Editor's Note
For a printable copy of City Advocate Weekly (previously Priority Focus) please visit the League Web site.
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League of California Cities’ Board Votes Unanimously to Challenge Raid of Local Gas Tax Funds
Bypass of Voter-Approved Ballot Propositions at Issue
More than 100 city officials joined with the League of California Cities’ board of directors to announce the board’s unanimous vote to take legal action, if necessary, to challenge the constitutionality of a key component of the budget proposed by the Budget Conference Committee to seize $1.7 billion of the local share of the highway users, or gas, tax that is used to maintain local streets and roads. The announcement was made at a press conference on Thursday, June 25, in the Sacramento Convention Center during the League’s policy committee meetings.
[FULL STORY]
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New Fiscal Year Looms Without Budget
Stopgap Bill Proposed One-Year Transfer of Redevelopment Funds
As the League convened its June policy committee meetings in Sacramento, across the street at the Capitol the Assembly passed, but the Senate halted, three bills intended to keep the state from having to issue IOUs. The three bills would raise approximately $5 billion, enough, according to Budget Chair Assembly Member Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), to provide the state the ability to pay its bills through July and August.
[FULL STORY]
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2009 Annual Conference Resolutions Due by July 17
Policy development is an integral part of the League’s annual conference. While the principal means for determining League policy is through the League’s eight standing policy committees and the board of directors, the League also accepts annual conference resolutions. These resolutions should address areas not already covered by existing policy.
[FULL STORY]
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Local Government Summit on Governance and Fiscal Reform
City officials are invited to attend and participate in a historic summit meeting of city, county and school officials in Sacramento, July 17-18 at the Hyatt Regency to discuss and debate the emerging proposals to reform California’s governance and fiscal systems.
[FULL STORY]
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Senate Local Government Committee Set to Hear Municipal Bankruptcy Bill on July 8
The municipal bankruptcy bill, AB 155 (Mendoza) is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Local Government committee on Wednesday, July 8. The bill requires a local government to secure state approval from the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC) before filing for bankruptcy in federal bankruptcy court. This would require a local government to make its case before a commission of mostly state politicians rather than a competent bankruptcy judge. The bill is adamantly opposed by the League and other local government associations. It constitutes an unwarranted intrusion into what is a very local decision.
[FULL STORY]
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SaveYourCity.net Reaches 500 Video Testimonial Milestone
Opposition to State Proposals to Raid Local Funds Continues
SaveYourCity.net reached a monumental milestone this week when the 500th video testimonial was loaded on the site. The site serves as a platform to tell policy makers how communities will be devastated if the state raids local Gas and Redevelopments funds. Local elected city and county officials, state legislators, members of labor and public safety groups as well as concerned citizens, have all recorded testimonials asking the Legislature to save California cities.
[FULL STORY]
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New and Improved WesternCity.com Launches June 27
The new and improved www.WesternCity.com offers a fully searchable archive of information. Are you looking for an article or articles by topic? You’ll find what you need in a snap.
Our Job Opportunity Board has never been easier to search. Let us help you find your dream job.
Posting a job opportunity now allows for more flexibility. If you’re an employer, you will appreciate the control you have over your listing. Create a listing and you can make changes 24/7. Plus, you’ll now have the ability to track your hits.
Check out the new and improved www.WesternCity.com this weekend!
[FULL STORY]
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Support Needed for SB 268 – Legislators Ask to Hear from City Fire Departments
The League encourages cities to support SB 268 and respond to requests from legislators who want to hear from local fire authorities about the importance of this group home regulations legislation.
[FULL STORY]
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US EPA Announces Climate Showcase Communities Grant Opportunity
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of up to $10 million in “Climate Showcase Communities” grants for local governments to establish and implement climate change initiatives that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
[FULL STORY]
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Registration Open for ILG Annual Conference Luncheon Symposium
The Institute for Local Government (ILG) will present its annual Luncheon Symposium at the League’s annual conference in San Jose on Sept. 17. “Local Leaders Creating Healthy Neighborhoods for All” is the topic for this year’s event.
[FULL STORY]
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Upcoming Events
June
29 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Financing Opportunities for California’s Public Agencies. Deadline to apply for the Public Transportation Security Assistance funding. Grant funding for key high-threat urban areas to enhance security measures for their critical transit infrastructure including bus, ferry and rail systems. For more information, click here or see the City Funding Book on the League’s Web site.
July
7 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Financing Opportunities for California’s Public Agencies. Deadline to apply for Strengthening Communities Fund. The fund will provide one-time, two-year awards of up to $250,000 to state, city, county and Indian/Native American tribal governments to strengthen nonprofit organizations and increase a nonprofit’s involvement in projects that are designed help turn our economy around. For details, see the City Funding Book on the League’s Web site.
14 1:00 p.m. - EPA’s ENERGY STAR program hosts regular webcasts. State and local officials and staff, facility managers, and energy managers will learn how government officials can leverage EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool to assess the energy use of buildings and identify best improvement opportunities. Please register for ENERGY STAR webcasts on their Web site.
17 Summer Recess begins on adjournment, provided Budget Bill has been
passed
21 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Financing Opportunities for California’s Public Agencies. Applications due to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Capital Fund Recovery Competition grants in the Energy Efficiency category. Applications for the other three categories of these grants are due by August 18. (For more information see the section on Public Housing Capital Fund in the City Funding Book on the League’s Web site.)
August
10 American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Changed Application Deadline. The U.S. Department of Energy just announced that the filing deadline for applying for formula grants under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program has been extended until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday, August 10, 2009. (The previous deadline was June 25.) If you still plan to file your application today and are having trouble using the electronic filing system through FedConnect, please remember that DOE will accept EECBG applications via email. To utilize this option, send your application to EECBG@NETL.DOE.GOV, and include this message in email subject line -- EECBG Application (Unique Identification Code). To develop your city’s Unique Identification Code for the subject line of the email, simply follow this format: 1. (State code) 2. (Type of Local Government) 3. (Name of Local Government). As an example, OH-CITY-COLUMBUS is the Code for Columbus,
Ohio.
Upcoming League Events:
September
16-19 League of California Cities’ Annual Conference and Expo, San Jose (Registration Opens Early May)
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