IN THIS ISSUE: December 5, 2008
Issue #45-2008
Page 3: 2009 League Strategic Goals
Board of Directors Adopts New Federal Priorities
Page 4: New Board Officers Named
Green California Schools Summit, December 8 - 10, 2008
Nominations Now Being Accepted for League City Managers Department Awards
Page 5: 2008 Legislative Report Available Online
City Advocate Weekly Replaces Priority Focus in January
Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
2009-10 LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONVENED
New Members Are Sworn Into Office as Governor Calls Special Session
Monday was a busy day under the dome of the state capitol. At the same time that the members
of the 2009-10 legislative session were being sworn into office and choosing their leadership
teams, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was using his authority under Proposition 58 to announce
that he was proclaiming a fiscal emergency and calling a special session of the budget.
For more, see Page 2.
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LAWSUIT FILED TO BLOCK UNCONSTITUTIONAL
RAIDS OF REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS
City officials will recall that the 2008-09 state budget included a one-time raid of $350 million in
redevelopment funds, which redevelopment agencies would be required to pay in Spring 2009.
The League and the California Redevelopment Association strongly opposed this raid and
repeatedly warned state lawmakers and the Administration that taking redevelopment funds to
balance the state’s budget is unconstitutional. For more, see Page 2.
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CITY OFFICIALS’ PRESENCE NEEDED AT ARB MEETING ON DEC. 11
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) will meet the morning of Thursday, December 11, at 9
a.m. in Sacramento to consider approval of the AB 32 Scoping Plan -- and the League needs
local officials to weigh in. The AB 32 Scoping Plan contains the main strategies California will use
to reduce the greenhouse gases with actions that include direct regulations, alternative
compliance mechanisms, monetary and non-monetary incentives, voluntary actions, and market-
based mechanisms such as a cap-and-trade system. For more, see Page 3. 2
‘2009-10 Session’ Continued from Page 1…
Term limits continue to result in a large turnover in both houses of the legislature: 29 new
members in the Assembly, and 12 new members in the Senate. These new members will have a
steep learning curve as they settle into their new offices and positions. The issues will not be new
to all members, however, as several are moving from the Assembly to the Senate, and many
others are transitioning to the legislature from local government.
The Governor’s action has already decided the first item on the agenda – the budget.
The state deficit is currently estimated at $28 billion over the next year and a half. The Governor
indicated that the state would be out of money by February or March if the legislature doesn’t act
quickly.
The Governor’s proposals are similar to those he offered last month. They are intended to
address the budget shortfall, solvency issues of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and the
foreclosure crisis. His plan also includes an economic stimulus package.
The real challenge for legislators is to find a package of budget actions that can garner the two-
thirds vote needed to pass. Republicans have once again indicated that they oppose any tax
increases. They argue now, as they did last year, for budget reforms, principally a hard cap on
year-to-year budget growth, keyed to inflation and cost of living increases. They also hope to use
the budget debate to leverage changes on non-budgetary issues that top their list of concerns.
These include changing a number of state laws and regulations to achieve what they believe will
lead to a more business-friendly environment and greater investment in California’s economy.
Under the provisions of Proposition 58, the legislature has 45 days to act on the proposals
submitted by the Governor, or submit proposals of their own. If they do not act within the 45-day
period, the legislature will be prohibited from acting on any issue other than those included in the
Governor’s proclamation.
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‘Lawsuit’ Continued from Page 1…
Yesterday the California Redevelopment Association and the City of Moreno Valley’s
Redevelopment Agency filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court seeking to block budget
trailer bill AB 1389, the legislation which authorizes the one-time raid of $350 million in
redevelopment funds. The lawsuit seeks both to invalidate AB 1389 and prohibit the state from
forcing county auditors to divert redevelopment funds to the Educational Revenue Augmentation
Funds (ERAF).
The lawsuit contends that state raids of redevelopment funds to balance the state’s budget violate
Article XVI, Section 16 of the constitution on multiple counts. First, the constitution requires that
redevelopment funds can only be used to finance specified redevelopment activities. Diverting
redevelopment funds to pay the state’s obligations is therefore illegal. Second, raiding
redevelopment funds could also unconstitutionally impair bond contracts. Click here to read a
press release, fact sheet and Q&A on the litigation.
(http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27484.CRALawsuit-Release-Facts-QA.pdf)
We believe we have presented the courts with strong legal arguments, but time will tell if the court
agrees with our position. These cases can take months or longer to resolve. We will keep you
apprised of developments.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the California Redevelopment
Association at (916) 448-8760.
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‘ARB Meeting’ Continued from Page 1…
City officials are strongly encouraged to attend and provide comments on the Scoping
Plan’s impact on local government.
League Prepared Background and Talking Points on the Scoping Plan:
http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27474.ScopingPlan BackgroundandTalking Points
11dec08.pdf
The League’s Letter to ARB on the Scoping Plan:
http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27475.AB32ScopingPlan
LOCCommentsFINAL14nov08.pdf
The ARB Agenda is available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/board/ma/2008/ma121108.htm
The ARB is also accepting comments until December 10
th
at Noon online at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/comm/bcsubform.php?listname=scopingpln08&comm_period=A
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2009 League Strategic Goals
The League Board of Directors met in joint session on Friday, Nov. 21 with the leaders of the
divisions, departments, policy committees and caucuses of the League to chart a strategic course
for 2009. After small group discussions and large group presentations, the combined leadership
of the League (known as the “League Leaders”) endorsed four strategic goals for 2009 that will
guide the League’s advocacy and education efforts. During its meeting on Saturday, Nov. 22, the
Board formally adopted the four goals listed below.
Protect Funding for Vital Community Services. Vigorously oppose any state efforts to erode
funding for vital community services. Oppose proposals to borrow or reduce any local revenue
source, including the property tax, the redevelopment (RDA) tax increment, sales tax, Prop. 42
funding or any other local financial resources needed for critical community projects and services.
Promote Economic Stimulus and Infrastructure Investment. Promote expansion of federal,
state and local investment in transportation, water and other infrastructure projects that will
provide immediate jobs and economic benefits for the state of California. Strongly oppose efforts
to divert, reduce or steal RDA funding that is the most significant source of infrastructure
investment and economic stimulus in the state today.
Support Sustainable Communities. Support the efforts of city and state leaders to build and
redevelop sustainable communities that strike a necessary and achievable balance between
economic growth and environmental protection. Advance sensible community sustainability within
a framework of local land use control, reasonable implementation of AB 32 and SB 375,
increased water supply and conservation, and reform of the profoundly broken RHNA process.
Support policies that promote the increased use of renewable energy resources and public
transit.
Promote Reform of State Governance, Budget and Fiscal Systems. Build partnerships for
reform of the laws affecting the governance of California state government, including the timely
adoption of a balanced state budget, to strengthen the ability and responsibility of the executive
and legislative branches to perform their necessary and proper roles in our system of state
government. Support proposals that provide local policy makers with the fiscal tools and local
control necessary to deliver critical local services.
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Board of Directors Adopts New Federal Priorities
Each year, the League’s board of directors adopts priorities to guide the organization’s federal
advocacy efforts. The board approved the 2009 federal priorities at its last board meeting of 2008
in Southern California.
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The League’s 2009 federal priorities focuses on the following:
• Economic stimulus;
• Energy/environment;
• Community Development Block Grant;
• Affordable housing;
• Water & wastewater infrastructure;
• Reauthorization of SAFTEEA-LU;
• Public safety/homeland security/disaster preparedness; and
• Limitations on local funding.
A full copy of the League’s 2009 federal priorities has been posted on the League Web site.
(http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27477.2009 Federal Priorities FINAL.pdf)
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New Board Officers Named
The League of California Cities announced the election of new officers at its board of directors
meeting in Newport Beach on Saturday, Nov. 22. The newly elected officers form the 2008-2009
executive committee of its board of directors.
Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Pro Tem Judy Mitchell became president in accordance to the
League’s bylaws, and following the departure of Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo from the
board. Rancho Cordova Council Member Ken Cooley was elected first vice president. New to the
executive committee is Hemet Council Member Robin Lowe. San Diego City Council Member Jim
Madaffer remains on the executive committee as immediate past president.
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Green California Schools Summit, Dec. 8 - 10, 2008
Sign up now for the Green California Schools Summit, to be held Dec. 8 - 10, 2008 at the
Anaheim Convention Center. Energy efficient, healthy green schools saving millions of dollars a
year while lowering their carbon footprints and improving student attendance and teacher
retention. Strategies and technologies for building new green schools and retrofitting existing
ones are among the many topics that will be addressed at the summit.
You will learn from the experts about the new green technologies, how to pay for them and apply
them to your schools and districts. The summit's educational program of almost 50 concurrent
sessions on Dec. 9 and 10 will feature green school design and construction, operations and
maintenance, financing operations, educational opportunities and much more. A full day of pre-
conference workshops will take place on Dec. 8. These six-hour classes will provide in-depth,
hands-on training for professionals committed to greening California's K-12 schools.
The Green Expo floor will feature 200 green exhibitors. Free registration is offered to attend the
keynote speaker sessions and expo floor.
For information call Eric Rennie at (626) 577-5700 or go to http://www.green-
technology.org/gcschools/index.html.
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Nominations Now Being Accepted for League City Managers Department Awards
Do you have a colleague or city manager that has gone above and beyond the call of duty to
contribute to their communities, or promoted the advancement of diversity within their community
and workplace? If so, it’s time to recognize them with a nomination for the 2009 John H. Nail
Memorial Award or the 2009 Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities.
The John H. Nail Memorial Award was created by the League of California Cities City Managers
Department in honor and memory of a highly regarded city manager and individual. This award 5
recognizes local government administrative professionals who are serving as municipal
assistants (regardless of position or title) and have contributed significantly to their communities.
The Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities was established by the City Managers
Department and honors a city manager or assistant city manager who has been most successful
in promoting the advancement of diversity within the community and the workplace through the
development and implementation of effective programs, policies and/or practices encouraging
diversity.
Nomination applications for each award are available at www.cacities.org/managers, under “2009
John H. Nail Memorial Award (http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27478.John Nail 09.pdf) &
Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities
(http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27479.Diversity 2009.pdf).” The application deadline is 5
p.m., on Friday, Dec. 19. Applications should be sent to the following address:
League of California Cities
Attn: Natasha Karl
1400 K Street, 4th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
For more information on the awards, contact League Legislative Analyst Natasha Karl at (916)
658-8254 or nkarl@cacities.org.
____________________________________________________________________________
2008 Legislative Report Available Online
The League’s 2008 Legislative Report is now available on the League’s Web site at
http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27473.Cover%20Report%202008%20Leg%20Briefing.pdf.
The Legislative Report features new laws passed in the 2008 legislative session. Paper copies of
the report cost $10 for city officials and $20 for non-city officials.
You can also access the Report on the legislative resources page of the League Web site at
www.cacities.org/legresources.
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City Advocate Weekly Replaces Priority Focus in January
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.
The League anticipates launching City Advocate Weekly sometime in January. Priority Focus will
remain in place until the rename is official and subscribers will automatically receive City
Advocate Weekly without having to re-subscribe.
____________________________________________________________________________
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: December 12, 2008
Issue #46-2008
Page 4: City Advocate Weekly Replaces Priority Focus in January
Immigrant Integration Program Award Opportunity for Cities
New Institute for Local Government Publication
Page 5: Sustainability Feature Request
Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
STATE BUDGET CRISIS DEEPENS
This week in the Capitol the focus was all about the state’s budget crisis, but the week ended with
no solution in sight. For more, see Page 2.
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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEES REVIEW OPTIONS
League staff joined with California Redevelopment Association (CRA) representatives and other
local government lobbyists yesterday to monitor and weigh in on legislative budget committee
discussions about state budget options that could affect local government. For more, see Page 2.
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AIR BOARD ADOPTS CLIMATE CHANGE SCOPING PLAN
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) voted unanimously yesterday to ensure that targets in
the board’s greenhouse gas reduction plan will be consistent with just-passed state legislation
requiring regional transportation and air quality planning. For more, see Page 3. 2
‘State Budget Continued from Page 1…
The week started with an unusual combined session of the Senate and Assembly to hear from
state elected and appointed officials about the extent of the state’s fiscal crisis and the
importance of the legislature acting quickly to solve it. According to the non-partisan Legislative
Analyst, the state was facing a deficit estimated at $28 billion over the next year and a half ($11.2
billion in the current year, and $17 billion over the next year).
Opening the session, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said, “We can’t afford not to act.” Senate
President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg followed, describing the need for all legislators to fully
understand the extent of the budget crisis. “We can’t argue about right solutions, unless we agree
on the urgency and gravity of the problem,” he said. “This is not a partisan issue or ideological
problem.”
Legislators then heard about the depth of the state’s fiscal crisis and the necessity of quick action
in presentations by State Finance Director Michael Genest, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, State
Controller John Chiang and State Treasurer Bill Lockyer.
Questions from legislators on both sides of the partisan divide did not indicate much movement
from their fundamental perspectives. The session closed down with both houses scheduling
follow-up hearings by their budget committees.
By Wednesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger upped the ante, announcing that the Department
of Finance now pegged the 18-month deficit at $41 billion. He attributed the increase in the deficit
to the Legislature’s failure to pass a budget solution during November’s special session.
“Big Five” budget meetings were held this week, (the Governor, Senate Pro Tem Steinberg,
Assembly Speaker Bass, Assembly Minority Leader Villines and Senate Minority Leader Cogdill).
Yesterday, the meetings appeared to blow up as Sen. Cogdill walked out of a meeting, angry at
press leaks that appeared to come from the governor’s office. Cogdill did say that he would
attend future meetings, but only negotiate in the future with other legislators.
Separate informational hearings were also held yesterday by the Senate Budget Subcommittee 2
on State Administration and the full Assembly Budget Committee for the special session. Both
houses plan to continue hearings today. (See “Legislative Budget Committees Review Options.”)
____________________________________________________________________________
‘Budget Committees’ Continued from Page 1…
Separate informational hearings were held by the Senate Budget Subcommittee 2 on State
Administration and the full Assembly Budget Committee for the special session. As a solution for
the current year deficit and to continue in future years, one of these proposals presented in the
Senate by the Legislative Analyst was to increase the current year taking of $350 million in
redevelopment funds by $50 million.
While city officials know that things can change quickly in the Capitol, at least at this hearing
legislators appeared cool to the idea, referencing CRA’s recently-filed lawsuit which challenges
the current year taking of redevelopment funds. They also posed a number of questions and
discussed the positive role that redevelopment agencies play in job creation and reducing blight.
The subcommittee also discussed the possibility of using a portion of redevelopment tax
increment funds to securitize state borrowing for debt reduction. This notion surfaced during last
year’s budget discussions as well. The Administration has also looked at this idea, but made no
recommendation on it at this time.
League staff and CRA representatives testified at the hearing, expressing concerns with both
proposals. 3
The Assembly Budget Committee for the Extraordinary Session held an informational hearing on
the impact of the state’s inability to sell bonds. This was described in detail by State Treasurer
Lockyer when he spoke on Monday to the combined session. Importantly for cities, the
Treasurer’s office informed the committee that the $187 million in cities’ local street and road
bonds authorized in the current year budget have in fact been sold, and that cities will get their
funding this year.
The League strongly urges cities to move quickly to access this money and put it to use in
your communities.
Both houses plan to continue their budget information hearings today.
_____________________________________________________________________________
‘ARB Continued from Page 1…
The board’s action was applauded by the League of California Cities and representatives from
many individual cities that traveled to Sacramento to testify on the plan.
League testimony was delivered by League of California Cities’ First Vice President Ken Cooley,
Council Member, city of Rancho Cordova. A key concern for the cities was that board might
increase a proposed target of 5 million metric tons (MMT) of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
that local planning organizations must achieve by reducing regional transportation-related GHG.
The League argued that the 5 MMT figure should not be increased further, in deference to the
regional target setting process that was carefully negotiated as part of SB 375, the recently-
passed landmark legislation on regional transportation planning by Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-
Sacramento).
“I’m here with my colleagues from other cities to let you know that we supported Sen. Darrell
Steinberg’s SB 375, because we believed that regional targets grounded in science, data and
stakeholder participation were the right way to go, said Cooley.
“It would be a mistake for this board to make an arbitrary increase in the 5 MMT number at this
time, before the SB 375 regional planning process had begun.”
The board later unanimously adopted a resolution as part of the Scoping Plan that recognized the
role of the regional target setting process, but encouraged the ultimate goals be “ambitious” and
“achievable.”
Cooley also reminded the board that cities are a willing partner in the state’s goal of reducing
GHG, but their efforts are hampered by state budget actions that cut transit programs and take
local redevelopment funds.
The League thanks the many cities that sent comment letters to the ARB on the Scoping Plan,
and the city officials who took the time to travel to Sacramento to attend the hearing yesterday.
That participation was essential to our success yesterday.
The League of California Cities has supported legislation to combat climate change, and many
cities and other local agencies have embraced the challenge of reducing their carbon footprint.
The League’s research arm, the Institute for Local Government, has produced ”best practices”
tips for cities to use, and “greening strategies” are a key topic of discussion at League
conferences and educational sessions. The positive response by cities and counties to the
climate change issue was the subject of a study released last month by the Public Policy Institute
of California (PPIC).
League Prepared Background and Talking Points on the Scoping Plan:
http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27474.ScopingPlan BackgroundandTalking Points
11dec08.pdf
4
The League’s Letter to ARB on the Scoping Plan:
http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/27475.AB32ScopingPlan
LOCCommentsFINAL14nov08.pdf
Further information is available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/board/ma/2008/ma121108.htm
_____________________________________________________________________________
City Advocate Weekly Replaces Priority Focus in January
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.
The League anticipates launching City Advocate Weekly sometime in January. Priority Focus will
remain in place until the rename is official and subscribers will automatically receive City
Advocate Weekly without having to re-subscribe.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Immigrant Integration Program Award Opportunity for Cities
The national awards program “E Pluribus Unum Prizes” will provide four $50,000 awards annually
to exceptional initiatives administered through public agencies, community organizations,
businesses, or individuals, which promote immigrant integration. Applications are due Jan. 31,
2009. For more information and application guidelines, please visit:
http://www.migrationinformation.org/integrationawards/apply.cfm
The awards program is coordinated by the Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on
Immigrant Integration Policy, which provides groups and individuals around the United States with
resources to build their knowledge and skills in the area of immigrant integration. For the purpose
of this prize, immigrant integration is defined as the two-way process by which immigrants and
their children come to feel -- and be – Americans, and by which American identity and culture
expand to reflect each new generation of immigrants.
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New Institute for Local Government Publication
The Institute for Local Government has recently released a new publication, A Local Official’s
Guide to Immigrant Civic Engagement. This guide offers examples and strategies to more
effectively involve members of immigrant communities in local outreach and civic engagement
efforts.
Please visit www.ca-ilg.org/ICEG to download the publication, or purchase it at www.ca-
ilg.org/ilgpubs
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Carmen Pereira, Institute for Local
Government Program Assistant, at cpereira@ca-ilg.org.
CGI Launches New Youth Commission Newsletter
The Institute for Local Government’s Collaborative Governance Initiative (CGI) just launched its
first edition of the tri-annual Youth Commission Staff E-News newsletter. The e-newsletter is
available to youth commission staff, youth commissioners and others interested in youth civic
participation in California. Each issue will feature new resources, program ideas, strategies,
success stories and more. For example, the October 2008 issue includes information from the
National League of Cities on a new toolkit for municipal leaders called Creating a Youth Master
Plan and tips on forming a youth commission or council.
To sign up for the Youth Commission Staff E-News newsletter, please visit www.ca-
ilg.org/youthengagement or email Carmen Pereira, Program Assistant, at cpereira@ca-ilg.org.
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Civic Participation Articles in Western City
The complete set of articles is part of a six-issue series on civic participation in Western City
magazine. The series may be at www.ca-ilg.org/civicparticipation.
The Institute for Local Government is the nonprofit research affiliate of the League of California
Cities and the California State Association of Counties. The Collaborative Governance Initiative, a
program of the Institute, supports informed and inclusive civic engagement in public decision-
making, and helps cities and counties successfully navigate among the array of community
engagement options that bring the public’s voice to the table on important issues.
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Sustainability Feature Request
The League of California Cities regularly runs a feature in our newsletter highlighting the
sustainability efforts/programs many cities are implementing. We are constantly on the look out
for creative ways that cities are becoming green or finding a way to involve their community and
reduce their carbon footprint.
The stories we run are typically 300-600 words and while they generally focus on one aspect of
what an individual city is doing on this front, on occasion, a multi-city effort will be profiled.
We are interested in reviewing your city’s Sustainability Plan or Green Plan if there is one in place
to learn about your city’s programs.
Please e-mail a copy of your Sustainability Plan to Adrienne Sprenger, League communications
specialist at asprenger@cacities.org. For file sizes larger than 4 MB, please e-mail us a link to
your plan on your Web site or burn a copy to CD and mail to:
Adrienne Sprenger
League of California Cities
1400 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
____________________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________