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Dear Friends of ILG,
It’s hard to believe that fall is nearly here — and with it, the final stretch of 2025. This summer has brought no shortage of challenges and opportunities for California’s cities, counties, and special districts. Local leaders have been navigating tight budgets, new policy shifts, and growing demands from their communities around engagement, sustainability, and governance.
As we enter conference season, these gatherings will provide a chance for leaders to exchange strategies, share lessons learned and find support from peers across the state. ILG is proud to be part of that journey — offering tools, training, and connections to help local governments strengthen leadership, improve public engagement, and advance climate action.
We’re also preparing to honor this year’s Beacon Award winners, whose dedication to building sustainable and resilient communities stands out even amid changing budgets and competing priorities. Their stories will be featured throughout the year, including at the Cal Cities Annual Conference & Expo in Long Beach this October, and we hope you’ll join in celebrating their achievements.
This year also marks ILG’s 70th anniversary, a milestone that reflects not just our history, but the enduring partnership between our nonprofit and the local governments we serve. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and express gratitude for the local agencies and leaders who continue to drive innovation and resilience in California’s communities.
In this newsletter, you’ll find upcoming webinars, training opportunities and resources designed with your needs in mind — from wildfire risk reduction to CEQA updates to effective public meeting design. Whatever your community is facing, ILG is here to help.
You’ve inspired us for 70 years, and we look forward to at least 70 more!
In gratitude,
Erica L. Manuel
CEO & Executive Director
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Webinar – Building Fire-Adapted Communities: A Roadmap for California Leaders
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
11 AM – 12 PM
We invite you to join us and our Platinum Level Partners at Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) for this introductory webinar in our “Advanced Wildfire Risk Reduction” series. You will learn from Jon Holtzman and Dave Winnacker, part of the Advanced Wildfire Risk Reduction service — a combined offering of RPLG and their non-attorney division, Renne Public Management Group (RPMG). They will explain the "five ingredients" of large-scale fire loss and identify the framework for better protecting your community from wildfires.
In the remaining webinars of this series, we will dig deeper into actionable, proactive solutions for communities of any size to reduce their wildfire risk.
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Sign Up for ILG's Next "Meeting Mastery" Training
Tuesday, September 23 –
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
10 AM – 3 PM
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 Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Wednesday, Sept 24.The two-day virtual training will run from 10 AM – 3 PM each day. Book your spot today!
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Lunch & Learn Webinar – Unlocking Housing Solutions: How CEQA Reform Is Reshaping California Development
Thursday, September 25, 2025
12–1 PM
California’s housing crisis has pushed CEQA reform from a long-debated idea to an urgent legislative priority. With Governor Newsom’s recent signing of Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) and Senate Bill 131 (SB 131) on June 30, 2025, the rules of the game have changed for housing development.
These bills introduce sweeping modifications to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including new statutory exemptions, expanded administrative record requirements, and the innovative “near miss” provision for projects that narrowly miss exemption qualifications.
This Lunch & Learn session, co-hosted by ILG and our Platinum Level Partner Best Best & Krieger LLC (BBK), will explore how these groundbreaking reforms will shape the future of housing development in California, streamline approvals, and open new opportunities for builders, agencies, and communities.
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Webinar – A Look Ahead: How a New Redistricting Map Would Affect Your Agency
Monday, September 29, 2025
11:30 AM – 1 PM
This November, Californians will vote on whether to extensively change California's Congressional Districts map. If adopted, the new map would change many local governments' federal representative, and often divides a city, county, or special district among multiple districts. The new map would also change which cities and counties are paired with your jurisdiction in a given district.
In this session, ILG and National Demographics Corporation (NDC) will empower local governments to look ahead to what these potential changes would mean for your local and federal relationships. Join us for a nonpartisan, factual discussion about the changes proposed on a statewide and regional basis. We will also share and explore a tool for easy side-by-side comparisons of your current and proposed new district boundaries. NDC will share their expert insights on how the changes could impact relationship management between local governments and their Congressional Representatives, not just for 2026 but also after the 2030 census.
| | SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE FIELD | | |
Training the Next Generation of Local Leaders at LGSI@Stanford
Melissa was a guest speaker at the Local Governance Summer Institute at Stanford University as part of their "Civic Engagement, Technology and Strategy" module. She discussed strategies to encourage civil discourse in public meetings and tips to increase community engagement.
Thank you to Brian Moura, the City of South San Francisco, and Tripepi Smith for being great presentation collaborators!
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Engaging the Public in Maywood at National Night Out
Engaging the community often means meeting residents where they are. National Night Out proved to be an excellent opportunity to survey Maywood residents about the city’s Climate Action, Adaptation, and Resilience Plan (CAARP), which ILG is helping develop. Nikita was proud to work on the ground with our Maywood colleagues to get meaningful feedback.
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Celebrating Influential Women at the "When Women Lead" Reception
Erica, Kristy, and Hanna celebrated powerhouses in policy, advocacy, and leadership at the California Women Lead "When Women Lead" Summer Reception. The event honored "five distinguished leaders who provide elected women with the resources and support to successfully serve their local communities and the great state of California."
Among them, Carolyn Coleman — a longtime member of the ILG Board of Directors and the CEO & Executive Director of our parent organization, the League of California Cities. Representatives from ILG affiliate the California State Association of Counties were also recognized at the event. Congratulations to all of the honorees!
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Sharing Public Meeting Design Advice with CSDA Annual Conference Attendees
Hanna and Melissa led a CSDA Annual Conference session titled "Game Plan for Hosting More Positive, Productive, and Fun Public Workshops." Team ILG showed attendees that public workshops can be dynamic, inclusive, and engaging experiences. Erica, Hanna, and Melissa also tag-teamed on Expo booth duties, sharing information and resources with attendees on the numerous services and programs ILG offers.
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Offering Partnership Support for Public Sector Apprenticeships and Career Pathways
Amanda attended a recent hiring event hosted by Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT). Building strong pipelines into the public sector means finding a high-quality workforce through events like this one.
The ILG team is always on the lookout for successful and innovative strategies to drive positive workforce outcomes.
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Exploring California’s Energy Transition Opportunities at PPIC’s "Powering California’s Future" Event
The Public Policy Institute of California’s August "Powering California’s Future" event brought together leaders and subject matter experts to discuss practical strategies and solutions for California’s energy transition. This work aligns closely with our sustainability pillar, our BOOST Program in Imperial Valley, and our timely Beacon Award announcements.
ILG partners from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) served on a panel discussing California’s clean energy progress, public opinion on the energy transition, and the affordability of these efforts.
Erica also serves on PPIC’s Statewide Leadership Council and shares a local government perspective.
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Courts Continue to Police Public Officials’ Social Media Posts
The latest “Update on Public Law” newsletter from ILG Silver Level Partner Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC (CHW) offers takeaways from the recent Ninth Circuit case Garnier v. O'Connor-Ratcliff. If public officials blur the lines between their “personal” social media accounts and "official" ones, then activity such as deleting/hiding comments or blocking users gets particularly messy. Read the full article here.
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PPIC Survey: Californians and the Energy Transition
For decades, California has been a cutting-edge leader on policies addressing climate change and transitioning to cleaner energy. While the majority of Californians support these policies, attitudes may be shifting as the ever-increasing cost of living collides with federal funding reductions. Read the summary of the Public Policy Institute of California’s most recent Statewide Survey here.
Image courtesy of ppic.org
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National Civic Review, Summer 2025 Edition
The summer issue of the National Civic Review (NCR) from ILG resource partner the National Civic League, explores how communities are revitalizing democracy through civic tradition, collaborative leadership, and local innovation. Articles highlight the promise of citizen-focused democracy, strategies like fusion voting, and reforms to make public meetings more inclusive. Contributors examine how storytelling shapes civic life, how cities are improving street safety, and what today’s local leaders can learn from historical figures. Together, these stories offer a hopeful view of how American communities can revitalize democracy through shared purpose, strategic innovation, and local leadership.
Access the Summer 2025 edition here.
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ICMA Career Compass Article #116: Are You Coachable?
In this Career Compass article from ILG association partner ICMA, you’ll find out more about how coaching can help government professionals advance in their careers. According to the article, to accelerate your career development and advancement, you need a coach. But are you coachable? Coaching is different than mentoring. A coach is not transferring knowledge and teaching or training someone on how to do their job. Rather, a coach helps their coachee identify their aspirations, explore their true potential, and strive to become the best version of themselves.
Image courtesy of ICMA
| | ILG AFFILIATE NEWS, UPDATES & EVENTS | | |
Submit Your County for the 2026 CSAC Challenge Awards
The annual California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Challenge Awards recognize innovative and cost-effective approaches used by California counties to deliver services to their communities. The awards highlight best practices and acknowledge the creative work of county staff in developing innovative solutions.
The deadline is 11:59 PM on Friday, September 12, 2025. Submit your application today!
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Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo: Registration is Open
Wednesday, October 8 – Friday, October 10, 2025
Long Beach Convention Center
300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA
Join ILG at the Cal Cities 2025 Annual Conference and Expo, October 8–10 at the Long Beach Convention Center. This year’s conference will feature general sessions, workshops, and networking events for hundreds of leaders from all sections of city government, including mayors, council members, city managers, city clerks, city attorneys, fiscal officers, and other city staff.
ILG will be hosting multiple sessions:
- AB 1234 Ethics Training
- Harassment Prevention Training
- Stepping Up to Lead: Addressing the Erosion of Trust in Local Government
- Building Climate Resilience: Innovating in a Changing Funding Landscape
We will also be honoring our 2025 Beacon Award winners. Stop by our booth in the Expo Hall to say hello and learn how our training and resources can help you! Visit the Cal Cities website for more information and registration.
ILG is a State Bar of California minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) approved provider and certifies that each session/activity meets the standards for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California. Provider #13881
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CSDA 2025 Board Secretary / Clerk Conference
Monday, October 27 – Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
170 Railroad Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
This year’s conference tackles the pervasive feelings of self-doubt, insecurity, and impostor syndrome that can hold us back. Special District Board Secretaries and Clerks can discover how to set their own worth and stop settling for less, both at work and in life. Learn more and register here.
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131st CSAC Annual Meeting
Monday, December 1 – Friday, December 5, 2025
Santa Clara County
The CSAC Annual Meeting is a can't-miss opportunity to collaborate, learn, and address the critical issues impacting counties. This multi-day event brings together leaders from across the state for in-depth workshops, panel discussions on innovative solutions, and presentations on best practices in county governance.
The ILG team will be there, and we hope to connect about finding meaningful solutions for California counties' evolving challenges. Learn more and register here.
| | ILG PARTNER NEWS, UPDATES & EVENTS | |
Understanding the Role of the Workplace Investigator: Debunking Common Misconceptions Among the Plaintiffs’ Employment Attorneys
In this article from ILG Partner RPLG, learn how, in employment litigation, workplace investigations often become central to the facts and outcomes of a case. However, plaintiffs’ employment attorneys frequently misinterpret the role of the neutral investigator, especially when the investigation is initiated and paid for by the employer. These misunderstandings can lead to misplaced distrust and unrealistic expectations about what workplace investigators can and cannot do. To foster a clearer understanding, it’s important to unpack the key misconceptions and clarify the investigator’s actual role. Read the full article here.
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BBK Presents Fall 2025 Clean Up Webinar Series: Contracts for Wireless Facilities on Public Property
Starting Wednesday, September 10, ILG Partner Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) will host a six-part Fall 2025 webinar series, “Contracts for Wireless Facilities on Public Property,” focusing on the legal and strategic aspects of negotiating fair and enforceable agreements for wireless facilities sited on public land and rights-of-way. This webinar series will provide local government professionals with practical strategies for negotiating contracts that authorize the placement of wireless facilities on public property.
Participants will gain a clear understanding of the types of entities and wireless facilities commonly involved, along with key contractual elements such as fair compensation, interference management, and relocation provisions. The sessions will also explore how to address subleases, site managers, transfer rights, and the unique challenges of siting in public rights-of-way. Attendees will walk away with best practices, and negotiation tips to help secure effective, balanced agreements that protect the public interest. Visit the BBK website to learn more and register.
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Use the ILG Code to Sign Up for Tripepi Smith's New Local Information Network of Knowledge (LINK)
ILG Partner Tripepi Smith has launched the Local Information Network of Knowledge (LINK), a community forum for California local government professionals to find and share key resources and insights. Unlike traditional listservs, LINK centralizes and archives all content and conversations, making it easy to search and revisit topics over time.
For a limited time, local government professionals can sign up for free using their government email address and the discount code ILGFAN2025. Get started today by clicking “Sign Up” in the top right corner of the website: LocalInfoNetwork.com.
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Register Now for the California JPIA’s 30th Annual Risk Management Educational Forum!
Wednesday, October 1 – Friday, October 3, 2025
Omni La Costa Resort, Carlsbad
For more than 20 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority has hosted the Risk Management Educational Forum, a two-and-a-half-day conference featuring world-class keynotes and sessions presented by risk management experts. The Forum allows members to learn about topics relevant to local government, including legal liability, workers’ compensation, and public safety. The event is the one time of year all Authority members can come together, and it also features networking activities, including a golf tournament, where attendees can address common issues and share knowledge. Register here.
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MMASC Offering Three Annual Conference Scholarships
The Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) is a member of the ILG Board and a longtime part of ILG. They are offering three scholarships for first-time attendees to attend the 2025 MMASC Annual Conference, taking place November 12 to November 14 in Indian Wells. The recipients of the scholarships will receive complimentary conference registration. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 5 PM. For additional information and to apply, visit MMASC's Scholarships webpage.
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