October 28, 2020
League News
 
League President and El Centro Council Member Cheryl Viegas Walker announced her chair and vice chair appointments to the League’s seven standing policy committees. These appointments set the stage for the committees’ 2021 work, which begins in January. The work of policy committees serves as the foundation of the League’s strong advocacy on behalf of cities. Read more

Three California cities were selected to participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Budgeting for Equity and Recovery program to help cities use best practices to address budget shortfalls and strengthen equity due to COVID-19. The program will provide strategies for how cities can drive financial recovery without unintentionally harming low-income residents and communities of color. Read more

Calling all city clerks, fire chiefs, and finance professionals! The League is offering three concurrent educational conferences in early December developed just for you. Given current COVID-19 conditions and restrictions, the League is laying the foundation to hold these engaging and informative conferences through a virtual format. Stay tuned for more information on registration opening and be sure to save the date! Read more
Executive Director's Message

With just six days until the election, I know many of you and your colleagues are in the middle of reelection campaigns and working hard to get those you support elected at the local, state, and federal levels. You may also be engaged in campaigns for and against local and state ballot measures that will impact your communities. Public service at the local level is an honor and incredibly hard work, so I applaud all who are committed to serving their communities. Read more
 
After months of advocacy efforts by a joint coalition of the League, California State Association of Counties, California Restaurant Association, and California Travel Association, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today granting our request for a process by the California Department of Transportation to issue temporary encroachment permits enabling commercial activities in the state highway right-of-way. This order will help support businesses struggling with the economic impacts of COVID-19 by allowing them to expand outdoor dining options. Washington, Oregon, and Nevada joined the state’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which will independently review the safety and efficacy of any vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for distribution. The Governor announced the approval to use an additional $200 million from Coronavirus Relief Funding for Homekey, and announced the sixth round of Homekey funding recipients, which include the cities of Oakland and San Francisco. Read more
Education & Conferences
 
Oct. 30 and Nov. 6, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. — The League’s 2020 City Attorneys' Department virtual conference kicked off Oct. 16, but there’s still time to register! This conference provides peer-to-peer networking opportunities and educational sessions on cutting-edge issues in municipal law. Plus, the conference offers up to 12 hours of MCLE credit. Don’t wait any longer — view the conference schedule and register today. 
Opportunities for Cities

The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) announced the closing of a $35 million tax-exempt loan that will benefit Oakland students in grades K-12. CSCDA partnered with First Republic Bank and Hawkins, Delafield & Wood, LLP to provide the tax-exempt loan to refinance existing educational facility loans for the Head-Royce School, and also provide new funding for a capital project associated with the expansion of the south side of the school campus. Read more
More News and Events

Thursday, Oct. 29, 1-2 p.m. — The 2020 Census Quality Indicators Taskforce, in partnership with the National League of Cities (NLC) and Harvard Civic Analytics Network, is offering a briefing for local governments to debunk misleading census data, explain the legislative and regulatory landscape for census data processing, and share what actions cities may be able to take to impact the next phases of the census. Speakers: Census Quality Reinforcement Task Force Chair Denice Ross, Census Historian Dan Bouk, Former Census Bureau Director John Thompson, Census Scientific Advisory Committee Chair Allison Plyer, Mesa, AZ Mayor John Giles, and NLC Federal Advocacy Representative Mike Gleeson. Register today  

Nov. 18-20 — The NLC 2020 City Summit conference is going virtual this year. NLC invites you to “Learn. Grow. Build. Renew.” and take part in an immersive program that includes informative panel discussions, keynotes, and fireside chats, as well as engaging workshops and opportunities to network with peers. Register today

The global pandemic has created numerous challenges for public agency employers. Telework and managing employees returning to work on-site present daunting issues for cities. Read about best practices and steps that cities can take now to reduce the risk and potential exposure of litigation related to COVID-19 — this month in Western City magazine.
League in the News
Earlier this year, Moreno Valley's Afterschool Expanded Learning Program was honored by the League of California Cities with its prestigious Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in the category of Counties/Cities/Schools Partnership Intergovernmental Collaboration. The Helen Putnam Award is considered the highest honor bestowed upon a City project or program in California.

Special districts push for slice of California’s coronavirus relief pie, Oct. 21, The Press Enterprise (also appeared in SGVTribune.com, San Bernardino County Sun, Redlands Daily Facts, DailyBulletin.com, Los Angeles Daily News, Whittier Daily News, The Daily Breeze, Orange County Register, The Press Telegram, and The Pasadena Star-News)
And sales taxes are among the most important revenue sources for state and city governments — contributing nearly 20% of California’s general fund and an average 30% of city budgets, though they provide as much as 45% in some cities, according to the League of California Cities. The shutdown of local economies and the accompanying decline in tax revenues means California cities are facing a $7 billion revenue shortfall over the next two years, the league estimates.