|
Dear Friends of ILG,
2026 has started at full speed, with four webinars behind us and many miles traveled connecting with local leaders across the state. With spring just around the corner, there’s a sense of renewed energy across California’s local governments. These early conversations have reinforced what we already know: local government professionals are deeply committed to public service and finding solutions that strengthen their communities. We have been inspired by strategy sessions, policy briefings, conferences, board meetings, and roundtables that have helped us hone in on the best opportunities for making a meaningful impact in this sector, and we’re excited to continue that dialogue in the coming weeks.
While February celebrated the Black and African-American leaders in local government, March invites us to celebrate Women’s History Month and acknowledge the leadership and impact of women in public service. At the recent City Managers Conference, it was powerful to hear women city managers reflect on their paths to leadership, the mentors who supported them, the lessons they learned, and the advice they offered to the next generation. Their experiences reinforce how important it is to cultivate leadership pipelines in local government and why ILG is so committed to our Leadership & Governance work.
In fact, we’re starting to roll out updated written resources in the ethics and governance area, including a new edition of our popular pamphlet, "The ABCs of Open Government Laws."
Your thoughtful responses to our Annual Priorities Survey are guiding our approach to leadership, education, training, and resource development in 2026. Thank you to everyone who took time to contribute! Your feedback directly informs how we show up for you, ensuring our programs remain responsive, relevant, and grounded in the real challenges you’re facing.
As always, we remain committed to helping you navigate the complexities of your role. If there are emerging issues you’d like us to explore, or new tools that would make your work easier, we are listening. And if you see opportunities for partnership with your organization, we welcome those conversations as well.
In this newsletter, you’ll find valuable training sessions, conferences, and resources designed to support your work.
Yours in service,
Erica L. Manuel
CEO & Executive Director
| | |
$2.73 Million Grant Win for
the City of Westmorland
We love it when our partner agencies succeed! Westmorland is one of seven cities in our BOOST Imperial Valley initiative. The city was just awarded a new $2.737 million USDA grant — with an additional $1.1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending — which is a huge win for a small city of just 0.4 square miles and approximately 2,000 people. The grant will allow the city to consolidate its police and fire departments into a single, modern Emergency Operations Center, enhancing the quality of life and infrastructure in this rural region.
ILG was proud to partner with Westmorland on this application by providing grant writing support, connecting the city with experts to conduct the environmental review process, and conducting outreach to help secure the matching funding. Just further proof that investing in building capacity for local governments can have a multiplier effect on regional vitality.
| | |
Thanking Teresa Acosta for 10 Years
on the ILG Board
At a recent League of California Cities Board of Directors meeting, Erica got to hand-deliver an ILG Board Service Award to City of Carlsbad Councilmember Teresa Acosta. The award is just a small way of recognizing the long and impactful tenure Teresa had on ILG’s Board of Directors, including being our Chair in 2022 and 2023, as well as a vital member of our Executive Committee for many years. We will still see plenty of each other, as she now serves as First Vice President of Cal Cities. Thank you again for your service, Teresa!
| | |
Launching the Bridge Public Sector Apprenticeships Statewide Advisory Panel
We were excited to kick off the first meeting of the Bridge Statewide Advisory Panel, bringing together an incredible group of partners from across California. The conversation underscored both the urgency and opportunity facing local government — agencies are navigating workforce shortages, tight budgets, and increasing demands, while also exploring new pathways like Registered Apprenticeships to build the next generation of public servants. We’re grateful for the expertise and commitment of this group as we move this work forward together to develop and scale registered apprenticeships in high demand public sector occupations.
| | |
Confirm Your Rules of Procedure Are
Up to Date With These Sample Governance Handbooks
Part of ILG’s mission is to develop and curate resources that help local government leaders navigate the operational and policy complexities that come with running an agency. Our updated collection of Governance Handbooks provides agencies and elected officials with a wide variety of samples to consider. Whether you are looking to update your own rules of order/procedure, or simply would like to confirm your own policies are still relevant, please check out our most recent list of Governance Handbooks from municipalities, counties, and special districts across California.
If you would like help creating or updating your handbook, please reach out to us!
| | |
What California Local Leaders Should Know About Open Meeting Laws
Governing and operating transparently is a key component of building trust within your community. We have updated our popular pamphlet, "The ABCs of Open Government Laws," which provides a plain-language overview of what decision-makers need to know about California’s transparency laws (the Brown Act and the Public Records Act).
| | |
Looking for a Sample Social Media Policy for Your Agency?
Another way we try to support local governments is by surfacing best practices when it comes to areas that are constantly evolving, such as digital communications. We now offer an updated collection of Social Media Policies from agencies of all shapes and sizes throughout the state.
To better fit your needs, we have organized them by comprehensiveness and complexity, so you can decide whether a more streamlined or more detailed sample is best for your agency. Almost all the sample social media policies are from within the past five years, to ensure coherence with an ever-changing social media environment.
| | TRAINING & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES | | |
California Resilience Implementation Accelerator Announces Call for Proposals
The California Resilience Implementation Accelerator is co-led by California Forward, Climate Resolve, and Resilient Cities Catalyst (RCC) to support moving high-impact, community-driven climate adaptation projects from planning toward implementation. ILG has served on RCC's California Resilience Collaborative for years, providing a local government voice.
The Accelerator is accepting their next round of applications through Wednesday April 1, 2026 (11:59 PM PT), with selected projects announced in mid-May. Per the application form’s guidance, they are seeking "promising, place-based multi-benefit resilience solutions" with "replicable models that can be scaled across California’s most climate-vulnerable communities."
| | |
Join Fellow Local Leaders at the 2026
Stanford Local Governance Summer Institute (LGSI@Stanford)
Sunday, July 19 – Friday, July 24
ILG is a proud partner and on the Advisory Committee of Stanford University’s Local Governance Summer Institute (LGSI), which offers city managers, county executives, regional directors, and other senior local government officials the opportunity to exchange and acquire tools for improving local government performance. This intensive, one-week program strengthens individual capacities in public finance, negotiating and strategic planning skills, all while introducing participants to innovative solutions and technological advances in the world of California local government.
LGSI is currently accepting applications for this year’s cohort, scheduled for July 19–24. We hope to see you there!
| | ILG AFFILIATE UPDATES & EVENTS | | |
Mandated Training and a Speed Session at
the Cal Cities 2026 Planning Commissioners Academy
Sheraton Park Hotel, Anaheim
Wednesday, March 11 – Friday, March 13
Designed for new and seasoned planning commissioners alike, the Cal Cities Planning Commissioners Academy provides information about the roles and responsibilities of a planning commissioner, offers a basic legal and practical framework, and delves into emerging issues of importance for planning commissioners today.
Melissa and Jon will facilitate two state-mandated training sessions at the conference:
- Ethics (AB 1234) on Wed, March 11 from 10 AM – 12 PM, and
- Harassment prevention (AB 1661) on Fri, March 13 from 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM
You do not need to register in advance, and both sessions offer MCLE credit.
Melissa will also lead the "Cut Through the Complexity: Resources That Make Planning Easier" Speed Session on Wednesday from 2:45–3:05 PM, introducing attendees to ILG’s "Planning Commissioner Handbook" and other easy-to-use tools.
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.
| | |
Cal Cities 2026 City Leaders Summit in Sacramento
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, Sacramento
Wednesday, April 22 – Friday, April 24
The ILG team looks forward to seeing you at the Cal Cities 2026 City Leaders Summit in Sacramento! The Summit is a great opportunity for us to attend educational sessions about the challenges you face in your agencies, share our unique insights and resources, and connect with leaders from across the state.
Online registration ends Wednesday, April 15.
| | SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE FIELD | | |
Subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter to see
the ILG team out and about in February!
Our team goes everywhere in California to promote good government at the local level, and we take some great photos while we're at it.
We now have a dedicated space for those visuals, all while streamlining this monthly newsletter a bit more to focus on the education, training, resources, and thought leadership you need to face the complexities of your roles.
| | |
Follow ILG on LinkedIn and Facebook to see
the latest articles and reports that interested us
To inform our efforts across all four pillars of work, our team is constantly learning about new local government research, data, trends, and topics.
If you follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook, you'll see us posting the pieces that caught our eye. We hope you find some inspiration from these shares as well!
| | ILG PARTNER NEWS, UPDATES & EVENTS | | |
BBK Publishes 2026 California Election Law Toolkit
Best Best & Krieger LLP’s (BBK) Election Law team has published its 2026 California Election Law Toolkit. The Election Law Toolkit is a comprehensive and user-friendly manual with all the tools, resources, and forms local elections officials and clerks need to conduct California municipal elections.
This unique resource includes a digital and hard copy of BBK’s Election Law Toolkit available for purchase at bbkmarketplace.com and contains the following materials:
- A comprehensive and user-friendly manual for handling all aspects of a local election. From calling the election, the nomination process and ballot designations to declaring results, recount procedures and handling vacancies, the manual provides valuable guidance to ensure adherence to state election laws, including the latest on the California Voting Rights Act.
- A set of templates that are easily adapted from a Microsoft Word format so that election officials can make them their own. There are templates for form resolutions, form notices and more.
- A to-do checklist to accompany many of the Toolkit’s chapters to help election officials stay organized and ensure that the associated election law regulations and required actions are met.
- Legal context and clarity on current election procedures, with references to specific sections of the California Elections Code.
| |
Unlocking the Power of
Google Performance Max Ads
Performance Max is a goal-based campaign type that gives advertisers access to all of Google’s inventory — Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, Discover, and Google Maps — through a single campaign. This Tripepi Smith Insights article will help you determine if Performance Max is right for your agency's needs.
| |
Save the Date: MMANC Women's Leadership Summit on Thursday, May 21
MMANC is excited to announce its 2026 Women's Leadership Summit, taking place Thursday, May 21 in Roseville!
This MMANC Signature Event sells out every year and has a proud history of inspiring, connecting, and empowering local government professionals. The Women's Leadership Summit welcomes ALL professionals at every stage of their leadership journey.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities for this highly anticipated event? Contact the Programs Director at Programs@MMANC.org to learn more.
| | | | |
