IN THIS ISSUE: May 23, 2008
Issue #20-2008
Page 5: Safe Neighborhoods Act Targeted for November 2008 Ballot
Page 6: Support Letters Needed for AB 844: Scrap Metal Theft Bill
Caltrans Committee to Hear Speed Limit Setting Policies on May 29
Page 7: More Cities Receive Prop. 1B Local Streets and Roads Funds Now
Sustainable Cities Feature: South Bay Energy Saving Center
Page 8: Annual Conference Registration Open!
Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
LEAGUE HONORS GOVERNOR WITH
“SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD”
Award Recognizes Commitment to the Long-Term Vitality of Cities
On Wednesday, May 21, the League of California Cities presented Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger with its inaugural Sustainable Community
Leadership Award. This award was created to honor California leaders
who advance a broad vision and agenda of community sustainability for
California and its cities. For more, see Page 2.
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BUDGET ACTION DAY DRAWS CITY OFFICIALS FROM AROUND STATE
LAO’s Alternative Budget Proposal Presents Several Wild Cards for Cities
More than 70 city officials descended on Sacramento on Wednesday, May 21 to lobby legislators
as part of the League’s first Budget Action Day. For more, see Page 2.
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NEARLY EVERY CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER OPPOSES PROP. 98
Leading organizations and nearly every California newspaper have come out against Proposition
98, the deceptive initiative on the June 3 ballot. As of the printing of this issue of Priority Focus,
more than 50 newspaper editorial boards have urged readers to vote NO on Prop. 98. The
proposition exposes local land use decisions to endless litigation, eliminates renter protections
and rent control, guts environmental protections and jeopardizes the state’s ability to rebuild
aging infrastructure. For more, see Page 4. 2
‘Sustainable Community Award’ Continued from Page 1…
In presenting the Sustainable Community Leadership Award, League President and San Diego
City Council President Pro-Tem Jim Madaffer remarked that the Governor has a unique
appreciation for the role of cities and their importance to California’s quality of life.
“The Governor not only cares about global warming, renewable resources and air quality, but he
understands the broader concept of ‘sustainability,’ and how it is connected to the practical
challenges of making our communities work,” said President Madaffer. “For cities, this means
working to have cleaner water and reduced green house gas emissions, but it also means having
balanced budgets, the ability to keep police officers on the street, attractive parks and well-
maintained infrastructure.”
Gov. Schwarzenegger expressed
appreciation for both the meaning
behind the award and its
construction. The award is engraved
on an actual section of a solar panel
with a “live” wire in the back that can
generate electricity if attached to a
device. The specially-designed logo
features a globe surrounded by a
cityscape.
With this award, the League hoped
to capture the spirit of the
Governor’s belief in the future of
California as a leader in renewable
energy development, clean
technology and green communities.
Madaffer commented how “Gov.
Schwarzenegger’s commitment to
excellence in rebuilding our infrastructure and leadership in environmental quality has established
a positive roadmap for California’s future.”
President Madaffer was joined by several other members of the League’s executive committee
and board of directors: Harry Armstrong, mayor pro-tem, Clovis; Judy Mitchell, council member,
Rolling Hills Estates and League second vice-president; Pat Eklund, mayor, Novato and League
immediate past president; Ken Cooley, council member, Rancho Cordova; and Robert Jehn,
mayor, Cloverdale.
The board members all thanked the Governor for his ongoing commitment to local government
through his support for Propositions 1A and 42.
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‘Budget Action Day’ Continued from Page 1…
Because the League’s annual Legislative Action Days this year occurred in April, before the
release of the Governor’s May budget revise, Budget Action Day was planned for city officials to
voice their concerns on the revised budget proposal to lawmakers, underscore the importance of
city-provided services to residents, and remind them that the economic downturn has hurt cities’
budgets, as well.
The day began at 10 a.m. at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Sacramento, where League President Jim
Madaffer gave a welcoming address and provided some background on the state budget. He
reported that both the Governor’s original budget proposal, released in January, and the May
revise are positive for cities because neither proposes to borrow cities’ share of property taxes
through Proposition 1A and each continues to provide full Proposition 42 funding.
In his May revise, the Governor proposed to securitize the state lottery to close the budget gap
and fund a budget stabilization account with $5.1 billion of revenue going into the FY 2008-09
(From left to right) Harry Armstrong, Ken Cooley, Jim Madaffer,
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Judy Mitchell, Robert Jehn, Pat Eklund
and League Executive Director Chris McKenzie.
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budget. The proposal provides an “insurance policy” guarantee of a 1 percent sales tax increase
trigger should the proposal fail at the November ballot.
Some Budget Wild Cards
Proposals from Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill have thrown some “wild cards” into the state’s
budget process. On Monday, May 19, Hill released her analysis of the Governor’s revised budget
and continued to offer an alternative budget.
The LAO has advanced numerous ideas on how to save the state money by shifting state
parolees to county probation, but by paying for it largely by taking city public safety dollars, such
as Proposition 172 funds. Other proposals have included taking all city Vehicle Licensing Fee
(VLF) funds – at $4.50 per capita – and taking enterprise special district property tax.
In addition, the LAO has proposed to save additional state dollars by eliminating funding for the
Citizen Options for Public Safety (COPS) program and Booking Fees. And finally, the LAO has
unveiled a new educational revenue augmentation funds (ERAF)-type proposal that seeks to shift
$200 million per year in local redevelopment funds to offset state budget expenses.
Another political “wild card” is the “Safe Neighborhoods Act: Protecting Victims, Stop Gang, Drug
and Street Crime,” which is widely expected to qualify for the November 2008 ballot. This
measure enhances criminal penalties for various gang and other crimes, protects state funding
for COPS, booking fees and other state-funded local public safety programs, and proposes
several new local public safety programs to be funded by the state General Fund. Partisan
positioning has already begun on this measure. The League has not yet taken a position on the
initiative and is currently analyzing its effect on cities.
For a full discussion on the Safe Act, please see “Safe Neighborhoods Act Targeted for November 2008
Ballot” on page 5.
Budget Action Day Materials
The League prepared an issue paper with messages for city officials to use in their meetings with
legislators. This document is on the legislative resources page of the League’s Web site at
www.cacities.org/legresources.
Guest Speakers
Three important speakers addressed attendees at Wednesday’s event.
California Department of Finance Director Mike Genest reminded city officials that the state is
facing a $17.2 billion shortfall – significantly greater than the amount faced in January due to a
worsening housing market and faltering economy. He explained the components of the budget
problem, and defended the “key” to the Governor’s proposal, the securitization of the state lottery,
by stating that the lottery is currently under-performing and that by modernizing it and selling the
future profits of the incremental revenue increase, the state can have up-front cash-flow relief
now.
“We need to be a team with cities, to ensure there is budget reform and that we keep our hands
off ERAF and Prop. 42 funds,” he said.
Assembly Member Roger Niello (R-Sacramento), vice-chair of the Budget Committee, said that
this is the third time in a decade and a half that the state has found itself in a budget crisis.
“The problem is that we spend based on how well we’re doing,” Niello said. “There’s a built-in
weakness between spending and income during the bad times. Budget reform is needed. If we
just pass the budget and don’t address some of these other issues, we will have missed an
important opportunity.”
4
On the Governor’s lottery proposal, Niello said his concern is that the value of the securitization is
totally dependent on the state’s ability to modernize the lottery and significantly increase
revenues. After that, he said, Wall Street has to be convinced of its value.
“We won’t know what Wall Street says until after the budget is passed. Passing a budget with a
hole in it, to be filled months later by voters in an election, is unprecedented.”
Niello said he opposed raising taxes, particularly during tough economic times.
When asked how quickly he thought the budget would pass this year, Niello said, “The two
Houses are working hard to be united. We are participating together in events and there is lots of
communication.”
Assembly Member John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), chair of the Budget Committee and a former Santa
Cruz city council member and League board member, attributed the state’s current financial crisis
to an outdated budget structure created in the 1930s and a habit of passing bills without having
the funds available to implement them.
“If we want reform, we don’t vote on anything unless there’s money for it.”
The assembly member critiqued securitizing the lottery under the Governor’s proposal, saying
that in years the lottery doesn’t perform well, the schools won’t receive their share of the funds
because the bond-holders will be paid first. He backed the LAO’s lottery securitization proposal,
however, saying it was a more reasonable solution.
Laird, too, emphasized reforming the budget structure so that cuts to health care and education
won’t have to happen in the future.
“We need to respond to this year’s emergency now, but we need to fix this situation in the long-
term.”
_____________________________________________________________________________
‘Newspapers Oppose Prop. 98’ Continued from Page 1…
The League of California Cities also strongly opposes Prop. 98.
Editorials against Prop. 98 point out how supporters of the measure are using eminent domain as
a Trojan Horse to mask its real agenda, and warn readers about the devastating impact this
measure would have on the residents of California and the state itself.
A full list of the 51 California newspapers opposed to Prop. 98 as of May 23 appears below:
Bakersfield Californian (5/9/08)
Contra Costa Times (5/4/08)
East County Times (5/4/08)
Fremont Argus (5/4/08)
Fresno Bee (5/11/08)
Hayward Daily Review (5/4/08)
Hollister Freelance (5/20/08)
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (5/12/08)
Lompoc Record (5/12/08)
Los Angeles Times (5/12/08)
Los Altos Town Crier (5/22/08)
Marin Independent Journal (5/19/08)
Marin Pacific-Sun (5/19/08)
Merced Sun Star (5/16/08)
Metro Santa Cruz (5/14/08)
Modesto Bee (5/15/08)
Monterey County Herald (5/15/08)
Monterey County Weekly (5/15/08)
North County Times (5/11/08)
Oakland Tribune (5/4/08)
Palm Springs Desert Sun (5/20/08)
Pasadena Star News (5/7/08)
Pasadena Weekly (5/7/08)
Riverside Press Enterprise (5/1/08)
Sacramento Bee (5/22/08)
Sacramento News and Review (5/15/08)
Salinas Californian (5/22/08)
San Bernardino Sun (5/12/08)
San Diego City Beat (5/13/08)
San Diego Union-Tribune (4/23/08)
San Francisco Bay Guardian (4/30/08)
San Francisco Chronicle (5/4/08)
San Gabriel Valley Tribune (5/7/08)
San Joaquin Valley Herald (5/4/08) 5
San Luis Obispo Tribune (5/8/08)
Santa Maria Times (5/12/08)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat (5/22/08)
San Mateo County Times (5/4/08)
San Ramon Valley Times (5/4/08)
Santa Cruz Sentinel (5/5/08)
Sonoma Index-Tribune (5/20/08)
Tulare Advance Register (5/8/08)
Tracy Press (5/16/08)
Tri-Valley Herald (5/4/08)
Visalia Times Delta (5/8/08)
Vacaville Reporter (5/7/08)
Valley Times (5/4/08)
Weekly Calistogan (5/22/08)
West County Times (5/4/08)
Whittier Daily News (5/7/08)
Woodland Daily Democrat (5/8/08)
Proposition 99 Offers Voters Responsible Eminent Domain Reform
Many of the papers who have opposed Prop. 98 are supporting Proposition 99, the Homeowners
Protection Act, which is also slated for the June 2008 ballot. This measure offers true eminent
domain reform by prohibiting the government from using eminent domain to take a home to
transfer to a private developer. Prop. 99 is supported by a broad coalition of homeowners,
businesses, labor groups, cities, counties and environmentalists. It contains no hidden provisions.
The League strongly supports Prop. 99.
For more information about the two measures visit www.no98yes99.com.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Safe Neighborhoods Act Targeted for November 2008 Ballot
Supporters of the “Safe Neighborhoods Act: Stop Gang, Gun, and Street Crime” submitted signatures to
election officials on April 25 to qualify the measure for the November 2008 ballot. To date, the Secretary
of State’s office has not announced that the measure has qualified.
Political positioning over this measure has already begun in the Legislature with the recent action of the
Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 to eliminate funding for Citizen Options for Public Safety (COPS),
Booking Fees and other local public safety programs from the Senate’s version of the budget.
Republicans and law enforcement groups are supporting this measure, while Democrats, teachers and
other groups criticize the measure for its impact on the state budget. The Governor has not yet taken a
position and continues in his May revise to propose that these local public safety programs be funded at
traditional levels, but subject to the 10 percent across-the-board cuts he proposed in January.
The League of California Cities has not taken a position on the initiative and is in the process of analyzing
this comprehensive proposal for its potential impact on cities. Cities are encouraged to delay any action
on the proposal until it qualifies for the ballot and the League completes its analysis. The measure will be
tracked and updates will be provided through Priority Focus and on the League’s Web site.
What the Measure Proposes to Do
In brief, the Safe Neighborhoods Act would:
• Create a new state office, the “Office of Public Safety Education and Information” that would
provide the public with information on crime and crime prevention via the Internet and other
media outlets, administer various competitive law enforcement grant programs established
under the initiative, and establish and maintain a gang database.
• Create a new state commission, the “California Early Intervention, Rehabilitation, and
Accountability Commission,” to evaluate publicly funded crime prevention programs.
• Lock in, prohibiting reduction or alteration by the Legislature, virtually all state funded law
enforcement programs at their 2007 programmatic designs and funding levels plus annual
inflationary growth. These programs include:
o COPS – including city/county frontline law enforcement subventions increased from
$119 million to $125 million (plus annual growth factor thereafter)
o Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention subventions increased from $119 million to $125
million (plus annual growth factor thereafter)
o Jail Detention Facility (Jail Efficiency Fund) Subventions (re: Booking Fees) 6
o California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (CAL-MMET)
o Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Program
o Central Coast Rural Crime Prevention Program
o Juvenile Probation Camp Funding
• Add new crimes and increase penalties for existing crimes.
• Impose new costs on the state of California for programs and facilities in excess of $500
million (per the LAO’s analysis).
• Require increased spending in excess of $500 million on specified law enforcement programs
(per the LAO’s analysis).
• Prohibit all state and local agencies that are recipients of these funds (meaning all cities,
counties and other recipient public agencies) from reducing the funding of law enforcement
programs below FY 2007-08 or FY 2008-09, whichever is higher.
Web Resources
Safe Neighborhoods Act Web site: www.safeneighborhoodsact.com
Opponents Web site: www.ellabakercenter.org/?p=defeat_runner
Legislative Analyst’s Office brief description of Safe Act:
www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=684
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Support Letters Needed for AB 844: Scrap Metal Theft Bill
City officials are urged to send letters of support on AB 844 (Berryhill). This bill would require that
junk dealers and recyclers comply with additional record-keeping and identification procedures to
ensure that they are not purchasing stolen scrap metal.
In recent years, scrap metal theft has increasingly become a public safety issue for a number of
California cities. Stolen items include copper tubing, brass grave markers and platinum-laced
catalytic converters. A large portion of these thefts are linked to individuals who steal the metal to
fund illegal activities, such as buying drugs.
The League supports AB 844 because the bill would help reduce such thefts by requiring
additional identification of consumers who recycle nonferrous materials, requiring a three-day
delay in payment to consumers, and allowing local governments to go beyond state law when
they feel the local needs warrant a stronger ordinance to prevent these thefts.
AB 844 will be heard in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development
Committee on Monday, June 9.
Take Action
City officials can download a sample support letter on the League’s Web site at
www.cacities.org/billsearch.
Plug in AB 844 into the bill search function to find the letter and fax instructions. The letter should
be sent to the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee and other
key contacts.
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Caltrans Committee to Hear Speed Limit Setting Policies on May 29
The California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC) will revisit the issue of how local
speed limits are set at its meeting on Thursday, May 29 in San Francisco.
The current proposal under consideration is intended to help to clarify numerous issues with the
way the Traffic Control Devices Manual is written to help with adherence to and enforcement of
local speed limits.
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During its January 31 meeting, the committee recommended that Caltrans adopt revised
language into the Traffic Control Devices Manual to state that when a speed limit is to be posted,
it shall be established at the nearest 10 km/h or 5 mph increment of the 85th-percentile speed of
free-flowing traffic, with exceptions for hazardous road conditions, as specified.
For the full agenda and proposed language change, please visit www.dot.ca.gov and search for
“California Traffic Control Devices Committee.” Once on the page, click on “Meeting Agendas” on
the left-hand side and look for Item Number 08-14.
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More Cities Receive Prop. 1B Local Streets and Roads Funds Now
As of mid-May, 334 of California’s 478 cities had received their FY 2007-08 Proposition 1B Local
Streets and Roads funds, according to the Department of Finance (DOF). To date, for FY 2007-
08, $349 million of the $550 million of Prop. 1B Local Street and Road funds have been allocated.
The current city-by-city list of the funds is posted on the infrastructure page of the League’s Web
site at www.cacities.org/infrastructure.
Cities that have not already submitted their applications for Prop. 1B Local Streets and Road
funds should do so immediately.
DOF sent all California cities a letter in January with Prop. 1B application instructions as well as a
list detailing each city’s proportional share of the funds. These materials and the Prop. 1B
Implementation Guidelines are posted on the infrastructure page of the League’s Web site at
www.cacities.org/infrastructure.
FY 2008-09 Budget Update
As originally outlined in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s January budget and reaffirmed in his May
revise, there is no additional allocation of Prop. 1B Local Streets and Roads funds for cities for FY
2008-09.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sustainable Cities Feature: South Bay Energy Saving Center
A group of 15 cities in southwestern Los Angeles County takes sustainability so seriously they’ve
formed a coalition to collaboratively tackle the issue.
The South Bay Energy Saving Center (SBESC) is educating cities, residents, business owners
and public agencies about the energy conservation programs and incentives available in the
community and how to incorporate more energy saving practices into everyday life.
Established through funding from the California Public Utilities Commission, the SBESC includes
the 15 cities that comprise the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), and is
associated with Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Company. Member
cities include Carson, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale,
Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling
Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, and the Harbor City and San Pedro communities of Los
Angeles.
The distribution of water brooms to business owners is one of the Center’s most successful
projects to date. Targeted mainly to restaurant owners, the water brooms can be used instead of
a hose and nozzle or power washer. Using a combination of air and water pressure, the brooms
are water efficient and clean dust, dirt, food spills, leaves, litter, sawdust, and bird droppings from
concrete, asphalt, or any other hard surface.
So far, the Center has distributed 350-400 water brooms. Marilyn Lyon, SBESC program
manager, estimates that each broom can save 50,000 gallons of water annually. As Southern
California cities face the possibility of significant water shortages in the future, and at least one 8
nearby city (Long Beach) has already implemented mandated water rationing, the brooms serve
as an important way to conserve one of Southern California’s most valuable resources.
“It’s been a hugely successful event,” Lyon said. “Besides being a fun thing that also does some
good, it’s a great opportunity to get them thinking about other ways to reduce utility costs and be
good to the earth at the same time.”
The Center also hosted a community lamp exchange in Torrance last year in which about 2,000
residents exchanged their traditional lamps for lamps with compact fluorescent light bulbs, free of
charge. Edison donated the florescent lamps and residents were invited to exchange up to 10
household lamps apiece. Lyon and her staff also distribute free Edison-provided fluorescent light
bulbs wherever they go to entice constituents to try them.
According to Judy Mitchell, council member for Rolling Hills Estates and League second vice-
president, the Center has helped raise awareness about resource efficiency and provide
residents with ways to conserve.
“The community is more and more interested in incorporating energy efficient measures in their
homes,” Mitchell said. “People are concerned about the environment and want to do the right
thing. But most of the cities in our council are smaller, with fewer resources. The Energy Savings
Center allows us to collaborate in order to maximize our own efficiencies and reduce costs.”
Currently, each SBCCOG city is developing its own green building standards. Leading the way is
Manhattan Beach, which has already assessed its own carbon footprint and is working on ways
to comply with AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
According to Lyon, one of the most rewarding aspects of the Center is that volunteers in the
community are talking with their city officials and giving feedback about the green initiatives in
their cities, and opening up the conversation about green to a broader audience.
For more information on the South Bay Energy Saving Center, visit www.sbesc.com.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Annual Conference Registration Open!
Conference and housing registration is now open for the League of California Cities 2008 Annual
Conference and Exposition.
The event will take place September 24-27 at the Long Beach Convention Center. To register,
visit www.cacities.org/events.
Look for more details in next week’s Priority Focus.
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Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
Visit (and bookmark!) the League’s Legislative Resources Web 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.
_____________________________________________________________________________
IN THIS ISSUE: May 30, 2008
Issue #21-2008
Page 5: Crucial Vote Pending on Public Works Contracting Legislation
Registration Now Open for 2008 Annual Conference
Page 6: Civic Engagement Grants Available to Municipalities, School Districts, and Nonprofits
Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDS CONTINUE TO SERVE
AS PAWN IN BUDGET DYNAMICS
Late Wednesday night, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #4, chaired by Assembly Member Juan
Arambula (D-Fresno), completed its business on a variety of issues, including public safety. In recent
budget discussions, the level of state public safety funding has been hotly debated.
For more, see Page 2.
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LEADING ORGANIZATIONS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NEWSPAPERS MAKE
FINAL PUSH AS ELECTION DAY NEARS – NO ON 98/YES ON 99
Election Day Is Tuesday, June 3
When voters head to the polls just four days from now on Tuesday, June 3, they will have a critical choice
to make that will affect California for generations to come. While there are only two statewide measures
on the June 3 ballot, the outcome of Propositions 98 and 99 could transform local planning and local
government services in a remarkable way. For more, see Page 3.
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AB 2176 PASSES OFF ASSEMBLY FLOOR
AB 2176 (Caballero), a bill that would aid in distribution of federal funds to cities through the Federal
Energy Efficiency Block Grant (EEBG) program, passed off the Assembly floor on a vote of 76-0 on
Wednesday, May 28. For more, see Page 4. 2
‘Budget Dynamics’ Continued from Page 1…
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #4 voted to fund the Citizen Option for Public Safety (COPS) and
the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention program at the level proposed in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
budget of $214 million ($107 million for each). This amount reflects the Governor’s proposed across-the-
board 10 percent cuts.
However, the subcommittee voted along party lines (Democrats-Yes, Republicans-No) to drastically
reduce the proposed funding for rural sheriffs and Booking Fees. The Governor’s January and May
budgets propose to support these programs at 10 percent less than the FY 2007-08 levels at $17 million
for rural sheriffs and $32 million for Booking Fees. The subcommittee, however, reduced the proposed
amounts allocated to each of these programs to a token amount of just $1,000 each.
While this action continues to allow the funding levels for these programs to be revisited by the full Budget
Conference Committee, the signal the Democrats are sending to Republicans suggests that if additional
revenues are not part of the final budget solution, vital public safety programs could be sacrificed.
In a similar move, the actions of the Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 on May 8 were much more drastic.
They, along partisan lines, voted to entirely eliminate funding from the budget for COPS, Booking Fees
and other local public safety programs from the Senate’s version of the budget.
Thus, the combined action of these two committees communicates that local public safety funds are
clearly emerging as a pawn in the budget dynamics.
Safe Act
Another piece of the budget public safety dance involves the “Safe Neighborhoods Act: Stop Gang, Gun
and Street Crime,” for which signatures were submitted on April 25. As of May 29, the measure had yet to
qualify.
The initiative would secure an annual appropriation from the General Fund for significant state and local
public safety programs. It would also require local government funding to be maintained at same or
greater levels indefinitely.
While many Democrats support public safety programs, the actions taken by the two Budget
Subcommittees #4 also suggest that political positioning over this initiative has begun.
The League has not taken a position on the Safe Neighborhoods Act. City officials are encouraged to
delay any action on it until it qualifies and the League finishes an analysis of the measure.
The League reported on this initiative in the May 23 issue of Priority Focus
(http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/26823.may23.pdf). Please see the article titled “Safe
Neighborhoods Act Targeted for November 2008 Ballot.”
Next Steps
The work of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #4 is now done. The Senate Budget Subcommittee #4
is expected to conclude its business next week. Once all of the budget subcommittees have finished their
work, the action will move to the full budget committees of each house. Following that, the Senate and
Assembly will appoint a budget conference committee to reconcile differences between the two houses.
Also to be expected are meetings among legislative leadership and the Governor which may inject other
ideas into the mix.
Take Action!
The League urges city officials to communicate to their legislators the importance of supporting public
safety funding at the levels proposed by the Governor. Public safety funding is extremely vulnerable and
will remain so because of the “hostage taking” actions by the budget subcommittees and the introduction
of the Safe Neighborhoods Act.
A complete list of each house’s budget committees is included below. 3
Members of the Budget Committees
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego) – Chair
Robert Dutton (R-Inland Empire) – Vice Chair
Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara)
David Cogdill (R-Fresno)
Tom Harman (R-Orange)
Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego)
Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach)
Mike Machado (D-Linden)
Alex Padilla (D-Los Angeles)
Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles)
Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento)
Mark Wyland (R-Escondido)
Assembly Budget Committee
John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – Chair
Roger Niello (R-Sacramento) – Vice Chair
Juan Arambula (D-Fresno)
Jim Beall (D-San Jose)
John Benoit (R-Palm Desert)
Patty Berg (D-Eureka)
Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo)
Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica)
Paul Cook (R-Yucaipa)
Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate)
Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine)
Michael Duvall (R-Brea)
William Emmerson (R-Redlands)
Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa)
Michael Feuer (D-Los Angeles)
Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield)
Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward)
Ed Hernandez (D-Baldwin Park)
Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar)
Dave Jones (D-Sacramento)
Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank)
Bill Maze (R-Visalia)
Gene Mullin (D-South San Francisco)
Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City)
Jim Silva (R-Huntington Beach)
Sandre Swanson (D-Oakland)
Lois Wolk (D-Davis)
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‘Election Day’ Continued from Page 1…
That’s why leading California organizations, elected officials and more than 55 newspapers are making a
final push this week to urge voters to vote No on 98, and Yes on 99 on Election Day.
The supporters of Proposition 98 tout its eminent domain reforms, but in reality, the measure, which is
funded almost exclusively by apartment and mobile home park owners, would also abolish renter
protections and rent control, weaken environmental protections and threaten the state’s ability to rebuild
its aging infrastructure.
On the other hand, Prop. 99 directly protects single-family homes from being taken by the government for
private development. 4
Opposition Against Prop. 98 Swells
Prop. 98 is so destructive that only four newspapers in the state endorse the measure, compared to the
more than 70 papers which have urged their readers to vote against it. For a complete list of papers
against Prop. 98, please visit the No on 98/Yes on 99 Web site, www.noprop98.org.
Over the past few months, numerous high level state officials have publicly opposed Prop. 98, including
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, former Governor Pete
Wilson, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and many others.
These elected officials are joined by one of the most diverse coalitions ever formed to defeat a ballot
measure, including leading organizations like:
• AARP
• League of Women Voters of California
• California Professional Firefighters
• California Teachers Association
• California Labor Federation
• California Chamber of Commerce
• Every leading environmental organization
• Nisei Farmers League
• Western Growers Association
• More than 300 organizations
When voters head to the polls in just a few days, they’ll have plenty of reasons – and company – to
oppose Prop. 98 and support Prop. 99.
Make Your Vote Count
On June 3, vote No on Prop. 98 and Yes on Prop. 99.
For more information about the two measures, visit www.no98yes99.com.
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‘AB 2176’ Continued from Page 1…
The legislators unanimously agreed that AB 2176 will help local governments in California achieve
additional reductions through this federal block grant program.
As the sponsor of AB 2176, the League is working with the California Energy Commission to ensure
efficiency of the funding mechanism once this grant money is allocated by the federal government.
Background
The EEBG program is part of the Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R. 6), which President Bush
signed into law in December 2007. The program would provide cities with federal funding for innovative
practices to improve energy efficiency, lower energy usage and reduce fossil fuel emissions. Although
H.R. 6 authorizes $10 billion ($2 billion per year from 2008-2012), the funds need to be appropriated by
Congress each year as part of the federal budget process.
H.R. 6 splits up the $2 billion annual allocation into four different funding pots: 68 percent is designated
for cities and counties (local government pot), 28 percent for states (state pot), 2 percent for Indian tribes,
and 2 percent for competitive grants to local governments or a consortia of local governments who are
ineligible for funding out of the other funding streams.
Cities with a population of 35,000 or more, and counties with a population of 200,000 or more (as well as
the top 10 most populous cities and counties in each state) will be eligible for funds out of the local
government pot.
5
AB 2176 addresses California’s portion of the state funding and would establish a mechanism through
which funds received by the state would then be passed on to cities and counties. H.R. 6 mandates that
60 percent of the state portion must go to cities and counties that are not eligible to receive funding out of
the local government pot (those not eligible would be cities under 35,000 in population).
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Crucial Vote Pending on Public Works Contracting Legislation
Opposition Letters Requested for AB 983
A crucial vote on the Senate Floor is pending for AB 983 (Ma). The League opposes this bill because of
the negative consequences it would create for any local agency entering into a public works contract. City
officials are urged to request that AB 983 be referred back to the Senate Local Government and
Appropriations committees before it is voted upon by the full Senate.
Reasons AB 983 Should be Referred
This bill was dramatically amended after it already passed through the Assembly and was never heard by
the appropriate policy and fiscal committees in the Senate. Because of the major implications for cities,
public infrastructure, and taxpayers, AB 983 should first be reviewed and voted upon in committee
hearings before the full Senate votes on it.
Background
AB 983 would require local agencies to provide full, complete and accurate plans and specifications,
including cost estimates, for public works projects before entering into any contract. This would
essentially absolve a contractor from any responsibility for reviewing plans before submitting a bid on a
public works project.
The League opposes AB 983 because under the proposed contracting law revision, a contractor would
have no desire or incentive to report any omissions to a public agency prior to submitting a bid, resulting
in expensive change orders to the benefit of the contractor and the detriment of the city.
Public contracting is a collaborative process through which a public agency and contractor work together
to identify omissions or changes to provided plans and specifications. In fact, public agencies often rely
on the expertise of contractors, who are professionals in their field and are in the best position to notify a
public agency if project plans may be incomplete or inaccurate.
AB 983 is awaiting action on the Senate Floor, and could be voted on as early as Tuesday, June 3.
Please fax your letters as soon as possible to help defeat this legislation.
Take Action!
A sample letter is available for your city to fax to your senator and other key contacts at
www.cacities.org/billsearch. Plug in AB 983 to the bill search function to access the sample letter of
opposition, along with faxing instructions.
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Registration Now Open for 2008 Annual Conference
Conference and housing registration is now open for the League of California Cities 2008 Annual
Conference and Exposition. The event will take place September 24 – 27 at the Long Beach Convention
Center.
2008 Annual Conference at a Glance
Attendees may register for the optional pre-conference workshop, “California Public Officials Emergency
Preparedness.” Registration opens on September 24 at noon, and a “first-timers” orientation will be
offered at 2:30 p.m. before the expected 2,000 attendees gather at 4 p.m. for the Opening General
Session, featuring keynote speaker Neal Petersen, who will present “No Barriers – Only Solutions.”
Peterson will tell of his 27,000 mile, nine-month adventure at sea in a home-built boat and what can 6
happen when one truly lives by goals, planning and preparation. Later in the evening, attendees can
enjoy the annual CITIPAC Casino Night festivities.
On Thursday, September 25, breakout sessions and professional department business meetings will be
offered. The Exposition will open at 11 a.m. Attendees can have lunch in the Expo hall or purchase a
ticket to the Institute for Local Government’s (ILG) fourth annual lunch symposium, “Local Leadership and
the Changing Demographics of California’s Communities.” The afternoon program concludes with
keynote speaker Richard Florida whose talk is titled “Who’s Your City.” Florida takes a look at the way
people choose the places they live and how that affects everything from their real estate to their families.
In the evening, the Long Beach Host City reception will offer great food, music and entertainment.
The final full day of the conference, Friday, September 26, offers a regional networking breakfast. This full
day includes breakout sessions, lunch in the Expo hall, installation of the new League board of directors
and officers and an outstanding Closing General Session keynote speaker, Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Goodwin is a gifted historian and storyteller who illustrates lessons relevant to today’s issues and
headlines from some of the country’s greatest figures. In the evening, participants can join the fun at one
of four League Caucus receptions or watch the first Presidential Debate with colleagues.
On Saturday, September 27, attendees are encouraged to participate in the concluding Annual Business
Meeting from 8:30 – 9:45 a.m. Remember to register your voting delegate and be sure they are present at
the business meeting for voting.
To register for the 2008 Annual Conference and make hotel reservations, visit www.cacities.org/events.
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Civic Engagement Grants Available to Municipalities, School Districts, and Nonprofits
Common Sense California (CSC), a nonprofit organization supporting civic engagement, is offering a total
of $125,000 in grants to municipalities, school districts, and nonprofit organizations that are attempting to
engage their citizens in informed decision-making through its “Citizen Engagement Grant Program.”
The Citizen Engagement Grant Program is offering four “Common Sense Grants” of up to $25,000 and
multiple “Catalyst Grants” in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. Recent examples of citizen
engagement projects include land use/infrastructure decisions at the city and county levels, K-12 school
budget and curriculum policy formation, city-wide five and 10-year visioning plans, and school
regionalization/shared service decisions.
Applications for the top-level Common Sense Grants must be submitted by September 12. Recipients will
be notified in early October. Applications for Catalyst Grants will be awarded on a “rolling basis,”
beginning June 18. Proposals for these grants may be submitted immediately and will be reviewed as
they are received.
For more information or to apply for a grant, visit the CSC Web site: www.commonsenseca.org.
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Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
Visit (and bookmark!) the League’s Legislative Resources Web 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.
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