In this Issue
Top Headlines
CSAC Joins with State and Local Partners to Urge Immediate Senate Action on COVID-19 Relief Bill
Federal Updates
Update from Washington, D.C.
NACo Survey Request: COVID-19 Impacts on Counties
Extension of the Federal Public Health Emergency
CSAC News
2020 CSAC Challenge Awards: Innovation Lives Online
Policy Reports
Governor Closes Indoor Service in 19 Counties
CSAC Testifies on COVID-19 Transportation Revenues Impacts
Governor Signs Sprawling Executive Order
CDFA Accepting Proposals for Healthy Soils Program
Wildfire Safety Advisory Board Adopts Recommendations on 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Guidelines
Outsmart Disaster Resiliency Campaign Relaunches
Meetings, Webinars,Training etc.
Webinar: Public Hospitals & Health Systems During COVID-19
CSAC Institute Announces July Webinars
Do You Know? Solano County
Platinum Partner Spotlight
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CSAC Joins with State and Local Partners to Urge Immediate Senate Action on COVID-19 Relief Bill
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This week, CSAC joined with a broad coalition of organizations from across the country in writing to the leaders of the United States Senate to urge them to take immediate action on a fifth coronavirus relief package. The correspondence – which was spearheaded by NACo and the other members of the “Big Seven” public interest groups – requests direct federal fiscal support to aid state and local governments in efforts to rebuild the economy and maintain essential services in education, health care, emergency operations, public safety and more. All told, over 170 groups signed the letter to Senate leaders.The full text of the letter can be read here.
The unified appeal for additional federal assistance comes as the new fiscal year is set to begin for 45 states and thousands of local governments. As noted in the correspondence, furloughs and job cuts are on the table for many jurisdictions. In addition, many states and local governments may be forced to further delay or cancel important infrastructure projects, with 26 states already announcing construction delays for transportation projects.
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Update from Washington, D.C.
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House Approves $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Package; Includes $500 Billion Surface Transportation Reauthorization
On July 1, the House of Representatives voted 233-188 to approve a $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment bill. The legislation (HR 2) – entitled the Moving Forward Act – would authorize federal spending for roads, bridges, transit, rail, housing, broadband, drinking and wastewater systems, energy, health care, aviation, and other programs.
The centerpiece of HR 2 is a five-year, $500 billion surface transportation reauthorization measure. The legislation, which was approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee on June 18, would renew a host of highway, transit, and safety programs, all of which are slated to expire on September 30 of this year.
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NACo Survey Request: COVID-19 Impacts on Counties
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The National Association of Counties (NACo) is working to represent counties to the federal government and ensure that the needs of county leaders are accurately understood and adequately met in upcoming legislation responding to COVID-19. NACo is requesting county budget or finance officers or others involved in managing the county's budgets complete a five (5) minute survey to provide essential information to help analyze and estimate the cumulative impact of COVID-19 on county budgets, workforces, services and operations. Complete the survey here.
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Extension of the Federal Public Health Emergency
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A spokesperson for the United States Health and Human Services (HHS) Agency announced this week they would be extending the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. The current COVID-19 PHE was set to expire on July 25, the additional 90 days will begin after that date. The extension of the PHE will also trigger additional Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) COVID-19 assistance for local governments and changes to regulatory and statutory flexibilities. Some of the changes include waiver or modifications under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.
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2020 CSAC Challenge Awards: Innovation Lives Online
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For more than 25 years CSAC has been celebrating county innovation through our Annual Challenge Awards. During that period we have spotlighted nearly 1,000 county programs. But when California shut down in March due to the COVID-19 crisis – and California’s 58 Counties turned their focus to protecting our communities — we felt it was important to delay this year’s program that was initially going to launch in April. To learn more about the Challenge Awards entry process, visit the CSAC Website here starting Wednesday, July 8. If you want to ensure you received an email notification of the Call for Entries, feel free to send me an email at dliebler@counties.org
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Governor Closes Indoor Service in 19 Counties
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Governor Gavin Newsom turned to the “dimmer switch” and has asked 19* counties to close all bars and cease all indoor activities at restaurants, wineries, and family entertainment spaces for at least three weeks. These counties have the option to impose local orders, or the state will issue county-specific orders.
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CSAC Testifies on COVID-19 Transportation Revenues Impacts
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The California Transportation Commission (CTC) heard from a panel of state and local transportation representatives on the “Impacts of COVID-19 on Federal and Local Transportation Revenues” at its last meeting. Rick Tippett, Trinity County Director of Transportation and President of the County Engineers Association of California, participated in the discussion on behalf of counties and provided the CTC with an overview of the impact COVID-19 is expected to have on county transportation funding. Other panelists included Paul Golaszewski of the CTC, Vincent Mammano of the Federal Highway Administration, Keith Dunn of the Self-Help Counties Coalition, and Michael Coleman of the League of California Cities.
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Governor Signs Sprawling Executive Order
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Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-71-20, which addresses a number of ongoing issues related to COVID-19 and amends a several previous Executive Orders. Some of the order’s provisions include, extending authorization for local governments to halt evictions for renters, waiving eligibility re-determinations for Californians who participate in Medi-Cal, suspending face-to-face visits for eligibility for foster care, and permitting In-Home Supportive Services program caseworkers to continue caring for older adults and individuals with disabilities through video-conferencing assessments. Click here to view all of the COVID-19 related Executive Orders.
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CDFA Accepting Proposals for Healthy Soils Program
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Wildfire Safety Advisory Board Adopts Recommendations on 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Guidelines
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On June 24th, The Wildfire Safety Advisory Board adopted recommendations on the 2021 Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan Guidelines, Performance Metrics, and Safety Culture. These recommendations meet the June 30th statutory obligation of AB 1054 (Holden 2019). In addition to creating the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, the bill protected the rights of fire victims, created additional safety and oversight measures for utilities, and helped ensure that utilities are held accountable for the safety of their systems. CSAC strongly supported AB 1054 as part of our ongoing advocacy on wildfire prevention and protecting inverse condemnation claims to help victims and local governments recover from utility cause wildfires.
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Outsmart Disaster Resiliency Campaign Relaunches
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The Outsmart Disaster campaign, of which CSAC is an Advisory Council member, was originally launched in 2018, with the goal of building resiliency in the workplace, at home, and in the community as a response to the high probability of a major earthquake affecting the San Francisco Bay Area. The relaunch reflects an expanded disaster response focus and features regional training programs that will begin in Napa and Sonoma Counties later this month. County representatives are encouraged to share these resources with local business communities.
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Webinar: Public Hospitals & Health Systems During COVID-19
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The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) has scheduled a webinar, Public Hospitals and Health Systems During the COVID-19 Pandemic, on Friday, July 10, 2020 from 2:00-3:00 PM. This webinar will feature speakers discussing the challenges as well as the opportunities that have arisen for public hospitals and health systems during the COVID-19 response. Please register here to attend the webinar.
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CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government Announces July Webinars
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The CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government announces its second series of FREE webinars this July. The webinars will focus on three different aspects of management in these times, offering specific practices managers and executives can immediately put to work. Limited space available. Register here.
Adaptive Leadership in the New Normal
JULY 16, 2020 • 3:00 PM
Instructor: Dr. Frank Benest
Living and Leading in Chaotic Times
JULY 23, 2020 • 3:00 PM
Instructor: Dr. Larry Liberty
Beyond Survival and Being Human
July 30, 2020 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Instructors: Dr. Laree Kiely and Dr. Rich Callahan
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Do You Know? Solano County
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At the request of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Solano County was named for Chief Solano of the Suisun people, a Native American tribe of the region and Vallejo's close ally. Chief Solano at one time led the tribes between the Petaluma River and the Sacramento River. The Chief was given the Spanish name Francisco Solano during baptism at the Catholic Mission, and is named after the Spanish Franciscan missionary, Father Francisco Solano.
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Platinum Partner Spotlight
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Southern California Edison (SCE) is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities serving approximately 15 million people in a 50,000 square-mile service area spanning from Mono County in the north to Orange County in the south, along the Pacific Ocean to the California border in the east. It is a longtime leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency and has been leading the transformation of the electric power industry toward a clean energy future. The utility continues to deepen its commitment to combating climate change by prioritizing its clean energy, transportation electrification, and wildfire mitigation goals. For more than 130 years, SCE has provided the region with safe, reliable, and affordable electric service. To learn more, please visit www.edison.com.
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Click here to see the latest county and local government job postings.
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