Issue highlights:
Read below for more news and events.
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The Legislature’s proposed budget deal provides significant resources for cities to address generational crises, but more resources are needed to support recovery from COVID-19 in all cities. City leaders should continue to urge lawmakers to appropriate at least $10 billion to help cities recover from the pandemic, bolster investment towards meaningful solutions to homelessness, improve housing affordability, and advance critical infrastructure. Take action today! (State Budget sample city letter.docx.)
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The League of California Cities delivered the lead opposition testimony against SB 9 (Atkins) in today’s Assembly Local Government Committee. Despite robust opposition from city officials, local government advocates, community advocates, and others, the committee passed SB 9 on a 5-1 vote, with two abstentions. Read more
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As vaccination rates increase, families are anxious to get back to routine summer activities. This presents a challenge for cities, which must balance the needs of their residents with public safety. The Phillip West Aquatics Center in American Canyon received international recognition for its COVID-19 response and is offering popular — and safe — programs this summer. Read more
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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a decision this week on its Rule 20 undergrounding program, which lays out guidelines for the ratepayer-funded undergrounding of overhead electric facilities. While the June 7 decision reflected key requests by Cal Cities submitted during CPUC proceedings, other important recommendations were rejected. Read more
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The California Department of Finance unveiled its American Rescue Plan Local Fiscal Recovery Fund webpage for non-entitlement cities and discussed the upcoming funding portal with city officials during a League of California Cities webinar earlier today. The U.S. Department of the Treasury released new Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds FAQs, and the Federal Communications Commission announced a $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund for schools and libraries. Finally, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would extend relief measures allowing restaurants and bars to continue expanded outdoor operations in areas such as sidewalks and parking lots and continue the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages with food deliveries. Read more
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Wednesday, June 23, 1:00 p.m. — Need help creating or amending a local coastal plan (LCP)? Unsure how LCPs affect coastal development? Learn how to navigate the sometimes-difficult process with representatives from the California Coastal Commission, League of California Cities Coastal Cities Group, and other experienced city officials. The webinar will also cover efforts to improve the amendment and update process. Presenters: Cal Cities Coastal Cities Group Chair and Pismo Beach Mayor Ed Waage, California Coastal Commission Executive Director Jack Ainsworth and Coastal Program Manager Madeline Cavalieri, and coastal cities representatives. Register now
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The League of California Cities is soliciting session proposals and speakers for the 2022 City Managers Conference, scheduled Feb. 2-4 in Monterey. The conference sessions provide great opportunities to share research and information with city managers at their annual gathering. Submit proposals by Aug. 9. Read more
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The Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar brings together California fire service leaders on Dec. 8 and 9 for a two-day educational and networking event. The League of California Cities is soliciting session proposals on timely topics of importance to fire service professionals including but not limited to fire chiefs, chief officers, and union leadership. Read more
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The League of California Cities and the County Engineers Association of California are seeking session proposals and speakers for the next joint Public Works Officers Institute, scheduled for March 23-25 in Monterey. The call for proposals is an opportunity to share best practices and innovative approaches, as well as research and information with public works directors from cities and counties across California. Read more
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The post-pandemic recovery will require city leaders to address significant challenges and make difficult decisions about the allocation of scarce funding, possible reductions in services, and reprioritizing city initiatives. Elected leaders and staff cannot effectively address such challenges without a strong foundation of good government — trust, accountability, responsiveness, and transparency. Now is the ideal time to ensure that your city’s foundation is solid. Read more
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New affordable housing in the city of Salinas will be available for low-income residents, with nearly $20.7 million in tax-exempt affordable housing bonds issued through the California Statewide Communities Development Authority. Read more
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The League of California Cities, alongside a robust coalition of nonprofit and local agency associations, expressed strong support for Gov. Gavin Newsom's comprehensive broadband proposal in a recent letter urging the Legislature to take immediate action to close the digital divide. The Governor's proposed $7 billion over three years is in line with Cal Cities' current budget ask of $3 billion next fiscal year to modernize broadband infrastructure and expand broadband to unserved and underserved areas. The Governor's proposal utilizes a combination of state and federal resources that allow for General Fund dollars to fund other critical city services and complements Cal Cities' work supporting AB 14 (Aguiar-Curry) and SB 4 (Gonzalez). Read the letter
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Following last week’s house of origin deadline, the Legislature’s policy committee hearings are in full swing. The Legislature will adjourn July 16 for its summer recess, returning on Aug. 16. Cal Cities will continue monitoring several bills affecting cities. Read more
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Thursday, June 10, 10:00 a.m. — Join the Institute for Local Government, National League of Cities, and Headwaters Economics for a webinar to learn how to use the new Wildfire Risk to Communities tool. Hear from leaders across the country who are building wildfire resilience through grant opportunities, using data to mitigate risk for the most vulnerable populations, and responding and adapting to population migration from neighboring communities given wildfire risk and disasters. Presenters: League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman; Ashland, Oregon Wildfire Division Chief Chris Chambers; and Austin, Texas Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager Justice Jones. Read more
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Thursday, July 22, 10:00 a.m. — The Supreme Court's First Amendment docket didn't disappoint in 2020-2021. The Court heard cases involving the speech and association rights in Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta, which involved a challenge to California's charitable donor-disclosure requirement; the speech right in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., which involved a challenge to a school's suspension of a student for off-campus speech; and the free exercise right in Fulton v. Philadelphia, which involved a challenge to the city's non-discrimination requirement for its government contractors. Kirti Datla will discuss general trends in the Court's First Amendment jurisprudence, these cases, and the religious liberty cases related to COVID-19 restrictions that the Court decided on its "shadow docket." Presenters: Earthjustice Director of Strategic Legal Advocacy Kirti Datla, and State and Local Legal Center Executive Director Lisa Soronen. Read more
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Thursday, July 29, 10:00 a.m. — Police practices were featured front and center in multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases this term. Join a discussion of these cases, with topics ranging from Fourth Amendment searches and seizures to excessive force to local governments holding onto impounded vehicles after a bankruptcy stay has been filed. Presenters: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP Partner Shay Dvoretzky; Constitutional Accountability Center Director of the Civil Rights, Human Rights, and Citizenship Program David Gans; and State and Local Legal Center Executive Director Lisa Soronen. Read more
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The League of California Cities in a letter opposing the bill says SB 9 will not create housing “in a manner that supports local flexibility, decision making, and community input. State-driven ministerial or by-right housing approval processes fail to recognize the extensive public engagement associated with developing and adopting zoning ordinances and housing elements.”
Local governments are already far along in the planning process for new state targets that dictate how much additional housing they must accommodate over the next eight years and they “don’t want to see the rules change again,” said Jason Rhine, legislative director for the League of California Cities. “It’s almost as if the rug is getting pulled out from under us,” said Rhine, who suggested that the best compromise legislators could reach with opponents of their housing bills would be to hit pause and let dozens of laws that took effect over the past few years play out.
Senate Bill 109 – Creates the Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development to study, produce and test new equipment to battle wildfires. Public, private and non-profit organizations and companies would join forces and become a state hub for firefighting advancements. In addition, it would make recommendations to state and local agencies, including Cal Fire and regional fire departments, on what the best and most effective new equipment and technology is available for them. It is supported by numerous groups including the California Fire Chiefs Association, the League of California Cities, Breathe California and the counties of Napa and Yolo.
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June 15
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June 23
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June 23
June 23
Sept. 22-24 SAVE THE DATE
Municipal Finance Institute
Sept. 22-24 SAVE THE DATE
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