League of California Cities - Housing & Land Use

Welcome! The Redwood Empire division is made up of 15 cities in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties.  

We encourage you to regularly contact your regional representative to share ideas and find out how you can support policy and legislative goals to protect and enhance the quality of life in Redwood Empire. 

City officials will want to review the final Proposition 1C Infill Guidelines released last week by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

The Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is requesting comments from local governments on its Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program. HUD wants input from city officials on how to structure the program to have the greatest impact on regional planning for sustainable development.

The League of California Cities Annual Conference is steadily approaching. The last day to register is tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 5)! Make sure to mark your calendar for these important dates. The League Partners will have a booth located next to the Helen Putnam booths on the concourse level of the Convention Center- stop by and say hello and pick up your League Partner pin.

Sept. 24, 4-6 pm: Opening General Session, Terrace Theater Long Beach Convention Center - The League Partners will present a video announcing the winners of the 2008 Helen Putnam Awards.

Sept. 24, 6-11 pm: Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach- 3rd Annual Leadership Gala Casino Night hosted by Willdan along with support from Keenan & Associates. Our CitiPAC Casino is hosted by De La Rosa & Company (casino games starting at 7 pm). Contact Mike Egan at (916) 658-8271 or egan@cacities.org for more information.

Sept. 25, 4 pm: Platinum Partners only - Priority booth space drawing in Exhibitors Lounge on the show floor, Long Beach Convention Center.

Sept. 26, 8:15-9:30 am: Hyatt Hotel, Beacon A Room- League Partner Recognition Breakfast with the League Board of Directors. Platinum Partners receive 4 tickets, Gold Partners receive 3, Silver 2 and Bronze 1. To RSVP contact Melissa Lienau at (916) 658-8216 or mlienau@cacities.org.

Sept. 26, 9:30-11:00 am: Hyatt Hotel, Sea View Room- League Partner Steering Committee Meeting. Open to Bronze level and higher League Partners. The Steering Committee will discuss the Partner work plan and begin to outline the program's 2009 priorities.

Sept. 26, 8 am-12:30 pm: 2009 Annual Conference booth space drawing held inside the Exhibitors Lounge on the show floor, Long Beach Convention Ctr.

• Search Bills and Sample Letters

• Connect with your Regional Public Affairs Manager

• Attend a League Event

• Connect with League Partners

• Learn about Ballot Measures

• Send an Opposition Letter: AB 155. This bill undermines local control and it is imperative that as many cities as possible submit opposition letters. The League drafted a sample letter for cities to use to communicate with Assembly Member Tony Mendoza, the bill's author. Visit the League's Web site and type "AB 155" into the search function to access the letter.

CLICK "READ MORE" BELOW FOR MORE WAYS TO STAY INVOLVED

The Los Angeles County Division's President's Message is here every month with the intention of keeping you fully informed about important events, the legislature or general information regarding the Division, click here to read more.

By the way, did you know that the Los Angeles County Division represents:

• Over 11 million people live in the Division
• 88 cities (of which 86 are Division members)
• 4,500 square miles (one of the Nation's largest)
• Over 550 elected officials
  

League of CA Cities, Los Angeles County Mission Statement

As a part of the League of California Cities, the Los Angeles County Division is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all the residents of its member cities by representing them through advocacy, innovation, information and education.

For a printable version, please click here

The Regional Targets Advisory Committee (RTAC), the committee created by SB 375 to advise the California Air Resources Board (ARB) how to set regional green house gas (GhG) emission targets, has released its report in time to meet its Sept. 30 statutory deadline.

Last week, the Regional Targets Advisory Committee (RTAC) released its report advising the state Air Resources Board (ARB) on how to set regional targets for transportation related greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks under SB 375.

The League's eight policy committees are composed of city officials from around the state. Policy committees help to make League policy by reviewing legislation, suggesting broad new policy guidelines and studying key issues impacting cities. Policy committees were created by the League's Board of Directors to assist it in its policy deliberations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for the 2010 Community Action for Renewed Environment (CARE) program grants. CARE is a community-based program that works with county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources.

Although the budget signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this week includes several "wins" for cities, the League remains concerned about the constitutionality and economic impact of the redevelopment agency take. The FY 2009-10 budget seizes $1.7 billion in redevelopment revenue and an additional $350 million in FY 2010-11, totaling $2.05 billion.

Eminent Domain Reform Now, the group working to promote the Homeowners Protection Act, submitted over 1.1 million signatures to county election officials on Wednesday, Nov. 28, to qualify the measure for the June 2008 ballot.

Call for nominations! 

Application deadline is December 19, 2008.

Registration is now open for the League's Legislative Action Day scheduled for June 2. The meeting will be held in Sacramento in the League's Bud Carpenter Conference Room. The event will be presented in partnership with the League's Latino, African American, Asian-Pacific Islander and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Local Officials caucuses.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announcing the availability of more than $360 million that can be used by state, local and tribal governments to support climate and energy initiatives including energy efficiency, regional planning, and community education.