City Advocate Weekly

Governor’s Budget Raids Transit Funding and Threatens Stability of Other Vital State and Local Government Transportation Funds
League Continues to Analyze Budget

The budget released today by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminates most funding ($1.5 billion) for transit agencies across California and destabilizes other critical transportation funding sources by proposing to remove the sales tax on gasoline in exchange for additional excise taxes through a complicated tax swap scheme.
[FULL STORY]

San Diego News Conference is First Kickoff Event for Campaign to Protect Taxpayers and Vital Local Services
Santa Rosa, Salinas and Fresno Events Follow Starting Volunteer Signature Gathering

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and League President Robin Lowe speak at the San Diego news conference kicking off the campaign “Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services.”

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and a number of local government, transportation, business, public safety and public transit leaders rallied outside of the San Diego City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 6 to kickoff a statewide signature-gathering campaign to qualify the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Act of 2010.
[FULL STORY]

City Officials Urged to Get Involved in Campaign to Protect Funding for Vital Public Services on Personal Time
Volunteer Signature Gathering Effort Launched This Week

Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services, the coalition supporting the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Act of 2010, will need to collect more than 1.1 million signatures to ensure it meets the required 694,354 valid signatures needed to qualify a constitutional amendment for the statewide ballot. If it qualifies, it will appear on the November 2010 statewide ballot.
[FULL STORY]

EPA Makes $2 Million Available to Reduce Pollution at the Local Level
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for the 2010 Community Action for Renewed Environment (CARE) program grants. CARE is a community-based program that works with county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources.
[FULL STORY]

Former California Integrated Waste Management Board (CalRecycle) Workshops Scheduled
CalRecycle, previously known as the California Integrated Waste Management Board, will be holding two public workshops in January to help inform the public about pending decisions and upcoming activities and to provide opportunities for public comment.
[FULL STORY]

Infrastructure Funding Fairs Scheduled in Coming Months
City officials interested in state infrastructure funds should make note of upcoming funding fairs sponsored by the California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC). The fairs are scheduled between February and May and are designed to provide information to applicants about CFCC’s financial and technical resources.
[FULL STORY]

Nominate an Outstanding Leader for the 2010 California Civic Leadership Institute
The nomination process is open for the League’s 2010 California Civic Leadership Institute (CCLI). Now in its sixth year, CCLI educates elected city officials who are interested in pursuing future state office about key state issues.
[FULL STORY]

Wes McClure, Range Rider Founder, Dies

Wes McClure, former San Leandro city manager.

At the age of 94, former San Leandro City Manager and Range Rider program originator Wes McClure passed away on Dec. 20, 2009. In recognition of his years of service and accomplishments, the city council named him City Manager Emeritus in 1976 when he retired.
[FULL STORY]

Upcoming Events

January

12 California Energy Commission (CEC) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) application due. For details, please visit the EECBG Web site. More information is also available in the League’s City Funding Book on the League’s Web site.

February

16 Sacramento, Secretary of State Building, 1500 11th Street, 1st Floor Auditorium, from

1-4 p.m. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is holding a workshop, inviting your input on the next update of the California Transportation Plan and the new California Interregional Blueprint. For details, please visit Caltrans’ Web site.

March

1 Prop. 84 grant applications for “critically underserved” park areas due.

1 San Diego, Caltrans District 11, Garcia Room, 4050 Taylor Street from 1-4 p.m. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is holding a workshop, inviting your input on the next update of the California Transportation Plan and the new California Interregional Blueprint. For details, please visit Caltrans’ Web site.

2 Los Angeles, Southern California Association of Governments, 818 W. Seventh Street, 12th Floor Board Room from 1-4 p.m. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is holding a workshop, inviting your input on the next update of the California Transportation Plan and the new California Interregional Blueprint. For details, please visit Caltrans’ Web site.

Upcoming League Events:

January

20 - 22 New Mayors & Council Members Academy

20 - 22 League Policy Committee Meetings

February

3 - 5 City Managers Department Meeting

[FULL STORY]

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