Editor's Note
For a printable copy of City Advocate Weekly please visit the League's Web site.
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State Budget Drafted in Mix of Dire Economy, Bleak Outlook and Failed Solutions
Legislature Begins to Analyze Details as It Considers Alternatives
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released his FY 2010-11 budget last week stating that the crushing weight of the economy and other factors will make it impossible for the state to close its projected $19.9 billion deficit without a great deal of pain. The Governor contends that California does not receive its fair share of federal funds and that the state has been providing services that are under the federal government’s responsibility without being compensated. Although the Governor projected that California is poised for modest growth this year, the news for the state got worse this week when California’s credit rating was downgraded yet again to from and an A to an A -.
[FULL STORY]
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Campaign to Protect Taxpayers and Vital Local Services Moves Forward With Second Week of News Conferences
Los Angeles, Foster City, Sacramento and Redding
More than 60 local government, transportation, business, public safety, labor and public transit leaders rallied at regional news conferences this week to support a statewide signature-gathering campaign. If it qualifies for the November 2010 ballot, the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010, would close loopholes to prevent the state from borrowing, raiding or otherwise redirecting local government, transportation or public transit funds.
[FULL STORY]
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Governor’s Tax Revenue Estimates Grim for Property and Sales Taxes
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget released last Friday contains revenue estimates applicable to key city revenues, such as property and sales taxes.
[FULL STORY]
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Governor’s Budget Proposes Wholesale Changes to the Bottle Bill
League Seeks Comments from City Officials
A major overhaul to the California Beverage Container Recycling Program is included in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s January budget proposal. The proposal includes loan repayments, changes to the program’s structure and altering language definition.
[FULL STORY]
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U.S. EPA Seeks Input on Proposed Rulemaking to Strengthen Stormwater Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will initiate national rulemaking in 2010 to improve and strengthen its existing stormwater program. EPA is seeking input from stakeholders, including cities on a number of stormwater issues, including the promotion of practices that retain stormwater on-site through infiltration, evapotranspiration, or stormwater reuse to reduce these impacts nationwide.
[FULL STORY]
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Senate Local Government Committee Composition Changes
Cox Replaces Wiggins as Chair
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) announced last week that the Senate Rules Committee had approved changes to committee composition in an effort to improve the Senate’s operations. Sen. Steinberg says that he believes that the new committee structure and sizes will allow senators to spend more time on the most pressing issues confronting California.
[FULL STORY]
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Sen. Bob Dutton Set to Become Next Senate Republican Leader
Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) was unanimously selected as the next Senate Republican leader during a caucus meeting earlier this week. The Republican Leader-elect has outlined many priorities for California, including private sector job creation and balancing the budget without creating new taxes.
[FULL STORY]
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Registration Extended - City Manager’s Department Meeting
The deadline for the League’s 2010 City Manager’s Department Meeting has been extended to Jan. 20. The conference is scheduled for Feb. 3–5 in Carlsbad.
[FULL STORY]
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Upcoming Events
January
27 Using the General Plan Update to Address Access to Physical Activity and Healthy Food Webinar – 12 - 1:30 p.m. The Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign (a project of the California League of Cities) invites you to participate in this webinar that will feature presentations from city officials from California communities addressing health in their general plan updates. It will include comments by Heather Wooten, Senior Planning and Policy Associate for Public Health Law and Policy, on successful partnerships and best practices, as well as scoping plans and consultant selection. This webinar is free for persons working with California cities. Advance registration and participation in the full 1.5 hour seminar required to receive 1.5 AICU credits. Please register in advance at webex.com. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email message that contains detailed information about joining the event. For more about the Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign, see www.HEALCitiesCampaign.org. For questions about the registration process, please email or call Scott Watkins at (510) 281-5620.
28 Municipal Managers Association of California (MMANC) 2010 Winter Forum, “Revenue Generation and Organizational Efficiencies/Cost Savings” – 9 – 4 p.m. Location: Dublin Shannon Community Center. Speakers will include: Fred Silva, California Forward’s Senior Fiscal Policy Advisor; Pete Peterson, Common Sense California’s Executive Director; Adam Engelskirchen, The Presidio Trust’s Director of Real Estate; Steve Rymer, City of Morgan Hill’s Director of Recreation & Community Services; Catherine Lew, The Lew Edwards Group’s President & CEO; Dave Metz, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates; Christopher Thornberg, Beacon Economic’s Founding Principal; Karen Pinkos, City of El Cerrito’s Assistant City Manager; Adel Suleiman, California Energy Commission’s Project Manager; Ed Hamzawi, Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Process Coordinator; Erik DeKok, City of Sacramento’s Senior Planner. For more information or to register for this event please visit MMANC’s Web site
February
16 California Transportation Plan Workshop – 1 – 4 p.m., Sacramento. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) invites your input on the next update of the California Transportation Plan and the new California Interregional Blueprint. Location: Secretary of State Building, 1500 11th Street, 1st Floor Auditorium. 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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