Editor's Note
For a printable copy of City Advocate Weekly (previously Priority Focus) please visit the League Web site.
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Coming Up
April
3-12 Legislature is on spring recess and will reconvene April 13
23 Drought Conference: Managing the Crisis: Essential Tools for Urban Water Managers, Irvine Marriott Hotel, 18000 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA
Upcoming League Events:
April
15-16 Legislative Action Days, Sacramento
23 2009 California Healthy Cities and Communities Annual Conference, Los Angeles
[FULL STORY]
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Governor Expected to Sign Bill to Distribute Federal Transportation Funds
The Assembly on Thursday, March 26, passed ABxxx20, a bill that establishes the process through which highway funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will be distributed in California.
[FULL STORY]
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Local Impacts of Federal Stimulus Focus of Assembly Hearing
The Assembly Committees on Local Government and Housing and Community Development (HCD) invited local government officials to testify at a joint hearing held March 25 investigating the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) at the local level. The federal funding is extremely important to California, especially given how the economic crisis has contributed to the state’s significant cash flow problems.
[FULL STORY]
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EPA Resources to Help Officials With ARRA Clean Energy Funding
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), state, local and tribal governments will receive substantial funding to implement clean energy efficiency initiatives in their jurisdictions.
[FULL STORY]
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Deadline Approaching for PPIC Survey on the Economic Climate for Cities
California cities can make their economic issues and concerns known by participating in a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey. The deadline to participate is April 1. Only 25 percent of cities have completed the survey and the researchers need at least 60 percent participation to accurately complete their analysis.
[FULL STORY]
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Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Guidelines Released
Federal guidelines for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) program were released this week by the Department of Energy (DOE). City officials will want to pay attention to the deadlines. Large cities (population over 35,000) have until June 25. Details for small cities will be released at a later date by the California Energy Commission (CEC).
[FULL STORY]
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Cities Have Additional Time to Apply for Federal Clean Water Funding
City officials who thought they had until March 24 to get their clean water projects on the State Project Priority List (PPL) for federal stimulus funding can breathe a sigh of relief because the next deadline is May 1. The State Water Resource Control Board, which operates the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), can amend the PPL at any time to include applicants who are ready to proceed after that date.
[FULL STORY]
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April 28 Hearing on Proposed Changes to Workers’ Comp System
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is convening a hearing on April 28 in San Francisco on proposed increases to workers comp medical costs.
[FULL STORY]
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California Communities Program Offers Cash Flow Relief for FY 2009-10
A California Communities program can help cities ease a potential cash flow burden in the coming fiscal year. The 2009 Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes program (TRANs) was developed to assist local governments to finance short-term cash flow deficits. Individual participant issuance amounts have ranged in size from $100,000 up to $320,000,000. California Communities has issued over $7.8 billion in TRANs, serving more than 150 local agencies since 1993.
[FULL STORY]
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Administration Launches New Consumer Web site for Responsible Homeowners Seeking Relief
The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched a new Web site for homeowners seeking information about the Making Home Affordable loan modification and refinancing program introduced in February by the President.
[FULL STORY]
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NLC Program Offers Prescription Discounts
The National League of Cities (NLC) is partnering with CVS Caremark® to offer residents of NLC member municipalities a prescription discount card that gives the user an average discount of 20 percent. This can be especially valuable to residents who don’t have health insurance, have prescriptions that are not covered by their insurer or who may be enrolled in the Medicare drug program and have prescription costs that fall into the several thousand dollar gap before Medicare picks up all the costs.
[FULL STORY]
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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.
[FULL STORY]
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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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