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Dear Friends of ILG,
As we move swiftly through the spring season, many of you are deep in the annual budget forecasting process — balancing competing priorities, responding to fast-moving legislative changes, and charting a course forward for your communities. With significant shifts at both the state and federal levels over the past month — including California’s updated budget projections and the continued rollout of adjustments to federal infrastructure and workforce development funding — we know this is a pivotal time for local governments.
April offered many moments to reflect on the impact of public service. From National County Government Month and California Cities Week to the City Leaders Summit and CSAC Legislative Conference, we’ve been inspired by the resilience and dedication of local leaders across the state. Just yesterday, National Apprenticeship Day gave us a platform to highlight innovative public sector workforce pathways — tools that not only address staffing gaps, but also build more inclusive and sustainable local economies.
Looking ahead to Public Service Recognition Week, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank each of you. At ILG, we see the long hours, tough decisions, and unwavering commitment you bring to public service. Your work matters, and it makes a difference.
We also want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our board members, programmatic partners, and the dozens of local government clients who are trusting us to support their goals. Your partnership fuels our mission to build more effective, equitable, and collaborative governance across California. We proudly support all 2,500+ cities, counties, and special districts in the state. If you’re connected to local government, you’re connected to ILG.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find curated resources, upcoming trainings, and opportunities to connect with peers. ILG is here to support you — every step of the way.
In gratitude,
Erica L. Manuel
CEO & Executive Director
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National Apprenticeship Day
The public sector is always in pursuit of the best and brightest personnel to join its ranks. ILG is exploring numerous strategies to meet the evolving recruitment and retention needs of local government, including registered apprenticeships.
On Wednesday, April 30, ILG published a Statement in Recognition of National Apprenticeship Day: Recognizing the Exciting Opportunity for Registered Apprenticeships in the Local Government Workforce.
"National Apprenticeship Day provides an opportunity to honor the contributions of apprentices, employers, educators, workforce boards, training providers, and public leaders working together to build a more inclusive, skilled, and civically engaged workforce." Read the full statement here.
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Meeting Mastery
Wednesday, June 11 – Thursday, June 12, 2025
10am – 3pm
We know many local agencies are struggling with attendance and engagement in community workshops. Do you want to change that? Do you want to have more authentic community conversations? Are you interested in making your meetings more accessible, relevant and engaging for the community? ILG’s virtual 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 meetings, workshops, committees, and focus groups.
Registration is now open for our next Meeting Mastery training from Wednesday, June 11 – Thursday, June 12. The two-day virtual training will run from 10am – 3pm each day. Book your spot today!
| | SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE FIELD | | |
ILG Connecting with Counties at the
CSAC Legislative Conference
Team ILG was at the CSAC Legislative Conference last week to hear about county needs and share information about ILG initiatives programs related to apprenticeships, leadership, Beacon sustainability awards, and public engagement.
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ILG at the Cal Cities City Leaders Summit
Team ILG joined city officials at the City Leaders Summit where we focused on hot topics for cities including bridging divides, updates on the State and Federal budgets, and wildfire and disaster preparedness.
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Engaging with California's Workforce Boards at WorkCon 2025
This week, Program Director Rafael Aguilera had the honor of speaking at the California Workforce Association (CWA) WorkCon in Orange County. He joined fellow apprenticeship champions on a Plenary Panel to discuss expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) across California through innovative efforts across workforce boards, community colleges, and the public sector.
Thank you to California Leaders in Apprenticeship for this opportunity to highlight our efforts to support local agencies building inclusive, sustainable apprenticeship pathways. It was a great way to celebrate National Apprenticeship Day 2025!
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ILG Webinars on Demand
ILG’s trainings and webinars focus on key areas of interest and concern for our local agencies. In April, ILG hosted two webinars. The first was focused on economic development strategies like Climate Resiliency Districts, and we partnered with Kosmont Companies to deliver that content. Our second webinar was delivered with ILG partner HdL Companies and focused on boosting local budgets, including how to better leverage the lesser-known local taxes and fees.
Access all webinar archives here.
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Public Policy Institute of California:
Room for Progress in College Graduates' Transition to the Labor Market
Where will the next generation of public sector employees come from? Where are there gaps in employment and opportunities for better training and development? According to a recent study by PPIC, more more research is needed to understand which student groups and majors are more prone to underemployment, and whether all majors are providing skills that graduates need in the job market. In addition, our higher education institutions can do more to forge smoother transitions between college and the labor market. Several interventions aim to facilitate this transition, ranging from experiential learning coursework and career mentorship programs to internships, job shadowing, and co-ops. Read more.
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Public Management Magazine:
Human Services As a Strategic Priority
An op-ed by Ashley Reynolds Marshall — Deputy City Manager of Charlottesville, Virginia — muses on how crucial human services are to a good governance strategy. Read more. (Article starts on page 46)
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National League of Cities: Innovative Approaches to Civic Engagement
Public engagement is one of ILG’s core pillars of work, so we’re always interested in which strategies are best for ensuring California residents feel connected to their local governments and have an opportunity to engage meaningfully on issues of importance. According to the National League of Cities, local leaders may consider tradeoffs when deciding which public engagement strategy and tool is the right fit. Important factors include the cost and time demanded of the engagement approach, as well as the degree of participation that might be required to make an effective decision. Lastly, civic engagement, despite its best efforts, may not always reflect the community at hand. Read more.
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The Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC): Benefits and Challenges of Non-Traditional Work Schedules in Local Government
As local governments face increasing competition for talent, traditional 9-to-5, five-day workweeks are being reconsidered. Recruitment challenges, employee burnout, and changing worker expectations are driving exploration of alternative scheduling models across the public sector. Read more.
| | ILG AFFILIATE EVENTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS | | |
CSDA General Manager Leadership Summit
Sunday, June 29 – Tuesday July 1, 2025
Olympic Valley, CA
General Managers and emerging leaders come together annually at the California Special District Association's (CSDA) General Manager Leadership Summit to gain insight, make connections and hone their skills. ILG affiliate CSDA offers tailored education specifically for executive manager roles, and attendees can choose sessions designed to keep you current on governance best practices, state laws, human resources, operations, pensions, budgeting, district policies and procedures, risk management, and more! Plus, CSDA provides plenty of interactive networking opportunities! ILG will be hosting a table in the expo to connect with special districts to better understand how ILG programs and services can support their needs. If you are attending, please come by and say hello! Register today.
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Cal Cities & CSAC Joint Webinar: Advanced Clean Fleets: What’s Next for Local Agencies
Thursday, May 22, 2025
1pm – 2pm
Join the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) for a webinar on the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations. California Air Resource Board (CARB) staff will provide information on available resources for local agencies ways to provide input on rulemaking, and how federal actions may affect ACF targets.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 21. This webinar is complimentary to Cal Cities Members, Cal Cities Partners and members of the California State Association of Counties. Nonmember cities and other government entities will be charged $150. Register today.
| | ILG PARTNER UPDATES & EVENTS | | |
AP Style: Your Agency's Communication Cornerstone
When creating public sector communications, precision and clarity are paramount. When faced with a barrage of grammatical choices across different platforms, achieving that accuracy can be a daunting task. Sticking to a specific style guide is an essential step towards creating consistent communications assets across an agency, and in journalistic and media writing, the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook sets the standard. AP Style isn’t just a set of writing rules — it’s a strategic tool that can elevate your agency’s communication effectiveness, credibility, and professionalism. Find out more about AP Style here.
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Spring Tune-Up: Wireless Permitting
This training series is designed to equip local government staff with the guidance necessary to navigate the complicated landscape of wireless permitting laws, regulations, and best practices. The series provides in-depth actionable insights into several key topics, including the management of shot clocks, evaluation of eligible facility requests, and a local government’s role in environmental reviews and RF emissions regulations. Attendees will gain insight on navigating effective prohibition claims, understanding other wireless facility types like OTARDs and HAMs, and tips for updating wireless ordinances. Upon completion of the series, participants will be prepared to address complex issues and implement effective and efficient policies for wireless facility development in local communities.
When: Every Wednesday, from April 30 – June 30, 2025
Time: 11:30am – 12pm (PT)
Cost: Complimentary
Register here.
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Superior Court Upholds Moraga-Orinda Fire District's Fuel Break Ordinance from California Environmental Quality Act Challenge
Attorneys from Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) and Stoel Rives secured a significant victory for local agency efforts to combat wildfire risks. The Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa, ruled in favor of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (District) in a legal challenge brought by Orinda residents. The petitioners sought to overturn the District’s Fuel Break Ordinance, arguing that it required additional environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Read more about the court’s decision here.
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MMASC 2025 Summer Session
Agoura Hills, CA
Wednesday, July 10, 2025
9am – 4pm, with a Networking Mixer from 4 – 5:30pm
What if you could make your workday smoother, smarter and more impactful — without burning out? That is the core question attendees will tackle at the 2025 MMASC Summer Session. You will learn how to eliminate obstacles, simplify systems, AND revolutionize your agency. Register here.
Cost: $95 – $110 for MMASC Members; $110 – $125 for Nonmembers
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