City Advocate Weekly

Since the passage of the state budget last week, League staff has been reviewing the 33 bills that make up the budget package approved by the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. There is much to review: tax increases, triggers, ballot propositions, tax credits, funding deferrals and other provisions. The process of carefully reviewing these measures takes time, given that much of the language was not widely available in print when the budget was adopted.

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NLC Hosts Webcast On Federal Recovery Package: What’s In It For Cities?
The National League of Cities (NLC) held an Economic Recovery Webcast on Wednesday, Feb. 25 entitled “The Federal Recovery Package: What's In It for Cities and How to Access the Resources.”
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Constitutional Convention: Would It Fix What Ails California?
The Bay Area Council and other groups held a well-attended summit on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Sacramento to discuss the desirability of calling a state constitutional convention to redefine the way government operates in the state. The speakers at the event said the goal of the convention would be to achieve constitutional changes that would help improve California’s system of governance in order to better address our ongoing problems with education, health care, crowded prisons, water systems, an ideologically split legislature, and budget stalemates that disable the state.
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HUD Economic Stimulus Funding Information Now Available
City-specific allocations for federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formula grant programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is now available on the League’s Web site, on the “Federal Economic Stimulus Updates” tab.
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California Communities Releases 2008 Community Benefit Report
The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (California Communities) has released its 2008 Community Benefit Report. The report summarizes the local government and private activity community-based projects funded since California Communities’ inception twenty years ago.
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City Advocate Weekly Replaces Priority Focus
The League is pleased to announce a new name for its weekly newsletter: City Advocate Weekly. With a tag line of “Legislation and Policy Affecting California Cities,” the renamed publication will also feature a redesigned masthead. Stories will continue to focus on key legislation affecting cities and other items of interest to city officials.
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Air Resources Board Offering Local Government Assistance AB 32 Workshop
On March 9, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) will host a workshop for local government officials on cost-effective strategies to assist local governments in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of the ARB implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). The workshop will be held in the Coastal Hearing Room from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Cal/EPA Headquarters building at 1001 I Street in Sacramento. The workshop will also be available via Webcast.
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League President Appoints Board of Directors Nominating Committee
Judy Mitchell, League president and mayor, Rolling Hills Estates, has appointed the 2009 Board of Directors Nominating Committee. Appointed to the committee and charged with the responsibility of nominating League officers and at-large directors, are: Ron Loveridge (chair), mayor, Riverside; Harry Armstrong, mayor pro tem, Clovis; Bill Bogaard, mayor, Pasadena; Tony Cardenas, council member, Los Angeles; Iya Falcone, council member, Santa Barbara; Rod Gould, city manager, Poway; Chip Holloway, mayor, Ridgecrest; Sophie Maxwell, supervisor, San Francisco; Jean Quan, council member, Oakland; Janice Rutherford, council member, Fontana; and Marty Simonoff, council member, Brea.
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Job Opening? Western City Magazine Can Help You Find the Best Candidate

List your job opening in Western City magazine. When you advertise your job opportunity in Western City, you also receive a Web site posting at no additional charge. Visit www.westerncity.com or call (800) 262-1801 for more information.

In a hurry to get the word out? Place your ad on our Web site today.

Interim Management Needs?

MuniLink is the League of California Cities' interim management employee directory. Featuring searchable categories of interim resumes, MuniLink is still the best online tool to connect with highly trained municipal veterans eager to meet your agency’s needs.

SEARCHING THE ONLINE DIRECTORY IS FREE for agencies looking for products and services, and offers individuals and companies a fast and effective way of connecting with city officials in California. MuniLink is a joint project of the League, the Institute for Local Government and Western City magazine. Proceeds from MuniLink benefit the League's research and advocacy efforts on behalf of cities.

Visit Today!

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2009 Employee Relations Institute: Passport to Tomorrow, March 12-13
Join us for the Employee Relations Institute, scheduled March 12 – 13, 2009 at the Westin San Francisco Airport in Millbrae. We are sure this will be a rewarding event where human resource technicians, specialists and analysts can learn, network, meet a mentor, and become interested in participating in the League of California Cities legislative activities.
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ILG Offers AB 1234/Ethics Training Sessions in March
The League’s nonprofit research arm, the Institute for Local Government (ILG), will be offering three AB 1234 ethics training sessions in March.
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Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff

Visit (and bookmark!) the League’s Legislative Resources Web page (www.cacities.org/legresources). You’ll find a roster and contact information for the League’s legislative staff; the online Bill Search program, background materials on lobbying your legislators, and more.

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