The need for stronger protection for local revenues was repeated again and again throughout the League’s 111th Annual Conference in San Jose, Sept. 16-18. This year’s theme “Strong Cities, Strong State, Strong Nation,” was a testament to the fact that when our local communities are strong, the entire nation benefits.

League President and Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Judy Mitchell addresses the general assembly Wednesday Sept. 16, at the League’s Annual Conference.

This past year has shown just how powerful we can be collectively working together to protect local revenues. The battle was long and hard and we know that we must be prepared to continue this fight,” League President and Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Judy Mitchell told the assembled delegates during the first general session on Wednesday to a packed room at the San Jose Convention Center.

Executive Director Chris McKenzie gave his annual report during the first general session. More than a 10 year veteran of the League, McKenzie has charted the organization through many important decisions. He commended the assembled membership for their hard work during the past year, especially with the battle waged to fight budget proposals that included illegal seizures of local government revenues and relied on gimmicks like borrowing property taxes to balance the state’s chronic deficit.

 

“Thank you for standing with us throughout that fight. While we were not able to kill every bad idea, we stopped the gas tax raid dead in its tracks, got a commitment from the state to pay the cost of cities’ borrowing against the Prop. 1A loan, and minimized other damage,” said McKenzie.

 

League Executive Director Chris McKenzie gives his annual report at the League’s Annual Conference in San Jose last week.

McKenzie told the audience that the League’s success is a direct result of member involvement and pointed to the more than 500 video testimonials posted on SaveYourCity.net which address why it’s so critical that local revenues remain local. 

Briefing the audience on the summit held in Sacramento in July on state governance and fiscal reform, McKenzie reported that the protection of local revenues was the top priority of summit delegates.

“The League board has talked a lot about what this means in light of all that can be done to overhaul our dramatically dysfunctional state government. They agree we need to partner with other groups and build a stronger state, but it must and will begin with drawing a clearer and stronger line between the funds that should finance local services and those available to finance our floundering state government,” said McKenzie.

He outlined some of the ideas the board of directors is considering and urged the voting delegates to consider supporting a board-sponsored resolution that would put the League squarely on record as supporting further constitutional protections for local revenues on the November 2010 ballot. (The resolution was subsequently adopted unanimously by the city voting delegates.)

The collective efforts of the League and our members have propelled the organization forward. McKenzie concluded his remarks by saying “Together, no one can stop us.”

Helen Putnam Award Winners Honored

The League’s recognition of innovation through the Partner-sponsored Helen Putnam Awards for Excellence was an annual conference highlight. The 10 award categories honor the unique contributions of city governments that have demonstrated collaborative approaches to solving challenging problems in their communities.

The Award for Excellence was established in memory of former Petaluma Mayor and League President Helen Putnam. Her lifetime commitment to excellence in city government set an example for all. Putnam would have been 100 years old on May 9, and her life in public service is celebrated through this award.

This year’s winners:

• La Quinta won in the category of Housing Programs and Innovations and was honored for the creation of Vista Dunes, the nation’s largest multi-family affordable workforce housing project to receive LEED Platinum certification. 
• Burbank won in the category of Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics and Community Involvement, for its Connect with Your Community program which transformed and strengthened the community in previously isolated neighborhoods through outreach and education. 
• La Mesa won in the category of Health and Wellness category for its “Ready, set….Live Well” Community Wellness Initiative, a collaboration between the city and school district to promote healthy lifestyles. 
• West Covina won in the category of Planning and Environmental Quality for “Landfill to Landmark.” The city transformed its former toxic waste landfill waste into West Covina’s Commercial Center and Sportsplex, creating 1,000 new jobs, improving property values and producing $74 million in economic benefit region-wide. 
• Long Beach won in the category of Community Services and Economic Development for its Rotary Centennial Park. The Long Beach Rotary raised $100,000 to help design and build a park in a population dense area of the city that lacked open space. 
• Chula Vista won in the category of Internal Administration for its Residential Abandoned Property program which addresses some of the conditions that destabilize neighborhoods and create blight. Through this program, lenders register defaulted properties with the city and secure and maintain it to the community standard. 
• Lincoln won in the category of Public Safety for its Grandma Cop Child Safety Program. Through this innovative program, trained citizen volunteers dressed in volunteer police uniforms, teach safety to elementary school age kids. Lincoln was also the recipient of the 2009 Cities Counties Schools Partnership Award which honors communities that demonstrate the benefits of cross jurisdictional collaboration. 
• Cupertino won in the category of Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation with their completion of the Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge which has finished a critical gap in Santa Clara County’s almost 350-mile bicycle network.  
• La Mirada won the Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government for the city’s Youth Development Program which provides young residents with the opportunity to develop professional skills while participating in leadership activities that benefit the community. 
• Fontana won the League Partners Award for Excellence in City-Business Relations. Through collaboration between the city and residents, a blighted parcel of land was rejuvenated, becoming Fontana Park, which features a health and fitness center, an aquatic complex, an extreme sports park, a children’s park, and a dog park.

Kevin Starr Receives League Lifetime Achievement Award

State Librarian Emeritus Kevin Starr was honored at Friday’s closing general session with the League’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Each year, an honoree is selected by the League’s past presidents. Former San Diego City Council Member and League Immediate Past President Jim Madaffer presented Starr with the award.

Author of numerous books on California’s past, Starr is currently a professor of history at the University of Southern California.

Starr’s remarks focused on how California’s cities have played a significant role in shaping the golden state from the Gold Rush through today. Cities provide vital lifeblood for the state, Starr told the audience.

Next Year’s Annual Conference

The League’s 112th Annual Conference is scheduled for Sept. 15-18, 2010 in San Diego. Registration will open in May 2010.