In 2018, Pico Rivera received bad news. The Whittier Narrows Dam,
which runs right through the city, was on the brink of failure.
But instead of seeing a setback, Pico Rivera saw an opportunity
to reinvent itself.
Many California cities depend on Community Facilities Districts
to fund the public services needed to support new homes. But
sellers do not need to disclose these taxes until escrow, which
can result in an unforeseen and challenging tax bill.
Temecula is federally classified as a medically underserved
community, with residents routinely traveling for hours even for
primary care. But a city-run workforce program is working to
change that.
South Lake Tahoe’s housing stock is controlled by regional growth
limits. That stock became even more limited in
2020, as white-collar workers freed from downtown
office commutes in pricier regions moved to the area.
Home prices and rent soared by double digits, displacing many
longtime residents and seasonal workers.
Santa Ana has developed more affordable housing than any other
city in Orange County. In fact, it’s on track to exceed its
state-mandated housing goals for the second cycle in a row.
But its most ambitious development is slated to open over
the next decade.
In 2022, West Sacramento became the sixth city in the state to
have an all-woman council. Voters didn’t set out intending to
make history. It just so happened that the candidates that best
represented their interests were all women.
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are easier to build than other
housing units and blend seamlessly into the community. As a
result, many cities are incentivizing ADUs to quickly increase
housing — including Rosemead and Arcata.
As every city knows, the combination of people living longer into
retirement, underwhelming state pension returns, and lower
discount rates are straining local budgets. But Cypress plans to
wipe out its unfunded pension liability by 2030 — without taking
on any new debt.
Cities across California are looking for ways to keep their water
supplies reliable even during droughts under a new water
standard. San José’s wastewater treatment and municipal
water system infrastructure can serve as a model for other
cities.
Meeting the demand for housing can be a formidable task for
California’s desert communities. On top of the usual challenges
of cost, resources, and land availability, these cities must
contend with relentless heat and accompanying energy costs
exacerbated by climate change.
The city of San Diego is leading Far South/Border North, a
regional initiative for artists and cultural practitioners. The
program provided grant funding to 78 recipients for outreach and
awareness campaigns focused on everything from public health to
civic engagement.
For the past two years, Bakersfield has had more homeless people
living in shelter than those without shelter. Yet as is the case
across California, Bakersfield is staring down an inflow crisis.
For every six people placed in permanent housing locally, another
ten become newly homeless.
Western City has several guiding values, chief among
them collaboration. Unless we are talking about award programs.
After two years of county domination, cities have reclaimed their
rightful place at the top of the Outstanding Local Streets and
Roads Project Awards.
If you’re looking for the best ways to support local businesses,
travel east of San Francisco to Dublin — one of the
fastest-growing cities in the U.S. for several years. But for
many leaders, the best is yet to come.
In 2020, Marin County voters approved the state’s first JPA
dedicated solely to local wildfire protection. The agency has a
clear mission: Help Marin County co-exist with wildfire by
adopting fire-adapted strategies. This starts with a “House Out”
strategy that all cities can follow.
California’s housing crisis stretches from one end of the state
to the other. For many small cities, the odds often feel
insurmountable. Huron — located in the state’s agricultural
heartland — shows that progress is possible. Cities just can’t do
it by themselves.
Approximately 4,000 affordable housing units in Southern
California’s Gateway region have stalled due to funding
shortfalls. A group of cities has formed an affordable housing
trust fund, which they hope can close funding gaps — especially
in small, under-resourced communities.
Victorville is preparing to open a low-barrier shelter with
medical care, interim housing, and other supportive services.
Officials hope the shelter can serve as a model for other cities
looking for ways to offer better services and more shelter to
homeless residents.
Palmdale wanted to do something about the growing number of
fentanyl-related deaths. City officials knew they could not
enforce their way out of the crisis. Working with key
stakeholders, they launched an initiative aimed at reducing drug
overdose deaths through education and community engagement.
It’s easy for people to mistrust cities when they are not privy
to the day-to-day happenings within city hall. The wheels of
government turn slow, and delivering information is a
multilayered process. Enter the City of Redding Podcast, where no
topic is too big or mundane.
