Issue highlights:
Read below for more news and events.
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A recent California Supreme Court opinion concluded that a city’s franchise fees are not categorically exempt from the voter approval requirements as a matter of law. The case was then sent back down to the lower court for further proceedings. Read more
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California's homeless crisis is affecting cities of all sizes. Smaller cities must contend with unique challenges, such as how to deliver services over a larger geographic area with less money. Consequently, homelessness is rising in many smaller communities. The city of Norco has found a way to buck this trend. Read more
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The Local Infrastructure Hub is launching a series of technical assistance “boot camps” to help small and mid-sized cities (populations under 150,000) take full advantage of the grants available through the federal infrastructure package. An informational webinar is scheduled for Aug. 25. Read more
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California is not just the most populous state: It is also the most diverse. The annual conference offers numerous opportunities for city leaders to learn how top issues are impacting California's diverse communities and the innovative strategies city leaders are using in response. Read more
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Thursday, Sept. 1, 1:30 p.m. — The legislative session ends on Aug. 31 and Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto measures passed by the Legislature. This will be the final opportunity for city officials to voice their support or opposition to the Governor. Join Cal Cities to hear about the priority bills for cities on the Governor’s desk and what advocacy is needed. Register today
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Has your city successfully boosted construction, piloted a breakthrough technology, or found ways to better balance housing and retail? Create a foundation for success for others by sharing your knowledge at the Planning Commissioners Academy. Cal Cities is looking for thorough, thoughtful, and complete proposals that tell how your session can help planning commissioners improve their communities, leadership abilities, and knowledge. Read more
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Parks can provide health, climate, and economic benefits. However, these benefits are effectively inaccessible for one-third of Americans, particularly those in low-income communities of color. The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program helps close that gap by funding the acquisition or development of new parks in economically disadvantaged cities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation opportunities. Applications for the first round of consideration are due Sept. 1. Read more
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The California Department of Justice is providing county sheriff departments with $10 million in grant funding to seize illegally-held firearms and ammunition. Priority will be given to projects that meet certain criteria, such as counties with high populations of armed, prohibited firearm users. Previous projects often included collaboration with city police departments. Proposals are due Sept. 2. Read more
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The state Effectiveness Monitoring Committee is seeking proposals for projects that test the efficacy of the California Forest Practice Rules and related regulations. Proposals should address natural resource protection issues integral to California forestlands, as well as the critical questions identified in the Committee's 2018 Strategic Plan. Individual projects may be awarded up to $931,216 over the span of three years. Proposals are due Sept. 14. Read more
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The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) recently announced a preliminary -6.1% net return on investments for the 12-month period ending on June 30, 2022. This is CalPERS’ first loss since the global financial crisis of 2009, which was also driven by tumultuous global markets. The negative return, combined with CalPERS’ 6.8% discount rate, led to a roughly 9% drop in the pension fund’s estimated overall funded status, which now stands at 72%. As a result, employer contributions are expected to increase in the coming years. Read more
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SB 1100 (Cortese), a bill designed to address disruptions at public local government meetings, has been signed into law. While the bill puts in statute what the presiding officer or their designee can do to reduce disruptions in public meetings, it is more prescriptive than what existing statutory and case law specifies, which already includes avenues for addressing public meeting disruptions. Read more
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The National League of Cities (NLC) is accepting applications for leadership positions on its board of directors, federal advocacy committees, member councils, and constituency groups. Each position allows city leaders to bring their expertise to the national level and shape the direction of NLC policy. City officials applying for the board of directors or second vice-president positions may request an endorsement from Cal Cities. Requests are due Aug. 25. Read more
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Wednesday, Aug. 31, 10:30 a.m. — Recreational areas have experienced a substantial increase in visitors, particularly those in rural communities. Although this boost in tourism helps local economies, it also raises concerns about adverse impacts to the environment, wildlife, and surrounding communities. In this webinar, local agency and government representatives will discuss their experiences and recommended best practices for establishing sustainable recreation that protects and preserves California’s recreational areas. Register today
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Many cities hoped that the American Rescue Plan Act would both help address pandemic-related issues and build an inclusive future for communities. For the city of Norwalk, this hope is becoming a reality. Staff focused their efforts on one of the city’s oldest and most underserved neighborhoods: the One-Ways. Read more
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Aug. 25
Sept. 1
Sept. 7-9
Dec. 7-8 (Save the date!)
Dec. 7-8 (Save the date!)
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Dec. 7-9 (Save the date!)
Jan. 18-20 & Feb. 1-3 (Save the date!)
Feb. 8-10 (Save the date!)
Mar. 8-10 (Save the date!)
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