and resources; climate resiliency funding; organic waste implementation; public safety reform and cannabis; and Brown Act flexibility. Register today
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Dec. 8 and 9 — This year’s sessions cover a wide range of topics designed to create more healthy, resilient, and successful fire departments. Start with the basics, such as how to create a new “Brain Health” culture for your departments, where prevention and resiliency are holistic essentials. Then, dive deep into national and regional conversations, like how to create a more inclusive and diverse fire service or what funding programs are available through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Note: The deadline to secure the discounted hotel rate is Thursday, Nov. 16. Register today
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Dec. 8-10 — Scheduled for Dec. 8-10 in Universal City, the City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar features educational sessions on current, relevant topics for city clerks, along with ample opportunities for peer-to-peer sharing. The Seminar concludes with Keynote Speaker Aniyia Williams, a principal on the Responsible Technology team at Omidyar Network and the founder of Black & Brown Founders, Zebras Unite, and other startups. Williams, whose work focuses on technology, identity, leadership, and ethics, will discuss how to lead during ongoing crises. Register today
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Tuesday, Dec. 14, 3:00 p.m. — Committing to self-care has always been a challenge, even before the pandemic, which has dramatically altered our thinking about mental health, both as individuals and leaders. It’s important that we build on the lessons learned during the last two years and acknowledge the long-term, community, and system-level stressors caused by COVID-19. Join the League of California Cities and American Psychological Association Chief Executive Officer Dr. Arthur Evans for a conversation about how psychological science can help leaders work through continued uncertainty and other major societal issues, like the long-lasting effects of COVID-19. Register today
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Jan. 20, 21,27, and 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, taking place Jan. 20, 21, 27, and 28! This virtual conference is a must-attend for newly elected officials or seasoned mayors and council members 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
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CalRecycle's nearly $3 million Edible Food Recovery Grant Program supports new or expanded edible food recovery and food waste prevention projects. According to the program’s guidelines, any food waste residuals from food recovery projects must be composted, sent to a digester, used as animal feed, or otherwise diverted within the project service area, if available. Food waste prevention projects are only eligible if the proposed grant project includes an edible food recovery project. Between $150,000–$250,000 is available per grant award. Read more
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the allocation of $231,203,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Mitigation funds to California. The funds can be used for “disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation, in the most impacted and distressed areas.” The funds cover certain wildfires that occurred between Aug. 14, 2020 to Sept. 26, 2020, and Sept. 4, 2020 to Nov. 17, 2020. The state will begin identifying a process for distributing the funds after HUD provides further clarity about the programs' requirements and deadlines. Read more
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The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has announced funding for communities to implement mitigation activities that reduce risk to life and property from natural hazards, such as wildfire, earthquake, drought, flooding, and other impacts of climate change. The funds can also support the development of Local Hazard Mitigation Plans and project scoping activities. A Notice of Interest must be submitted online by Dec. 31, 2021. Notices submitted after this date will be considered for the next available funding opportunity. Read more
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The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) recently issued tax-exempt bonds to acquire or finance housing throughout California, including affordable housing in EL Cajon and student housing in Irvine. CSCDA is a joint powers authority created in 1988 and is sponsored by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties. Collectively, the four issuances total $409,125,000. Read more
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In the wake of tragedies throughout the nation involving police officers, communities are asking for police reform and better de-escalation tools and training. The Chula Vista Police Department, serving a population of 270,000 in San Diego County, responded in part by developing an innovative drone program that can respond to emergencies and provide officers with the information needed to de-escalate situations. Read more
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On Nov. 15, the California Public Employees' Retirement System will begin a three-day board meeting where changes to the discount rate — the long-term interest rate used to fund future pension benefits — will be discussed and voted on. Further changes could have significant financial implications for cities. Local officials are encouraged to testify about how any change to the discount rate could impact their cities. Read more
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Tuesday, Nov. 16, 10:00 a.m. — Every local agency needs to strategize and implement an equity approach that works for them and their community. In this special Institute for Local Government event, hear from local jurisdictions that have already embarked on their equity journey. Attendees will have the chance to connect to share ideas, challenges, and successes about their equity journeys. Speakers: Temecula Director of Legislative Affairs and City Clerk Randi Johl; Monterey County Management Analyst III Rosemary Soto (County Administrative Office); Mono County Clerk Scheereen Dedman; Cosumnes Community Services District Director of Business and Public Affairs Kelly Gonzalez. Register today
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Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18 and 19, 10:00 a.m. — Are you not getting the results you want from your public engagement efforts? Want to connect with other local government agencies tackling similar challenges? This two-day training offered by the Institute for Local Government helps city leaders master the public engagement process and build trust in their communities. Learn how to operationalize your outreach and engagement efforts more sustainably, authentically, and collaboratively with resources and digital tools. Register today
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Friday, Nov. 19 — The League of California Cities is currently accepting presidential appointment applications for all seven policy committees. Per Cal Cities policy, members must first request a policy committee appointment through their Caucus, Department, or Division president. If you did not secure an appointment through that process, you may then request a presidential appointment by completing an online form. Applicants will be reviewed on their experience and policy awareness. Read more
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Two Mondays, Dec. 6 and 13, 5:00 p.m. — The post-pandemic recovery will require local leaders to address significant challenges and make difficult decisions about how best to allocate scarce resources and prioritize local initiatives. Local agencies cannot effectively address such challenges without a strong foundation of good government — trust, accountability, responsiveness, and transparency. Now is the ideal time to ensure that your agency’s foundation is solid. The Institute for Local Government’s new, interactive “Level Up Your Leadership” training helps elected and appointed city officials master the art of public service by equipping them with practical tools and strategies to govern more effectively and better engage with their professional peers and the community. Register today
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Growing tension over state intervention in local housing policy is likely to further escalate in the coming year as state officials ramp up their enforcement of laws that aim to boost construction while opponents pursue a constitutional amendment to wrest back authority. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday a new housing strike force within the California Department of Justice, a 12-member team that he said would address the state’s affordability crisis by enforcing development and tenant rights laws. Carolyn Coleman, executive director and CEO of the League of California Cities, slammed Bonta for “demonizing all cities for things they do not control” and characterized his strike force as part of “the state’s scattershot approach” to housing policy that has only made it more difficult to increase supply. Read more
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In the latest sign that California is getting serious about cracking down on local governments that don’t produce enough housing, Attorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesday launched a Housing Strike Force to enforce tenant protection and housing production laws. [In response], Carolyn Coleman, CEO and Executive Director of the League of California Cities [said], “Cities do not build homes, and for years have endured whiplash from the state’s scattershot approach to passing housing laws that are often in direct conflict with each other and counterproductive to our shared goals to increase housing supply.” Read more
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesday announced a new strike force to enforce housing laws, seeking to put teeth into long-ignored regulations that restrict local authority over residential development....League of California Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman blasted Bonta for blaming cities for the housing shortage. “If the state is looking for a real solution to this decades-in-the-making housing crisis,” Coleman said, “we urge a pause on these unproven top-down state mandates and enforcement policies and call on the state to work as true partners with local governments to get housing built.” Read more
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California’s attorney general said Wednesday he is putting a new emphasis on trying to alleviate the state’s seemingly intractable affordable housing problem, including by creating a “strike force” to focus on tenant protections, on local governments that don’t comply with state housing laws, and related issues. League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman said local governments have been making significant progress and by 2023 will have planned for more than two million units of additional housing statewide. Cities “for years have endured whiplash from the state’s scattershot approach to passing housing laws that are often in direct conflict with each other,” she said. Read more
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Nov. 17
Dec. 1
Dec. 8-9
Dec. 14
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Dec. 8-10
Jan. 20-21 and 27-28
Feb. 2-4
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