December 8, 2021
Cal Cities News

This year’s Action Agenda focuses on securing funding and resources for housing, critical infrastructure, unhoused residents, and the effects of climate change. The Board also considered recommendations for positions on ACA 7, a local land use initiative, and General Initiative 21-0026A1. Read more

Reimagined in 2016, thanks to a local grant, the city of Santa Clara’s bookmobile has all the hallmarks of a successful mobile literature program. But what makes it truly novel is its ability to connect residents with other city services, especially those in underrepresented or underserved communities. Read more

Cities, counties, and water suppliers with designated authority are required to report on the review and approval of landscape projects, which are governed by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, to the California Department of Water Resources. Municipalities must submit a report every year, even if their ordinance remains unchanged. Read more
Education and Events

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. We must 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 the 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

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. 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

Feb. 2-4 — The City Managers Conference provides city managers and assistant city managers with essential information to help them better lead their cities. This years’ conference covers a wide range of topics that will enhance the professional capabilities of city managers and prepare them for a variety of situations — with ample opportunities for peer-to-peer sharing and learning. During the conference, city managers can learn how to work more effectively with city council members, find new programs for unhoused residents, and discover how to create a more diverse workforce. Register today
Opportunities for Cities

The two-year Clean California Local Grant Program includes approximately $296 million for communities to beautify and improve local streets and roads. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, infrastructure-related community litter abatement and beautification projects or non-infrastructure-related community litter abatement events and/or educational programs. Additionally, the program's local match requirement is now based on the “severity of disadvantage of the community surrounding the project." Applications are due Feb. 1, 2022. Read more

The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) announced the issuance of $188,160,000 in tax-exempt Essential Housing Revenue Bonds to acquire apartments in Hawthorne and $356,730,000 in tax-exempt bonds to acquire apartments in Pasadena. CSCDA partnered with the cities and others for the acquisition of the properties and issuance of bonds. Read more

Firefighters are some of the nation’s most trusted professionals, even more than healthcare workers, first responders, and teachers. However, within the fire service ranks, the trust is more fragile when it comes to creating more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. The very things that have made fire departments successful — a strong sense of brotherhood, an emphasis on measurable operational results, and a close living-working environment — are often the very things that make attempts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion inside fire stations uniquely challenging. Read more

Countless studies have confirmed that bias, particularly unconscious bias, informs our interactions, even in people who are genuinely committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the workplace, this is commonly expressed in who we prefer to hire. Read more
More News and Events

Thursday, Dec. 9, 11:00 a.m. — In the wake of COVID-19, cities have pivoted to online and hybrid forums for public engagement. While this has led to increased participation, a central question remains: How can these methods help agencies build trust and develop equitable, sustainable public participation that meets their strategic goals? Join the Institute for Local Government and other city officials for an interactive webinar about strategic and outcome-driven public participation processes that can lead to better engagement results and hear from other local leaders about their engagement journeys. Register today

Monday, Dec. 13, 10:00 a.m. — The Cannabis Advisory Committee will hold a virtual overview of the newly formed Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) next Monday. The department merges the work of three different state programs into one state department. The DCC will license, inspect, and regulate all cannabis activity in California, with advisement from the Cannabis Advisory Committee. Officials can join the meeting the day of via WebEx.  Read more

Monday, Dec. 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. 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
Cal Cities in the News

Affordable housing is on the top of the League of California Cities priority list – and the issue it plans to take to Sacramento. The [Cal Cities] board of directors announced Friday its top four Action Agenda issues for 2022. “Housing, homelessness, critical infrastructure, and the impacts of climate change – these priorities have been at the heart of local leaders’ efforts for years,” League of California Cities President Cindy Silva said in a statement. Read more

The largest coalition of cities in California [Cal Cities] is siding with Pacific Grove in an appellate case challenging the city’s regulation of short-term rentals. The case is important because it could be a stepping stone to a review by the California Supreme Court and could determine the limitations Pacific Grove, or any other California city, have in their ability to regulate vacation rentals. “(The League of California Cities) has identified this case as having such significance because a finding that a time-limited, short-term vacation rental license creates a vested interest subject to due process protections would have a wide, sweeping effect on cities throughout the state,” Cal Cities' amicus brief states. Read more