Public Trust and Ethics

Overview

Public Trust and Ethics

Article Features by Andrew Powers

Resiliency Wins: Our Community’s Response to Two Tragedies

How Thousand Oaks coped with a mass shooting and two major wildfires in a single day.

Article Legal Notes by Alex Pal

Disasters in California: A Brief Overview of Preparedness, Proclamations and Assistance

Though California cities cannot predict or prevent the next disaster, they can take steps to maximize preparedness and build capacity.

Article Web Exclusive by Chris Callard

Environmental Tag Team: The Unique Partnership of Paramount and the Air Quality Management District

When a reporter called asking about an abnormal level of a carcinogenic toxin in the air, city leaders were surprised to learn of it.

Article Features by Scott Summerfield

Communicating During a Cyberattack: The Next Crisis Frontier for Cities

Local agencies are a favorite target for cyberattacks. Plan now for what can happen if a cyberattacker seizes control of your city’s data and systems.

Article News from the Institute for the Local Government by Melissa Kuehne

Boosting Community Engagement With Social Media: How One City Is Using Facebook Live

Lake Forest began streaming council meetings in early 2018.

Article President’s Message by Jan Arbuckle

Broadband Deployment, Public Safety and Defending Local Control

It is unreasonable and unacceptable for the telecom industry to expect it can override the legitimate concerns and best interests of our residents and cities.

Article Features by David Graham

Innovative by Necessity: Lessons from Modestly Sized Cities

A chief information officer describes how lessons learned from modestly sized cities can apply to cities of all sizes.

Article Features by Barrie Hathaway and Larry Moody

Peninsula Division Explores Ways to Build Workforce Readiness

Businesses are struggling to find the talent they need.

Rancho Cucamonga Focuses on Community’s Mental Health Needs

An untreated mental health condition can have fatal consequences and a devastating impact on the community.

Article Features by Hafsa Kaka

Santa Ana Establishes 200-Bed Interim Homeless Shelter in 28 Days

A public-private partnership and the community mobilized in response to rapidly increasing homelessness.

Article News from the Institute for the Local Government by Hanna Stelmakhovych

Preparing for the 2020 Census: What Cities Need to Know

The census drives important funding for city programs. California cities can play an active role in helping to make the 2020 census fair and accurate.

Garden Grove Empowers Residents and Improves a Neighborhood

Communicating with residents was key to developing solutions.

Porterville Provides Clean, Sustainable Water After Neighbors’ Wells Fail

The East Porterville Water Supply Project offers a model for helping to meet the clean and sustainable drinking water needs of disadvantaged communities.

Article City Forum by Randi Kay Stephens

Transitioning to Districts and Sustaining Effective Governance as a Council

Following the move from at-large to district-based elections, Concord’s city officials and staff wanted to be proactive in establishing governance norms. This article outlines key issues related to the transition and how the city approached them.

Article by Carolyn Coleman

After the Campaign Is Over: Aim for Exceptional

Two-thirds of Americans surveyed in a 2018 poll had a favorable opinion of their local government. The public will continue to look favorably on local government and a functioning local democracy if newly elected and re-elected mayors and council members embrace the attributes of exceptional councils.

Article Features by Melissa Kuehne

Finance Advisory Committees: Tips and Traps

Melissa Kuehne is communications and development manager for the Institute for Local Government; she can be reached at mkuehne@ca-ilg.org.

Article News from the Institute for the Local Government by Melissa Kuehne

Tools to Engage Your Community in the Budgeting Process

Sharing the city’s budget information with the community helps residents understand constraints and develop informed opinions on how limited financial resources should be allocated.

Article Executive Director's Message by Carolyn Coleman

Preparing for the Next Economic Downturn

Cities can take proactive steps to better position themselves for the impacts of the next major economic downturn.