In this Issue
Top Headlines
Legislature Unveils Budget Package; Includes Funding to Preserve Safety Net
Federal Update
Update from Washington, D.C.
Deadline Nearing for NACo Presidential Appointment Applications
CSAC News
Vulnerable Populations and Emergency Response: Lessons from COVID-19
CSAC Institute Webinars Focus on Managing During the Current Crisis
Policy Reports
Executive Order and Bills Addressing November Election
Project Roomkey Comprehensive Guidance Released
CEQA Bills Continue to Advance – Feedback Needed
Council Working Group Releases Pandemic Recovery Resource Guide for Courts
BSCC Board to Meet June 11
Now Online – Judicial Council Spring 2020 Revenue Distribution Training
Meetings, Webinars,Training etc.
ILG Webinar: Reframing the Local Planning Process
Webinar Available: Primary Care & Telehealth Strategies for Addressing the Secondary Health Effects of COVID-19
Tourism Industry Is Readying Itself for Recovery
Do You Know? Kern County
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Legislature Unveils Budget Package; Includes Funding to Preserve Safety Net
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On Wednesday, the Senate and Assembly unveiled a joint 2020-21 budget package, representing an earlier-than-usual agreement between the two houses. In a typical year, both houses would pass their own version of the budget and then resolve differences between those two versions and the May Revision through a Budget Conference Committee. This year, the Legislature is now set up for a unified final series of negotiations with the Governor to reach an overall budget agreement that must be passed by the June 15 constitutional deadline.
Safety Net Preservation/Realignment Backfill
Of significant note for counties, this agreement includes $1 billion to preserve safety-net services as a Realignment backfill in 2020-21. Counties appreciate the recognition by the Legislature of the vital need to provide additional funding above the May Revision in order to protect safety-net services, which has been the top budget priority for CSAC, county affiliates, and counties. These public health, behavioral health, social services, and public safety services are facing extreme cuts as counties grapple with the twin pressures of increased service demands and declining revenues. CSAC will continue to engage directly with the Legislature to gather additional details about this safety net funding and to advocate for the funding to be utilized for both 1991 Realignment and 2011 Realignment so that it can help protect the full range of services that counties provide on behalf of the state.
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Update from Washington, D.C.
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House Democrats Release Multi-Year Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill
Earlier this week, the Democratic leaders of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee released their long-awaited highway and transit reauthorization bill. The legislation – entitled the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act – is scheduled to be considered by the committee on June 17. A summary of the legislation can be found here.
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Deadline Nearing for NACo Presidential Appointment Applications
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California County officials who are interested in a presidential appointment to any of the NACo Steering Committees or as an At-Large Director for the NACo Board of Directors need to complete an application online before June 14.
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Vulnerable Populations and Emergency Response: Lessons from COVID-19 Counties Can Use Right Now to Prepare for the Next Crisis
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Alma Bowen could write the book about communicating to diverse communities during emergencies and natural disasters. A 9-1-1 operator in Sonoma County for more than 17 years, she channeled her experiences during the North Bay fires in 2017 into a non-profit called Nuestra Comunidad. Reflecting on her experiences over several years, Bowen shares how having a trusted community partner has helped the Sonoma County region forge inroads with its non-English speaking community, and recommends tips other counties can use.
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CSAC Institute Webinars Focus on Managing During the Current Crisis
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While in-person classes are still suspended due to COVID-19 concerns, the learning continues! The CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government is offering a series of FREE webinars this month. The webinars will focus on three different aspects of management in these times, offering specific practices managers and executives can immediately put to work. Webinar space is limited, register now!
Working Through Uncertainty: Best Practices for Personal and Team Readiness and Resilience
Thursday, June 11, 2020 • 3:00 PM
Slow Down to Speed Up: Manage and Strengthen Resilience for the Next Normal
Thursday, June 18, 2020 • 3:00 PM
Lead and Manage from Afar: Nuts and Bolts
of Facilitating Virtual Meetings and Teams
Thursday, June 25, 2020 • 3:00 PM
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Executive Order and Bills Addressing November Election
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This week, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-67-20, which provides guidance for county election officials with regards to the November 3, 2020 General Election, and clarifies that EO N-64-20, which directed vote-by-mail ballots be sent to all California voters, does not apply to inactive voters. There are currently several bills in the Legislature addressing this year’s election, including AB 860 (Berman) and SB 423 (Umberg).
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Project Roomkey Comprehensive Guidance Released
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On Monday, the Department of Social Services (CDSS) released a comprehensive All County Welfare Directors Letter (ACWDL) on Project Roomkey. Project Roomkey is a FEMA-reimbursable program through June 30, which was designed to provide safe non-congregate shelter options for homeless individuals impacted by COVID-19 in hotels, motels, and trailers. The Administration and local governments have worked tirelessly to make this initiative a success.
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CEQA Bills Continue to Advance – Feedback Needed
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The Legislature has been holding hearings to consider bills in policy and fiscal committees since it reconvened from emergency recess in early May. The number of bills has been pared-back significantly compared to what’s typical for this time of the year. And although response to COVID-19 and its economic fallout has become a key legislative focus, other legislative priorities also continue to advance. CSAC has been actively tracking several CEQA-related measures described below with implications for small water projects, housing, and transportation projects.
SB 974 (Hurtado) – CEQA exemption for small disadvantaged community water systems
AB 2323 (Friedman and Chiu) – CEQA housing exemptions
SB 288 (Wiener) – CEQA exemptions for qualifying transportation projects
SB 995 (Atkins) – CEQA relief for large residential projects
SB 950 (Jackson) – CEQA housing and land use
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Council Working Group Releases Pandemic Recovery Resource Guide for Courts
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A Judicial Council working group of 23 volunteer judges and court executives released a 75-page resource guide to assist the state’s trial courts with their pandemic continuity of operations, while providing a safe environment for court users, staff, and justice partners. In addition to the resource guide, the council’s facility modification committee agreed to designate $5 million in statewide maintenance funds to reimburse courts for temporary safe distancing measures related to courthouse operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide and facility modification funding are just two resources among a slate of emergency orders and rules approved by Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye or the Judicial Council of California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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BSCC Board to Meet June 11
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The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Board will meet Thursday, June 11, at 10:00 am via Zoom/Teleconference. The agenda topics include an information only COVID-19 update on Adult and Juvenile detention facilities and BSCC inspections, training compliance and grants.
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Now Online – Judicial Council Spring 2020 Revenue Distribution Training
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The Judicial Council recently posted the Spring 2020 Revenue Distribution recorded training (PowerPoint) online and it is available for viewing. The plenary presentation, breakout sessions, and the relevant training materials are posted on the Revenue Distribution Guidelines website, just scroll down to the 2020 tab after clicking here. Also, in response to feedback and requests for training on related topics, the Judicial Council included additional breakout sessions in this year’s training. See the table in the agenda for descriptions and training materials, by session.
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ILG Webinar: Reframing the Local Planning Process
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The Institute for Local Government, of which CSAC is a parent organization, will be conducting a webinar on Thursday, June 18, focusing on “Reframing the Local Planning Process: Lessons Learned from the COVID Crisis.” The COVID crisis has changed the way that local governments do business. From permit processing to General Plan and Climate Action Plan updates, local governments are finding innovative ways to deliver these essential services and engage their community. To register for the 3 pm webinar, click here.
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Webinar Available: Primary Care & Telehealth Strategies for Addressing the Secondary Health Effects of COVID-19
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ACEs Aware hosted a webinar on May 27th – “Primary Care & Telehealth Strategies for Addressing the Secondary Health Effects of COVID-19.” Watch the webinar at ACEsAware.org. With physician perspectives from pediatrics, women's health, and emergency medicine, panelists discussed the secondary health impacts of COVID-19 and how to support patients during this time. This webinar covered the potential short and long-term health consequences; delays and disruptions in care; and using telehealth and trauma-informed approaches. Be sure to register for the next webinar on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, noon – 1:00 p.m. – on "Fundamentals of ACE Screening and Response in Pediatrics." with California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.
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Tourism Industry Is Readying Itself for Recovery
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The COVID-19 crisis has snuffed out 10 years of economic growth in California’s travel and tourism industry. The fallout from this crisis is not only unprecedented, but estimated to cost the state $72.1 billion in visitor spending this year and 613,000 tourism jobs last month alone. However, the tourism economy also offers a path to recovery.
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(Image: Exploring Russian Gulch State Park in Mendocino, California, September 28, 2017. Courtesy Visit California/Max Whittaker)
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One of the fastest growing regions in the U.S., Kern County derives its name from the Kern River, which was named for Edward Kern, cartographer for General John C. Frémont's 1845 expedition, which crossed Walker Pass. The Kern River was originally named Rio Bravo de San Felipe by Father Francisco Garcés when he explored the area in 1776. Kern County is considered to be a hotbed of country music, specifically the Bakersfield sound. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace is located in Bakersfield.
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