TO:City Council
FROM:David Newman, Mayor Pro Tem
Mikey Taylor, Councilmember
DATE:May 7, 2024
SUBJECT: League of California Cities Leaders Summit - April 17-19, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive report.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Direct and indirect costs are included in the Adopted FY 2023-24 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so that they may influence policy decisions that affect cities.
Founded in 1898, on the principles of local control and interagency cooperation, Cal Cities has grown from a handful of public officials to include the voluntary membership of 476 California cities. Cal Cities and its member cities are working hard to strengthen the effectiveness of their advocacy efforts. Cal Cities’ mission statement reflects this commitment to "expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians."
Cal Cities Leaders Summit - April 17-19, 2024
May 7, 2024
9 6
9 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Cal Cities offers year-round education and networking opportunities for new and seasoned city leaders. Comprehensive, specialized programs allow officials to learn about new developments in their field while exchanging ideas on solutions to common challenges. Cal Cities held its second City Leaders Summit at the SAFE Convention Center in Sacramento. The purpose of the summit was to bring city officials together to influence policy decisions in the Capitol and gain top-notch leadership skills. This pinnacle event offers city officials exceptional opportunities to meet with legislators to advocate for cities’ top priorities, as well as participate in peer-to-peer discussions and in-depth sessions covering topics ranging from leadership to emerging issues facing cities. The summit allows city officials to learn about key legislative issues, meet with their State Legislative members in the Capitol, and network with other cities. Mayor Pro Tem David Newman, Councilmember Mikey Taylor, and Legislative Affairs Manager Mina Layba attended.
I. MEETINGS WITH STATE LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES
On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, meetings with state elected members were conducted by Mayor Pro Tem Newman, Councilmember Taylor, and Legislative Affairs Manager Layba. City delegation discussed Cal Cities 2024 Priorities and discussed specific bill interests:
A. Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin, Chief of Staff Brett Williams, and Legislative Director Brandon Bjerke: City representatives thanked the Assemblymember for her support on federal grant applications. Representatives discussed the City’s priorities of housing and homelessness and provided updates on projects including the navigation center and the Hillcrest/Erbes Road affordable units for purchase.
They shared the Cal Cities legislative priorities.
B. Gil Topete, Legislative Director for Senator Stern: City representatives discussed the City’s priorities of housing and homelessness and shared current projects such as the navigation center and the Hillcrest/Erbes Road affordable units for purchase. They discussed legislative interests in wildlife access and the environment, including Cal Cities legislative priorities. They thanked the office for their support on federal grant applications.
Cal Cities Leaders Summit - April 17-19, 2024
May 7, 2024
9 6
9 II. CITY LEADERS SUMMIT
A. Wednesday Welcome/Opening Session
Executive Director Carolyn Coleman and Legislative Director Jason Rhine welcomed attendees and reviewed the schedule for the City Leaders Summit.
They provided an overview of the legislative cycle and the budget deficit.
The 2024 Cal Cities legislative priorities (Attachment #1) were discussed:
1. Safeguard local revenues and bolster local economic development.
2. Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness.
3. Improve public safety in California communities.
4. Expand investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.
B. Presentation by Cal Cities Lobbyists
Cal Cities lobbyists presented an update on key legislative bills. Thousands of bills are currently being heard in committees that impact local government. Lobbyists identified key bills impacting cities.
Housing:
Assembly Bill (AB) 1886 - encourages “builder’s remedy” projects by eliminating self-certification.
Senate Bill (SB) 1037- Institutes Fines for cities in non-compliance with Housing Element.
Transportation:
SB 1418 - streamline permitting for hydrogen fueling stations.
SB 1915 - would allow cities to determine the use of autonomous vehicles on their streets.
Community Services:
Review of the findings from the recent Cal Cities Homeless Survey:
· There is a lack of ongoing funding for homeless projects. · Small cities do not have the capacity to implement programs. · There is no source of sustainable funding to provide services. · There is an inflow problem- more people are becoming homeless than exiting homelessness.
· The State does not allocate consistent funding. This year’s budget does not include additional funding for homeless projects or programs.
Cal Cities Leaders Summit - April 17-19, 2024
May 7, 2024
9 6
9 Cal Cities will continue to seek permanent funding from the annual State budget in the amount of $3B to help cities with homelessness and affordable housing.
A package of Cal Cities-sponsored bills have been introduced to help cities monitor State-licensed sober living homes. These bills are AB 2081, AB 2121, AB 2547, and SB 913.
Environmental Quality:
AB 2330- Streamline fuel reduction and fire management.
SB 972- Methane reductions from landfills.
AB 1567 and SB 867- Climate bonds.
Public Safety:
AB 1779 - Multi-jurisdictional prosecution on retail theft.
AB 1990 - Authorizes a warrantless arrest for shoplifting.
AB 1960 - Sentencing enhancements for property loss.
SB 923 - Amends Prop 47. Legislature announced it will not consider any bills on Prop 47 amendments.
AB 2943 - Allows peace officers to make warrantless arrests.
Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations:
AB 817- Expands virtual participation in meetings to commissions and committees.
AB 2404 - Allows sympathy striking by employees.
AB 2631- Mandates the Fair Political Practices Commission to have online ethics training courses available.
C. Keynote Speakers
Irma Esparaza Diggs Director Federal Advocacy, National League of Cities (NLC): Speaker provided background on the organization and its role in getting direct funding for cities under the American Rescue Plan. She reviewed NLC federal advocacy agenda. She also shared updates on both federal legislation and recent regulatory rulings including the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision on PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The FY 24/25 budget had both positive and negative impacts on cities. The budget included level funding for clean water, Housing and Urban Development. There was a 10 percent decrease in Homeland Security programs. The budget failed to include any funding for the local connectivity fund which would assist low-income households with an internet allowance.
For the upcoming presidential election, there are an estimated 42 House Members and eight Senators not seeking reelection. As new legislators begin their terms in 2025, NLC will be ready to share education about local government, their operations, and interests.
Cal Cities Leaders Summit - April 17-19, 2024
May 7, 2024
9 6
9 NLC offers member education programs and a bootcamp for cities to apply for bipartisan infrastructure grants. The next NLC conference is in Tampa Bay in November 2024.
Adjust Your Attitude- Vincent Issac Philips:
The author and motivational speaker discussed the topic of intellectual adaptability. The speaker suggests that elected officials should stop allowing past failures to impact future results. Communication involves receiving and accepting new information and taking action. Communication also includes listening skills.
The speaker shared that a person’s basic listening skills average 75 percent. However, he found in a scientific study that a person’s average listening skill was only 20 percent.
Communication has a set of expectations and outcomes. To foster greater communication there is a need to adapt and be flexible. The art of adaptability recognizes that everyone has different ways of communicating based on personality styles. There are four types:
· Laidback (40 percent) - Non-confrontational. Need more time for decision making. People-oriented.
· Energetic (28 percent) - Uses humor and optimism. Motivated by discussion. People-oriented.
· Direct (18 percent) - No-nonsense; does not do well with chitchat or excuses. Opinions are based on fact. Project-focused. · Analytical (14 percent) - Rule followers, process-oriented. Need more time for decision-making. Project-focused.
Most people have a variation of these personality styles. By recognizing that everyone has different styles helps to adjust expectations and outcomes. Communication needs to be clear and flexible even in moments of stress and frustration. Using this rule helps to support intellectual adaptability and increase effective communication.
Mastering Memory- Tyler Enslin, Tyler Enslin International:
Elected officials meet many people and often have a problem remembering their names or their affiliations. The speaker shared methods for memorization through interactive techniques and activities.
Cal Cities Leaders Summit - April 17-19, 2024
May 7, 2024
9 6
9 There are four simple techniques:
1. Stop, clear mind, listen to name. Often you are not paying attention, which changes your focus. First seven seconds we form your first impression, but we are preoccupied with other thoughts. Give yourself a chance to learn the name.
Stop and clear your mind.
2. Repeat the name. Say their name out loud. The sweetest sound to a person’s ear is their name. Use their name in discussion naturally- between two and three times.
Ways to repeat the name in a conversation:
· “Nice to meet you, (name).”
· Introduce them to someone else.
· Clarify their name. “Is that Tracy with a Y or an I?”
3. Create an association with the person.
· Places-City or street. Maple Street- think of Maple syrup. · Physical attributes e.g. height, moustache, hair color. · Picture or visual- The name of a woman is Shene’ -think of Chanel bag; Amy- think of a target, Donna- think of the sky at dawn. Associate them with a popular figure if they look like a celebrity.
If these methods fail and you cannot recall the name or the affiliation, ask another colleague, ask for a business card, or simply be truthful and say you forgot.
Breakout Sessions Attended:
· AB 764 Changed the Rules (Again): Prepare Now for Districting and Redistricting · An Irregular Meeting of the City Council of Dysfunction Junction: The Do’s and Dont’s of Conducting a Public Meeting
· A Collaborative Framework to Addressing Homelessness: Solano County and its Seven Cities
· Look into the Future with HF&H Consultants, LLC
· How Cities Can Fight Crime with Civil Litigation
· California Leading the Way on Generative AI
· Interim Housing Solutions
Cal Cities Leaders Summit - April 17-19, 2024
May 7, 2024
9 6
9 COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
PREPARED BY: Mina Layba, Legislative Affairs Manager
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Cal Cities 2024 Priorities
CMO:150-20\wl\H:\COMMON\City Council\Council Items\2024 Staff Reports\050724\2024 League of California Cities Leaders Summit Staff Report