IN THIS ISSUE:
February 20, 2009
Issue #7-2009
Page 4: League Releases City Funding Book on Federal Economic Stimulus Package
Page 5: The New Law Could Mean Faster State Mandate Reimbursement
Page 6: ILG Offers AB 1234/Ethics Training Sessions in March
Avoiding Litigation among Public Agencies
Page 7: Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
CITY ADVOCATE WEEKLY REPLACES PRIORITY FOCUS
The League is pleased to announce a new name for its weekly newsletter: City Advocate Weekly
(previously Priority Focus). With a tag line of "Legislation and Policy Affecting California Cities,"
the renamed publication will also feature a redesigned masthead. Stories will continue to focus on
key legislation affecting cities and other items of interest to city officials. For more, see Page 2.
OOOOOOOOO 01111101111110••••••••••••••••••••
COMPROMISE BUDGET PACKAGE PASSED
The long, hard-fought state budget negotiations came to a successful end early Thursday
morning, when the Legislature passed a budget designed to address the current fiscal year
deficit, and head off a deficit in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger
is expected to sign the bill package today. For more, see Page 2.
BUDGET PACKAGE MEASURES
At the time of this writing, the language for the budget package is not available for review.
League staff will release a full analysis early next week. However, below is a list of the bills for
your reference. For more, see Page 3.'City Advocate Weekly' Continued from Page 1...
We believe that the name City Advocate Weekly better reflects the purpose and intent of our
newsletter. This name change is just one part of the League's effort to better serve its members
by updating and streamlining our communications tools. Subscribers will automatically receive
City Advocate Weekly without having to re-subscribe.
'Budget' Continued from Page 1...
The budget package consists of actions over the next 17 months that comprise what the
Governor calls "a four-legged stool": fiscal measures to increase revenues through temporary tax
increases and borrowing from existing funds; reductions in current spending; various "economic
stimulus" measures, including CEQA exemptions for state surplus property and changes in labor
rules on some types of infrastructure projects; and reforms designed to "make government more
efficient.
In sum, these include $14.9 billion in reductions, $12.5 billion in temporary tax increases, $11.4
billion in borrowing and a reserve of $1 billion. New taxes include increasing the state sales tax by
1 percent; and increasing personal income tax rates by 0.50 percent (which could be reduced,
depending upon the level of federal economic stimulus funds received by the state). The package
also increases the vehicle license fee from the current 0.65 percent, to 1.15 percent, of which
0.15 percent is dedicated to fund local public safety programs (approximately $500 million
annually). The package will also reduce the dependent credit Californians are allowed to claim on
their taxes.
The package transfers, for two years approximately $460 million in tax revenues from Proposition
63 (tax on millionaires for mental health services). It transfers approximately $1.4 billion over four
years from Proposition 10 (tobacco tax for early childhood education programs championed by
then-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger) for state programs with similar objectives. The budget also
assumes that the state will borrow about $5 billion that will be securitized by a lottery
modernization proposal passed as part of the initial 2008-09 budget (pending voter approval).
All the tax increases and borrowing would be in place for only two years. The tax increase
proposals are contingent upon various triggers linked to the successful passage by voters of
another critical piece of the budget package: an improved state reserve fund and a spending cap
designed to impose greater discipline on spending when state revenues spike. That measure will
be placed on the May 19 ballot along with the tax and borrowing measures.
Breaking the Logjam. The final budget package came together when Senate President Pro
Tennpore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) was able to win approval from his caucus for reforms
sought by Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria). With these reforms, Maldonado agreed to
provide the crucial 27th vote to achieve the two-thirds super-majority needed to pass the budget
in the Senate.
Measures sought and won by Maldonado included constitutional amendments to establish an
open primary system and ban legislative pay increases during deficit years. Both proposals will
be placed on the June 2010 ballot for voter approval.
The early morning negotiating session also eliminated a proposed 12-cent increase in the gas tax
that had been proposed to be primarily used to offset existing state transportation debt service.
The $2.1 billion that the gas tax was estimated to raise through June 2010 will be replaced with a
0.25 percent increase in the state income tax rate, and federal stimulus dollars.
Maldonado also sought but did not win approval for a "no budget-no pay" rule for legislators
during periods when the budget is late.
Budget Cuts Will Be Felt Statewide. As we reported last week, this is a difficult budget, with
cuts that are deep and painful. Key cuts include $8. 11 billion for K-12 education; 10 percent .for UC
and CSU; 10 percent for the Corrections Department's medical budget; and elimination of cost-of-
living increases for CALWorks and SSI-SSP recipients. The budget includes state furlough
2provisions estimated to save the state $1.4 billion, reductions in overtime, and elimination of
some state holidays. The budget also reduces state funding for local public transit agencies.
What the Budget Means for Cities. City officials facing their own difficult budgets will be relieved
to know that the final package appears to leave cities' revenues largely intact Specifically, the
package does not suspend Proposition 1A protections for local property and sales tax, nor will it
shift or borrow additional funds from redevelopment agencies. Furthermore, it will preserve local
public safety funds (COPS, juvenile justice and booking fees).
City officials understand very well that this was a very difficult budget for our state leaders to
negotiate. They faced enormous challenges: declining revenues, an on-going imbalance between
revenues and budgeted expenditures, and the complications of our own state constitutional
constraints.
Voting for this budget was difficult for legislators on both sides of the aisle. But it was a necessary
vote to bring both certainty and closure to Californians. Passage of this budget compromise helps
ensure that California is better positioned to participate with the federal government in re-
investing in our people and our infrastructure.
City officials can now proceed with a greater certainty about managing their own resources, and
solving their own fiscal problems without the immediate risk that the state will deepen the local
fiscal problems by taking local revenues. The state can once again pay its own bills, issue tax
refunds, and authorize the release of voter-supported state infrastructure bond funds to work on
local transportation and housing projects.
The League encourages city officials to thank the Governor and our legislators for their hard work
and leadership.
More Details to Come. As we go to print, many of the budget-related bills are not yet in print.
The League will produce a detailed analysis of the budget package, once complete information is
available. (For a listing of the budget bills, see also "Budget Package Measures".)
'Bills' Continued from Page 1...
2008-09 and 2009-10 Bud et Bills Passed by the Le islature
SB x3 1 2009-10 Budget Bill
SB x3 2 2008-09 Budget Bill (revises the current 2008-09 Budget)
AB x3 3 Tax Increases
SB x3 4 Education Omnibus Bill
AB x3 5 Health Omnibus Bill
SB x3 6 Human Services Omnibus Bill
SB x3 7 Transportation Omnibus Bill
SB x3 8 General Government Omnibus Bill
SB x3 10 Proposition 63 Revisions (requires voter approval)
AB x3 11 Elections Provisions for Ballot Measures
AS x3 12 Lottery Fixes (requires voter approval)
AB x3 13 Cash Management Omnibus Bill
SB x3 14 AB 900 Clean-up
SB x3 15 Tax Cuts
AB x3 16 Trigger Modifications/Increases
AS x3 17 Proposition 10 Revisions (requires voter approval)
SB x3 19 Elections Provisions for Ballot Measures
SB x3 20 State Controller Furniture
ACA x3 1 Spending Cap (requires voter approval)
ACA x3 2 Education Supplemental Payment (requires voter
approval)
SB x2 3 Carl Moyer Program Revisions
SB x2 4 Design-Build and Public-Private Partnerships Authority
32008-09 and 2009-10 Bud et Bills Passed b the Le islature cont.
AB x2 5 Employee Flex Schedule Provisions
SB x2 7 Mortgage Foreclosures
AB x2 8 CEQA, Permitting, Surplus Property, Engine Retrofits
SB x2 9 Prevailing Wage, Labor Compliance Provisions
SB x2 10 Vehicle License Fees Pass-Through
SB x2 11 Judicial Benefits Status Quo
SB x2 12 Courthouse Construction Continuous Appropriation
SB x2 15 Personal Income Tax — Homebuyer Credit
SB x2 16 Fair Funding/Horseracing
SCA 4 Open Primary (requires voter approval)
SCA 8 Legislative Salary Increases (requires voter approval)
SB 6 Open Primary Statutes
League Releases City Funding Book on Federal Economic Stimulus Package
The League of California Cities has released a "City Funding Book" to guide cities on how to
access and apply for federal funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 (ARRA), signed by President Barack Obama earlier this week. Because of the
substantial interest in the ARRA by California's cities, the League has compiled the City Funding
Book to assist cities in their pursuit of funding. The Book can be viewed online at
http://wv.w.cacifies.orairesource files/27711 .2009ARRA%20Report21908,pdf.
The ARRA's purpose is to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery by providing
needed investments in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure projects
that will provide long-term economic benefits.
The total cost of the package is $828 billion, and consists of nearly $396 billion for upgrades to
transportation, infrastructure, construction, health care programs, education and housing
assistance, and energy efficiency projects; $144 billion in state and local fiscal relief; and $288
billion in personal and business tax credits.
Also of note are the unprecedented accountability and transparency requirements that are
included in the ARRA. To meet these requirements, the government has set up a Web site
(http://www.recoverymovi) that will list each recipient of funds and project details. City officials will
want to review the first few pages of the City Funding Book for important details on accountability
and transparency requirements.
In addition, the first few pages of the City Funding Book provide important details on how to
register your city to be eligible for any federal dollars.
The first version of the City Funding Book
(http://v,(ww.cacities.orgiresource files/27711.2009ARRA%20Report21908.pdf) was released
yesterday and is now available on the Federal Economic Stimulus section of the League's Web
site (www.cacities.orgIfederalstimulus). There will also be regular updates to the Book available
on the League's Web site as more information becomes available.
First Application Deadline Next Week. Earlier this week, the State Department of Public Health
announced details on how to get federal funds related to drinking water.
The Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SDWSRF) provides low interest loans/grants to
assist public water systems in achieving or maintaining compliance with the federal Safe Drinking
Water Act (S nWA). Projec,s must be from a pub!ic water system, must be needed to comply with
the SDWA, and must be on the program's project priority list.
4Eligible uses include water treatment facilities, replacement of aging infrastructure, planning
studies, consolidation of water systems, and source water protection. Ineligible uses include
dams or rehab of dams, O&M costs and projects mainly for fire protection.
Universal pre-applications for federal stimulus loans and grants through the SDWSRF are DUE
FEB. 27, 2009.
Please visit the Department of Public Health's Web site at
hito://www.cdph.ca.goviservicesifundinq/DocumentsiEconomicRecoveryFundsinforrna tionAttach
mentbdf for more information on the SDWSRF loans and grants.
The New Law Could Mean Faster State Mandate Reimbursement
The city of Newport Beach continues negotiating with the Department of Finance (DOF) over the
costs imposed by the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act (AB 220)
(httolict2k2.cabitoltrack.com/07/Billsfasmiab 0201-0250/ab 220 bill 20071013 chaptered.odf)
under the authority of a recent law designed to bypass the current lengthy mandate claim
process. Results could pave the way for cities to receive faster claim processing and
reimbursements on other unfunded mandates.
Newport Beach's efforts follow the passage of AB 1222
(httplict2k2.caioitolirack.com/07/Bills/asmiab 1201-1250/ab 1222 bill 20071008 chaptered.pdf)
in 2007, which provides cities with an alternative legislative determined mandate" (LDM) method
to the current lengthy and extensive administrative "test claim" process, which often takes up to
six years to deliver results.
LDM allows a local agency, or statewide associations representing local governments, to enter
into discussions with the DOF on statutes and executive orders to negotiate and jointly develop a
proposed amount of reimbursement, and submit it to the legislature for its approval. If the
Legislature determines that local governments are entitled to reimbursement, it adopts the
proposed methodology, and appropriates funds or suspends the operation of the program. Most
significantly, notification of the State Mandates Commission of an agreement pursuing an LDM
also suspends the statute of limitations for the filing of a test claim. By statute, the test claims
must be filed within one-year after the mandate becomes effective, or costs are first incurred. If a
test claim succeeds, it qualifies all local agencies with costs in the same area to seek
reimbursement.
Cities that do not individually file for test claims often don't know they can claim the costs of new
state mandated programs until the test claim is approved, or may not have the records and
documentation needed to file claims for the prior years. Consequently, by the time a reimbursable
mandate is identified, the cost for delivering the program locally for the first year may not be
reimbursable for many cities. LDM's would provide cities with the opportunity to recover their cost
going back to the first day the mandate becomes effective, or costs are first incurred.
Another key provision of AB 1222 is that local agencies are no longer required to maintain and
submit detailed actual time records to support their mandated cost claims. Instead, a formula or
simplified method consisting of unit time or costs called a reasonable reimbursement
methodology (RRM) is available.
Newport Beach has been utilizing the resources of the League and California State Association of
Counties (CSAC) joint advisory committee on state mandates, the "SB 90 Advisory Committee."
Named after SB 90 of 1972, instituting the principle of the state reimbursing local governments for
mandates, the advisory committee has been assisting the cities and counties for nearly 20 years
with identifying new mandates that are eligible for reimbursement, and provides technical
assistance to cities with filing test claims with the State Mandates Commission.
At a time when cities feel the pain of declining revenues, following the City of Newport Beach's
steps and pursuing the LDM option to identify unfunded mandates could mean getting faster
results and reimbursement. The League is strongly encouraging your city to closely look and
identify programs mandated by statutes, executive orders, and regulations that may be eligible for
5reimbursement, and contact the advisory committee at http:/iwww.sb9Oservice.comfgoisb90/ for
assistance.
ILG Offers AB 1234/Ethics Training Sessions in March
The League's nonprofit research arm, the Institute for Local Government (ILG),
will be offering three AB 1234 ethics training sessions in March. The three
sessions are scheduled for:
• March 4: hosted by the city of Pleasant Hill, (also open to neighboring cities.) View the
Information flyer at
http://wvvvv.cacities.org/resource filesi27611.Pleasant%20HiP/020flyerdoc;
• March 5: hosted by the Los Angeles Division. View the Information flyer at
http://www.cacities.orgiresource files/27696.LA%20Division%20AB1234%20Email%20R
SVP%20030509%20MARpdf ; and
• March 26: in Anaheim, in conjunction with the League of California Cities Planner's
Institute. Visit www.cacities.omievents for more information.
Another session will also be held on May 29, in San Diego, in conjunction with the League's
Mayor & Council Members Executive Forum. Please visit www,cacities.orcilevents for more
information.
Avoiding Litigation among Public Agencies
The Institute for Local Government (ILG) has launched a new project to encourage and support
local officials' use of alternative dispute resolution to address disputes and disagreements
between public agencies. As part of this effort, the project recently released two pamphlets.
• A Local Official's Guide to Intergovernmental Conflict Resolution is an
introductory pamphlet that explains what alternative dispute resolution is and how it
might be used to resolve disputes among public agencies. ILG is grateful for the
financial support of McDonough, Holland and Allen on this pamphlet.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution: Navigating Special Legal Issues in Public
Agency Disputes alerts local agency counsel and dispute resolution professionals to
the special legal issues that can arise when using alternative dispute resolution with
public agencies. It includes a sample resolution to help address some of these
issues. ILG is grateful for the financial support of Renne, Sloan, Holtzman and Sakai
on this pamphlet.
City managers and county administrators received hard copies of the first publication; city
attorneys and county counsel will receive hard copies of the second. Both guides are available
without charge in electronic form at www.ca-ilq.orciiintemoviconflictresolution. Hardcopies are
also available for a small charge.
ILG is especially interested in hearing about (positive or negative) experiences local agencies
have had with alternative dispute resolution. If you or your members have information to share,
please contact Betsy Strauss at bstrauss(a,ca-ilq.orq or (916) 658-8208. ILG is grateful for the
support of the JAMS Foundation for the overall program.
ILG is the 501(c)(3) research affiliate of the League of California Cities and the California State
Association of Counties. The organization produces a range of resources to help local officials in
their service to their communities. In addition to alternative dispute resolution, ILG's program
areas include: public service ethics, land use, civic engagement, climate change and "local
government 101." All ILG resources are available without charge in electronic form from
6www.ca-ilq.orq, although proceeds from hardcopy sales support the ILG's work and the
development of additional resources. Please also visit the ILG Facebook page.
(http://wmv.facebook.com/pagesimanageNtipages/Institute-for-Local-Government145592789674).
Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
Visit (and bookmark!) the League's Legislative Resources Web page
(www.cacities.orgilegresources). 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.|1013|
IN THIS ISSUE:
Page 9: HUD Economic Stimulus Funding Information Now Available
California Communities Releases 2008 Community Benefit Report
Page 10: City Advocate Weekly Replaces Priority Focus
Air Resources Board Offering Local Government Assistance AB 32 Workshop
Page 11: League President Appoints Board of Directors Nominating Committee
Job Opening? Western City Magazine Can Help You Find the Best Candidate
Page 12: 2009 Employee Relations Institute: Passport to Tomorrow, March 12-13
ILG Offers AB 1234/Ethics Training Sessions in March
Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
February 27, 2009
Issue #8-2009
THE STATE BUDGET AND TRAILER BILLS: LEAGUE'S DETAILED ANALYSIS
Since the passage of the state budget last week, League staff has been reviewing the 33 bills that
make up the budget package approved by the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
There is much to review: tax increases, triggers, ballot propositions, tax credits, funding deferrals
and other provisions. The process of carefully reviewing these measures takes time, given that
much of the language was not widely available in print when the budget was adopted.
For more, see Page 2.
0111111000 • • • MOO 000 • III •••• • • •• OOOOOOOOO
NLC HOSTS WEBCAST ON FEDERAL RECOVERY PACKAGE:
WHAT'S IN IT FOR CITIES?
The National League of Cities (NLC) held an Economic Recovery Webcast on Wednesday, Feb.
25 entitled "The Federal Recovery Package: What's In It for Cities and How to Access the
Resources." For more, see Page 8.
OOOOO 011114111111111,01101110 11H00110111 • • 00 • • ••• MO
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION: WOULD IT FIX WHAT AILS CALIFORNIA?
The Bay Area Council and other groups held a well-attended summit on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in
Sacramento to discuss the desirability of calling a state constitutional convention to redefine the
way government operates in the state. The speakers at the event said the goal of the convention
would be to achieve constitutional changes that would help improve California's system of
governance in order to better address our ongoing problems with education, health care, crowded
prisons, water systems, an ideologically split legislature, and budget stalemates that disable the
state. For more, see Page 8.'Budget Bills' Continued from Page 1...
In a "normal" state budget process, major elements of the budget are vetted during a fairly
orderly, predictable six-month process, with many budget subcommittee hearings and time for
detailed legislative and public review of specific provisions. Since January, however, much of the
discussion surrounding the budget has taken place in the private "Big Five" discussions, involving
the Governor and legislative leadership. In these discussions, the decision was made to address
both the structural imbalance in the FY 2008-09 budget and the projected deficits in the FY 2009-
10 budget. This process, combined with last minute arm-twisting to secure the necessary budget
votes, resulted in 33 bills being placed into print on very short notice. Below is a description of the
contents of those bills.
3rd Extraordinary Session
SB x3 1 (Ducheny) - Principal FY 2009-10 State Budget Bill: This 657-page bill is the budget
bill for FY 2009-10, containing the department-by-department, line-item appropriations for every
program in state government. Given the complexity of this measure, the League will produce a
follow-up analysis next week of provisions in this measure that may be of interest to cities.
SB x3 2 (Ducheny) - Mid-Year Adjustments to FY 2008-09 Budget: Makes numerous
reductions to previously approved appropriations, unallocated cuts to reflect state employee
savings, as well as other modifications and technical changes to the 2008-09 Budget Act, which
include the following provisions affecting cities:
• Reducing funding for local public safety grants provided through the Office of Emergency
Services by $23.9 million
• Reducing the allocation for local transit agencies from $306 to $153 million
• Using $11 million of Proposition 84 funds for court-ordered Americans with Disabilities
Act improvements by the Department of Parks and Recreation
• Reducing funding for Corrections Standard Authority local public safety programs by
$75.5 million, including juvenile facilities' support and inmate transportation
reimbursement (largely county-based)
• Borrowing $5 million from the Peace Officers Training Fund
This measure also includes a provision that moves the date of the Governor's traditional Budget
"May Revise" to June 8.
AB x3 3 (Evans) - State Tax Increases: Sales and Use Tax, Income Taxes, Vehicle License
Fees: Below is a listing of the state tax increases approved as part of the budget package. The
duration of all of these taxes is extended for an additional period if the voters approve the ballot
measure containing the state spending cap ACA x3 1(Niello), which will appear as Proposition IA
on the May 19, 2009, statewide elections.
• Statewide Sales and Use Tax. Increases the current tax rate by 1 percent as of April 1,
2009. The rate increase sunsets on July 1, 2011. If the voters approve Prop. 1A, then the
tax increase will continue until July 1, 2012.
• Vehicle License Fee (VLF). Increases the VLF rate for all vehicles (except for
commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more) by 0.5 percent. While
the revenue from the 0.35 percent increase will be deposited into the General Fund (GF),
revenue from the 0.15 percent increase will be transferred to a newly-created Local
Safety and Protection Account, appropriated for specific local public safety programs.
The VLF rate increase will become effective for registrations beginning May 19, 2009,
and sunset on June 30, 2011. If voters approve Prop. 1A then the tax increase will
continue until July 1, 2013. This measure further inserts a "kill switch" designed to protect
the revenues directed for local public safety. The Director of Finance (DOF) is required to
determine and report to the Legislature by Jan. 10, 2010, and each year thereafter, if the
revenues derived from the 0.15 percent increase are being used for any purpose not
authorized by the newly created Local Safety and Protection Account. If the DOF
determines that funds are being used for other state purposes, then the Director of Motor
Vehicles shall, upon receiving this notification, immediately cease collection of the tax.
• Personal Income Tax. Increases the personal income tax rate by either 0.25 percent or
0.125 percent to each marginal personal income tax rate, or to the alternative minimum
tax rate (taxpayers pay whichever is higher), for the years 2009 and 2010. The amount of
2this increase will be determined by the Treasurer and the Director of the Department of
Finance, or designees, who are required to meet and confer at a public hearing to be
held on or before April 1, 2009. The Treasurer and DOF, pursuant to language contained
in AB x3 16 (Evans), will determine whether or not sufficient federal funds have been
made available to offset not less than $10 billion GF expenditures. If they do not
determine that sufficient funds are available, the tax increase will be 0.25 percent. If they
do determine that sufficient funds have been made available, then the tax increase will be
0.125 percent If the voters approve Prop. IA then the tax increase will continue until Jan.
1, 2013.
• Dependent Tax Credit. Reduces the current dependent tax credit of $309 to $227 and
the personal income tax credit of $99 (given to taxpayers who are over 65, and to
taxpayers filing a joint return with their spouse/domestic partner) to $52, for the years
2009 and 2010. If the voters approve Prop. 1A, then the tax increase will continue until
July 1, 2013.
ACA I (Niello) - Budget Reform: Reserve Funds and Spending Cap: Modifies and expands
the state budget reforms agreed to as part of the 2008-09 budget (SCA 30), but which has not yet
been submitted to voters. The revised measure — if approved by the state voters (as Prop. 1A) at
the Special Election on May 19, 2009 — does the following:
Budget Stabilization Fund
Requires 3 percent of state GF revenues to be deposited annually in a Budget Stabilization Fund,
except when the amount in that fund would exceed 12.5 percent of the GF revenues estimate.
Under the existing law, deposits are no longer required when the amount in the fund would
exceed 5 percent of the GF revenues estimate.
• Diverts half of these contributions to repay amounts owed to public education under
Proposition 98 for 2007-08 and 2008-09 fiscal years ($9.3 billion).
• Of the contributions that continue to flow into the Budget Stabilization Fund, diverts half of
those revenues (not to exceed an aggregate of $5 billion) to repay the previously issued
Deficit Recovery Bonds. Once repayments to education and Deficit Recovery Bonds are
completed, then, full 3 percent contribution will flow into Budget Stabilization Fund.
State Expenditure Cap: Places two limitations on the state's expenditures. First, funds may be
withdrawn from the Budget Stabilization Fund for only one of three reasons: (1) to satisfy any
"gap" that may exist between the total GF revenues available in the prior fiscal year and the
"expenditure forecast amount" (the total expenditures for the prior fiscal year adjusted for
population growth and increases in the Consumer Price Index); (2) to respond to a natural
disaster or other extreme emergency declared by the Governor; or (3) to be loaned for cash flow
purposes to the GF to be repaid within the same fiscal year.
Second, any unanticipated revenues received by the state (which would exceed the threshold of
12.5 percent of the GF) are required to be spent on any of the following outstanding budgetary
obligations: (1) any unfunded prior fiscal year obligations required to be paid to schools under
Prop. 98; (2) any repayment obligations owed local governments from property taxes borrowed
under Prop. 1A; (3) any repayment obligations for amounts owed for transportation revenues
borrowed under Proposition 42 to repay the 2004 state deficit reduction bonds.
Any additional amount of unanticipated revenue may be used for any of the following: (1) transfer
additional amounts to the Budget Stabilization Fund; (2) pay for one-time infrastructure projects;
(3) retire outstanding state general obligation bond debt; (4) return funds to taxpayers through
one-time revision to tax rates: or (5) fund unfunded liabilities for vested nonpension benefits for
state annuitants.
ACA x3 2 (Bass) - Education Repayment: This measure will appear as Proposition 1B on the
May 19, 2009, statewide ballot, and is contingent upon provisions contained within Prop. 1A
(spending cap). If both Prop. 1A and this measure are approved, schools and community colleges
will receive supplemental education payments totaling $9.3 billion in funding obligations to
schools commencing in FY 2011-12. These payments are in lieu of designated maintenance
factor payments to schools under Prop. 98 for FY 2007-08 and FY 2008-09.
3SB x3 4 (Ducheny) - Education Omnibus: Makes numerous changes to K-14 and community
college programs, provides flexibility to various categorical funding programs, and other changes
designed to achieve state budget savings and improve state cash flow.
AB x3 5 (Evans) - Makes a number of cuts and other changes to state health programs.
SB x3 6 (Ducheny) - Makes cuts and other changes to welfare and other state social programs.
SB x3 7 (Ducheny) - Sweeps all potential future revenues that may be generated for transit
pursuant to "spillover" funds, as well as the 20 percent allocated to transit from Prop. 42 (sales
tax on gasoline) funds, from the 2009-10 through the 2012-13 fiscal years, to fund various state
transit programs otherwise funded through the GE. In addition, this measure authorizes the DOF
to reimburse the GF for transportation-related general fund debt service costs from funds
transferred to the Transportation Debt Service Fund. Requires that certain funds (estimated at
$100 million per year for two years) generated by tribal compacts that have been previously
designated for repayment of specified transportation-related debt to be transferred to the GF.
SB x3 8 (Ducheny) - State and Local Government Omnibus: Makes several changes related
to local and state government finances, including payments, contracting, and service agreements.
Those of significance to cities:
Local Safety and Protection Account. Directs revenue from the 0.15 percent increase in VLF
(approximately $500 million per year) deposited into a newly created Local Safety and Protection
Account to the following programs:
• Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) and Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention
Act (JJCPA) grants. Requires the Controller to allocate 23.6 percent of the funds
received under to each of these programs for FY 2008-09. Requires this percentage to
be reduced to 21.30 percent for FY 2009-10 and beyond (approximately $100 million for
COPS and $100 million for JJCPA), 6.26 percent for booking fees, and requires these
funds to be allocated on a quarterly basis commencing on Oct. 1, 2009;
• 3.6 percent for Small and Rural Sheriffs Grants;
• 36.04 percent for Juvenile Probation and Camps Funding under CDCR; and
• 11.42 percent for crime prevention programs under the California Emergency
Management Agency.
Among the tax increases adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in AB x3 3
(Evans), is a new 0.15 percent VLF rate dedicated to local law enforcement grants previously
paid out of the state general fund. These grants include the COPS program (also known as
Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Funding SLESF); JJCPA; booking fee grants to
county sheriffs; and aid to small and rural sheriffs.
The new VLF rate begins on May 19, 2009, and will be the sole source of funding for these
programs in FY 2009-10. VLF revenue received from this new rate for the current fiscal year (final
payment from GF will be received in March 2009) will partially make up an $89 million reduction
in GF support of the COPS/Juvenile Justice program. During the current transition year, the net
reduction in funding to the COPS pro gram will be about $20 million. However, the minimum
allocation of COPS funding remains at $100,000 per agency. Consequently, the impact of this
reduction will be felt on cities and counties to the extent they were due to receive funding above
this minimum. Estimated revised COPS allocations for all cities and counties are posted at
www.califomiacityfinance.com/COPSNO9revised.pdf
Payment Deferrals
• Mandates: Permanently shifts state mandate reimbursements from Aug. 15 to Oct. 15,
or 60 days after the date the appropriation for the claim is effective.
• Highway User's taxes (HUTA): Defers city and county gas excise tax payments for
January, February, and March, to be paid along with the April revenues in May (for 2009
only).
Other Provisions
• Lifts an existing tax increment debt cap applicable to the Glendora Redevelopment
Agency that will allow it to receive an additional $2.6 million per year.
4• Shifts $35 million for two years, and then $50 million per year ongoing to the County of
Orange in Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF). These amounts will be
backfilled by the state GF.
• Makes a variety of changes to statute affecting the California Emergency Management
Agency.
• Suspends the Senior Citizens' Property Tax Deferral Program, removing state's authority
expand this program.
SB x3 10 (Duchenv) - Redirection of Mental Health Funding: Redirects $226.7 million in FY
2009-10, and up to $234 million in FY 2010-11 from Proposition 63 (tax on millionaires for mental
health services) for programs with similar objectives funded under the GF.
AB x3 12 (Evans) - State Lottery: Makes several adjustments to audit and other provisions
relating to the State Lottery. These changes are consolidated into the previous lottery
modernization provisions that were approved as part of the 2008-09 state budget, and will be
submitted to the voters at the May 19, 2009, election as Prop. 1C.
AB x3 13 (Evans) - State Cash Management Omnibus: Authorizes the state to borrow for cash
flow purposes from 18 different funds. Language authorizing most of these provisions requires
the payment of interest, and prohibits borrowing that would "interfere with the carrying out of the
object" of the programs. Cities should note that from the 'Local Public Safety Fund," which is an
account established for the deposit of Proposition 172 (1/2 cent sales and use tax for public
safety) is listed as one of the funds.
SB x3 14 (Duchenv) - Prison Overcrowding: Makes changes to the (AB 900) Safety and
Offender Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007, and provides that the required 12,000 new prison
beds can be located at any of the facilities under the jurisdiction of the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation. Also expands acceptable use of specified bond dollars for these
construction projects.
SB x3 15 (Calderon and Florez) - Tax Credits: Provides a temporary tax credit of $3,000 to
businesses with 20 or fewer employees, for each new position they create, with a $400 million
maximum. Establishes motion picture production tax credits of up to $100 million per year for five
years for the production of qualified motion pictures in California. Also provides an alternative
income apportionment method to multi-state businesses, which includes a new definition that
broadly defines in-state 'sales" for purposes of the Franchise Tax Board.
AB x3 16 (Evans) - income Tax Trigger - Level of Federal Funding: Requires the Treasurer
and the Director of the Department of Finance, or designees, to meet and confer at a public
hearing to be held on or before April 1, 2009. The Treasurer and DOF will determine whether or
not sufficient federal funds have been made available to offset not less than $10 billion in GF
expenditures. If they do not determine that sufficient funds are available, the income tax increase
contained within AB x3 3 (Evans) will be 0.25 percent. If they do determine that sufficient funds
have been made available, then the tax increase will be 0.125 percent.
AB x3 17 (Evans) - Redirection of Tobacco Tax Funds: Redirects between $275 to $340
million in one-time reserve funds, and authorizes $268 million to be diverted annually for five
years from Proposition 10 (tobacco tax for children's health care) for programs with similar
objectives funded under the GF.
SB x3 19 (Duchenv) - Special Election: Calls for a statewide special election to be held on May
19, 2009, with the following six measures and titles:
• Proposition 1A - 'Rainy Day' Budget Stabilization Fund (ACA x3 1 (Niello))
• Proposition 1B - Education Funding Payment Plan (ACA x3 2 (Bass))
• Proposition 1C - Lottery Modernization Act (AB x3 12 (Evans))
• Proposition 1D - Children's Services Funding (AB x3 17 (Evans))
• Proposition 1 E - Mental Health Funding Budget (SB x3 10 (Ducheny))
• Proposition IF - Elected Official's Salaries. Prevents Pay Increases During Budget Deficit
Years (SCA 4 (Maldonado)
5This measure also authorizes local elections to be consolidated with the May 19 statewide
election, and specifically exempts the application of the existing 88-day limit.
SB x3 20 (Maldonaldo) - State Controller's Furniture: This bill reduces the State Controller's
budget for operating expenses and equipment by $996,000, and contains intent language that
prohibits the expenditure for office furniture for the previously approved Cannery Business Park
Lease.
2nd Extraordinary Session
SB x2 3 (Florez) - Air Quality: Farm Equipment. Makes changes to the Carl Moyer Memorial
Air Quality Standards Program designed to expand eligibility for farm equipment.
SB x2 4 (Condit!) - Design-Build, Public Private Partnerships: Expands design-build
authorization for (1) five state facilities within the jurisdiction of Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, Department of General Services and Judicial Council; (2) ten redevelopment
agency projects in excess of $1 million; (3) five local transportation projects (regional
transportation agencies or transportation projects); and, (4) ten state transportation projects. Also
allows Caltrans and regional transportation agencies to enter into an unlimited amount of public-
private partnerships through Jan. 1, 2017.
AB x2 5 (Gaines) - Employee Flex Time: Makes changes to employee work weeks menu
options and allows an employer to offer employees schedule options when proposing an
alternative workweek elections that includes an eight-hour work day.
SB x2 7 (Corbett) - Mortgage Foreclosures: Provides a 90-day foreclosure delay on owner-
occupied homes where the first loan was recorded between Jan. 1, 2003 and Jan. 1, 2008,
unless the loan is serviced by a financial institution that has a comprehensive loan modification
program. The provisions of this bill sunset on Jan. 1, 2011.
AB x2 8 (Nestande) - Transportation Projects: Regulatory Relief: Modifies existing air quality
regulations applicable to fleets and heavy duty construction. Establishes an expedited permit
approval process for various state agencies for nine specific transportation construction projects.
Exempts eight specific transportation projects and the sale of state surplus property from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Authorizes the Orange County Transportation
Authority to acquire rights-of-way for two specific projects.
SBX2 9 (Padilla) - Public Works. Labor Compliance. New DIR Regulations. Requires
payment of a fee to the DIR for enforcement of the prevailing wage law under the following
circumstances:
1. Under existing law, adoption of a Labor Compliance Program (LCP) may substitute
for the payment of prevailing wage rates on certain public works projects
(construction projects over $25,000 and maintenance projects over $15,000). This bill
retains the option not to pay prevailing wages on these public works projects but
substitutes payment of the fee to DIR for the requirement to adopt an LCP.
2. Under existing law, the design-build process that was extended to cities in AB 642
(Wolk) in 2008 requires a city to adopt a LCP. This bill retains the design-build option
but substitutes payment of the fee to DIR for the requirement to adopt an LCP.
3. Under existing law, the design-build process applicable to transit operators requires
the transit operator to adopt a LCP. This bill retains the design-build option but
substitutes payment of the fee to DIR for the requirement to adopt an LCP.
4. When a city uses state bond funds for public works projects.
The fee to DIR is calculated as a percentage of the cost of the public works project. There is an
exception to paying the fee and continuing to enforce a labor compliance program with the
approval of DIR.
A number of questions have been raised about how this bill affects charter cities. The League's
assessment is that this bill's effect on charter cities is limited. While the bill expresses the
Legislature's intent that all cities be subject to prevailing wage law, the bill acknowledges that the
6courts must ultimately decide this issue. The only specific statutory language directed at charter
cities is the following: "a capital improvement project undertaken by a charter city to extend that
city's water, sewer, or storm drain system or similar system to a disadvantaged community in an
unincorporated area shall be considered a public work for the purpose of [prevailing wage laws],
but any subsequent project to construct, expand reconstruct, install, or repair such systems that
have been so extended and that are conducted within that city's political boundaries shall not be
considered a public work."
SB x2 10 (Oropeza) - VLF Increases and Rental Car Agreements: Requires rental car
companies to pass on the expense of increased vehicle license fee as an unbundled fee to
customers in their rental agreements.
SB x2 11 (Steinberg) - Judges: Requires judges receiving various supplemental benefits from
counties as of July 1, 2008, to continue to receive them in accordance with the terms and
conditions in effect on that date.
SB x2 12 (Steinberg) - State Court Facilities Construction Fund: Makes a continuous
appropriation to the existing Immediate and Critical Needs Account of the State Court Facilities
Construction Fund until 2012 and makes other related technical changes.
SB x2 15 (Ashburn) - Home Purchase Tax Credit: Creates a personal income tax credit for
new home buyers equal to the lesser of $10,000 or five percent of the new home purchase price,
with a maximum authorized amount for the program of $100 million.
SB x2 16 (Ashburn) - Horse Racing: Continuously appropriates $32 million from the GF to the
State Fair and Exposition Fund to offset fees that would otherwise be paid by the racing industry,
and makes other related changes.
Regular Session
SCA 4 (Maldonado), - Open Primary: Subject to voter approval on the June 2010 statewide
election, this measure would establish an open primary for each state elective and congressional
office in California. In brief, the measure provides that all candidates for office are listed on a
single primary ballot with the top two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes to
advance to the general election. This bill would also designate the Superintendent of Public
Instruction as a nonpartisan office.
SCA 8 (Maldonado) - Legislative Salaries: Subject to voter approval at the May 19, 2009,
statewide election as Prop. 1F, this bill prohibits the California Citizens' Compensation
Commission from increasing the salary of any state officer that would take effect in December, if
there is an operating deficit of more than one percent as determined by the DOF on June 1 of the
preceding fiscal year.
SB 6 (Maldonado) - Open Primary-Statutes: Makes the necessary changes to Election Code
statutes provided that SCA 4 is approved by the voters in the June 2010 statewide election.
'NLC Webcast' Continued from Page 1...
The Webcast reviewed the major provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA), which includes resources to create jobs through federal investments in cities'
transportation, water and sewer, housing, energy, education and public safety infrastructure.
Speakers for the Webcast included NLC President Kathleen M. Novak, mayor, Northglenn, Colo.,
and NLC Federal Relations Director Carolyn Coleman. Novak opened by saying, "Washington
has debated and now it's up to us to deliver."
Coleman then presented city officials with an overview of up-to-date information on the timing and
process for accessing these resources as well as advice on key steps cities and towns can be
taking to prepare for use of the funds. Participants were able to submit questions via e-mail
during the presentation.
7California cities received detailed information on the ARRA funding allocations and how to apply
for funds in the "City Funding Book" a publication produced by the League of California Cities last
week. This booklet, posted on the League Web site
(www.cacifies.orgiresource files/27711.2009ARRAReport2.23.09.pdf), contains information
specific to California. It will be updated by League staff as new information becomes available.
NLC will share examples on their Web site (www.nlcorg) of what cities are doing with their
funding. The Webcast is available for viewing at the economic recovery Webcast event site on
www,nIctv.ordi. Please see "Recent Events" and select the title "The Federal Recovery Package:
What's In It for Cities and How to Access the Resources."
You may also view the Webcast on the Federal Economic Stimulus section of the League's Web
site at www.cacifies.orgffederalstirnulus.
The next NLC Webcast on "Economic Recovery Implementation" is scheduled for 3 p.m. on
March 11, Please visit wwvv.nietv.ord for more information.
'Constitutional Convention' Continued from Page 1...
The summit was co-sponsored by the Center for Governmental Studies, Common Cause, The
Courage Campaign, The Greenlining Institute, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, League of
Women Voters, Planning and Conservation League, New America Foundation, and the William
C. Velasquez Institute. The meeting drew 300 — 400 business leaders, government officials,
public interest groups and interested citizens. Many city officials were in attendance at the
summit, including League First Vice President Ken Cooley, council member, Rancho Cordova.
Chris McKenzie, League of California Cities executive director, also attended.
Many ideas for constitutional changes were floated for preliminary consideration, including
switching to a unicameral (single-house) Legislature, eliminating the required two-thirds vote to
pass a budget, changing the state initiative system, increasing the size of the legislature (thereby
reducing legislative districts), and revisiting term limits. All were discussed as possible solutions
to re-establish fiscal responsibility, accountability and effective representation.
In theory, delegates to a convention could agree to change anything in the constitution and put
their proposals on the statewide ballot. One of the key issues under discussion was whether any
measure that is presented to the voters to call for such a convention should limit the nature of the
issues that could be raised at the convention.
While 14 states automatically ask voters every ten to 20 years whether to have a constitutional
convention or not, California has not engaged in such an effort since 1878
(www.sos.ca.goviarchives/187911879 CC papers finding aid.pdf.) Under California's
constitution, a convention may not be called by citizen initiative: it requires two-thirds of the
Legislature to agree to put the question of whether to have a constitutional convention on the
ballot which can be approved by a majority of the voters.
Some have suggested that legislators would not support such a measure, since it shifts critical
decisions about budget rules away from the Legislature to the members of the convention.
Senator and guest speaker Mark DeSaulnier (0-Concord) told attendees that he is testing that
proposition, by his introduction of legislation calling for a convention, His SCR 3 proposes that
voters be asked at the next general election to support the Legislature's providing for a
constitutional convention, to commence six months following voter approval of the measure.
In addition to questions about whether and how to call for a constitutional convention, summit
attendees were reminded that there are a number of other critical questions about the convention
that would require answers. These include how statewide delegates would be selected, the
period of time allotted for the convention, the issues and topics to be considered, and what rules
would govern the convention. SCR 3 is currently silent on all of these questions.
8The proposal for a Constitutional Convention and many specific reform proposals are currently
under study by a joint Fiscal Reform Task Force of the League, California State Association of
Counties (CSAC) and the California School Boards Association (CSBA) under the umbrella of the
City County School (CCS) Partnership. None of the local government associations expects to
take a position on the desirability of calling the Convention until the Task Force completes its
work and reports back to the three associations' boards of directors.
HUD Economic Stimulus Funding Information Now Available
City-specific allocations for federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formula grant
programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is now available on the
League's Web site, on the "Federal Economic Stimulus Updates" tab.
The National League of Cities is awaiting official guidance from HUD on how the funds can be
accessed, but the information now available will give you some insight to the level of funding set
aside for communities in California.
• Capitol Fund Recovery:
vvww.cacities.ordiresource files/27733
CAonly.pdf
• CDBG Recovery:
www.cacifies.org/resource files/27734
CAoniv.pdf
• Homelessness Prevention Recovery:
www.oacities.orgiresource files127735
Web%20Final-CAofily.pdf
• IHBG Recovery:
www.cacities.ordlresource files/27737
CAonly.pdf
• Lead Hazard Reduction Recovery:
vvww.cacities.org/resource files127738
WeV/020Final-CAonly.pdf
• State Totals Recovery:
www.cacities.orgiresource files/27740.
%202-24%2Orev.pdf
• TCAP Recovery:
www.cacities.orq/resource files/27739.
CAonly.pdf
The information will also be posted on HUD's Web site at www.HUD.govirecovery.
California Communities Releases 2008 Community Benefit Report
The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (California Communities) has
released its 2008 Community Benefit Report. The report summarizes the local government and
private activity community-based projects funded since California Communities' inception twenty
years ago.
California Communities was created in 1988 by and for local governments in California, and is
sponsored by the League of California Cities and the County State Association of Counties. Its
purpose is to help local governments build community infrastructure, provide affordable housing,
create jobs and create access to quality healthcare and education through the variety of public
agency and private activity bond programs.
California Communities offers six public agency and four private activity programs designed to
provide agencies with an efficient mechanism to finance locally-approved projects.
.Capitar/020Fund%20Recovery%20Web%20Final-
.CDE3G%20Recovery%20Web%20Final-
.1-fornelessness%20Prevention%20Recovery%20
.11--16G%20Recovery%20Web%20Final%2Orev-
.Lead%20Hazard%20Reduction%20Recovery%20
State%20Totals%20RecoverV/020Web%20Final
TCAP%20Recovery%20Web%20Final-
9Additionally, California Communities has also created a Member Benefit Report for its more than
500 participating cities, counties and special districts, which details the direct financing and public
benefit projects completed by each member agency. For more information on programs utilized
by your community, please visit www.psacommunities.orgifsireportsiBenefitsidefaultaspx.
For more information about California Communities please visit www.cacommunities.orq.
The report is available online at
www.psacommunities.orQifsireports/BenefitsiCACommunitiesBenefitReport2008J)df.
City Advocate Weekly Replaces Priority Focus
The League is pleased to announce a new name for its weekly newsletter: City Advocate Weekly.
With a tag line of "Legislation and Policy Affecting California Cities," the renamed publication will
also feature a redesigned masthead. Stories will continue to focus on key legislation affecting
cities and other items of interest to city officials.
We believe that the name City Advocate Weekly better reflects the purpose and intent of our
newsletter. This name change is just one part of the League's effort to better serve its members
by updating and streamlining our communications tools. Subscribers will automatically receive
City Advocate Weekly without having to re-subscribe.
Air Resources Board Offering Local Government Assistance AB 32 Workshop
On March 9, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) will host a workshop for local government
officials on cost-effective strategies to assist local governments in reducing greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions as part of the ARB implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions
Act of 2006 (AB 32). The workshop will be held in the Coastal Hearing Room from 9 am. to 12
p.m. at the Cal/EPA Headquarters building at 1001 I Street in Sacramento. The workshop will
also be available via Webcast.
California's Climate Change Scoping Plan encourages local governments to adopt GHG
reduction goals consistent with statewide targets to reduce emissions by about 15 percent. In
addition, SB 375 sets out a process for achieving these GHG reductions through better land use
and transportation planning.
The public workshop will focus on ARB's efforts related to reducing GHG emissions with an
overview of local government related climate change activities and how they contribute to the
statewide goals of AB 32 and SB 375 implementation.
Participants will receive a Local Government Toolkit which includes important information on cost-
saving actions to reduce GHG emissions including energy efficiency and conservation, renewable
energy, green transportation, green building, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation,
recycling and reuse, and environmentally preferable purchasing.
The toolkit will also include financial resources and case studies that highlight California local
governments that have successfully and profitably reduced GHG emissions. This toolkit is a
compendium of guidance and resources to assist local governments to reduce GHG emissions
and save money.
You can view the public workshop notice at:
www.arlica.goviecilocalactionimeetingsimeetings.htm. A workshop agenda and presentation will
also be posted to this Web site prior to the workshop meeting.
More information on local government activities will be available at ARB's Local Action for Climate
Change Emission Reductions Web site at: wmv.arb.ca.goviccilocalactionilocalaction.htm
For further information, please contact Dana Papke, staff lead for the Local Government Toolkit,
at (916) 324-9615 or dpapke€@.arb,ca.ciov or Annmarie Mora, manager, at (916) 323-1517 or
arnora@arb.ca.gov .
10League President Appoints Board of Directors Nominating Committee
Judy Mitchell, League president and mayor, Rolling Hills Estates, has appointed the 2009 Board
of Directors Nominating Committee. Appointed to the committee and charged with the
responsibility of nominating League officers and at-large directors, are: Ron Loveridge (chair),
mayor, Riverside; Harry Armstrong, mayor pro tern, Clovis; Bill Bogaard, mayor, Pasadena; Tony
Cardenas, council member, Los Angeles; lya Falcone, council member, Santa Barbara; Rod
Gould, city manager, Poway; Chip Holloway, mayor, Ridgecrest; Sophie Maxwell, supervisor, San
Francisco; Jean Quan, council member, Oakland; Janice Rutherford, council member, Fontana;
and Marty Simonoff, council member, Brea.
The Nominating Committee will meet on July 16 before the July 16-17, 2009 Board meeting, to
interview the 10 finalists for at-large and all 2nd vice president candidates. The committee's
recommendations will be announced during the opening session of the League's Annual
Conference in San Jose on Sept. 16, 2009.
Interested In Serving on the League Board of Directors?
The League of California Cities welcomes nominations from elected officials interested in serving
in five at-large positions (two-year term), or Second Vice President (one-year term). All nominees
for Second Vice President must have previously served on the Board of Directors.
If you are interested in submitting your name (or another elected official's name) for nomination to
the League Board of Directors, please provide the information requested on the nomination form,
along with a bio and letter requesting consideration, to the League's Sacramento headquarters on
or before end of business on Friday, May 15, 2009. Nomination materials can be found on the
League's Web site at mvw.cacities.orq or can be obtained by contacting League staff Mimi
Shame at (916) 658-8232 or sharperncacities.orch Please send all nomination applications to:
Mimi Sharpe, League of California Cities, 1400 l< Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; fax to: Attn:
Mimi Sharpe at (916) 658-8240; or e-mail: msharpecacities.orq.
Job Opening? Western City Magazine Can Help You Find the Best Candidate
List your job opening in Western City magazine. When you advertise your job opportunity in
Western City, you also receive a Web site posting at no additional charge. Visit
www.westerncity.com or call (800) 262-1801 for more information.
In a hurry to get the word out? Place your ad on our Web site today by visiting:
www.westerncity.comipostiobs.
Interim Management Needs?
MuniLink is the League of California Cities' interim management employee directory.
Featuring searchable categories of interim resumes, MuniLink is still the best online tool to
connect with highly trained municipal veterans eager to meet your agency's needs.
SEARCHING THE ONLINE DIRECTORY IS FREE for agencies looking for products and
services, and offers individuals and companies a fast and effective way of connecting with city
officials in California. MuniLink is a joint project of the League, the Institute for Local Government
and Western City magazine. Proceeds from MuniLink benefit the League's research and
advocacy efforts on behalf of cities.
Visit Today! wvvw.cacities.oroimunilink
112009 Employee Relations Institute: Passport to Tomorrow, March 12-13
Join us for the Employee Relations Institute, scheduled March 12— 13, 2009 at the Westin San
Francisco Airport in Millbrae. We are sure this will be a rewarding event where human resource
technicians, specialists and analysts can learn, network, meet a mentor, and become interested
in participating in the League of California Cities legislative activities.
You won't want to miss keynote speaker Marty Sklar, lmagineering Ambassador, Walt Disney
Parks & Resorts. Sklar is the only active Disney employee who has participated in the opening of
all 11 Disney parks around the world. Additionally, he has written books that guide you through
the principles of what each park was built upon. Sklar has been speaking about leadership
principles for over 30 years. The Employee Relations Institute has a wonderful and dynamic
conference program that you won't want to miss! Register online today at
vmv.cacities.orgievents. The registration and housing deadline has been extended to today
Feb. 27, 2009.
ILG Offers AB 1234/Ethics Training Sessions in March
The League's nonprofit research arm, the Institute for Local Government (ILG),
will be offering three AB 1234 ethics training sessions in March. The three
sessions are scheduled for:
• March 4: hosted by the city of Pleasant Hill, (also open to neighboring cities.) View the
Information flyer at witswcacities.orgirescurce files/27611.Pleasant%201-1i11%20flyer.doc;
• March 5: hosted by the Los Angeles Division. View the Information flyer at
www.cacities.oro/resource tiles/276961A%20Division%20AB1234°/020Email%2ORSVP
%20030509'/020MAP.odf ; and
• March 26: in Anaheim, in conjunction with the League of California Cities Planner's
Institute. Visit vi:ww.cacities.oroievents for more information.
Another session will also be held on May 29, in San Diego, in conjunction with the League's
Mayor & Council Members Executive Forum. Please visit www.cacities.orgievents for more
information.
Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
Visit (and bookmark!) the League's Legislative Resources Web page
(www.cacities.orgileoresources). 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.
12