Editor's Note
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League Policy Committees Convene for First Meeting of 2012
Last Thursday and Friday, the League’s eight standing policy committees met in Sacramento to discuss legislative issues and plan for the coming year. Close to 400 city officials participated in the meetings, which included representatives from the League’s professional departments, divisions, caucuses, affiliates, and Partners.
[FULL STORY]
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CalRecycle Approves Mandatory Commercial Recycling Regulations
On Jan. 17, CalRecycle approved its Mandatory Commercial Recycling Regulations. These regulations, which were previously being considered by the California Air Resources Board under AB 32, require that all local jurisdictions in California implement a commercial solid waste recycling program comprising education, outreach and monitoring of businesses. Jurisdictions are also required to report on the progress achieved in implementing its commercial recycling program. For background, please read the Oct. 21 CA Cities Advocate story “Mandatory Commercial Recycling Regulations to Now Be Adopted by CalRecycle.”
[FULL STORY]
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Senate Reviews Statewide Transportation Funding Needs
Report Identifies 10-Year Needs at Staggering $538 Billion
On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee held an informational hearing on the 2011 Statewide Transportation System Needs Assessment. Commissioned by the California Transportation Commission (CTC), the assessment was a collaboration of many agencies and organizations that participate in transportation planning in California. The report includes the needs of all modes of transportation, including highways, local streets and roads, bridges, airports, seaports, railways, and public transit.
[FULL STORY]
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League Continues to Address Flood Issues
The League has been working for several months with local flood agencies, counties and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) on addressing issues that have emerged from implementation of a package of bills to require 200-year flood protection signed into law in 2007.
[FULL STORY]
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Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Releases Draft Guidelines on Infill Development
Earlier this week, Gov. Jerry Brown’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) released for comment draft CEQA guidelines for streamlining approval of infill projects. SB 226 (Simitian), signed into law last fall, directs OPR to adopt the guidelines. These guidelines establish abbreviated CEQA review for defined infill projects where only specific or more significant effects on the environment that were not addressed in a prior planning level Environmental Impact Report need to be addressed. Eligible infill projects may include residential, retail, commercial, transit station, school, or public office building projects located within an urban area.
[FULL STORY]
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New Platinum League Partners Come Aboard in 2012
The League of California Cities would like to welcome four new League Partners who have joined at the Platinum level: SmartCitiesPrevail.org, Visa, Solar City and Walmart. These three companies join a network of more than 200 businesses, nonprofit associations, labor communities and other organizations that generously support the League and connect with California’s 482 cities. The League sincerely thanks SmartCitiesPrevail.org, Visa, Solar City and Walmart and all of its Partners for their support.
[FULL STORY]
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Save the Date: Meet With Sen. Barbara Boxer in Washington, D.C. on March 13
The National League of Cities (NLC) is hosting its annual Congressional City Conference on March 10-14 in Washington, D.C. During the conference, attendees from California are invited to meet with Sen. Barbara Boxer to discuss the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU and other important issues on March 13. The exact location and time of this meeting are still being finalized.
[FULL STORY]
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This Month in Western City Magazine
- “Resources for Leaders in Difficult Times” — True leadership involves making difficult and sometimes unpopular choices based on one’s core principles. It can also involve serving a community where people are frustrated and angry with forces that are outside local officials’ control or influence. This article offers a number of strategies that can make such work easier.
- “Regional Partnerships Provide Leadership” — In today’s adverse budgetary and economic climate, collaboration takes on more importance and contributes to local efforts to avoid duplicative activities and leverage outside resources and expertise. Innovative partnerships are building local communities’ capacity to address sustainability, energy efficiency, climate change and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
- “California Civic Leadership InstituteSM Expands to Engage More Local Leaders” — The California Civic Leadership InstituteSM (CCLI) is an educational program sponsored by the League Partners and designed for local officials interested in running for the state Legislature. CCLI gives local leaders an in-depth understanding of the critical and complex issues affecting the state, including water, transportation, energy and housing.
[FULL STORY]
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Upcoming League Events
Check out the full calendar of conferences and legislative programming.
February
1-3 City Managers Department Meeting, Indian Wells. Onsite registration only. For more information please see the event announcement on the League’s website.
March
20-22 Public Works Officers Institute and Mini Expo with CEAC, San Jose. Registration fees are $525 per person/$169+ hotel. For more information please see the event announcement on the League’s website.
20-22 Planners Institute and Mini Expo, San Jose. Registration fees are $525 per person/$169+ hotel. For more information please see the event announcement on the League’s website.
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