Issue highlights:
Read below for more news and events.
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SB 9 may be heard on the Assembly Floor as soon as tomorrow! It is critical that all Assembly Members hear from their cities! Voice your opposition to SB 9 by calling your Assembly Member and submitting a letter today. If your city has already submitted a letter, please submit an updated letter as soon as possible. View sample letter
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Cal Cities hosted a briefing on priority housing bills that would hinder cities’ ability to plan for the type of housing that’s needed in their communities and stifle local democracy, as well as steps that cities can take today to stop the measures. Read more
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The California Supreme Court recently issued a pair of rulings — one on prevailing wages, and another on automatic stays and appeals. Both rulings were consistent with arguments made in friend-of-the-court briefs filed by the League of California Cities. Read more
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During a special board meeting, the Cal Cities board recently approved proposed bylaws amendments to enhance Cal Cities’ governance and effectuate technical changes. The proposed amendments will now go before the General Assembly for a vote. Read more
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The reporting deadline for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds is Aug. 31! The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released a video walkthrough of the treasury portal for the interim report and recovery plan. Here's a list of all the other Treasury Department resources available to cities. Read more
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Breakout sessions cover a wide variety of topics, including pension updates, equity and justice, how to support residents experiencing homelessness, and the role local leaders play in planning California's future. The conference also includes sessions by Cal Cities diversity caucuses: the African American Caucus, the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Caucus, the Latino Caucus, and the Women's Caucus. Read more
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Tuesday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m. — Join League of California Cities President Cheryl Viegas Walker as she shares her insights on leadership and lessons learned from more than 20 years of public service. Drawing from her service to El Centro, time on multiple statewide boards, and her term as Cal Cities president, Viegas Walker will share her path to leadership and the ‘why’ that keeps her going. Experienced, knowledgeable, and insightful, President Viegas Walker will give her take on the importance of saying yes to leadership and what it means to be a leader in today’s world. Register now
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Wednesday, Sept. 1, 3 p.m. — With the passage and signature of SB 156, California is making a historic, $6 billion multi-year investment that bridges the digital divide by increasing equitable and affordable access to high-speed internet service across the state. But what does this mean for cities? What are the eligibility requirements and processes? When are applications being reviewed? Join the League of California Cities and key staff from the California Public Utilities Commission for an overview of SB 156 and to learn what resources are available, how the funding process works, who is eligible, and how to apply. Register now
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In November 2016, Downey residents voted to invest in the most robust capital improvement program in the city’s history: Measure S, a 1/2 percent transactions and use tax that generates approximately $10 million per year for the city. Thanks to Measure S, Downey residents now experience increased public safety, benefit from important infrastructure upgrades, and enjoy additional amenities. Read more
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The Colton Police Department believes that investing in youth, especially at-risk children and adolescents, creates healthier and happier communities. Guided by research, the police department developed a multi-agency partnership known as the C.A.R.T. (Colton-At-Risk-Teens) Academy, with the goal of providing at-risk youth with discipline, guidance, and career development opportunities. Read more
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Managed by the Institute for Local Government and the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), the BOOST Program helps under-resourced cities and towns advance their climate action, resilience, and equity objectives. SGC will select five to seven disadvantaged and/or low-income communities to receive capacity-building support. The application is open to all California cities and towns that are designated as low-income and/or disadvantaged communities, with priority given to those with demonstrated staff capacity challenges. The application period closes Friday, Sept. 10. Apply today
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency is accepting requests for exercise support through its National Exercise Program. State, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions and their community partners can request no-cost assistance for exercise design, development, conduct, and evaluation to validate capabilities across all mission areas. The National Exercise Program is a nationwide, two-year cycle of exercises that examines and validates capabilities in all preparedness mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Fall 2021 requests for support are due by Nov. 1. Read more
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Tomorrow will be a busy day for the Legislature, as Thursday is both the last time that bills can be heard in the appropriations committees and the day for suspense file hearings. A decades-old means of promoting fiscal responsibility, the lightning-fast suspense file process determines which bills will move to the floor for debate, which may come as soon as Aug. 30 for some measures, including AB 1401 (Friedman) and AB 14 (Aguiar-Curry). Read more
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The letter expresses concerns with the proposed statewide construction stormwater general permit that would apply to all public and private construction projects throughout California. Cal Cities believes the permit, as currently drafted, is unworkable, as it would significantly increase the cost of and jeopardize the completion of thousands of projects throughout the state. This would include state and local transportation infrastructure, school construction, electric and water utility infrastructure, housing projects, and more. This broad coalition includes organizations representing transportation, labor, business, and local government. Read more
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Friday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. — After more than a year of shelter in place orders, California has begun the process of fully reopening workplaces. Leaders must consider the mental health impacts of new workplace policies, as well as the legal and operational challenges of enforcement and implementation. In this webinar, learn about the anxiety that individuals may be feeling about the evolving COVID-19 re-opening guidance and discuss strategies that balance self-care considerations with shifting state and federal requirements. Speakers: Dr. Miguel Gallardo, Professor of Psychology and Program Director of Aliento, Pepperdine University; Rob Lechner, Director of Facilities and Security Operations, SMUD; and Michael Youril, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore. Register today
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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 and its national municipal policy. City leaders applying for the NLC board of directors or second vice-president position may request an endorsement from the League of California Cities. Read more
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Thursday, Sept. 2, 2 p.m. — Well-planned communities can create vibrant, healthy, walkable, and resilient neighborhoods able to withstand the growing threats of climate change. Hear from the Institute for Local Government and local government colleagues about best practices and the lessons learned when addressing climate resilience through local land use and housing policies. Speakers: Erik de Kok, Deputy Director, Planning & Community Development, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research; James Gore, Supervisor, Sonoma County; Eric Nelson, Planning Commissioner, City of Dana Point. Register today
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SB 9 tramples local control to promote density, Aug. 24, Orange County Register, Special guest commentary by Blanca Pacheco, Immediate Past President, Cal Cities Los Angeles County Division and Mayor Pro Tem, Downey (also appeared in Los Angeles Daily News, San Bernardino County Sun, and eight others.)
This type of “by right” approval for developers circumvents the important local government review process that includes extensive public engagement — eliminating local control and putting developers, not local governments or local citizens, in control. What’s worse, there are zero requirements that the new housing developments be affordable housing. It’s not hard to imagine the consequences of this process. Developers will seek out parcels in traditional single-family home neighborhoods and outbid all other prospective buyers in order to turn single-family lots into multi-unit developments. Read more
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It’s clear the auditor’s analysis doesn’t include all the information necessary to draw these kinds of conclusions, [Cal Cities] spokeswoman Jill Oviatt said by email. “Recovery from the pandemic is uneven and that is no way reflected here,” she said. “While recovery in some cities has been strong, other cities are still hurting and their local economies are still struggling. To say that all but one of California’s cities is rolling in dollars is inaccurate and grossly misrepresents the situation for the towns and cities that are still hurting.” On the front lines, city officials agree. Read more
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Aug. 31
Sept. 1
Sept. 22-24
Sept. 22-24 (during the Annual Conference and Expo)
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Dec. 8-9 (Save the date!)
Dec. 8-10 (Save the date!)
Jan. 20-21 and 27-28 (Save the date!)
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