Environmental Quality
The Environmental Quality (EQ) Policy Committee reviews issues related to air, water and water quality, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), solid waste and recycling, hazardous materials, coastal issues, utilities, and wildfires.
Policy Committee
2024 Chair - Illece Buckley Weber, Council Member, Agoura Hills
2024 Vice Chair - Max Perrey, Council Member, Mill Valley
The committee's membership is comprised of representatives from each of the Cal Cities professional departments, regional divisions, and caucuses, and appointments by the Cal Cities president.
The Environmental Quality Policy Committee will meet in 2024 on the following dates and times:
- Friday, January 19, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Virtual
Agenda | Highlights
- Friday, March 22, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel
Agenda
- Friday, June 21, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Virtual
Current Action in the Legislature
Resources for Cities
by Environmental Quality Issue
- Governor Newsom's Executive Order on Electric Vehicles
- California Strategic Growth Council: Transformative Climate Communities
- Climate Action Page (ILG)
- Cap-and-Trade Benefits to Californians (CARB)
- California Climate Investments: Cap-and-Trade Dollars at Work
- Resilient CA - Governor's Office of Planning and Research Clearinghouse database to find resources on climate adaptation and resiliency efforts in California
- California Adaptation Planning Guide for Local Governments (Cal OES)
Want to know more about organic waste recycling and SB 1383? Find more information including the background of the bill, CalRecycle Education Outreach tools, and additional resources on the SB 1383 Implementation page.
- Long-Term Water Conservation Formal Rulemaking: Making Conservation a Way of Life
- SB 205 (Hertzberg, 2019) Implementation FAQs for Cities and Counties
- California State Water Resources Control Board National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) - Wastewater Landing Page
- California State Water Resources Control Board Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinances Landing Page
- Department of Water Resources FAQ's on Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinances (MWELO)
- Water Policy Guidelines
- Water Conservation Leadership Guide: Issues for Local Officials to Consider (ILG)
- Water and Wastewater Systems Resources (ILG)
- California State Water Resources Control Board
California State Water Resources Control Board Storm Water Program
California Grants Portal
The California Grants Portal (a project by the California State Library) is your one destination to find all grants and loans offered on a competitive or first-come basis by California state agencies.
Lenny Mendonca is the former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom
As the state continues to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, how can we ensure that local economies are not left behind? Join the League of California Cities for a special presentation by Lenny Mendonca, former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, about California's post-pandemic economic outlook and how state and federal governments can help drive local economic recovery. Additionally, learn about best practices for how city leaders can be the “helpers” in their communities while also keeping their mental health and self-care top of mind.
Registration is offered at no charge as a benefit for Cal Cities members and League Partners.
About the Speaker
Lenny Mendonca was the Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School.
He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute, and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He served for a decade on the McKinsey Shareholder Council (its Board of Directors). He retired from McKinsey in 2014.
He was formerly the Chair of New America and Children Now, co-Chair of California Forward, and co-founder and Chair of Fusecorps. He was the Vice-Chair of Common Cause. He is the Chair Emeritus of the Bay Area Council and their Economic Institute and was vice-chair of the Stanford GSB Advisory Council. He was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development. He served on the boards of Fidelity Charitable, Western Governors University, UC Merced, The Educational Results Partnership, The College Futures Foundation, California Competes, The Opportunity Institute, Commonwealth Club, National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers, and The Guardian.org. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He served on the Board of Trustees for Junior Statesmen of America, and the Advisory Boards of Y Analytics, QB3, the Haas Center at Stanford, Third Sector Capital, The CA Community College Chancellor's Office, Measures for Justice, and the Public Policy Institute of California.
Take Action
Our advocacy efforts are strongest when joined by the voices of city leaders. Visit the action center for a list of current priority legislative bills and proposals, and sample letters of support or opposition.
Contact Staff
Melissa Sparks-Kranz
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist, Environmental Quality
916-658-8232
Curious why Cal Cities supports or opposes certain bills or measures? Advocacy efforts are determined by Annual Conference Resolutions or the Existing Policy and Guiding Principles.