CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Tamara S. Letourneau, City Manager
DATE: November 19, 2024
SUBJECT: 2025 League of California Cities Membership
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council provide direction to staff regarding the renewal of the City's membership in the League of California Cities (Cal Cities).
BACKGROUND
The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) has been the primary advocacy organization for California municipalities since 1898, with a mission to expand and protect local control through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians.
The City of Laguna Niguel first became a member of Cal Cities shortly after incorporation on January 16, 1990. The City of Laguna Niguel remained a member of Cal Cities until February 6, 2013, when the City Council voted not to renew its membership for calendar year 2013. On December 17, 2013, the City of Laguna Niguel rejoined Cal Cities for the upcoming calendar year and has since remained a Cal Cities member. At the request of Council Member Gennawey and Council Member Winstead, this item was placed on the agenda to discuss the City's membership status with Cal Cities.
ANALYSIS
Cal Cities membership consists of 473 of the 483 incorporated cities in California, organized across 16 regional divisions, including an Orange County Division. Cal Cities policy decisions are in part made by its seven policy committees, each comprised of approximately 50 city officials from across the state. Committee recommendations are then forwarded to the Cal Cities Board of Directors for final review and approval.
In addition to policy committees and legislative advocacy, Cal Cities provides a variety of services and programs that are not duplicated by other organizations, including in-depth research and training opportunities for city staff and elected officials. Cal Cities member benefits are shown in attachment A. If the City is no longer a Cal Cities member, the following would occur:
• Cost of registration for City Council Members and City Staff to attend Cal Cities Conferences and meetings (i.e., Annual Conference, Professional Development Department Conferences) would increase by $1,000 per attendee. • City Council Members could no longer serve on Cal Cities Board of Directors, Policy Committees, Regional Division Officers, or serve on State or Regional Division Committees where League Policy is formulated.
• Attendance at statewide Cal Cities webinars will no longer be available at no cost to City Council Members and City Staff.
• The City will no longer be able to participate in the annual conference planning, present at the annual conference, or participate in the Helen Putnam Award.
FISCAL REVIEW
The City's Cal Cities Membership dues for 2024 were $22, 130, with membership dues for the 2025 calendar year anticipated to be released later this year. Cal Cities membership provides discounted registration rates for Cal Cities Conferences and meetings. Given Cal Cities' current rate structure, the City would pay $18,000 in conference registration fees, which include City Council Members attending the annual conference and City Staff attending professional development conferences. By not renewing membership and paying the additional registration costs, the City would have an annual saving of $4,130 under the current rate structure.
Summary
Cost of Annual Dues $22,130
Total Annual Additional Cost to the City for
Non-Member Conference Participation $18,000
Annual Savings $4,130
LEGAL REVIEW
No legal review is required for this report.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council provide direction to staff regarding the renewal of the City's membership in the League of California Cities (Cal Cities).
Samara SEtonseau Kevin X. OComon
Tamara S. Letourneau Kevin X. O'Connor
City Manager Management Assistant
Attachment:
A. League of California Cities Membership Benefits Fact Sheet
ATTACHMENT A
League of California Cities Membership Benefit Fact Sheet LEAGUE OF Membership
CALIFORNIA
CITIES Benefits
Membership with Cal Cities comes with a wide range of benefits for elected city officials and city staff - from insider opportunities to help shape statewide policies of importance to your city, to unique networking and learning experiences that make our collective work more powerful and effective.
Members members
Engage in statewide advocacy campaigns to safeguard local control and secure resources for cities.
Engage in one of Cal Cities' 16 Regional Divisions. Work closely with Regional Public Affairs Managers and other local elected officials to develop region-specific programs, carry out grassroots activities, and share best practices.
Access Cal Cities' robust advocacy and public affairs resources and engage in actions and events to collectively advocate for the issues that matter most to cities.
Access the legal advocacy program that protects the interests of cities in matters before state and r federal appellate courts by filing "friend-of-the-court" briefs.
City attorneys are eligible to participate in the Legal Advocacy Committee and work closely with attorneys from across the state.
Receive timely updates, action alerts, and in-depth analyses on priority legislation impacting cities from subject-matter experts.
Serve on Cal Cities policy committees and help shape state and federal policy on issues affecting cities.
Serve in leadership positions that help drive Cal Cities' priorities and policy.
Attend statewide Cal Cities conferences and events providing a wide range of learning opportunities for new and experienced city officials.
Engage in one of Cal Cities' ten professional departments where you can participate in educational and networking opportunities with your colleagues in similar city positions from across the state.
Subscribe to the Cal Cities Advocate newsletter for breaking stories on legislative developments, as well as updates on conferences and education events, grant opportunities for cities, and more.
Attend webinars to learn about the most pressing issues of the day as they develop - from broadband deployment and wildfires to rental assistance, and more.
Participate in virtual roundtable discussions with colleagues from across the state in member-driven conversations on key issues of shared concern.
Participate in policy briefings with state leaders.
Join a Cal Cities diversity caucus and connect with city officials who share common interests and issues.
Receive recognition through one of many awards programs, including the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence, the Mayors and City Council Members Torch Program, Local Streets and Roads, and division and department awards.
Share your knowledge of complex municipal issues or projects with other Cal Cities members by proposing sessions and presenting at conferences and events.
Participate on planning committees for conferences and events: Help plan and support conferences specific to your department.
Subscribe to Western City magazine, a monthly publication that analyzes broader statewide policy issues and highlights the innovative work of city officials from across the state.
Elevate your city's visibility: Be highlighted in Western City magazine, #LocalWorks, #CityVoices, and on social media.
Join listservs to exchange information with other Cal Cities members interested in a specific subject area.
Participate in issue groups such as the Rural City Information Exchange and Coastal Cities Group.
Participate in online communities: Post questions, provide resources to other cities, or poll colleagues on current issues in your field.
*Available at an additional cost for nonmembers.
Cal Cities Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs
Mission
To expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians.
Vision
To be recognized and respected as the leading advocate for the common interests of California's cities.
We Believe
• Local self-governance is the cornerstone of democracy. • Our strength lies in the unity of our diverse communities of interest. • In the involvement of all stakeholders in establishing goals and in solving problems. • In conducting the business of government with transparency, openness, respect, and civility. • The spirit of honest public service is what builds communities. • Open decision-making that is of the highest ethical standards honors the public trust. • Cities are vital to the strength of the California economy. • The vitality of cities is dependent upon their fiscal stability and local autonomy. • The active participation of all city officials increases Cal Cities' effectiveness. • Partnerships and collaborations are essential elements of focused advocacy and lobbying. • Ethical and well-informed city officials are essential for responsive, visionary leadership and effective and efficient city operations.
CAL CITIES> DELIVERS
Protecting cities' interests in the Legislature, Governor's Office, ballot box, and the courts is one of the primary benefits of Cal Cities membership. Member-driven and board-approved advocacy priorities drive Cal Cities' work. Over the past year, those priorities included finding solutions to the homelessness and mental health crisis, addressing concerns about public safety, and protecting cities' ability to fund basic services.
In 2023, Cal Cities tracked and engaged on 1,770 bills. Cal Cities had positions on 66 measures that made it to the Governor's desk. He signed over 80% of the bills we asked him to sign and vetoed more than 40% of the ones we asked him to reject. On average, the Governor only vetoes 14% of the bills that come across his desk.
Cal Cities also partnered with legislators and others to sponsor 9 bills of importance to cities, five of which were signed by the Governor, a 55% signature rate.
Cal Cities played a pivotal role in several legal cases over the last year - including those related to meritless environmental lawsuits, hypodermic needle exchange programs, mitigation fees, encampments, and the ongoing SB 9 (Atkins, 2021) lawsuit. In 2023, Cal Cities filed 35 friend-of-the- court briefs in both state and federal courts to help advance cities' collective legal interests. calcities.org