Innovation requires risk-taking — not wild gambles, but
calculated risks. Unless council members and top management
create an environment that encourages “smart” risks, there will
be little…
The first publicly funded, universal children’s college savings account program in the United States has a simple yet ambitious goal: Make sure every child in San Francisco can save for…
The municipal budget process typically begins in the spring. City
officials and staff can find a wide range of free materials
online to assist in budget creation, financial management and
more.
Wireless industry lobbyists continue to advocate before Congress,
state legislators and the Federal Communications Commission that
local zoning requirements are a barrier that must be cleared
away….
The Fun on the Run Mobile Recreation program visits four
low-income neighborhood areas weekly to keep children engaged and
active after school with physical activities, games, crafts and
nutrition…
The issue of when to refrain from participating in an agency
decision can be vexing. This is an area where the law provides
some but not all of the answers.
Throughout California, city and county officials make planning,
policy and land-use decisions on a weekly basis. Local officials
understand that such decisions affect their community’s…
In 2008 the massage industry helped craft SB 731, which established a voluntary certification process for massage professionals through the California Massage Therapy Council. The bill’s intent…
What impact does the public’s distrust of government officials
have on how people perceive leadership? Why do some unpopular
leaders later achieve prominence while other more popular
leaders…
The California Arts Council’s new Creative California Communities
(CCC) Program supports innovative projects that harness arts and
culture as a key economic development or arts service strategy…
The City of Ontario partnered with Mercy House Living Centers to
create a full-service continuum of care that would provide the
social and capital infrastructure necessary to transition all…
For the ninth time in the past 10 years, the League has
identified infrastructure investment as one of its top
priorities. You don’t have to look far to understand why.
CCLI is one of several programs that address the League’s key
strategic priority to “build effective partnerships to help
respond to growing community needs.” Each year, 20 to 30 local…
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is the primary
state law that requires public agencies and their decision-makers
to understand and evaluate the environmental consequences of
their…
Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Legacy Park, which was
designed to showcase six regionally significant habitats,
including the coastal prairie, woodlands, coastal bluffs,
riparian…
Romantic relationships in the public agency workplace raise a
number of ethical issues and carry significant risks. This
article explores the problems such relationships can create for
the agency…
Approximately 2.5 million “lawful permanent residents” living in
California are eligible to become U.S. citizens. Local officials
can leverage their leadership to encourage naturalization…
In 2013 the League focused on sponsoring and supporting
legislation to help develop new community and economic
development tools and funding options for city services. On other
fronts, it was…
When the leadership of the League gathered in November for the
annual goal-setting meeting, League staff was pleased to report
that the organization had concluded a largely successful 2013…
California is currently home to 1.8 million veterans, and an
additional 40,000 veterans are expected to return to the state
every year for the next several years.
Like many cities throughout California, Montclair and Ontario are
faced with breaking the cycle of low adult educational
attainment, family poverty and workforce development hurdles. An
innovative…
Most residents want to know how decisions — particularly budget-related decisions — are made at the local level and how much a particular course of action is going to cost the city and its…
In the wake of the Bell scandal the League condemned the breach
of public trust and took steps to facilitate public access to
critically important city government information, such as the
salaries…
Over the past several years, California cities and counties have
faced the issue of whether to permit or ban medical marijuana
dispensaries. Many cities imposed bans or prohibited
dispensary…
California’s Fair Political Practices Commission recently
reorganized and — in some instances — relaxed the rules on when a
public official may accept free or discounted travel. The
changes…
California’s energy utilities and state agencies offer rebates, zero-interest loans, grants and other types of financing incentives to cities, residents and businesses.
The competency of both local officials and staff provides a basis
for establishing public trust and confidence. Elements of ethics,
public input and transparency also play a key role.
Artist and speaker Erik Wahl’s performance at the League’s recent annual conference inspired city officials to think creatively about the skills they may have that can be put to work in serving…
Efforts to achieve greater energy efficiency in commercial and
industrial buildings are often hampered by substantial upfront
costs. To help local businesses overcome these cost barriers,…
Two new elements required for government financial statements may
seem complicated at first glance, but will improve the accuracy
of reporting by including future commitments.
Under realignment, state prisons will house the most serious offenders while county jails will house lower-level felons. This article examines which offenders are covered, sentencing, post-release…
Many cities are experiencing very painful financial difficulties. Elected city officials grapple with budget challenges nearly every day. But cities are using a number of innovative approaches to…
With numerous mandates coming from the state Capitol, ensuring
that your city is compliant can be a daunting task for even the
most seasoned city official.
In light of a recent court decision, cities should make sure
their practices are consistent with the due process rights of
parties involved in quasi-judicial proceedings.
The City of Santa Maria’s Listos program emphasizes sharing
emergency and disaster preparedness skills, using a culturally
appropriate curriculum that overcomes language and trust
barriers.
How does innovation occur in local government? What can local
officials interested in seeing their agencies engage in
innovation do to support innovation?
Summer at City Hall focuses on teen learning and leadership and
provides a model for other communities seeking to create an
engaging and enriching summer program for youth.
Rather than have a national “conversation” about race, President
Obama suggested, in effect, that we have millions of
conversations about it over the next few years.
The Institute for Local Government is offering several sessions
at the League of California Cities 2013 Annual Conference & Expo
to provide educational opportunities for city officials.
Each year the League board of directors adopts a strategy for focusing the organization’s efforts. This year’s strategy emphasizes working with the state Legislature on issues of local control…
California cities and counties are increasingly finding that investing today in energy efficiency, sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions has both immediate and longer-term benefits.
The newly revised framework offers options to consider for local
action in 10 areas from energy efficiency and conservation to
efficient transportation, promoting community and individual
action…
The Delta supplies a large share of the water used in Southern
California and other parts of the state. A new plan proposes
dramatic changes to how water is moved from the Delta.
Gov. Jerry Brown recently observed that in a state that values diversity as much as California, you would think there would be more support for honoring the differences among communities. So what…
Expert speakers and panelists will discuss a wide range of topics
in sessions that take place concurrently throughout the
conference. Many cities choose to have their officials and staff
coordinate…
Most people are generally unaware of what lies beneath the
streets they travel on each day. Understanding the sub-surface
infrastructure is an important local government consideration.
Technology offers many ways for local governments to increase and enhance the transparency of their operations. A proactive approach is best when it comes to providing information to residents and…
SmartRiverside has helped transform the city by promoting
high-tech businesses, encouraging collaboration and creating a
forum for communication between students and high-tech
organizations.
Examining how other local agencies handle these issues provides a
helpful starting place for determining which approach best serves
your agency’s needs.
A diverse alliance in the San Francisco Bay Area is showing that
cooperation and collaboration among neighboring communities and
the business sector can pay big dividends in new jobs that
combine…
Today multiple bills are pending to recreate tax-increment
financing. It requires vision, persistence and enough public
investment to attract private capital and development that
produce…
In November 2012 the Legislature welcomed 39 new members, the
largest freshman class since 1966. In the Assembly, 69 percent
have local government experience.
By supporting wellness efforts, cities can offer an environment
where residents and employees are encouraged to be more
physically active, eat nutritious food and enjoy the advantages
of good health.
Designed to help cities build a stronger wellness culture over
time and engage their employees in healthier lifestyles, this
program provides online tools, grants and more.
The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 mandates
uniform, generally lower benefit formulas for all “new members”
of California public agency defined benefit retirement plans.
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.
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.
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…
State policies for achieving sustainability have staked much on
the success of cities. Yet the state’s recent actions signal a
lack of appreciation for the vital function cities serve as
centers…
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…
The deadline for this year’s award program is April 11, so start
planning now to enter your city’s outstanding programs that
creatively address local challenges. Winners enjoy a variety
of…
In tough economic times expectations remain high for cities to
provide quality public services and facilities, though resources
to fund desired projects are scarce. One strategy for
overcoming…
The state’s goals around reducing greenhouse gas emissions are based on a vision that concentrates growth in urban cores and utilizes transit. To meet these goals, cities must be able to make…
Pavement conditions are deteriorating throughout California, and
while the costs are high for even the most basic repair and
maintenance, the price tag for waiting is far higher, from both
an…
Cities are increasingly using civil actions rather than criminal
prosecution to curb illegal drug sales within their borders.
Often such actions are taken either under general nuisance laws
or the…
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…
The Sustainable Communities Learning Network links nonprofit,
governmental, private sector and community organizations
statewide. It provides a way to share best practices and seek
information from…
While the past few years have presented major challenges for
cities, the events of 2012 included some bright spots as well.
This article presents an overview of the year’s legislative…
More than 100 city officials worked together to develop the
League’s strategic goals for 2013, which include building
partnerships, continuing pension reform, expanding community and
economic…
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?”
Cities throughout California are engaged in a variety of efforts
to make local government operations as transparent as possible.
The League provides local officials with a variety of resources
on…
The doctrine of qualified immunity protects government defendants
from liability as long as their conduct did not violate clearly
established law. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled on the
issue…
Recent media coverage of public officials’ ethical lapses raises
questions about the underlying causes of such behavior. This
column explores why people make poor choices and the roles
that…
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board’s release of new
defined benefit pension standards could not have come at a better
time or a worse time, depending on one’s point of view.
Understanding “how to get things done as a newly elected
official” is a priority for local officials. New online resources
help streamline the process.
High-tech tools are making it possible for cities to issue alerts
in real time to their communities, respond more quickly to
emergencies and maximize scarce resources.
The Legislative Briefings cover information of critical
importance to cities and are offered in two formats, online and
in person, to make them readily accessible for all member cities.
This column presents options for securing compliance with local
lobbying laws and questions to ask about what kind of laws make
sense for a particular community.
As the cost of installing solar photovoltaic systems on agency
facilities has declined over the past few years, local agencies
are considering the benefits. Asking the right questions can help
make…
Many cities have hired recent retirees to bridge staffing needs
during the economic crunch. But failing to recognize and comply
with requirements of the statutes governing such hires can result
in…
California city officials were stunned when the State Water
Resources Control Board issued a highly prescriptive 93-page
draft permit containing a number of stringent, unfunded mandates.
Cities and counties throughout California are demonstrating
leadership in creating vibrant, healthy communities by adopting
policies and programs that support sustainability.
The League of California Cities 2012 Annual Conference & Expo
provides a unique opportunity for city officials and staff to
learn from policy-makers and experts.
The Internet is no longer a new tool, and many cities are making good use of it. In this era of fiscal austerity, we are all working to do more with less. Cities are using technology to improve…
The website features enhanced tools to help League members
advocate for their cities, become involved in the policy-making
process and learn about important upcoming educational
opportunities for…
Members of the public and local agency officials carrying out the
public’s business increasingly use electronic media to
communicate. This article provides an overview of the law,
discusses some…
The city took an innovative tack in dealing with unpredictable
electricity rates and used a public-private partnership to train
workers for the green energy industry.
Public agency transparency comprises two dimensions: information
and process. This article includes a handy checklist of items
local agencies may want to consider including on their website.
The City of Alhambra took action early this year on an innovative
plan to stimulate economic development and identified a range of
tools to help finance new projects.
The continued expansion in core green industries, such as energy
generation and efficiency, recycling and waste, clean
transportation, water and wastewater, offers cause for guarded
optimism.
One of the most critical periods for legislative action is
between now and the first week of July. Learn how you can support
the advocacy efforts of California cities.
As local officials, we grapple with a lot of challenging issues
and tough situations, and we don’t always agree on the best thing
to do. But once in a while we come across something that makes…
Obesity and related diseases threaten the health of cities’ most
vulnerable populations, particularly children and youth. As part
of an effort to address obesity, California cities are
participating in the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities
Campaign and adopting land-use, economic development and employee
wellness policies that support health.
A variety of changes to the gift regulations took effect Jan. 1,
2012. The goal was to simplify the gift regulations and make them
easier to understand, while reinforcing the principle that
public…
A new era of transportation planning has dawned in California as
metropolitan planning organizations throughout the state work to
comply with Senate Bill 375.
Land-use planning can present difficult and divisive issues for
communities. A local agency’s land-use planning decisions
literally affect people where they live.
Groupthink is a phenomenon in which the group members form
individual opinions that match the group consensus rather than
critically evaluating information.
Hayward’s Mural Art Program offers an outstanding example of a
local effort that has helped reduce crime, build public-private
partnerships, enhance community pride and save taxpayers’ money.
Maintaining our social contract with state legislators is easier when we first make an effort to understand their perspective and work style, rather than just expecting them to vote a certain way.
A strong and well-funded political action committee is essential
to deterring initiative efforts that would cut funds for local
programs, weaken local decision-making or transfer state…
Cities and other public entities are generally required to put
significant contracts out for competitive bidding and to award
the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. Sometimes a
decision is…
