December 14, 2022

Issue highlights: Cal Cities calls for a permanent $3 billion fund to help cities boost housing supply and prevent homelessness Cal Cities urges court to affirm dismissal of CEQA lawsuit challenging affordable housing project CARE Court implementation information to be released by the state Cal Cities Advocate will not publish on Dec. 21 or Dec. 28. Our weekly schedule will resume on Jan. 4. Read below for more news and events.

Cal Cities calls for a permanent $3 billion fund to help cities boost housing supply and prevent homelessness

Cal Cities is calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to allocate $3 billion in his proposed 2023-24 state budget for ongoing funding to support cities’ efforts to reduce homelessness and increase housing. The state budget priorities were outlined in a letter sent to the Governor’s Office today. Read more

Cal Cities urges court to affirm dismissal of CEQA lawsuit challenging affordable housing project

Cal Cities urged the First District Court of Appeal to uphold a trial court ruling rejecting a lawsuit challenging an affordable housing project. The plaintiffs, Save Livermore Downtown, challenged the city’s determination that the project was exempt from CEQA and consistent with its downtown-specific plan. Read more

Brown Act changes are coming to cities in 2023. Here is what to expect

Several notable changes to public meetings are coming in 2023 thanks to new legislation that takes effect on Jan. 1 and the Governor’s announcement that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on Feb. 28. Ending the state of emergency will limit how cities can conduct remote meetings. Read more

Guide to Local Recovery Update: Dec. 14 The registration deadline for the second round of federal infrastructure grant bootcamps has been extended until Dec. 16. The program helps small- and mid-sized cities develop more competitive grant applications. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy released information about a key energy grant program and the White House developed a guide to help local officials access workforce development grants. Read more

2023 Planning Commissioners Academy open for registration March 29-31 — Planning commissioners must navigate some of the state’s most ambitious — and controversial — housing and environmental laws while also balancing the needs of their community. Navigating these obligations can be challenging, even for the most seasoned planning commissioner. Taking place March 29-31 in Garden Grove, the Planning Commissioners Academy provides city officials with information needed to meet these challenges. Register today

Cal Cities seeking proposals for the City Leaders Summit Cal Cities is seeking proposals for its second-ever City Leaders Summit. Taking place April 12-14 in Sacramento, this unique advocacy and education event allows city officials to influence state policy decisions and gain top-notch leadership skills. Cal Cities is looking for thorough, thoughtful, and complete proposals that tell how your session can help elected city officials improve their communities, leadership abilities, and policy knowledge. Read more

MyCalCities registration starts in January! Cal Cities members and partners will soon have access to an exciting new tool that will heighten member engagement: MyCalCities. The one-stop portal allows for easier event registration and provides important information that helps us all identify and understand the demographics of cities in California. All members will automatically have an account and will be able to take full advantage of MyCalCities. City officials, exhibitors, and Cal Cities Partners will receive instructions on how to access and create a MyCalCities profile in January.

CAL FIRE seeking comment on Green Schoolyard Grant guidelines CAL FIRE is accepting public comments on its 2022-23 Draft Green Schoolyard Grant Guidelines. Comments must be submitted online by Dec. 30. Once the guidelines are finalized, up to $117 million will be available through the Green Schoolyards Grant program. The program will fund projects that focus on reducing extreme heat, increasing shade to students during recess and outdoor learning, air quality improvement, stormwater management, water quality, or improving public health and/or educational outcomes. Read more

Cal Cities-sponsored bond agency issues $17 million in tax-exempt bonds for housing in Lake Forest The California Statewide Communities Development Authority announced the issuance of $17,686,200 in tax-exempt and taxable multi-family affordable housing bonds for Meadows Seniors Apartments in Lake Forest. The apartments will be 100% rent restricted for extremely low and low-income senior tenants — those earning less than 30% to 60% of the area median income. Read more

CARE Court implementation information to be released by the state The first cohort of counties responsible for implementing the first-of-its-kind Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court program convened earlier this month, marking an important first step in the program’s roll-out. Following the meeting, several government agencies began releasing related information and guidance to inform stakeholders of the implementation process. Read more

Mountain View breaks language barriers to create a community for all Mountain View created the Spanish and Chinese Language Civic Leadership Academy programs as part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The eight-week programs improve participants’ understanding of local government and city services. Some graduates have applied for boards and commissions or ran for city council. Read more

Enhancing public trust and inclusion in one of California’s most diverse communities Once a nearly all-white community, Lakewood has become one of California’s most diverse cities. When the murder of George Floyd made national news in 2020, the resulting public outrage shook the bedroom community and led to calls for change. The resulting 10-point action plan and first year of implementation are major milestones for the city. Read more

Redwood City implements first citywide equity plan, articulating its commitment to equitable services and programs Like many communities, Redwood City was caught off balance in 2020. The resulting two years of work underscore the long-term commitment needed to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Read more

Jan. 18-20 or Feb. 1-3 (Sold out!) New Mayors and Council Members Academy Feb. 8-10 (Sold out!) City Managers Conference Mar. 8-10 (Save the date!) Public Works Officers Institute Mar. 29-31 Planning Commissioners Academy

Apr. 12-14 (Save the date!) City Leaders Summit May 17-19 (Save the date!) City Attorneys Spring Conference Sept. 20-22 (Save the date!) Annual Conference and Expo

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