Editor's Note
For a printable copy of City Advocate Weekly (previously Priority Focus) please visit the League Web site.
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Budget Update: As State’s Fiscal Woes Worsen, Local Government Vulnerability Widens
It was a busy week in the Capitol and across the state as the League of California Cities and city officials continued fighting budget proposals to borrow $2 billion of local property taxes and take other vital local government revenues to help close the state’s now estimated $24 billion budget deficit. These events garnered considerable news coverage by both the Capitol press corps and reporters statewide.
[FULL STORY]
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New Web Site, www.Saveyourcity.Net, Showcases How A State Raid Of Local Property Taxes Would Harm California Communities
The League of California Cities launched www.SaveYourCity.net on Tuesday, May 26. This unique and innovative platform lets mayors, city council members and concerned members of the public tell policy makers how communities will be devastated if the state forces cities to bail the state out of its budget deficit. Anyone can register on the site and submit a video.
[FULL STORY]
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Mayors And Council Members Hold Press Conference In San Diego To Urge State Lawmakers To Leave Local Funds Local
League of California Cities President Judy Mitchell joined San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and dozens of other California mayors and council members at San Diego’s Fire Station 35 on Thursday, May 28 to speak out against a the proposal to borrow $2 billion of local property taxes and take transportation funding to help balance the state’s $24 billion budget deficit.
[FULL STORY]
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Cities Continue to Declare State of Severe Fiscal Hardship in Wake of Budget Proposal
Since May 11, 159 cities across California have declared a state of severe fiscal hardship and opposed a proposal to take local property tax revenues to finance the state budget. Cities are already struggling to balance their own budgets: enacting drastic cuts including public safety reductions, employee layoffs, hiring freezes, project delays, program reductions and more.
[FULL STORY]
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Plan to Attend Budget Action Day on Wednesday, June 3
The League is holding a special event in Sacramento on June 3 to bring city officials to lobby their legislators and administration officials on possible implications of the May 19 special election results. The timing of this session is designed to allow many city officials to come in just for the day.
[FULL STORY]
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Legislature Holds Suspense Hearings: Information on Key Legislation the League is Tracking
This week, bills with costs of $150,000 or more were examined by the appropriations committees in the Assembly and Senate. The process of holding bills of this fiscal impact is called “suspense” and the committees meet biannually to take up the suspense files then pass bills out of committee that either fall below a set cost threshold or are agreed upon by the committee. There were a number of bills of particular interest to cities that went through suspense including AB 155 (Mendoza) which the League has opposed very strongly through the legislative session.
[FULL STORY]
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Robin Lowe Elected League First Vice President, Jim Ridenour, Second Vice President
The League’s 2009 board of directors nominating committee was called upon to select a replacement for a vacancy on the executive committee caused by the resignation of Rancho Cordova Council Member Ken Cooley as first vice president. The committee nominated Hemet Council Member Robin Lowe for the first vice president position and nominated Modesto Mayor Jim Ridenour to fill the second vice president position. The board of directors met to approve the nominations on Friday, May 22.
[FULL STORY]
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League Neutral on Bill Regarding Healing Arts Businesses
Last year, the League strongly opposed Assembly Bill 2427 (Eng), sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). This bill attempted to prohibit local governments from regulating local healing arts businesses under their existing police power. Healing arts businesses are regulated by the California Department of Consumer Affairs and do not include massage therapy services. The bill was brought to the Legislature after CVMA sued the city of West Hollywood over an ordinance prohibiting the declawing of animals for non-therapeutic purposes. While the city ultimately won the case and has had their ordinance upheld, CVMA brought the bill to the legislature to overturn the ability of local governments to regulate veterinary and other types of healing arts businesses. AB 2427 was ultimately vetoed by the Governor last year.
[FULL STORY]
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State Water Board to Hold Workshop on Water Quality Enforcement Policy
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will hold a workshop in Sacramento on June 4 to consider proposed revisions to portions of the State Water Quality Enforcement Policy. SWRCB is the agency responsible for the coordination and control of water quality in California.
[FULL STORY]
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Coming Soon! Visit the New and Improved WesternCity.com
We've Made Our Site Better to Serve You Better
- New Web exclusive articles
- Improved search engine means finding what you want in a snap
- Read the latest issue or look up an article by topic
Exciting New and Improved Job Opportunity Database
- Searching for jobs has never been easier
- Create your own job listing and update it at any time. You're in control of your listing 24/7
- Get a Web site traffic report for your job listing
New Online Advertising Opportunities
- Sponsorships and online campaigns custom-made for your advertising needs
- With over 60,000 page views, your online ad will expand your reach to a new audience every day
- E-mail admanager@westerncity.com for more information
Check out the new and improved www.WesternCity.com this July!
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Upcoming Events:
June
1 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Capital Fund Recovery Competition Grants. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will begin accepting applications from public housing authorities for $1 billion available from this program. Applications for grants in the Energy Efficiency category are due by July 21. Applications for the other three categories are due by August 18. (For more information see the section on Public Housing Capital Fund in the League’s City Funding Book, www.cacities.org/federalstimulus.)
5 Last day for Assembly to pass Assembly bills
15 Budget Bill must be passed by Midnight
19 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Financing Opportunities for California’s Public Agencies. All-day seminar sponsored by CA I-Bank and CA Debt Investment and Advisory Commission. Information for public agencies on accessing the “recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds”, a new type of financing vehicle for infrastructure, job training and other projects authorized by the federal stimulus legislation. For information and registration, go to http://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cdiac/seminars.asp.
Upcoming League Events:
June 3 Budget Action Day, Sacramento
[FULL STORY]
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