September 22, 2006
Issue #37-2006
WANT MORE DETAILS
ON BILLS?
Visit the League of
California Cities
website at
www.cacities.org/
billsearch.
LEAGUE WEBSITE NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS LEAGUE WEBSITE NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS LEAGUE WEBSITE NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS LEAGUE WEBSITE NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS LEAGUE WEBSITE NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS
SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF FOCUS ON HOUSING FOCUS ON HOUSING FOCUS ON HOUSING FOCUS ON HOUSING FOCUS ON HOUSING AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
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Earlier this year, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Ap-
peals issued an opinion that the federal Voting Rights Act requires recall
petitions to be translated into the minority languages identified by the Depart-
ment of Justice for the county in which the petitions will circulate. An ex-
panded 15-judge panel of the 9th Circuit has reheard the case and issued an
opinion this week reversing its earlier conclusion. For more, see Page 3.
9TH CIRCUIT CHANGES COURSE ON 9TH CIRCUIT CHANGES COURSE ON 9TH CIRCUIT CHANGES COURSE ON 9TH CIRCUIT CHANGES COURSE ON 9TH CIRCUIT CHANGES COURSE ON
TRANSLATING RECALL PETITIONS TRANSLATING RECALL PETITIONS TRANSLATING RECALL PETITIONS TRANSLATING RECALL PETITIONS TRANSLATING RECALL PETITIONS
The League of California Cities is hosting a live phone seminar entitled
“How to Create Smoke-Free Outdoor Areas in Your Community,” on October
24, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more, see Page 3.
‘HOW TO CREATE SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR ‘HOW TO CREATE SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR ‘HOW TO CREATE SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR ‘HOW TO CREATE SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR ‘HOW TO CREATE SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR
AREAS IN YOUR COMMUNITY’ AREAS IN YOUR COMMUNITY’ AREAS IN YOUR COMMUNITY’ AREAS IN YOUR COMMUNITY’ AREAS IN YOUR COMMUNITY’
T elephone Seminar Scheduled for October 24
The Sacramento Bee is the latest newspaper to editorialize against Prop.
90, calling it “radical,” “sweeping,” and “far-reaching.” The editorial highlights
the deceptive nature of Prop. 90 and notes that it will limit our ability to enact
even the most basic laws that protect our communities.
For more, see Page 4.
PROP. 90 OPPOSITION GROWS PROP. 90 OPPOSITION GROWS PROP. 90 OPPOSITION GROWS PROP. 90 OPPOSITION GROWS PROP. 90 OPPOSITION GROWS
‘NO on 90’ Editorials = Six and Growing…Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 2 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 22, 2006 - Issue #37
The League of California Cities is pleased to
announce the launch of its Really Simple Syndica-
tion (RSS) system – offering a new way to stay
up-to-date with League issues affecting your city.
RSS allows you to subscribe to certain subject
areas on the League website. When a story in
that area is published on the website, the story
headline and introductory paragraph are delivered
to your RSS news reader for you to review. It’s
like having your own customized, up-to-the-minute
League newsletter, covering only those subjects of
interest to you.
When you receive an RSS feed that interests
you enough to read the entire story, simply click on
the title of the story in your news reader, and you’ll
be taken to that article on the League website.
The system allows you to choose what you want
to read, instead of having to go to the website and
search through it for the news that interests you.
RSS Topics. The current League RSS Feeds
are:
• Latest News Articles (front page League
website stories, which can include a broad
range of timely topics)
• Budget
• City Finance
• Community and Economic Development
• Conferences
• Environmental Quality
• Ethics
• Housing and Land Use
• Pension Reform
• Public Safety
• Public Works
• Telecommunications
How to Sign Up. To learn more about RSS
and for information on how to sign-up to receive
the League’s RSS feeds, visit www.cacities.org/
rss.
The September 2006 edition of Focus on
Housing, the League’s monthly affordable housing
electronic newsletter, is now online.
This month’s issue features an update on
Proposition 90; an article regarding Prop. 1C, the
housing bond on November’s ballot; coverage of
housing and land use sessions at the League’s
annual conference; an article on housing trusts
and much more! Visit www.imakenews.com/
focusonhousing to read the issue and for access
to all previous editions.
Does your city have a new affordable housing
redevelopment success story? Perhaps you have
an idea for a feature article on an affordable
housing issue you’d like to write? If so, we want to
hear about it! Contact League Communications
Specialist Brian Heaton at bheaton@cacities.org
for possible inclusion of your story in a future
issue of Focus on Housing.
LEAGUE WEBSITE LEAGUE WEBSITE LEAGUE WEBSITE LEAGUE WEBSITE LEAGUE WEBSITE
NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS NOW FEATURES RSS FEEDS
SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF SEPTEMBER EDITION OF FOCUS ON FOCUS ON FOCUS ON FOCUS ON FOCUS ON
HOUSING HOUSING HOUSING HOUSING HOUSING AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
Western City magazine’s job opportunity
section is the source for job seekers
looking for positions in local government.
According to our reader survey, the job
opportunity section is the best read
section of our magazine!
When you place an ad in Western City
magazine, it will be posted at no addi-
tional charge on our website, which
receives over 80,000 hits per month.
Call to place your
recruitment ad today!
We Have What You Need
(800) 262-1801 or visit our website at
www.westerncity.com
Looking for California’s Best
to Fill a Position
in Y our City?PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 3 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 22, 2006 - Issue #37
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RECALL RECALL RECALL RECALL RECALL from page 1 from page 1 from page 1 from page 1 from page 1
Under California law, the recall petition format
is established by the Secretary of State, and the
local elections official merely reviews a recall
petition prior to circulation to ensure it conforms to
the state format. The 9th Circuit held that because
the state has established the recall petition format,
the local agency is not “providing” the petition form
for purposes of the Voting Rights Act. For this
reason, the court held that the Act does not require
that petitions be translated.
Subsequent to the 9th Circuit’s original opinion,
recall opponents, as well as opponents of local
initiatives and referenda, had brought challenges
based on a failure of the proponents to circulate
petitions in minority languages. With the 9th
Circuit’s recent decision, the continued validity of
such challenges is questionable.
The 9th Circuit’s opinion can be found on the
court’s website at www.ca9.uscourts.gov.
SMOKE-FREE SMOKE-FREE SMOKE-FREE SMOKE-FREE SMOKE-FREE from page 1 from page 1 from page 1 from page 1 from page 1
This 90-minute interactive teleconference is
designed to show how your community can
create smoke-free parks, beaches, and outdoor
dining areas. Listen and learn by speaker phone
from your office or city hall to hear from leaders
who have helped institute popular and straightfor-
ward policies to protect children, the elderly, and
workers from exposure to secondhand smoke, a
known carcinogen.
All city officials and city staff, parks and
recreation directors and department staff, plan-
ning commissioners, community services and
development directors and department staff and
health department officials are encouraged to
attend this educational event.
Presenters include Joe Kellejian,
councilmember, Solana Beach; Adam Radinsky,
deputy city attorney, Head Consumer Protection
Unit, Santa Monica; Randy Cooper, director of
parks, recreation and community services,
Fresno; Robin Salsburg, attorney, Technical
Assistance Legal Center (TALC). Please note
that the views expressed by the speakers are
their own and do not necessarily represent the
views or any position of the League of California
Cities.
Find out how the City of Solana Beach be-
came the first community in California to declare
its beaches smoke-free. Get an update on the
important steps the City of Santa Monica is taking
to create smoke-free dining and shopping areas.
And, explore the approach the City of Fresno has
taken to address secondhand smoke exposure in
their parks. These speakers, as well as a legal
expert on secondhand smoke issues will be
available to answer your questions.
The phone seminar costs only $79 per listen-
ing site, with unlimited listeners! This fee includes
one telephone/speakerphone connection and vital
handout materials. For registration information,
visit www.cacities.org and click on the story
entitled “Teleseminar - Create Smoke Free Out-
door Areas.” For additional information or to
register by phone, call (800) 775-7654.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get the
League’s most useful reference tool. This
comprehensive California directory
provides important contact information for
mayors, council members and city
department heads. The directory also
features the League’s staff directory,
League partners, affiliate organizations and
a wide variety of advertisers.
INFORMATION YOU NEED, RIGHT AT
YOUR FINGERTIPS!
Purchase this publication online at
www.cacities.org/store or call (916) 658-
8257 for an order form. City officials price
$30, non-city officials price $65, plus
shipping & handling.
2006 CITY HALL
DIRECTORY
???????????Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 4 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 22, 2006 - Issue #37
PROP. 90 PROP. 90 PROP. 90 PROP. 90 PROP. 90 from page 1 from page 1 from page 1 from page 1 from page 1 ?????????????????????????????????? ????????????
Continued on Page 5
Here’s part of what the Bee said:
“No on Proposition 90, It boasts a radical
stealth agenda”
“Proposition 90 is less about eminent
domain than it is about an aggressive and
radical campaign to redefine “takings” in a way
never done before in this country…Proponents
of Proposition 90 are using “eminent domain”
as a hook, but don’t be fooled. Proposition 90
is not really about fixing eminent domain
abuses. It’s about a sweeping agenda to
freeze land use and other regulations. Vote No
on Proposition 90.”
Sacramento Bee, Editorial, 9/18/06
(Read the entire editorial at
www.NoProp90.com.)
Other ‘NO on 90’ Editorials:
• Napa Valley Register, (9/14/06)
• Santa Rosa Press Democrat, (9/11/06)
• Mountain View Voice, (9/08/06)
• Torrance Daily Breeze, (8/23/06)
• San Diego Union-Tribune, (8/22/06)
‘No on 90’ Walk Pieces Available Soon
Planning to walk precincts in the next few
weeks?
If so, please consider carrying a “No on 90”
message with you when you do. The campaign is
producing a two-sided color piece that you can
use to help educate voters about this harmful
measure.
Similar to the piece that was available at “No
on Prop. 90” information desk at the League’s
Annual Conference, it will outline the impacts of
Prop. 90 to taxpayers, the environment, public
safety, infrastructure and our communities on the
front, and the back will feature a partial list of the
diverse groups who are opposed.
Walk pieces should be available the first week
of October. Contact your League Regional
Representative to reserve yours today.
Know the Rules for Ballot Measure Advo-
cacy. City officials can participate in ballot mea-
sure advocacy if they do so on their own time,
and without using any public resources. To make
sure you understand the “do’s and don’ts” of ballot
measure advocacy, please review “Working on a
Ballot Measure Campaign: Some Rules for City
Officials,” located at www.cacities.org/
ballotmeasures.
‘No on Prop. 90’ Coalition Continues to
Grow. More and more organizations and individu-
als are joining the “No on Prop. 90” coalition, as
they become more familiar with the cynical
“taxpayer trap” provisions in this measure.
Homeowners:
• Crescent Gardens Homeowners
Association
Taxpayers:
• Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association
Public Safety:
• Peace Officers Research Association of
California (PORAC)
Business:
• Valley Industry and Commerce Association
• Southwest Legislative Council
• Murrieta Chamber of Commerce
• Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of
Commerce
• Redlands Chamber of Commerce
• Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce
• Contra Costa Council
• Downtown Sacramento Partnership
• San Carlos Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Fresno Area Chamber of
CommercePRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 5 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 22, 2006 - Issue #37
Organized Labor:
• Service Employees International Union,
California State Council
• California Association of Public Employ-
ees, AFL-CIO
Infrastructure/Transportation:
• California Infrastructure Coalition
Consumer/Public Interest:
• Commonweal America
• The San Francisco Planning and Urban
Research Association
Ethnic:
• Greenlining Institute
Community/Faith-Based:
• Urban Habitat
Agriculture:
• Napa County Farm Bureau
Housing Providers/Advocates:
• Livable Places
Environmental:
• Environmental Justice Coalition for Water
• Marin Audubon Society
• Environmental Health Coalition
• Northcoast Environmental Center
• California Coastkeeper Alliance
• League to Save Lake Tahoe
Political Organizations:
• Log Cabin Republicans
Water:
• Metropolitan Water District
• Grassland Water District
Government:
• Lake Shastina Community Services
District
Individuals:
• State Treasurer Phil Angelides
• Jim Dear, Mayor, City of Carson
• David K. Pendergrass, Mayor, City of
Sand City
• Antonio Rivas, Mayor, City of Watsonville
• John Dutrey, Mayor Pro Tem, City
of Montclair
• Roseann Mikos, Ph.D., Mayor Pro Tem,
City of Moorpark
• Dave Allan, Councilmember, City of La
Mesa
• Bob Hunter, Councilmember, City of
Victorville
• Michael Kelley, Councilmember, City of
Sausalito
• Laura Macias, Councilmember, City of
Mountain View
• Tom Malson, Councilmember, City of Galt
• William J. Quirk, Councilmember, City of
Hayward
• Kaitilin Gaffney, Planning Commissioner,
City of Santa Cruz
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PROP. 90 PROP. 90 PROP. 90 PROP. 90 PROP. 90 from page 4 from page 4 from page 4 from page 4 from page 4
The League wants to stay in touch!
Just because you are leaving your position
with the city doesn’t mean you stop caring
about or wanting to be involved in city
issues. Keep abreast of developments
affecting cities and the League by becom-
ing part of the League’s alumni group.
Members will receive periodic updates on
city issues and League activities. This is
the League’s way of saying “thank you” for
your public service—there is no fee for this
service.
To join, go to www.cacities.org/alumni
or send your contact information to
dharrison@cacities.org.
Leaving City Office? Retiring?
September 29, 2006
Issue #38-2006
WANT MORE DETAILS
ON BILLS?
Visit the League of
California Cities
website at
www.cacities.org/
billsearch.
SRTS FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATION
PROJECTS
SCHELL RECEIVES 2006 AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ANNOUNCED
2006 HELEN PUTNAM AWARD WINNERS
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Page 2
Opposition to Proposition 90, the “taxpayer trap” measure on the Novem-
ber ballot, continued to pick up steam this week. A new independent study
released September 27 by a team of economists at LECG Consulting, led by
former legislative analyst Dr. William Hamm, has concluded that “the costs
imposed on the taxpayers by Proposition 90 would amount to billions of
dollars annually.” For more, see Page 15.
PROP. 90 UPDATE: NEW STUDY FINDS PROPOSITION 90
WOULD COST TAXPAYERS ‘BILLIONS’ ANNUALLY
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: ALL EYES ON THE GOVERNOR
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is hosting two work-
shops – one in Diamond Bar on October 11-12, and one in Rancho Cordova on
October 16-17, covering the essentials of emergency response and recovery.
For more, see Page 17.
CALTRANS TO HOST 2006 CALIFORNIA
RESPONSE & RECOVERY CONFERENCES
The League is closely monitoring the status of a number of bills that have
been sent to Gov. Schwarzenegger for consideration (signature or veto).
Below is an update on the Governor’s actions on League priority bills.
For more, see Page 13.
Page 4
Page 3Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 2 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
More than $68 million is expected to be avail-
able for infrastructure (capital) or non-infrastructure
(education and encouragement) projects in Califor-
nia over the next five years through the federal
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. California
state, local, and regional agencies; school districts;
and non-profit organizations with these projects are
eligible and cities are encouraged to apply for the
funding.
The SRTS program is authorized in Section
1404 in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU). SAFETEA-LU authorizes the
federal surface transportation programs for high-
ways, highway safety, and transit for the five-year
period 2005-2009.
The SRTS program provides $612 million
nationwide to (1) “enable and encourage children,
including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle
to school; (2) make bicycling and walking to school
a safer and more appealing transportation alterna-
tive, thereby encouraging a healthy and active
lifestyle from an early age; and (3) facilitate the
planning, development, and implementation of
projects and activities that will improve safety and
reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in
the vicinity of schools.”
Of the $68 million expected for California,
70 percent of the funds will go toward infra-
structure projects; 10 percent will go to a
single statewide consultant to develop stan-
dardized training, promotional materials, and
outer resources to the schools statewide, and
the remaining 20 percent will go toward non-
infrastructure projects.
For more information and to apply, visit
www.dot.ca.gov/hg/LocalPrograms and select
“Program Information.” You can also contact SRTS
Coordinator Joyce Parks at (916) 653-6920 or
joyce_parks@dot.ca.gov.
Thanks to the Cities, Counties & Schools (CCS)
Partnership for providing the information in this
story.
SRTS FUNDING AVAILABLE
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND
EDUCATION PROJECTS
Wayne Schell, president and chief executive
officer of the California Association of Local
Economic Development (CALED), was honored
with the 2006 Chairman’s Award for Excellence in
Economic Development by the International
Economic Development Council (IEDC).
The award was presented at IEDC’s annual
conference in New York City on September 17-20.
Schell, unaware he was being honored, was
recognized for his dedication to the furtherance of
economic growth throughout his 37-year career.
“The 2006 Chairman’s Award for Excellence in
Economic Development honors an individual who
has consistently exemplified the highest stan-
dards of professional excellence throughout his or
her career in the economic development field,”
said IEDC Chairman Joseph A. Marinucci. “There
is no more prestigious honor in our industry, and
Mr. Schell is undeniably deserving of this
acknowledgement.”
Schell has been president and CEO of
CALED since 1990. Prior to that, he spent more
than 10 years as director of the California State
Office of Local Economic Development, and in
1983 he served as interim director of the State
Department of Economic and Business Develop-
ment. He was also Director of the Economic
Development Division in the Department of
Housing and Community Development and
special consultant to the Department of Com-
merce.
Additionally, he held the roles of assistant
executive officer of the Governor’s Office on
Intergovernmental Management, and special
assistant to the Governors Assistant for Local
Government. A dedicated practitioner, Mr. Schell
was a founder and past board member of the
California Association for Local Economic Devel-
opment, and a past member of the Board of
Directors of CUED and the National Association of
State Development Agencies.
SCHELL RECEIVES 2006
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 3 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
With the 2005-06 legislative session coming to
a close (officially concludes on November 30),
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez is moving
quickly to put his 2007-08 leadership teams in
place.
Speaker Núñez has named the following
legislators to his Assembly Democratic Leadership
Team:
• Speaker pro Tem – Assemblymember
Sally Lieber (Mountain View)
• Majority Floor Leader –
Assemblymember Karen Bass (Los
Angeles)
• Democratic Caucus Chair –
Assemblymember Noreen Evans (Santa
Rosa)
• Director of Majority Affairs –
Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (Newark)
Additionally, Speaker Núñez has announced
the following appointments to committee chairs,
effective immediately. Some chairs are reappoint-
ments, others are new appointments. New chairs
are denoted by an asterisk (*).
• Aging and Long-Term Care –
Assemblymember Patty Berg (Eureka)*
• Agriculture – Assemblymember Nicole
Parra (Hanford)*
• Appropriations – Assemblymember Mark
Leno (San Francisco)*
• Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism
and Internet Media – Assemblymember
Betty Karnette (Long Beach)*
• Banking and Finance –
Assemblymember Ted Lieu (Torrance)*
• Budget – Assemblymember John Laird
(Santa Cruz)
• Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and
Human Services – Assemblymember
Patty Berg (Eureka)*
• Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources
– Assemblymember Ira Ruskin (Red-
wood City)*
ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ANNOUNCED
• Subcommittee No. 4 on State
Administration – Assemblymember
Juan Arambula (Fresno)*
• Education – Assemblymember Gene
Mullin (San Francisco)*
• Governmental Organization –
Assemblymember Alberto Torrico
(Newark)*
• Health – Assemblymember Mervyn
Dymally (Compton)*
• Housing and Community Development
– Assemblymember Lori Saldana (San
Diego)*
• Insurance – Assemblymember Joe Coto
(San Jose)*
• Jobs, Economic Development and the
Economy – Assemblymember Juan
Arambula (Fresno)
• Judiciary – Assemblymember Dave
Jones (Sacramento)
• Natural Resources – Assemblymember
Loni Hancock (Berkeley)
• Rules – Assemblymember Hector De La
Torre (South Gate)*
• Transportation – Assemblymember
Pedro Nava (Santa Barbara)*
• Utilities and Commerce –
Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (Van
Nuys)
• Water, Parks and Wildlife –
Assemblymember Lois Wolk (Davis)
Chairs for committees not listed will be an-
nounced at a later date. These include: Budget
Subcommittees on Education Finance (2) and
Information Technology/Transportation (5); Busi-
ness and Professions; Elections and Redistrict-
ing; Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials;
Higher Education; Human Services; Labor and
Employment; Local Government; Public Employ-
ees, Retirement and Social Security; Public
Safety; Revenue and T axation; Veterans Affairs.
Senate Changes Still to Come. Sen. Perata
has thus far made only one announcement,
appointing Sen. Christine Kehoe (San Diego) to
chair the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communi-
cations Committee.Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 4 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
The 2006 Helen Putnam Award of Excellence winners were announced at the League of
California Cities’ 108th annual conference in San Diego earlier this month. Below is a summary
of those cities that were honored:
Community Services and Economic Development
Livermore GRAND PRIZE
Program Title: Childrens Health Access Partnership (CHAP)
CHAP was created to develop and implement innovative programs in Livermore schools and
throughout the community that help low-income and immigrant families to meet the challenges of
access to medical care and to help children overcome the barriers to being successful in school.
Contact: Jean Prasher, Human Services Coordinator
Phone: (925) 960-4586
Long Beach
Program Title: Miller Family Health Education Center
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services established the Miller
Family Health Education Center in 2004 with the mission to “provide a vital learning environment
dedicated to promoting a healthy city through health education, leadership development, and
collaboration with our diverse community.”
Contact: Ronald Arias, Director, Dept. Health and Human Services
Phone: (562) 570-4014
Porterville
Program Title: Orange Avenue Area Revitalization
The city began evaluating options to eradicate the problems created by outdated infrastruc-
ture, dilapidated housing and a lack of public facilities. Forging partnerships with the Porterville
Unified School District and affordable housing developers, and pulling together funding from 13
different local, state, federal and private sources, the area realized a new elementary school,
community center, reconstruction of Orange Avenue, completion of a once-failed subdivision, and
new affordable housing choices.
Contact: Linda Wammack, Development Associate
Phone: (559) 782-7460
2006 HELEN PUTNAM AWARD WINNERS
Continued on Page 5PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 5 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Effective Advocacy, Intergovernmental Relations and Regional Cooperation
NOTE: Grand Prize not awarded in this category
Eureka
Program Title: Eureka Fire Department Mobile Live-Fire Simulation Program
Inspired by the need to adequately prepare its new workforce and assist in the same
development of the region’s first responders, Eureka’s Fire Department obtained funding to
develop a regional “Live-Fire” training program. Using a regionalized, multi-agency approach,
the program delivers critical live-fire training to more than 500 firefighters in the region, and
at the same time develops future fire service trainers.
Contact: Lisa Pulver, Fire Services Officer, Eurkea Fire Dept.
Phone: (707) 441-4000
Glendale, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Culver City, Pomona, and Montebello
Program Title: Interagency Communications Interoperability System (ICIS)
ICIS JPA is a group of cities that collaborated to build, manage and maintain a communi-
cations infrastructure system. Service is currently provided to over 2,000 radios, with recep-
tion covering more than one-third of the Los Angeles region. At system completion in 2006,
7,000 radios will be operational, providing enhanced security to 1.5 million residents.
Contact: Don Wright, Battalion Chief, Interim Ex. Director
Phone: (818) 548-6415
Westminster
Program Title: Westminster Transitions Public Property Into Innovative Multi-Government
Center
With the addition of the multi-cultural performing arts center and community college
campus this year, Westminster’s Civic Center serves as the center of this municipality’s
urban reality. The Civic Center models successful partnerships between various levels of
government. A PayParking System improves services to City Hall patrons, while not elimi-
nating the parking needs of the other agency’s clientele.
Contact: Tami Piscotty, Asst. to the City Manager
Phone: (714) 898-3311
???? ? Continued on Page 6
HELEN PUTNAM from page 4Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 6 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics and Community Involvement
Carlsbad GRAND PRIZE
Program Title: Teaching Respect, Unity, and Sportsmanship through Teamwork
(TRUST)
The TRUST program provides quality activities that are safe, fair and enriching for partici-
pants, spectators and administrators. Based on a Code of Conduct and formalized training
program for recreation staff, coaches, parents and participants, and enjoying strong city
council and city management support, TRUST broadened a national sports model in scope
and scale, extending the spirit of sportsmanship to all recreation activities and participants.
Contact: Sue Spickard, Recreation Services Manager
Phone: (760) 602-46751
Los Gatos
Program Title: Community Unity
Facilitated by the town, the community responded to the 2005 State of Town address by
attending Community Unity meetings to identify and organize a variety of projects, and by
joining forces to undertake over 50 projects. Volunteer groups and individuals continue to
maintain and improve their community, build community partnerships, foster civic pride, and
“unite Los Gatans under a banner of service.”
Contact: Susan Buxton, Volunteer Services Coordinator
Phone: (408) 354-6824
Santa Clarita
Program Title: Santa Clarita’s Youth Grove
Santa Clarita’s Youth Grove is a memorial that represents each young life lost in traffic
accidents. It provides a peaceful, yet powerful place to remember and teach teens and
others that in Santa Clarita there will be no more teen deaths as a result of reckless driving.
The memorial was envisioned, paid for, and built by youth, parents, city and businesses of
Santa Clarita.
Contact: Gail Ortiz, Public Information Officer
Phone: (661) 255-4314
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Continued on Page 7
HELEN PUTNAM from page 5PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 7 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Housing Programs and Innovations
Eureka
Program Title: Eureka Multiple Assistance Center
A new and innovative program which offers housing, training, health care and supportive
services in one facility, the Multiple Assistance Center combines on-site specialized care
with on-site transitional housing and multiple-step programs. The project has successfully
transitioned program participants toward stable employment, permanent housing and self-
sufficiency.
Contact: Gary Bird, Special Projects Manager
Phone: (707) 441-4165
Signal Hill GRAND PRIZE
Program Title: Las Brisas Revitalization
A revitalized complex was created that includes not only rehabilitated residential units,
but a community park with after-school programs, an on-site police substation, and a large
community center with child care, a computer lab, adult education and other community
services. Las Brisas is now an integrated neighborhood where residents feel safe and
receive services they need to improve their lives and practice the skills to become self-
supporting and productive.
Contact: Debbie Rich, Deputy City Manager
Phone: (562) 989-7375
Internal Administration
Livermore GRAND PRIZE
Program Title: Street-Level Imagery
The city of Livermore implemented a browser-based software application which links
multiple photo images captured from vehicle-mounted cameras with digital map files from
the city’s GIS system. The resulting product allows the user to virtually “drive” the city
streets from any computer on the city’s network. In many cases, this application can be
used in lieu of actual field visits, resulting in a savings in staff time, vehicle wear, fuel con-
sumption and emissions.
Contact: Melinda Sunnarborg, GIS Specialist
Phone: (925) 960-4535
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HELEN PUTNAM from page 6Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 8 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Santa Clarita
Program Title: The City of Santa Clarita Mentoring Program
Local government management is in the midst of a quiet crisis. Today’s managers are
nearing retirement, and fewer young professionals are in line and prepared to fill their
shoes. (ICMA). In an effort to proactively address this emerging predicament and to pre-
pare the next generation of public service employees, the city pioneered a mentoring pro-
gram to develop future leaders from within the organization, strengthen the mentoring skills
Contact: Gail Ortiz, Public Information Officer
Phone: (661) 255-4314
League Partners Award for Excellence in City Government
NOTE: Grand Prize not awarded in this category
Fairfield
Program Title: Community Heros/Fun on the Run
In order to overcome budget cutbacks and deliver critical services to the residents who
need them most, the City of Fairfield Community Services Dept. created its Community
Heroes Program. This program fostered the development of partnerships with local busi-
nesses and community organizations. This resulted in 51 community partners donating
over $100,000 so the department could deliver services to the most underserved neighbor-
hoods and residents in town. One of the new services created was the award-winning
mobile recreation program known as Fun on the Run.
Contact: John De Lorenzo, Community Services Director
Phone: (707) 428-7470
La Mesa
Program Title: The PARKS Project
The PARKS Project is a creative approach to enhancing and funding facilities and
ongoing maintenance costs in a built out community. The resources of private, public,
business and volunteer partners were leveraged to build tournament-quality athletic files
and specially designed facilities to improve community health through organized and indi-
vidual sports, fitness and recreation. The long-term strategy is to fund programs and
facilities outside of the general fund and find funding sources for ongoing maintenance as
well.
Contact: Yvonne Garrett, Dir. Of Community Services
Phone: (619) 667-1311
???? ? Continued on Page 9
HELEN PUTNAM from page 7PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 9 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Sonoma
Program Title: City of Sonoma/Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic
Development Partnership
Two years ago, the city of Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce
formed a partnership to promote economic development in the city, something neither could
afford on their own. Successes include: providing marketing and expansion services to
existing businesses; counseling and start-up advice to new businesses; a monthly database
of vacant space; brochures on business financing, redevelopment loans, workforce training
and green business practices. The program also provides translations services for Spanish
language entrepreneurs, and an ombudsman for city applicants. Cost of the program has
been less than budgeted in each of the two years.
Contact: Pamela Gibson, Economic Dev. Project Manager
Phone: (707) 933-3681
Planning and Environmental Quality
NOTE: Grand Prize not awarded in this category
Glendale
Program Title: City of Glendale Trash Exclusion Program
The City of Glendale Trash Exclusion Program is a combination of public education and
community outreach programs, and innovative trash exclusion mechanism that combines
efficient and effective technology designed by city staff to prohibit any debris greater than
5mm from entering the city storm drains.
Contact: Maurice Oillataguerre, Sr. Environmental Program Specialist
Phone: (818) 548-3900
Irvine
Program Title: Community Energy Partnership Program
Through the Community Energy Partnership Program, Irvine is changing the energy
consumption habits of residents and businesses in a effort to protect the environment, save
money, and conserve resources for today and the future. Using cost-effective and conve-
nient methods, Irvine has made exceptional strides in effecting behavioral changes.
Contact: Michele Lovenduski, Sr. Management Analyst
Phone: (949) 724-7558
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September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Continued on Page 11
Roseville
Program Title: Smart Choices for Roseville’s Future - Implementation Strategies To
Achieve Blueprint Project Objectives
The purpose of this program is to outline a menu of options to implement the Blueprint
Growth Principles. Benefits of the strategies include more compact mixed use development
that will accommodate projected growth demand, but also reduce the conversion of open
space, reduce traffic congestion and air quality impacts, and provide a balanced land use
plan with jobs proximate to housing.
Contact: Kathy Pease, Senior Planner
Phone: (916) 774-5434
Public Safety
Cathedral City GRAND PRIZE
Program Title: Stop Identity Theft Program
The Stop Identity Theft Program consists of two main components: document shredding
events and the distribution of identity theft educational materials. Twice annually, residents
can witness the shredding of their confidential information by ShredForce at assigned loca-
tions. To further assist seniors, once annually, trucks are sent directly to 10 senior communi-
ties to shred documents onsite. At each event, participants are given a Stop Identity Theft
brochure that instructs them on how to safeguard personal information and protect them-
selves from identity theft. A main goal of the program is to prevent crime through everyday
diligence and education.
Contact: Deanna Pressgrove, Environmental Conservation Mgr.
Phone: (760) 770-0369
Colton
Program Title: E-Key Emergency Electronic Gate Access System
Public safety nationwide has been challenged with gaining immediate access in emer-
gency situations to secured or gated complexes, such as apartments, condos, and private
homeowners associations/ communities. E-Key eliminates bypass keys by utilizing a univer-
sal remote system attached to existing remote control gates. Thus, this system allows
public safety (law enforcement/fire) immediate and simplistic access to gated locations.
Contact: Kenneth Rulo, Chief of Police
Phone: (909) 370-5010
???? ? HELEN PUTNAM from page 9PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 11 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Monterey Park
Program Title: Driver and Pedestrian Safety Trailer
The Monterey Park Police Department continues to develop our Traffic Safety Education
Programs. Last year they implemented a driver and pedestrian safety trailer program that
allows for an interactive traffic education experience by the use of high quality driving simula-
tors.
Contact: David Elliott, Traffic Bureau Commander
Phone: (626) 307-1481
Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation
Elk Grove
Program Title: Creation of e-tran
E-tran was created to provide Elk Grove residents with an environmentally friendly, en-
hanced level of public transportation. This service allows residents and visitors the opportu-
nity to travel locally, commute to downtown Sacramento and travel regionally with connections
to several of the region’s transit operators.
Contact: John Andon, Assistant to the Transit Manager
Phone: (916) 687-3031
Lincoln
Program Title: Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) Transportation Plan
The city of Lincoln, in their efforts to provide a better quality of life for its aging community,
and the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the rapid growth and the city’s urban
changing lifestyle, coordinated with other agencies, businesses, and the community to de-
velop a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) Transportation Plan. Innovative research,
planning and public outreach made the NEV Plan a successful planning project that will
improve public service, benefiting all Lincoln residents for years to come.
Contact: John Pedri, City Engineer/Public Work Director
Phone: (916) 645-4070 x230
Santa Barbara GRAND PRIZE
Program Title: City of Santa Barbara Fuel Cell Cogeneration Project
The city of Santa Barbara has installed a fuel cell cogeneration system at the city’s El
Estero Wastewater Treatment Plant that uses anaerobic digester gas as the primary fuel.
? ????
Continued on Page 12
HELEN PUTNAM from page 10Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 12 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
The system significantly reduces air pollution, provides sufficient electricity to meet about half
of the treatment plant’s needs and represents the largest application of molten carbonate fuel
cell technology fueled by digester gas at an unmanned facility in the United States.
Contact: Rebecca Bjork, Wastewater SystemManager
Phone: (805) 897-1914
Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government
Carlsbad
Program Title: City Stuff
Carlsbad, Junior Achievement, the business community and the three school districts
with elementary schools located in Carlsbad, have joined together, under city auspices and
guidance, to introduce local government to third-graders. CityStuff shows how local govern-
ment functions and demonstrates how students and their families can participate in their
community by getting informed about and involved in city programs, services and activities.
Contact: Denise Vedder, Commuications Manager
Phone: (760) 434-2957
Long Beach GRAND PRIZE
Program Title: Youth Services Program
Through effective partnerships with other youth serving agencies, the city provides
numerous educational and recreational resources that help youth connect to the community
and develop good citizenship. The program includes the Commission on Youth and Chil-
dren, a network of service providers, and three other youth councils and advisory boards.
Contact: Jane Grobaty, Supt. Of Community Information
Phone: (562) 570-3233
Ridgecrest
Program Title: Youth Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee is a youth organized and run committee that acts as a legal
branch of the City Council in order to represent youth needs, issues and concerns. The
committee establishes subcommittees, spanning into areas of community entertainment and
betterment, working hand-in-hand with city officials to achieve decided goals.
Contact: Justin O’Neill, President, Youth Advisory Committee
Phone: (760) 446-7259
???? HELEN PUTNAM from page 11PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 13 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Administrative Services
SB 1818 (Alarcon). Attorney Fees. Big Box
Lawsuits. SB 1818 would permit cities to recover
attorney fees under certain circumstances when
they are sued by big box retailers. Staff: Yvonne
Hunter, Position: Support. Status: PENDING
Employee Relations
AB 1368 (Karnette). AB 1368 would exempt
public safety employee presumptive injury claims
from the Governor’s 2004 workers’ compensation
reforms, which included requiring physicians who
prepare reports on claimed industrial disability to
address the issue of causation. The bill would
eliminate the most valuable and objective tool
available to employers to evaluate presumptive
injury claims, leaving public agencies defenseless
to evaluate claims, even if the claim totally lacks
merit. Staff: P. Anthony Thomas, Position: Veto
Requested. Status: PENDING
Environmental
AB 573 (Wolk). Indemnification. Design
Professionals. AB 573 would restrict the types of
indemnification clauses that may be included in a
public agency contract with a design or engineer-
ing firm and would instead specify the types of
indemnity clauses that may be included. Staff:
Yvonne Hunter, Position: Veto Requested.
Status: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
AB 2951 (Goldberg). Capital Facilities
Fees. This bill clarifies existing law regarding the
obligation of schools and other public agencies to
pay their fair share of capital facilities fees for
municipal utilities such as water and waste water
service. Staff: Yvonne Hunter, Position: Sup-
port. Status: PENDING
SB 1733 (Aanestad). Mandatory Minimum
Penalties. Water Quality. Small Cities. This bill
provides more flexibility to small cities so that they
may request directing penalties for waste water
violations to fixing the problem that caused the
violation. It re-defines the definition of a small
community and “financial hardship” so that more
cities can request to take advantage of this option.
Staff: Yvonne Hunter, Position: Support.
Status: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
Land Use
SB 1322 (Cedillo) – Housing. SB 1322 limits
agency discretion on “special needs facilities”
serving seven or more people by limiting the
authority to condition or deny a project on factors
in current law.
SB 1322 would extend the attorney fee provi-
sions to allow awards to anyone who could occupy
a special need facility, social rehabilitation facility,
adult day program facility, or community care
facility.
The cost of SB 1322 would exceed $10,000
per agency—and be much more in larger cities.
Under the housing element, cities get an initial
opportunity to plan for their share of any housing
type. If their plan fails to meet the need, the city
must then approve housing “by-right” at pre-set
densities. SB 1322 requires cities to designate
where emergency shelters must be approved “by-
right” at the outset. Then, the bill redundantly
requires those agencies that have not identified
adequate sites by-right to again identify adequate
sites to be zoned by-right. Staff: Bill Higgins,
Position: Veto Requested. Status: PENDING
Public Safety
AB 1015 (Chu) Sex Offender Management
Board. AB 1015 would create the Sex Offender
Management Board (SOMB). The SOMB will
represent a collaboration of local, state, and non-
governmental entities working to address issues,
concerns and problems related to the community
management of adult sex offenders.
The creation of the SOMB will enhance public
safety throughout California’s communities by
?????????????????????? ????????????????????? LEG UPDATE from page 1
Continued on Page 14Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 14 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
producing a much needed assessment of the
current issues that complicate the management
of adult sex offenders, while including the input of
various stakeholders and the general public.
Staff: Liisa Lawson Stark, Position: Support.
Status: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
AB 1873 (Torrico). Child Protection. Safe
Surrender. AB 1873 will allow a local fire
agency, upon approval of the appropriate govern-
ing board, to designate safe-surrender sites for
accepting physical custody of a minor child 30
days old or younger.
City fire departments have an established
history of operating safe-surrender sites in coordi-
nation with the county. Allowing local fire agencies
to designate safe-surrender sites will likely ex-
pand the program based on circumstances and
conditions specific to the community. Cities will
continue to work with the counties as outlined in
current law.
Fire agencies provide integral public safety
services, even to the youngest members of our
communities. It is imperative they, too, have the
authority to designate safe surrender locations to
protect the most innocent members of our soci-
ety. Staff: Liisa Lawson Stark, Position: Sup-
port. Status: PENDING
SB 1404 (Machado). Vehicles. Parking
Violations. Street Cleaning. SB 1404 would
amend the Vehicle Code to specify that a person
is not in violation of a local ordinance if they park
in an area with posted restrictions for street
cleaning or sweeping, unless street cleaning
occurs during the posted time period. Staff:
Liisa Lawson Stark, Position: Veto Requested.
Status: VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR
The Governor’s veto message on SB 1404
included a very strong statement regarding local
control:
“This bill is an unnecessary intrusion by state
government into the domain of local agencies.
Cities and counties are well situated to respond to
the needs of their communities. Where citizens
have concerns about local ordinances dealing with
parking and street sweeping, I encourage them to
communicate with their local officials to address
those concerns.”
Revenue & Taxation
SB 1432 (Lowenthal). This measure would
expand the authorized use of Mello-Roos districts
to include lighting maintenance, street and road
maintenance, plowing and removal of snow and
graffiti management and removal. The bill also
expands Mello-Roos districts to include programs
to create incentives or to subsidize construction,
rehabilitation or acquisition of housing for lower
income households. Staff: Dan Carrigg; Posi-
tion: Support. Status: PENDING
AB 1602 (Laird). Allows cities that annex
inhabited territory and new incorporations prior to
January 1, 2009, to get a special allocation of an
additional $50 per capita in vehicle license fee
(VLF) revenues. This bill is intended to address
fiscal inequities that may have occurred with
annexations and incorporations that were planned
at the time of the VLF-Property tax swap in 2004.
Staff: Dan Carrigg; Position: Support. Status:
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
SB 1374 (Cedillo). This measure will extend
the sunset date of 2008 on existing law that allows
cities to continue in their tax discovery efforts by
allowing the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to share
taxpayer information. The State and Local Govern-
ment Tax Sharing Program has helped many
cities to identify businesses that are not paying
local taxes – resulting in millions of dollars re-
couped. More than 95 cities are currently partici-
pating in the program. SB 1374 will extend the
program until December 31, 2011. Staff: Dan
Carrigg; Position: Support. Status: SIGNED
BY THE GOVERNOR
SB 1317 (Torlakson). This measure would
allocate new property tax revenue related to newly
constructed generation, substation facilities and
LEG UPDATE from page 13 ?????????????????????? ?????????????????????
Continued on Page 15PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 15 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
transmission lines by a location-based method.
SB 1317 would not change the allocation of prop-
erty taxes for existing electric generation and
transmission line facilities. The League has stand-
ing policy that supports direct, or situs-based
allocation of sales and property taxes based on the
fact that situs-based allocation targets revenues to
where the impact occurs. Staff: Dan Carrigg;
Position: Support. Status: PENDING
Telecommunications
AB 2987 (Núñez/Levine). This bill will estab-
lish a state franchise for provisions of telecommu-
nications services, issued by the California Public
Utilities Commission. While the League and cities
oppose this measure, we achieved some impor-
tant improvements in the bill that will heighten
protections for cities and Californians. Staff: P.
Anthony Thomas, Position: Veto Requested.
Status: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
Editor’s Note: For the latest updates to
this story, please visit the League website at
www.cacities.org.
LEG UPDATE from page 14 ?????? ?????
The report, “The Fiscal Impact of Proposition
90,” reached these key findings:
• Proposition 90 would increase the annual
cost of state and local government in California by
billions of dollars.
• By increasing the cost of public works, like
schools, roads, water systems, flood protection
and utility services, Prop. 90 would curtail infra-
structure development. For example, Caltrans is
projecting that Proposition 90 will lead to more
than $180 million in project schedule delay costs
over the next seven years, and another $43 million
per year in added litigation-related expenses —
without even considering the higher property
acquisition costs that the measure will require the
agency to pay for highway improvements.
• By increasing the cost of regulation, Prop.
90 would reduce government’s ability to regulate
land use, protect consumers and workers, and
safeguard the environment.
The new report also includes an in-depth
analysis of the measure and its provisions, and
the likely impact on state and local government
actions in California.
According to LECG, two features of Prop. 90
are mainly responsible for the measure’s multi-
billion-dollar price tag:
• The measure would require government
(and the taxpayers) to pay businesses and indi-
viduals whenever it passes laws or adopts regula-
tions intended to protect the public’s interest
(other than health- and safety-related) that sub-
stantially affect property values.
• Prop. 90 also would significantly increase
the amount that government and state-regulated,
investor-owned utilities are required to pay owners
when their property is acquired through eminent
domain for public uses such as roads, schools,
hospitals, airports, utility transmission lines, and
power plants.
Under current law, government must compen-
sate owners by paying them the fair market value
Continued on Page 16
PROP. 90 from page 1
Visit (and bookmark!) the League’s
Legislative Resources page
(www.cacities.org/legresources). You’ll
find a roster and contact information for
the League’s legislative staff; the online
Bill Search program, background
materials on lobbying your legislators,
and more.
FIND A BILL, LEGISLATORS, LEG FIND A BILL, LEGISLATORS, LEG FIND A BILL, LEGISLATORS, LEG FIND A BILL, LEGISLATORS, LEG FIND A BILL, LEGISLATORS, LEG
COMMITTEE - OR ASK LEG STAFF COMMITTEE - OR ASK LEG STAFF COMMITTEE - OR ASK LEG STAFF COMMITTEE - OR ASK LEG STAFF COMMITTEE - OR ASK LEG STAFF
????????????? ?ction ction ction ction ction
Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org PAGE 16 - PRIORITY FOCUS
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
of their property, taking into consideration existing
limitations on how the property can be used (e.g.,
zoning restrictions). In some cases, Prop. 90
would require government to pay owners more
than the fair market value of their property by
directing courts to ignore these use limitations.
For a copy of the full report, visit
www.noprop90.com.
“No on Prop. 90” Editorials
The Pasadena Star News, Whittier Daily
News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Riverside
Press-Enterprise published editorials against the
measure, bringing to 10 the total number of
“oppose” editorials:
• Pasadena Star News, (9/27/06)
• Whittier Daily News, (9/27/06)
• San Gabriel Valley Tribune, (9/27/06)
• Riverside Press-Enterprise, (9/25/06)
• Sacramento Bee, (9/16/06)
• Napa Valley Register, (9/14/06)
• Mountain View Voice, (9/08/06)
• Santa Rosa Press Democrat, (9/11/06)
• Torrance Daily Breeze, (8/23/06)
• San Diego Union-Tribune, (8/22/06)
Key editorial quotes this week:
“PROPOSITION 90 backers want voters to
think the far-reaching measure simply protects
home ownership. In reality, it would change the
way government operates and limit the right of
residents to decide land-use in their communi-
ties.” – Pasadena Star News (9/27/06)
“Such laws encourage frivolous lawsuits
against cities, counties and the state that will have
to be defended with public money.” – Whittier
Daily News (9/27/06)
Additionally, Ventura County Star Political
Columnist Timm Herdt had this to say about Prop.
90 in his column on September 27:
“The problem for Proposition 90 advocates is
that their initiative is a manifesto that addresses
far more than the grievance that they hoped
would spark a revolution.”
To read the editorials and columns, visit
www.noprop90.com.
“No on Prop. 90” Coalition Continues to
Grow. More and more organizations and indi-
viduals are joining the “No on Prop. 90” coalition,
as they become more familiar with the cynical
“taxpayer trap” provisions in this measure. Here
is a list of those individuals and organizations
that have joined this week. For a complete list,
visit www.noprop.90.com.
Business:
• San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
• Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce
• Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
• Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Napa Chamber of Commerce
• Orange County Business Council
Taxpayers:
• California T axpayers’ Association
Housing Advocates/Providers:
• Non-Profit Housing Association of
Northern California
• EAH Housing (Ecumenical Association for
Housing)
• Community Housing Partnership
• San Diego County Mobilehome Positive
Action Committee
Agriculture:
• Kings County Farm Bureau
Transportation:
• California Transit Association
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Water:
• Friends of Locally Owned Water
Continued on Page 17
PROP. 90 from page 15 ????????????????????????????????????????????? ?PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 17 Visit the League’s Official Website--www.cacities.org
September 29, 2006 - Issue #38
Environmental:
• Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation
‘No on 90’ Walk Pieces Available Soon
Planning to walk precincts in the next few
weeks?
If so, please consider carrying a “No on 90”
message with you when you do. The campaign
is producing a two-sided color piece that you can
use to help educate voters about this harmful
measure.
Similar to the piece that was available at “No
on Prop. 90” information desk at the League’s
Annual Conference, it will outline the impacts of
Prop. 90 to taxpayers, the environment, public
safety, infrastructure and our communities on the
front, and the back will feature a partial list of the
diverse groups who are opposed. Walk pieces
should be available the first week of October.
Contact your Regional Representative to reserve
yours today.
Know the Rules for Ballot Measure Advo-
cacy. City officials can participate in ballot mea-
sure advocacy if they do so on their own time,
and without using any public resources. To make
sure you understand the “do’s and don’ts” of
ballot measure advocacy, please review “Working
on a Ballot Measure Campaign: Some Rules for
City Officials” at www.cacities.org/
ballotmeasures.
?????????????? PROP. 90 from page 16 CALTRANS from page 1
The conferences will be held at the Diamond Bar
Center, and Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova,
respectively. Both are designed specifically for
transit managers, port authorities and rail systems,
city and county emergency managers, first respond-
ers, and federal agencies with critical incident re-
sponsibilities.
Morning sessions at the workshops will focus on
lessons learned from recent emergency events in
California and elsewhere. The afternoon sessions
will include tabletop exercises using possible Califor-
nia disaster scenarios, followed by workshop analy-
sis of response plans and capabilities.
The outcome of these workshops will be the
creation of a standardized Emergency Operations
Plan (EOP) for all transit systems in the state,
providing a unified all-hazards approach to transpor-
tation across jurisdictions throughout California.
The Federal Highway Administration is funding
this initiative. In addition to Caltrans, the initiative is
being sponsored by the California Transit Association
(CTA), the California Association for Coordinated
Transportation (CalACT), the California Office of
Emergency Services, the California Highway Patrol,
the California Utilities Emergency Association, the
Southern California Association of Governments, and
the Sacramento Association of Governments.
For more information, visit the 2006 Caltrans
Response & Recovery website at:
www.DisasterPrep.info/Caltrans
???????? ?????
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