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Dear Friends of ILG,
As local governments across California wrap up another budget season, many leaders are balancing competing priorities: maintaining essential services, responding to community needs, navigating fiscal uncertainty, and preparing their organizations for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Summer often provides a brief opportunity to reflect, regroup, and plan, but the issues facing our communities continue to evolve. From strengthening civic trust and public engagement, to addressing workforce shortages, climate resilience, housing, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in public service, local agencies remain at the center of some of California's most important conversations.
This month, I am especially proud to share ILG's 2023-2025 Impact Report, which highlights the partnerships, programs, and progress made possible through the dedication of local government leaders throughout the state. The report reflects not only ILG's work, but the resilience, creativity, and commitment of public servants who continue to lead through change. As we look ahead, ILG remains focused on providing practical tools, trusted research, and meaningful learning opportunities that help local agencies navigate complex issues and deliver results for their communities.
Below you’ll find quite a few training, webinar, and conference announcements for the summer and fall, including many in-person events where ILG will host panels and sessions. We encourage you to check your calendars and register early.
As always, thank you for the work you do every day to strengthen local democracy and improve quality of life for Californians. We are honored to be your partner in that effort.
With appreciation,
Erica L. Manuel
CEO & Executive Director
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ILG Releases 2023-2025 Impact Report
Over the past three years, local governments across California have faced significant challenges while continuing to serve their communities with resilience, creativity, and determination.
We're proud to share ILG's 2023-2025 Impact Report, which highlights the partnerships, programs, and progress that helped support those efforts. We invite you to take a look at the impact we've made together and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Read the report here.
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Get the Climate Action Recognition Your Agency Deserves
Does your agency have a fantastic climate, environmental, or sustainability program or project that is making a positive difference in your community? ILG’s annual Beacon Vanguard, Spotlight, and Leadership & Innovation awards recognize the voluntary actions of California local government agencies undertaking climate and sustainability programming. Apply for a Beacon Award online by Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 5 PM. Last year’s highest honor went to the City of Torrance.
Could it be you this year?
All 2026 Beacon Award applications are due Tuesday, June 30 by 5 PM.
| | UPCOMING WEBINARS & TRAININGS | | |
Training: Rethink Your 2026 Public Meeting & Workshop Approach with ILG's Meeting Mastery Training
Wednesday and Thursday,
August 19-20, 2026
10AM – 3PM each day, via Zoom
Public engagement is often a crucial (and, sometimes, mandated) part of local government projects. As your agency starts on its priorities for 2026, you are likely scheduling community meetings, workshops, committees, and focus groups.
But we know public meetings can be a challenge to plan and run. At ILG, we want to help make your 2026 public engagement efforts a positive and fruitful part of your projects. Our Meeting Mastery facilitation skills and meeting design training has been specifically designed and tailored to meet the needs of local government staff responsible for leading community engagement efforts.
With our training, you’ll be empowered to hold successful meetings that promote inclusive and constructive conversations that help foster a more connected and engaged community. Register today to save your spot!
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Webinar: Positioning Your Public Engagement For Success: How to Plan Effective Public Workshops
Thursday, July 23, 2026
12 – 1PM
Trying to navigate a planning process to collect community input? Want to create space to hear from the community in less formal and contentious ways? Working with community members can start with hosting events to share information, identify issues and needs, and explore potential solutions. How these events are planned and happen matter and can greatly influence how community feels about the topic and trajectory of the project.
Join the webinar to hear examples directly from local governments about how meeting design impacted the success of their projects.
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Webinar: Expanding Public Access: SB 707's Updates to the Brown Act
Monday, August 3, 2026
12 – 1:30PM
With the signing of SB 707 last October, California is modernizing how local agencies conduct public meetings. These changes address long-standing challenges, from limited remote access and accessibility gaps to barriers for multilingual and underrepresented communities. SB 707 requires two-way telephonic or audiovisual platforms, real-time translation assistance, and outreach for greater public participation. In this webinar, our expert panel of local government legal advisors will guide you through the new Brown Act landscape. You will gain a clear understanding of your agency’s obligations and leave with action steps to ensure your meetings are inclusive, accessible, and legally compliant in the post-pandemic era. Register for our virtual training today!
| | ILG FOUNDER & AFFILIATE UPDATES | | |
Registration Open for the 2026 League of California Cities
Annual Conference
September 23-35, 2026
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
The League of California Cities is excited to announce that registration is open for the 2026 Annual Conference and Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center, Sept. 23-25! The conference will feature inspiring keynote speakers and presentations on key topics for local leaders, plus peer-to-peer sharing with fellow California city officials. The Expo Hall will be brimming with opportunities to engage with organizations that provide essential services to cities. Join Cal Cities as they celebrate new leadership across the organization and consider new policy in the member-driven General Assembly and Resolutions process.
ILG is excited to be hosting the following sessions:
- When the Gavel Drops: Leading Productive and Respectful City Council Meetings
- Bots, Bulk Comments, and the Brown Act: Managing AI in Public Engagement
- Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles
- Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors and Officials
Register today!
The Institute for Local Government is a State Bar of California minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) approved provider and certifies each activity meets the standards for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the total amount of 2 hours (general credits). Provider #13881.
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MMANC's 2026 Summer Symposium
Thursday, July 9
Lucie Stern Community Center in Palo Alto, CA
Join leaders from Northern California for a day of inspiration, connection, and growth—featuring a fireside chat with Peninsula leaders and engaging interactive sessions designed for professionals at every stage of their leadership journey. This year’s event is themed “Collaborative Governance,” and the topics will be themed around different visions of carrying out public service: in community with others, thinking about how we do this work regionally and how we prepare ourselves for leadership roles, and how we elevate culture internally in our organizations. Registration is open until July 2.
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Volunteers Needed for the 2026 ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach
The 2026 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference is coming to Long Beach from October 17–21. ICMA is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to play a vital role in creating a seamless, welcoming, and inspiring experience for local government professionals from across the country. If you’re passionate about public service and community engagement, this is a fantastic way to get involved. Please complete the volunteer interest form by Friday, July 24.
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Submit Your MMASC Annual Conference Session Proposals by July 7
The Municipal Management Association of Southern California’s (MMASC) Annual Conference will take place October 28–30 in San Diego. This year’s theme, “Built to Last: Resilient Communities, Courageous Leadership,” will explore how leaders and communities can adapt, innovate, and lead with courage in the face of evolving challenges.
Submit a Keynote Presentation or a Breakout Session through MMASC’s website
by Tuesday, July 7.
| | ILG PARTNER NEWS, UPDATES & EVENTS | | |
Edison's 2025 Sustainability Report Highlights Continued Progress Toward an Affordable Clean Energy Future
Edison International’s 2025 Sustainability Report is now available. With intensifying climate impacts, rising electricity demand, and affordability concerns, Edison is focused on strengthening the grid, reducing wildfire risk, advancing electrification, and investing in long-term resilience.
This report highlights the progress the teams at Edison International, Southern California Edison, and Trio made in 2025 to build a clean, reliable, resilient, and affordable energy future.
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RGS June 2026 eNews
This milestone year, RGS is looking back and leaning forward. From early support of remote and hybrid work strategies during the pandemic to today's ongoing conversations about workplace flexibility, RGS has seen how collaboration helps agencies stay resilient. Their recent 25th Anniversary Board meeting gave RGS space to celebrate growth and partnerships while identifying new opportunities to serve local communities. And this Juneteenth, RGS reaffirms their commitment to equity, accessibility, and trust—core values that guide their work in building inclusive public service. Catch up on all the important news and updates here.
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BBK and Pacifica ADA Center Kick-Off Webinar Series Addressing ADA Website & Digital Accessibility
Digital accessibility isn’t just a best practice — it’s a legal requirement and a critical part of serving your community. Join BBK attorney Christine Wood and Pacific ADA Center colleagues this July for “New Accessible by Design” a six-part webinar series designed to help public agencies build and maintain accessible digital content.
Participants will gain practical guidance on:
- Digital accessibility fundamentals and ADA/WCAG requirements
- Accessible social media communications
- Website and mobile app accessibility
- Creating accessible documents from the start
- PDF remediation techniques and workflows
Whether you are responsible for communications, website management, document creation, or compliance, this series provides actionable tools to help ensure equitable access for all users.
When: July 1 – July 30, 2026
Register for the series and gain access to the live sessions, as well as the on-demand recordings.
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Running Ads on TikTok: Key Issues for Public Agencies
TikTok has become a powerful platform for discovery, storytelling and community outreach, and public agencies are starting to take notice. 📱
From public service announcements and recruitment efforts to program reminders and awareness campaigns, TikTok ads can help agencies reach residents who may not engage with traditional communication channels.
Check out Tripepi Smith's latest insights article to learn more.
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