Public Works/Infrastructure

Overview

Public Works/Infrastructure

Article Features Julia Lave Johnston

Planning for Healthy and Sustainable Cities: National City Offers a Model

National City used a comprehensive planning approach to address community environmental and health concerns.

Article Features Dan Carrigg

New Economic Development Tools Offer Opportunities for Creativity

Three new tools provide a number of promising options.

Clovis Builds Dry Creek Trailhead to Educate and Connect the Community

The City of Clovis transformed a three-acre unimproved lot into an educational community recreation area that protects natural resources and promotes healthy living.

Article President’s Message L. Dennis Michael

League Leaders Set 2016 Strategic Goals

Each year we ask a diverse group of about 100 city officials to tell us which policy envelopes we need to push, which walls we need to scale and what partnerships we need to build. Bringing…

Article City Forum Mark Cowin

California’s Water: Drought, Floods And Preparedness

Although we have millions of acre-feet of empty space behind dams to capture storm runoff and snowmelt, that space cannot protect Californians against levee breaks, mudslides or overflowing urban…

Article Features Dan Carrigg

2015 Legislative Year in Review

Significant positive developments for the League included the adoption of a new economic development tool for lower-income communities and the passage of a medical marijuana regulatory bill package.

Article Executive Director's Message Chris McKenzie

Significant Progress Made on 2015 League Strategic Goals

The strategic goal-setting process involves representatives from all of the League’s policy committees, departments, divisions and diversity caucuses as well as its entire board of directors….

Article City Forum Jen JacksonHeidi Sanborn

Extended Producer Responsibility: Protecting Public Health and the Environment

Ensuring that residents properly dispose of hazardous wastes — such as pesticides, batteries, needles and pharmaceuticals — from their homes is an important part of protecting the environment…

Article Features Jude Hudson

West Sacramento’s Path to a Safer, Healthier Community

A crime-ridden trail spurred unhappy residents into action and led to a collaborative effort involving a local nonprofit, the city, school district and multiple agencies.

Article Features Cory Golden

Challenges of Closing the Digital Divide

The City of Winters illustrates the difficulties of deploying broadband in smaller cities.

Article Features Karalee Browne

Palo Alto Builds on a Legacy of Innovation as a Sustainable Community

Many of the more progressive policies and programs in place today started as smaller pilot programs.

Article Executive Director's Message Chris McKenzie

Those Pesky Elephants in the Room

A number of “elephants” lurk in city halls statewide.

Article Features

Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards Highlight Best Practices

The awards recognize exceptional achievements made by California’s cities and counties to preserve and protect the public’s investment in the local street and road system.

Article Features Ken Farfsing

Stormwater: The Orphaned Utility

How quickly can stormwater utilities be rescued from their financial straitjacket so they can start helping resolve the state’s chronic water supply problems?

Article President’s Message Stephany Aguilar

Cars of the Future: Connected and Autonomous

Just as the Internet and smartphones changed the world, the advent of connected and autonomous vehicles will have a profound impact on our lives and our cities.

Article City Forum Dan Carrigg

Prospects for Community Economic Development Are Finally Looking Up

Two new tools and positive developments on the legislative front are welcome news for cities.

Article Features Julie Pierce

The Future of SB 375 Implementation and Regional Planning

All 18 metropolitan planning organizations in California will have adopted their first Regional Transportation Plans under SB 375 by May 2015. This article looks at what SB 375 has accomplished…

Article President’s Message Stephany Aguilar

Grappling With the Challenges of Transportation Infrastructure Financing

California’s local streets and roads network is currently funded through a variety of sources including the state gas tax, federal transportation funds, local tax and bond measures, and…

A Renaissance for Long Beach Airport

The $45 million project, completed five months ahead of schedule and on budget, was funded by a General Airport Revenue Bond and passenger facility charges.

Article Features Cory Golden

A Growing Risk: Oil Trains Raise Safety and Environmental Concerns

An oil boom in North Dakota and Canada from the Bakken shale formation and a lack of pipeline infrastructure have led to a dramatic increase in oil-by-rail shipments nationwide. As the volume…