Issue highlights:
Read below for more news and events.
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Cities are urged to submit a letter of opposition on AB 215 (Chiu), which would create a new, mid-cycle regional housing needs progress determination process. It would require cities and counties with “low progress” to consult with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and adopt pro-housing policies. This bill is set to be heard in the Senate Committee on Housing on Thursday, July 1 at 10:30 a.m. and the Senate Committee on Appropriations later in July. Take action today! OPPOSE AB 215 (Chiu) (AB 215 sample city opposition letter.)
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City leaders should urge lawmakers to appropriate $225 million to help cities and counties with local organic waste recycling program development and initial implementation activities. State funding is needed to ensure that cities can get their SB 1383 program up and running quickly, but also to soften the rate increases local governments will need to make to pay for the program. Take action today! ( Organic waste Budget ask sample city letter)
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The Legislature’s proposed budget deal provides significant resources for cities to address generational crises, but more resources are needed to support recovery from COVID-19 in all cities. City leaders should continue to urge lawmakers to appropriate at least $10 billion to help cities recover from the pandemic, bolster investment towards meaningful solutions to homelessness, improve housing affordability, and advance critical infrastructure. Take action today! (State Budget sample city letter.docx.)
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The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee passed SB 9 on a 5-1 vote, with two abstaining. Lead opposition testimony was provided by Blanca Pacheco, the mayor pro tem of Downey and the president of Cal Cities’ LA County Division. Despite fervent testimony by Pacheco and others, the bill passed out committee. Read more
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Dozens of bills tracked by the League of California Cities are scheduled for a legislative committee hearing through next Thursday, and three are priority bills: SB 16 (Skinner), AB 215 (Chiu), and SB 2 (Bradford). Cal Cities opposes all three. Cities should consider voicing their opposition if they have not already. Read more
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Workforce housing properties were acquired by the cities of Glendale and Pasadena from the issuance of more than $481.5 million in tax-exempt Essential Housing Revenue Bonds through the California Statewide Communities Development Authority’s new Workforce Housing Program. Read more.
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Non-entitlement cities have until tonight, June 23 at 11:59 p.m., to access the American Rescue Plan Request for Fund Portal. Additionally, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has released clarifications on several eligible use criteria, most notably broadband infrastructure. The new language around broadband is a big win for local governments. Finally, the Treasury Department also released Compliance and Reporting Guidance for metropolitan cities, which builds on the Interim Final Rule issued on May 10. Read the full update
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Wednesday, June 30, 10:00 a.m. — Cities across the state are beginning the redistricting process. Because this process only happens once every decade, the stakes are high — especially for those doing it for the first time. Hear from seasoned experts about the basics of the process, legal requirements, and tips needed to navigate the process gracefully. Gain a better understanding of the roles of staff and elected officials and how to manage the timeline to create a successful redistricting process and plan. Speakers: Matthew “Mal” Richardson, Partner, Best Best & Krieger; Ken Strasma, CEO, HaystaqDNA; Stephanie Smith, former City Clerk, cities of Murrieta and Lake Forest & Director of Election Services, Best Best & Krieger. Register now
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Thursday, July 1, 2:00 p.m. — California's commitment to fair and equal housing was reinforced by the passage of AB 686, which required public agencies to administer housing and community development programs in a way that furthers fair housing. This webinar will provide an overview of the fair housing laws, strategies to implement/address these requirements, and the connection between fair housing and larger socioeconomic, equity, and environmental justice issues. Speakers: Tyrone Buckley, Assistant Deputy Director of Fair Housing, Department of Housing and Community Development; Muhammad Alameldin, Economic Equity Fellow, The Greenlining Institute; Lori Droste, Vice Mayor, City of Berkeley; and Isaac Rosen, Associate, Best Best & Kreiger. Register now
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Thursday, July 22, 9:00 a.m. — Join Cal Cities’ lobbyists for a briefing on major bills cities should consider advocating for or against once the Legislature returns from its summer recess on Aug. 16. Presenters: Cal Cities Deputy Executive Director, Advocacy and Public Affairs Melanie Perron; Assistant Legislative Director Jason Rhine; Legislative Representatives Derek Dolfie, Nick Romo, Elisa Arciadiacono, and Damon Conklin; and Policy Analysts Johnnie Pina, and Caroline Cirrincione. Register now
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City councils set the tone, tenor, and behavior that agencies look to emulate. Leadership and ethics go hand in hand and require honesty and personal integrity. The age-old adage is true — people follow willingly, with greater productivity, if their leaders are individuals they respect. What can elected officials and senior city management do to help set high standards for employees, elected officials, and the city itself? Read more
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New affordable housing in the city of Santa Clara will be constructed for low-income residents, with more than $76.4 million in tax-exempt affordable housing bonds issued through the California Statewide Communities Development Authority. Read more.
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Friday, June 25, 1:00 p.m. — Calling all California students ages 13-19! The Institute for Local Government is hosting a free online summit for teens. Students and young adults are invited to share their experiences searching for jobs or volunteer activities and discuss plans for future careers. Participants may win a $50 gift card! Teens can register online and text questions to (916) 267-5710. Register now
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Wednesday, June 30, 12:00 p.m. — Join the League of California Cities Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) Caucus and leaders from Equality California (EQCA) for a session that highlights work advancing and supporting LGBTQ communities. The LGBTQ Caucus and EQCA will provide a legislative update on key issues impacting the LGBTQ community, discuss the EQCA LGBTQ+ Leadership Academy, and provide an overview of the EQCA LGBTQ+ Leadership Summit. Presenters: Equality California Executive Director-designate Tony Hoang, Legislative Director Tami Martin, and Associate Program Director Jeremy Payne. Register now
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The National League of Cities released its annual State of the Cities report. The analysis is based on a survey of local officials from nearly 600 cities, towns, and villages, as well as 57 mayoral speeches. Among other things, it found that basic infrastructure and public spaces determined how well a city was able to respond to and recover from the pandemic — the same areas often hit hardest by budget cuts. The report featured San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria who noted, “having a reliable water supply is just as important as having sustainable energy...[The Pure Water project] will create thousands of good-paying jobs and will provide a third of our drinking water. Read more
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Thursday, July 22, 10:00 a.m. — The Supreme Court's First Amendment docket didn't disappoint in 2020-21. The Court heard cases involving the speech and association rights in Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta, which involved a challenge to California's charitable donor-disclosure requirement; the speech right in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., which involved a challenge to a school's suspension of a student for off-campus speech; and the free exercise right in Fulton v. Philadelphia, which involved a challenge to the city's non-discrimination requirement for its government contractors. The webinar will highlight general trends in the Court's First Amendment jurisprudence, these cases, and the religious liberty cases related to COVID-19 restrictions that the Court decided on its "shadow docket." Presenters: Earthjustice Director of Strategic Legal Advocacy Kirti Datla, and State and Local Legal Center Executive Director Lisa Soronen. Read more
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Thursday, July 29, 10:00 a.m. — Police practices were featured front and center in multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases this term. Join a discussion of these cases, with topics ranging from Fourth Amendment searches and seizures, to excessive force, to local governments holding onto impounded vehicles after a bankruptcy stay has been filed. Presenters: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP Partner Shay Dvoretzky; Constitutional Accountability Center Director of the Civil Rights, Human Rights, and Citizenship Program David Gans; and State and Local Legal Center Executive Director Lisa Soronen. Read more
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CSCDA is a joint powers authority founded by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties in 1988 to enable local government and eligible private entities access to low-cost, tax-exempt financing for projects that provide a tangible public benefit, contribute to social and economic growth and improve the overall quality of life in local communities throughout California.
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July 13
July 13
July 14
July 14
July 22
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July 27
July 28
Sept. 22-24
Sept. 22-24 (held during the Annual Conference & Expo)
Municipal Finance Institute
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