Public Trust and Ethics

Overview June 23, 2022

Public Trust and Ethics

Article March 1, 2019 California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Garden Grove Empowers Residents and Improves a Neighborhood

Communicating with residents was key to developing solutions.

Article February 1, 2019 California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

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 January 1, 2019 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 January 1, 2019 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 January 1, 2019 Features

On the Record
How long have you served on the city council? What do you wish you’d known when you were first elected?

Article October 22, 2018 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 October 22, 2018 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 October 22, 2018 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.

Article October 1, 2018 Legal Notes by Patrick Whitnell, Corrie Manning and Luis Haro

Regulating Hate Speech in California

Even though hateful speech is generally protected under the First Amendment, some hate speech does not receive protection.

Article September 25, 2018 California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Santa Clarita Court Diversion Program Gives Teens a Second Chance

This innovative program keeps one moment of immature indiscretion from turning into a pattern of criminal behavior that can ruin any hope for a bright future.