April 8, 2020
Executive Director's Message
League News
 
City officials continue to lead the charge against COVID-19 with a variety of actions including orders to wear face coverings in Los Angeles and offering drive-thru coronavirus testing sites in the City of Fremont. While taking concrete actions to “flatten the curve,” cities around the state also recognize the importance of offering support and a boost in morale.


More than 600 local officials participated in the League’s first ever virtual policy committee meetings, where city leaders reviewed and took action on key pending legislation, and discussed COVID-19’s impact to cities.


The California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District issued a favorable opinion in a case in which the League filed a friend-of-the-court brief. In City of Redondo Beach v. State of California, et al ., the court held that the California Voter Participation Rights Act does not apply to charter cities.

Education and Conferences
 
The League is seeking dynamic and engaging session proposals for its 2020 Annual Conference & Expo which is scheduled for Oct. 7-9 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to share your ideas, knowledge, and expertise with this important audience and submit your proposal by April 13.

Opportunities for Cities
 
Affordable apartments for low-income families and seniors in Oxnard 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
 
CalPERS hosted a webinar on April 8 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for employers who are contracted into the system. The webinar provided an update on the fund from CalPERS executive staff and board members while also answering questions from employers. 


California city leaders and staff are working hard to help keep their communities safe from COVID-19. Learn more about the tools cities use to prepare for and respond to such crises in “ Disasters in California: A Brief Overview of Preparedness, Proclamations, and Assistance .”
League in the News
COVID-19 Information: Where To Find The Facts , April 8, Riverbank News 
League COVID-19 resource webpage included in this story.
       
The League of California Cities has asked Newsom to suspend mandatory response deadlines statewide.“We are hoping for flexibility given the tremendous strain currently on local governments,” League of California Cities spokesperson Kayla Woods said in a statement, citing "limited staffing or IT capability during this unprecedented public health emergency.”


“City councils throughout the state are doing everything they can to prioritize the health and safety of their residents during this global pandemic, and to also ensure government transparency, access, and public participation,” Kayla Woods, executive communications specialist with the League of California Cities, said in an email.

Unfortunately, citing hardships caused by virus response demands, the League of California Cities has asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend the California Public Records Act, which sets guidelines under which government agencies must respond to requests for information. The league says the suspension wouldn’t apply to record requests relating to government actions related to the coronavirus crisis. But given that by the league’s own account, the virus is putting tremendous strain on government resources, nearly all requests are likely to involve city actions affected by the pandemic.