TO:City Council
FROM:David Newman, Mayor
Tie Gutierrez, Councilmember
DATE:June 10, 2025
SUBJECT: League of California Cities City Leaders Summit - April 23-25, 2025
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 2024-25 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 483 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 "restore and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians."
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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 David Newman, Councilmember Tie Gutierrez, and Legislative Affairs Manager Mina Layba attended.
I. MEETINGS WITH STATE LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES
Meetings with state elected members were conducted by Mayor Newman, Councilmember Gutierrez, Legislative Affairs Manager Layba and were accompanied by City’s State Lobbyist Sharon Gonsalves from California Public Policy Group.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - 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 opening of the navigation center, Thrive Grove. They discussed legislative interests, including Cal Cities legislative priorities. They thanked the office for their support on federal grant applications.
Thursday, April 24, 2025 - Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, and Chief of Staff Brett Williams: 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. They shared the Cal Cities legislative priorities.
While in the Capitol, the Thousand Oaks contingent attended the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee. Mayor Newman testified in support of Assembly Bill (AB) 650 (Papan) Planning and Zoning; and in opposition of AB 647 (Mark González) Housing Development Approvals: Residential Unit.
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II. CITY LEADERS SUMMIT
A. Wednesday Welcome/Opening Session
Cal Cities Executive Director Carolyn Coleman, President Lynne Kennedy, and Senior 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 2025 Cal Cities legislative priorities were discussed:
1. Ongoing funding to address homelessness.
2. Funding to implement the voter-approved public safety measure, Proposition 36.
3. Ensuring the state stays true to the funding commitments that voters approved in the Proposition 4 climate bond.
B. Presentation by Cal Cities Lobbyists
Cal Cities lobbyists presented a legislative update. Thousands of bills are currently being heard in committees that impact local government. Lobbyists representing housing; transportation; community services; environmental quality; public safety; governance, transparency, and labor relations identified key bills impacting cities (Attachment #1).
C. Press Conference and Member Rally
At a press conference and rally held at Capitol Park, Cal Cities board members and designated city representatives advocated for the 2025 priorities: funding to address homelessness prevention and reduction; the implementation of voter- approved Proposition 36; as well as the protection of voter-approved funding allocated for Proposition 4, the Climate Bond.
D. Legislative Presentations:
1. Proposition 36 Implementation: Where Are We Now?
Speaker Joe Simitian, Retired Senator (D-Palo Alto) and former Santa Clara Supervisor, shared that despite voter approval in November, Proposition 36 lacked a dedicated funding source. Without any allocations from the State, counties were left to grapple with implementation as the law increased penalties for theft and drug offenses. While both the Legislature and the Governor acknowledge the necessity of state financial support, no such allocation has materialized. With the State facing another budget deficit and new White House orders generating economic uncertainty, there are no Cal Cities City Leaders Summit - April 23-25, 2025
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current proposals to fund the initiative. Cities are being urged to ask their representatives to include Proposition 36 funding in the State budget.
2. Homeless Encampments: State and Local Strategies:
Speaker Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-San Diego) emphasized that housing is the ultimate solution to homelessness. She stressed the need for permanent housing solutions rather than allowing individuals to reside in public rights-of-way (PROW) like streets and parks. She called for Caltrans to improve collaboration with cities regarding their rights-of-way, criticizing their current cumbersome and slow processes, even with a State Executive Order intended to facilitate cooperation.
3. California State Budget: Potential Outcomes of Federal Budget Cuts:
Speakers Scott Graves, Budget Director for the CA Budget and Policy Center and Mike Wallace, Policy Director for National League of Cities underscored the critical role of federal funding to California's public services. They noted that roughly 34 percent of the state budget originates from federal sources. Key programs like Medi-Cal rely heavily on federal financing, along with numerous essential services supporting childcare, homelessness initiatives, K-12 education, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Currently, the House and Senate are engaged in negotiations on a reconciliation bill that proposes tax and spending reductions. The fate of the federal funds, which California and other states depend on, remains uncertain in these discussions.
4. Wildfires and Disasters: The Path to Preparedness and the Road to Recovery:
A panel representing CalFire and county emergency services encouraged local officials to help their residents prepare for emergencies. A majority of the state is now surrounded by high wildfire severity zones. Residents should gather and scan important documents. Families should develop emergency plans and create a video record of their homes. Homeowners should verify that their home is under a clear deed. Cities should also include preparedness in their budget allocations for training, preparedness exercises, and for implementing “Reserve 911”- emergency alert systems.
Additionally, model defensible space ordinances should be established.
E. Keynote Address:
1. Building Communities of Trust: How Cities Can Bridge the Trust Divide:
Tristan Cleveland, Urban Planner & Research Specialist, Happy Cities, explained that trust is built when communities feel heard and see their needs reflected in urban development projects. The speaker emphasized the importance of understanding how residents experience their cities, Cal Cities City Leaders Summit - April 23-25, 2025
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suggested the importance of involving residents in the planning process, which can build trust. The speaker emphasized that urban environments can be designed to promote physical and mental health, and social features like walkability, public spaces, and amenities will help create more connected communities.
2. What Makes Each Generation Want to Vote: Lee Silber, Trainer of Creative-Lee Speaking:
The speaker provided a visual perspective of each generation, from baby boomers and millennials to Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z. The interactive session reviewed each era, the technology available at that time, pop culture, and the familial norms that shaped each generation's perspective of politics and expectations as voters.
F. Breakout Sessions Attended:
1. Partners in Local Governance: Strength Bridging Prosperity: Leveraging the Synergy Between Housing, Commerce, and Public Spaces to Create Thriving Communities
2. What Happens When Reporters Leave Your Town - And What To Do About It
3. Gangs out of Downey: A Crime Prevention Model
4. Aligning Goal Setting and the Performance Evaluation Process
5. Partners in Local Governance: Strength, Continuity and Leadership in Modern Local Government
6. California’s Economic Outlook: Navigating the Future with Data-Driven Insights
7. Navigating PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) Litigation: Securing Municipal Remediation Funds
8. Earning Public Trust: Practical Strategies for Transparent and Effective Leadership
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
Attachment:
Attachment #1 – Cal Cities 2025 Legislative Priorities
CMO:150-20\H:\COMMON\City Council\Council Items\2025 Staff Reports\061025\2025 League of California Cities Leaders Summit Staff Report