March 28, 2014

Issue #23

Editor's Note

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Legislation Proposes New City Incorporation, Annexation Fix

A previous legislative effort seeking restoration of funding to newly incorporated cities and cities that annexed inhabited territory after 2004 has been revived this year in a two-bill package — SB 69 (Roth) and AB 1521 (Fox). The package is based on SB 56 (Roth) that, in addition to restoring funding stability to recently incorporated cities and cities that annexed inhabited territory, established a foundation to support state growth policies by adjusting previous Vehicle License Fee (VLF)-Property Tax Swap calculations. The League is hopeful that this year’s two-bill approach will serve as a successful mechanism not only to struggling recently incorporated cities, such as Jurupa Valley, but to cities that will annex inhabited areas in the future.

Action Item, Assembly, Senate, Legislation, Revenue and Taxation
 

Three Cities and Three Counties Honored with Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards

City of Glendale Receives Top Honors

The Public Works Officers’ Institute on Thursday announced the winners of the first-ever 2014 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Projects Awards at its annual meeting in Sacramento. The six winners, three cities and three counties, were honored for making extraordinary efforts to preserve and improve the overall quality of the local streets and roads system. City of Glendale is the overall winner with the cities of Hayward and Santa Monica and the counties of Butte, Los Angeles and Placer also being recognized.

Public Works, Meetings and Events
 

Senate Votes to Suspend Three Senators

Earlier this morning, the California State Senate voted to suspend three Democratic Senators accused of crimes ranging from political corruption to conspiracy to traffic firearms. Upon the direction of Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), members approved a Senate Resolution 38 (Steinberg) stripping Senators Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), Rod Wright (D-Los Angeles) and Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) of their official powers effective immediately and prohibiting them from resuming office “until all criminal proceedings currently pending against them have been dismissed.” The resolution also maintains the salaries of all three Senators.

Senate, Legislation

League-Supported Film Tax Credit Bill Passes First Assembly Committee

The Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee heard AB 1839 (Gatto) earlier this week and unanimously approved by a 7–0 vote.

Public Safety, Legislation, Assembly

Redwood Empire Division Hosts First-Ever League Candidate Forum

Six candidates, three for the Assembly and three for the Senate, gathered in Ukiah last Friday to discuss their platforms. The 90-minute forum, sponsored by the League’s Redwood Empire Division and moderated by KC Meadows, editor of the Ukiah Daily Journal, focused the candidates’ perspectives on a range of issues related to local government and the state-local relationship.

Elections, Meetings and Events

California City Solutions: Fontana Creates Leadership Academy for At-Risk Teens

 This story is part of an ongoing series of featuring Helen Putnam Award entries. These entries are also now available on the League’s website as a resource for cities in a searchable database called California City Solutions. Fontana’s youth Leadership Program was submitted in 2013 for the Public Safety award category.

Public Safety, CA City Solutions
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