October 20, 2021
Cal Cities News
 
The leadership appointments set the stage for the committees’ work, which begins in January when they hold their first meetings. To join a policy committee, ask your division president, department president, or caucus executive director for an appointment. If those slots are filled, request a presidential appointment. Read more

In Oakland, as is the case for many cities, there is a strong correlation between neighborhoods with poor internet service and those that were “redlined” beginning in the 1930s. Thanks to years of planning and federal stimulus funds, the city has reduced its number of digitally unserved and underserved households. Read more

The U.S. Department of the Treasury extended the first State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Project and Expenditure Report reporting deadline to next year. The Treasury Department has also outlined the key principles for expenditures that serve as guidelines for successful implementation and reporting. Read more
Education and Events

Friday, Nov. 5, 10:30 a.m. — Overseeing your first public meeting as a municipal attorney can be a daunting experience. You might have read the Brown Act in preparation, but providing legal guidance in real-time in front of the public and media requires alertness to potential pitfalls, political astuteness, and confidence. Join us as we discuss Brown Act basics, offer tips and suggestions through hypotheticals, and provide some suggested best practices. Speakers: Thousand Oaks City Attorney Tracy Noonan; Palmdale Assistant City Attorney Noel Doran; Burke Williams and Sorensen LLP's Thomas Jex; and Jorgenson, Siegel, McClure & Flegel's Cara Silver. Register today

Join the Fire Chiefs Department or the City Clerks Department at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City this December for two exciting conferences. The Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar — scheduled for Dec. 8 and 9 — helps fire chiefs and their mid-level managers enhance their skills and knowledge on a variety of pressing issues. Set for Dec. 8-10, the City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar includes an update from the Fair Political Practices Commission and educational sessions on a range of topics. Read more
Opportunities for Cities

Thursday, Nov. 4, 11:00 a.m. — The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many Californians to pay their bills due to job loss and other hardships. Hear from experts from the California Public Utilities Commission, California Department of Community Services and Development, and the State Water Resources Control Board about the water utility assistance and energy utility assistance programming available in California, including the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, California Arrearage Payment Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and more. Register today

The California Department of Transportation is developing a Clean California Local Grant Program as part of the nearly $1.1 billion investment in beautifying local communities. The two-year Clean California Local Grant Program includes approximately $296 million for communities to beautify and improve local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, and transit centers. The call for projects opens on Dec. 1 with applications due by Feb. 1, 2022. Award winners will be notified on March 1, 2022. More information is available online or at a Nov. 18 workshop, which will cover the application process. Learn more

In 2015, Fremont’s city council committed to a bold goal: Reduce traffic-related fatalities to zero. Even though the city was already a national leader in traffic safety, this new mindset forced officials to rethink their approach to traffic safety. Known as Vision Zero, Fremont’s traffic safety focuses on integrating human error into transportation systems, instead of reducing it. Read more

As part of an ongoing effort to enhance customer service, the city of Irvine launched a new, streamlined, web-based platform for planning, building, and engineering applications. Launched in 2019, IrvineREADY! is a web-based platform that provides a portal for customers to upload plans and pay fees online using either credit card or electronic check. Read more
More News and Events

Thursday, Oct. 21, 8:00 a.m. — The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research are holding a briefing on the White House's infrastructure plan and the unmet needs of U.S. states and municipalities. In addition to Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman, the panel includes Andrew F. Haughwout, Senior Vice President and Policy Leader for Household and Regional in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Research and Statistics Group; Annie Linskey, White House Reporter for the Washington Post; and Torsten Slok, Chief Economist for Apollo Global Group. The briefing will be recorded and available on the Volcker Alliance website. Register today 

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 9:00 a.m. — California is home to 11 million immigrants — over a quarter of the state’s population. Hosted by the Institute for Local Government and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, this special event includes an overview of recent studies and statistics, speakers from leading immigration policy institutes, local governments, and foundations, and a small group discussion. The session is designed for local government staff, elected officials, and philanthropic or private funders interested in learning more about how they can expand immigrant services in their communities. Register today 

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2:00 p.m. — With the close of the legislative session, there are many new regulations that will impact local land use authority and the tools available to local governments. To help you navigate these new requirements and opportunities, the Institute for Local Government, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the League of California Cities, and the California State Association of Counties will provide an update on new housing laws and regulations, programs, and funding that will impact housing development. Register today

Nov. 17-19 — The National League of Cities 2021 City Summit is going virtual this year! The conference provides tools, strategies, and workshops for city officials to enact change in their communities, as well as opportunities to connect with peers, thought leaders, and local innovators. Conference dates have shifted slightly to limit virtual meeting time on the weekend. Pre-conference events will be held Nov. 12, 15, and 17. Registration is open through Nov. 19. Read more
Cal Cities in the News
Important Clayton Housing Element workshop on Oct. 20, Concord Clayton Pioneer News, Oct. 14 

I attended the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) annual conference in Sacramento last month as an alternate to our voting delegate, Councilmember Jim Diaz...The conference gave us opportunities to meet with statewide mayors and councilmembers to foster relationships and discuss the common issues facing California cities. A main topic of conversation was the state’s onslaught of bills aimed at reducing local control, especially on housing. Clearly, we must all stay engaged moving forward on the proposals, bills, mandates, and regulations that will directly affect Clayton. Read more