Policy and Resolutions

The development of League of California Cities policy is a multi-stage process involving a multitude of individuals and sub groups within the Cal Cities membership with the collective goal of representing the common interests of California’s cities with one voice. Policy developments is a key part of the Cal Cities legislative process. Cal Cities policies are recorded and published biennially in the Summary of Existing Policy and Guiding Principles.

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Annual Conference Resolutions

Every year at the Annual Conference and Expo, Cal Cities convenes a member-driven Resolutions process and General Assembly, which is is one way that city officials can directly participate in the development of Cal Cities policy. The deadline to submit Resolutions for the 2023 Resolutions process is July 22.

Additional information on the 2023 Resolutions process, as well as key dates and deadlines can be found below.

Resolution Submission Process

Any elected or appointed city official, individual city, caucus, division, department, policy committee, or the board of directors may submit a resolution for consideration at the Annual Conference and Expo. Resolutions must focus on direct municipal issues of statewide importance.

Resolutions must be submitted to Cal Cities via email to Meg Desmond no later than 60 days prior to the opening session of the conference. Any resolutions submitted must have the concurrence of at least five or more cities, or of city officials from at least five or more cities, and those submitting resolutions must provide written documentation of such concurrence. This may be in the form of a letter from the city or the city official in support. For concurrence by a city official, the official’s city and office held must be included in the letter. All documentation of concurrences must be submitted with the resolution. The deadline to submit resolutions for this year’s conference is July 22, 2023.

Consideration at the Conference

The Cal Cities president refers resolutions to Cal Cities policy committees for review and recommendation to the Resolutions Committee (RC). The RC consists of representatives from each caucus, division, department, policy committee, and individuals appointed by the Cal Cities president. If the RC approves the resolution, or if the resolution was approved by a policy committee but not by the RC, the resolution is next considered by the General Assembly. Should a resolution be disapproved or referred back to a policy committee or the proponent by both the policy committee and RC, the resolution will not proceed to the General Assembly. The RC may also amend the resolution, prior to moving it forward for consideration by the General Assembly. Resolutions approved by the General Assembly become Cal Cities policy.

Voting Delegates

Cal Cities membership considers and takes action on resolutions that establish Cal Cities policy. In order for cities to vote at the Annual Business Meeting during the Annual Conference and Expo, a city council must designate a Voting Delegate. Each city may also appoint up to two alternate Voting Delegates, one of whom may vote in the event that the designated Voting Delegate is unable to serve in that capacity.

A letter, along with the Voting Delegate form, asking for the designation of Voting Delegates and alternatives is being mailed to all city managers and city clerks. The Voting Delegate packet will be sent to cities prior to the conference.

Petitioned Resolution Process

Resolutions to address late-breaking issues may be introduced by petition at the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo. To qualify, a petitioned resolution must be signed by 10% of the voting delegates and submitted by 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2023 — at least 24 hours before the beginning of the concluding General Assembly. All qualified petitioned resolutions are forwarded to the Resolutions Committee and the General Assembly for consideration, unless the petition is disqualified for not having the required signatures or if the resolution is non-germane to city issues or it is identical or substantially similar in substance to a resolution already under consideration.

For more information, please contact Meg Desmond.

2023 Resolutions Calendar and Deadlines

July 22, 2023: Deadline to submit resolutions, 60 days prior to the opening of the annual conference.

At the Conference

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, 8:30 a.m.: Deadline to submit signatures to qualify a petitioned resolution.

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023: Resolutions Committee meets to consider and make recommendations on general resolutions and petitioned resolutions.

Friday, Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m.: All Voting Delegates must be checked in prior to the beginning of the General Assembly.

Friday, Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m.: Consideration of general resolutions and petitioned resolutions by cities in the General Assembly Meeting. (Voting Delegates must be registered to attend the annual conference and must stay until conclusion of voting.)