Topic - Public Trust & Ethics Archive

Get Your Public Meetings Back on Track

Disruptions in public meetings seem to be increasingly common. This article offers tips for local agency officials on handling conflict and strategies to help make meetings more productive.

Are We at the Tipping Point in Building a New State-Local Partnership?

As the economy begins to recover and the state budget shows signs of stabilizing, the challenges facing California require strong leadership at all levels. Many of our new state legislators came from local government and bring a fresh perspective. Are we on the brink of a new era?

By Chris McKenzie

Meetings: Bane or Blessing? New Resource Center Offers Help

Meetings can present a broad range of challenges for local officials. A collection of useful materials offers practical information on related topics that include chairing a meeting, dealing with a grandstander, complying with open government meetings and more.

Fresno’s Planning Process Builds Trust

Communities use planning to make choices about the future. But the process can be as important as the final plan itself and provide a foundation for future efforts around local issues and concerns.

By Jennifer Armer and Steve Sanders

Public Agency Attorney Ethics

Attorneys must meet a number of requirements (including ethics requirements) to be able to practice law in California. But what happens when public agency attorneys are pressured to justify unlawful actions?

Helping Mayors and Council Members Take Leadership to the Next Level

The League provides a wide range of resources to help local elected officials build their capacity to better serve their residents.

By Eva Spiegel

In Case We Haven’t Met: ILG Provides Tools and Resources for Local Leaders

The ILG website offers a broad array of tools for newly elected local officials and their staff as well as seasoned officials.

On the Record

Santa Clarita’s Neighborhood Approach Builds Trust and Community Involvement

Cultivating Transparency in Your City

When news is breaking about the abuse of public trust in another city, local elected officials are likely to be asked, “How can we be sure that something similar isn’t happening here?”

By Bill Bogaard