City Advocate Weekly

Ballot Measure Filed to Protect Funding for Public Safety, Transportation, Redevelopment, Transit and Other Vital Local Services
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, a coalition, which includes the League, of local government, transportation and public transit leaders filed a ballot measure initiative –the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act – with the California Attorney General’s office. The coalition is working to have this measure placed on the statewide ballot for November 2010.
[FULL STORY]

Governor Signs SB 67, Securitization Program Deadline Looms
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 67 on Monday, Oct. 19, clearing the final hurdle for cities to be able to securitize their Proposition 1A property tax loan through California Communities. This bill is now Chapter 634. California Communities’ Prop. 1A Securitization Program allows participating local governments to avoid any loss of local property tax dollars caused by the state’s borrowing. The state is paying all costs associated with the securitization of the loan.

[FULL STORY]

State Controller Releases HUTA Repayment Schedule
City officials received some very important news this week when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 65 into law clarifying the schedule of repayment of the Highway User Tax Account (HUTA) or gas tax to local governments.
[FULL STORY]

CRA Files Lawsuit Challenging the Constitutionality of State’s Seizure of Funds
The California Redevelopment Association (CRA) on Tuesday, Oct. 20 filed a lawsuit in the Sacramento Superior Court to challenge the constitutionality of the state’s seizure of redevelopment funds for the state budget. The funds were raided through ABX4-26, the state budget trailer bill which authorized the use of redevelopment agency funds, $1.7 billion from the current budget year and $2.05 billion in FY 2010-11.
[FULL STORY]

CEC Offers Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program Workshops
The California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold a series of application development clinics to assist eligible small cities/counties and lead collaborative applicants with their applications under the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant solicitation. Eligible applicants may receive up to an hour of CEC staff assistance to answer questions and/or assist in preparing applications for funding.
[FULL STORY]

Apply Now for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants
Deadline is Monday, Dec. 14

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is now accepting applications for competitive grants under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). DOE will award $454 million from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act through its Retrofit Ramp-up Program and General Innovation Fund.
[FULL STORY]

Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant Program Announced
Applications due Monday, Nov. 16

The Natural Resources Agency (NRA) this week announced that applications are being accepted for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program’s (EEMP) 2009-10 grants. Generally limited to $350,000 per project, the program offers grants to local, state and federal governmental agencies as well as nonprofit organizations for projects that mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified state transportation facilities.
[FULL STORY]

Bottle Bill Program Gets Major Cuts
The Department of Conservation (DOC) announced on Monday, Oct. 19, that it is eliminating funding for programs under Beverage Container Recycling Program, also known as the Bottle Bill program. The program cuts will be effective Nov.1.
[FULL STORY]

Federal Government Announces New Initiative to Assist Housing Finance Authorities
The Obama Administration announced a new initiative this week to further the goals of the President’s Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan approved in February. The initiative was designed to mitigate the risk to taxpayers and will support state and local housing finance authorities (HFAs) through two new programs.
[FULL STORY]

EPA Announces Nation’s First Greenhouse Gas Reporting System
Local Governments May Need to Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new reporting system that will require large emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) to begin collecting data. Starting Jan. 1, 2010, local governments may be required to submit an annual GHG report if they own or operate facilities that fall under the new rules.
[FULL STORY]

Upcoming Events

October

28 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Training sessions organized by Laura Chick, California Recovery Act Inspector General, to ensure that recipients of ARRA funding fully understand and are able to comply with requirements aimed at preventing and detecting fraud. The training will be held from 9 a.m. 12 p.m. at the Joe Serna Jr. Cal/EPA Headquarters Building, Byron Sher Room, 1001 I Street, Sacramento 95812. Advanced registration required – please respond via email by Oct. 23. This session is also available via live webinar on Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. To view the live webinar, you must register in advance online.

28 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities Campaign Seminar: Arcata. Arcata Mayor Mark Wheetley and Eureka City Council Member Linda Atkins invite Mayors, Council Members, City Managers and Planning, HR, RDA Directors to join them at the B Street Community Center in Arcata from 3:45-7:30 p.m. Please RSVP by Oct. 14 to Heather Stevens, City of Arcata, (707) 822-7091 or RSVP online. To learn more about the HEAL campaign, please visit www.HEALCitiesCampaign.org.

November

6 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities Campaign Seminar: Mountain View. Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga and members of Healthy Silicon Valley invite Peninsula Division Mayors, Council Members, City Managers and Planning, HR, RDA Directors to join a workshop on healthy general plans from 8-10:30 a.m. at Mountain View’s city hall. Please RSVP by Oct. 23 to Carol Clayton at CCPHA, (530) 297-6000 or RSVP online. To learn more about the HEAL campaign, please visit www.HEALCitiesCampaign.org.

30 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Deadline for local jurisdictions, non-profits or private organizations to submit to the California Energy Commission (CEC) their proposals for the Municipal Financing Program ('AB 811-type programs'), the California Comprehensive Residential Building Retrofit Program, and the Municipal and Commercial Building Targeted Measure Retrofit Program. Up to $95 million in ARRA funds are being offered with three State Energy Program (SEP) competitive solicitations. For the Solicitations visit the CEC Web site.

Upcoming League Events:

November

17 Legislative Briefings, Sacramento

17 Legislative Briefings, Webinar

18 Legislative Briefings, Anaheim

December

2 - 4 City Clerks New Law, Elections & Leadership Conference

2 - 4 Fire Chiefs Seminar

2 - 4 Municipal Finance Institute

[FULL STORY]

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