May 10, 2013
With California’s economy barely recovering and millions of Californians still out of work, three bills that impede local development projects continue to move through the Legislature.
May 10, 2013
It all started with an idea. In 2003 a group of local government treasurers and finance officers sought a safe investment vehicle other than the state pool.
May 10, 2013
The League and California State Association of Counties on Tuesday presented the results of the 2012 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment to the California Transportation Commission (CTC).
May 10, 2013
The League is calling for dedicated volunteers to help select the 2013 Helen Putnam Award winners.
May 10, 2013
California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, pursuant to AB 1825, requires that employers with 50 or more employees in California provide at least two hours of sexual harassment avoidance training every two years to any employee who has a supervisory role in operations.
May 8, 2013
Originally released on April 18, the League’s 2013 Hot Bills List has been updated to reflect the most current status of bills of most importance to cities. Several bills have been removed from the original list because they are not expected to move this year. Several bills have been added to the list. The list below is to date as of May 8, 2013.
May 8, 2013
Gov. Jerry Brown announced on Tuesday, May 7 the appointment of Rolling Hills Estates Council Member Judy Mitchell to the California Air Resources Board. First elected to the Rolling Hills Estates City Council in 1999, Mitchell served as League president from 2008–2009.
May 6, 2013
Note: With job creation and affordable housing on the minds of public officials across California, the power of state-local partnerships in stimulating the local economy and creating good paying private sector jobs merits attention. This is part of a series of articles highlighting some of the successful partnerships.
May 6, 2013
All eyes will be on the budget this week as the Governor’s May Revise will be released by May 14. Meanwhile Senate and Assembly policy committees face a Friday deadline to hear and report non-fiscal bills to the floor in their house of origin.
May 6, 2013
This morning the California Supreme Court, in a long-awaited opinion, rejected a challenge to the city of Riverside’s ordinance banning medical marijuana dispensaries. The Court held that neither the state’s Compassionate Use Act nor the Medical Marijuana Program limit a city or county from regulating the use of land, and cities and counties retained the authority to provide that medical marijuana dispensaries are not permitted to operate within their borders
May 2, 2013
This week was one of the busiest for policy committees in the Capitol with a few dozen important bills for cities, including several addressing post-redevelopment, economic development and enterprise zones.
May 2, 2013
The CoolCalifornia Funding Wizard, an online clearinghouse of funding incentives, grants and loans to support sustainability, has recently been updated. California Air Resources Board staff invites local officials and others to check out the Funding Wizard and share their feedback through an online survey. Feedback is requested by May 31.
May 2, 2013
Historic preservation in multiple capacities is an important priority for California cities because it is proven to create jobs, increase property values, expand cultural tourism and revitalized neglected downtowns.
May 2, 2013
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 League board of directors, the organization also accepts Annual Conference Resolutions, which should address areas not already covered by League policy.
May 2, 2013
Meeting in Sacramento on April 25, the League board of directors tackled a full agenda of business that included meetings with Gov. Jerry Brown and CalPERS CEO Anne Stausboll. The meeting was held in conjunction with Legislative Action Day on April 24.
May 2, 2013
California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) has secured an allocation of New Markets Tax Credits for investment in low-income communities in California. The allocation of $35 million will be deployed to high-impact community projects this year. The League is working with CSCDA to help identify qualified projects that are supported by local government and community stakeholders.
May 2, 2013
It’s that time of the year — the League of California Cities Annual Conference & Expo is going to be here before you know it, and registration is officially open. The conference will be held Sept. 18–20 in Sacramento.
May 2, 2013
AB 162 (Holden) and AB 185 (Hernández), both originally scheduled to be heard in Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday, will not move forward this year. The bills’ authors pulled them from the committee agenda. Both bills would have had significant impacts on cities, and the League wants to thank our members who reached out to the authors and other legislators to explain their opposition.
May 2, 2013
The League achieved an important victory on Tuesday when AB 1337 (Allen) failed to pass out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee without a single vote in support. This bill would have preempted all existing and future single-use carryout bag ordinances. The League wishes to thank all the cities that sent in opposition letters on AB 1337. This measure is dead for the remaining legislative session.
May 2, 2013
The League encourages cities to submit letters of support for AB 416 (Gordon) and AB 574 (Lowenthal), two bills that would appropriate Cap-and-Trade auction revenues to local agencies, including cities.