Twelve cities receive Helen Putnam Award for Excellence for outstanding programs

Contact: Karina Rodriguez
(916) 658-8223
krodriguez@calcities.org

Anaheim— The League of California Cities announced the 12 winning cities of the esteemed Helen Putnam Award for Excellence for 2026. Each city was chosen for its outstanding efforts and innovative programs to improve the quality of life and delivery of services in their communities. The winning cities are listed below with a link to a video featuring their initiatives:

• City of Benicia, Internal Administration
  Benicia converted its paper-based, counter-dependent permitting system into a 100% digital platform — cutting processing times and rebuilding community trust.
• City of Calabasas, Public Safety
  Calabasas partnered with a local nonprofit to build a coordinated emergency preparedness system after the 2018 Woolsey Fire.
• Cathedral City, Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement
  Cathedral City worked with underserved residents to build Esperanza Park, a 7.5-acre community space that reflects local priorities and culture.
• City of Emeryville, Economic Development Through the Arts
  Emeryville established the Rotten City Cultural District, which connects local artists directly with audiences, drives economic growth, and strengthens cultural assets.
• City of Gonzales, Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government
  Gonzales transformed a youth-led vision into a community center — empowering young residents to shape public infrastructure and drive lasting change.
• City of Moreno Valley, Intergovernmental Collaboration
  Moreno Valley produced a single, coordinated hub to connect veterans to employment, housing resources, and supportive services.
• City of Petaluma, Public Works, Infrastructure, Transportation
  Petaluma created a citywide partnership to identify school travel safety needs and make walking and biking to school safer for students.
  
• City of Santa Ana, Planning and Environmental Quality
  Santa Ana is reversing nearly a century and a half of environmental injustice in neighborhoods with some of California’s highest pollution levels.
• City of South San Francisco, Partners Award for Excellence in City-Business Relations
  South San Francisco developed Launch Local!, a program that lets entrepreneurs test their concepts in a physical space without the risk of a traditional lease. 
• City of Temecula, Housing Programs and Innovations
  Temecula reworked its approach to homelessness to ensure families and other vulnerable groups no longer have to choose between each other and shelter.
• City of Rancho Cucamonga, Community Services and Economic Development
  Rancho Cucamonga turned community demand into a regional STEM learning destination, creating a space where families can learn, create, and grow together.
• City of Richmond, Health and Wellness Programs
  Richmond collaborated with community groups to form Richmond Rising, a coordinated initiative to build healthier, more resilient neighborhoods.

Established in 1982 by the League of California Cities, the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence, given annually in 12 categories, recognizes outstanding achievements made by California's 483 cities. These winning cities have made unique contributions to community residents and businesses, which have resulted in lower costs or more effective delivery of services. The purpose of the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program is to promote innovative solutions by city governments.

The 2026 winners were chosen from 161 submissions.

Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit statewide association that advocates for cities with the state and federal governments and provides education and training services to elected and appointed city officials. Cal Cities’ mission is to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians.

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