City Advocate Weekly

League of California Cities

2009 Issue #15

April 24, 2009

CONTENTS

Editor's Note

Upcoming Events

Vallejo Mayor Tells Assembly Local Government Committee AB 155 is Disastrous

City Officials Deliver the Message of Fiscal Responsibility at League's Legislative Action Days

Panel Tackles State Governance Reform at League's Legislative Action Days

Prop. 1B Local Streets and Roads Payments to Cities Restart, Next Allocation Still Uncertain

Supreme Court Weighs in on Local Agency Ballot Measure Activities

Governor Announces the California Federal Economic Stimulus Task Force

California Energy Commission Workshop on ARRA Fund Disbursement

Apply Now for the 2009 Waste Reduction Awards Program

Decision-Making Guide Available in Spanish

Job Opening? Western City Magazine Can Help You Find the Best Candidate

Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff

SUBSCRIBE

ARCHIVE

2009 Issue #14
April 10, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 174

2009 Issue #13
April 3, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 173

2009 Issue #12
March 27, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 172

2009 Issue #11
March 20, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 171

2009 Issue #10
March 13, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 170

2009 Issue #9
March 6, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 169

2009 Issue #8
February 27, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 168

2009 Issue #7
February 20, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 167

2009 Issue #6
February 13, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 166

2009 Issue #5
February 6, 2009
Vol. 1 Issue 165

[MORE]

NEWS

Editor's Note

For a printable copy of City Advocate Weekly (previously Priority Focus) please visit the League Web site.

Upcoming Events

April

29 California Energy Commission workshop on ARRA Disbursement of Funds

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. California Energy Commission, 1516 Ninth Street, First Floor, Hearing Room A, Sacramento, California 95814

May

4 California Energy Commission workshops:

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

4 p.m. - 8 p.m. State Energy Program Funding Allocation

South Coast Air Quality Management District, 21865 Copley Dr., Auditorium, Diamond Bar, CA 91765

4 5 - 7:30 p.m. California Latino Legislative Caucus Invites you to Latino Heritage

Celebration, State Capitol, North Steps, Sacramento, CA.

Please RSVP your attendance to Armando Chavez at (916) 319-2023.

6 California Energy Commission workshops:

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

4 p.m. - 8 p.m. State Energy Program Funding Allocation

UCSF Fresno Center for Medical Education and Research, 155 N. Fresno St., Auditorium, Fresno, CA 93701

7 California Energy Commission workshops:

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

4 p.m. - 8 p.m. State Energy Program Funding Allocation

California Energy Commission, 1516 Ninth Street, First Floor, Hearing Room A

Sacramento, California 95814

League Events:

May

6-8 City Attorneys Spring Conference, Squaw Creek

27-30 Mayors and Council Members Executive Forum, San Diego

June

3 Budget Action Day, Sacramento

[FULL STORY]

Vallejo Mayor Tells Assembly Local Government Committee AB 155 is Disastrous
Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis delivered riveting testimony against AB 155 (Mendoza) during the Assembly Local Government Committee hearing on Wednesday, April 22. Opposed by the League, this bill would give a state commission without expertise in this area the authority to determine whether or not a local entity could file for bankruptcy. The League opposes AB 155 because it removes the fundamental decision making power of local communities.

[FULL STORY]

City Officials Deliver the Message of Fiscal Responsibility at League's Legislative Action Days

League President Judy Mitchell welcomes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

There was one main message delivered during Legislative Action Days last week: budget stability at the state and local levels is critical for economic stability. More than 300 city officials came to Sacramento April 15-16 to lobby in the Capitol and hear from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other top state officials who all addressed budget and fiscal matters.
[FULL STORY]

Panel Tackles State Governance Reform at League's Legislative Action Days
The question of state governance reform is attracting increasing attention from a number of groups in California and that was the topic of a special discussion during the League’s Legislative Action Days. Co-hosted by the League’s Latino Caucus and moderated by Fresno City Council Member Henry Perea, the April 15 afternoon session featured an impressive panel of experts.

[FULL STORY]

Prop. 1B Local Streets and Roads Payments to Cities Restart, Next Allocation Still Uncertain
The Department of Finance (DOF) authorized the State Controller’s Office to release $35.9 million dollars to cities for Proposition 1B Local Streets and Roads funding on April 15.
[FULL STORY]

Supreme Court Weighs in on Local Agency Ballot Measure Activities
The California Supreme Court shed some light on an increasingly important issue for local officials on Monday, April 20. The question is when it comes to local ballot measures, what can one do lawfully with public resources and what is forbidden? Specifically, what is the dividing line between permissible informational activities and impermissible campaign activities?
[FULL STORY]

Governor Announces the California Federal Economic Stimulus Task Force

In response to the emphasis on transparency and accountability in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger created the California Federal Economic Stimulus Task Force. The Governor’s press release is online.

[FULL STORY]

California Energy Commission Workshop on ARRA Fund Disbursement
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is hosting a workshop on April 29 on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provisions as they pertain to the disbursement of funds for specific energy related projects. The workshop will focus on AB 811 (Levine) and other funding mechanisms that finance the installation of energy efficiency improvements.
[FULL STORY]

Apply Now for the 2009 Waste Reduction Awards Program
Deadline to Apply is June 15

California cities, businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to showcase their voluntary waste reduction, recycling, and resource conservation efforts by applying for recognition in the California Integrated Waste Management Board's 2009 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). Established in 1993, the award program honors California businesses and nonprofit organizations for innovation and leadership in waste reduction, waste prevention, recycling, reuse, and buying recycled-content products.
[FULL STORY]

Decision-Making Guide Available in Spanish
The Institute for Local Government’s (Institute) newest “Local Government 101” resource, Understanding the Basics of Local Agency Decision-Making is now available in Spanish. The resource was made possible through support from the Liebert Cassidy Whitmore law firm.
[FULL STORY]

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]

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.
[FULL STORY]

E-MAIL TO A COLLEAGUE