How to Get Involved
Welcome to the League of California Cities!
Local city officials are the reason California's cities are resilient and diverse communities where our residents can live, work, and play. Cal Cities is here to help ensure you are the best city official you can be for your community.
To help you get started with Cal Cities, the resources below outline your membership benefits and how you can engage with and get the most out of your membership.
Learn More About Cal Cities
Membership and Benefits
Get access to unmatched advocacy, updates about the latest policy issues, cutting-edge professional development, and more.
Members' Roadmap
New to Cal Cities or want to get the most from your membership? We’ve created a roadmap to help you get started.
2023 Advocacy Priorities
We stand ready to work collaboratively with the state and federal governments and other stakeholders to accomplish our strategic advocacy priorities.
News
The League of California Cities engages with city officials through a variety of channels to keep them informed on the issues that matter most to cities.
Western City Magazine
Dive deeper into big policy issues and trends and receive practical ideas for city officials in the monthly digital Western City magazine.
Cal Cities Delivers
Cal Cities delivers major victories for cities year after year – protecting local control, securing billions of dollars in new funding, and preserving existing city resources.
Get Involved
Departments
Functioning as professional societies with educational and networking opportunities, municipal departments play an essential role in forming Cal Cities policy and programs. Each department is represented on the Cal Cities’ board of directors and policy committees.
Regional Divisions
Representing virtually every city and town in California, Regional Divisions are at the core of our advocacy efforts. City officials — both elected and career — help develop region-specific programs and carry out grassroots activities that support chosen legislative, regulatory, and ballot measure goals.
Caucuses
Caucuses advocate for equitable state policies within Cal Cities’ internal committees and departments, ensure that the unique needs of their respective communities are responded to, and promote the advancement of officials from traditionally marginalized communities.
Coastal Cities Group
Composed of 61 cities located within California's coastal zone, the Coastal Cities Group (CCG) collaborates on sea level rise mitigation efforts, land use regulations, and other issues of mutual interest.
Rural City Information Exchange
Rural communities often face different challenges than their urban counterparts and, even when the issues are similar, the solutions can differ dramatically.
Policy Committees
City officials actively debate, shape, and steer Cal Cities’ policy-making process and advocacy efforts. Over 400 officials collectively add their expertise and guidance to Cal Cities through one of seven policy committees.
Advocacy Tools
Cal Cities provides up-to-date information about the legislative process, lobbying, and which bills are scheduled for hearings. Hone your advocacy skills by diving into our Advocacy Tools.
Mission, Vision, and Beliefs
Our mission is to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians. Our vision is to be recognized and respected as the leading advocate for the common interests of California's cities. Learn more about Cal Cities' core beliefs.
How California’s New Single-Use Packaging and Plastic Pollution Prevention Law Will Impact Local Governments
October 5, 2023 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
RegisterCalifornia’s recycling landscape is about to undergo another seismic shift. Local governments played a key role in ushering in this change, but there’s still plenty of work left.
Under SB 54 (Allen, 2022), all single-use plastics and packaging sold in California must be recyclable or compostable by 2032. Producers must reimburse local governments for the costs of collecting and processing these materials. The new law will also raise $5 billion from the plastics industry to help mitigate the impacts of plastic pollution, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
It's critical that local governments make their voices heard in the upcoming rulemaking process, which is already underway. Join the League of California Cities, StopWaste (a local government agency in Alameda County), and the National Stewardship Action Council for an overview of SB 54 and the next steps in the regulatory process.
Moderator:
Melissa Sparks-Kranz, Legislative Representative, League of California Cities
Presenters:
Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director, National Stewardship Action Council
Timothy Burroughs, Executive Director, StopWaste (Alameda County); Member of the SB 54 CalRecycle Advisory Board (nominated by Cal Cities)
Wes Carter, President, Atlantic Packaging; Founder, A New Earth Project; member of the SB 54 CalRecycle Advisory Board
Registration must be completed by noon on Oct. 4, 2023.
The webinar is a partnership between Cal Cities, StopWaste, the California State Association of Counties, and the Rural County Representatives of California. This webinar is free for all SB 54 local government stakeholders. Please note that registration is limited to 1,000 people.
For questions about how to register for the webinar, please contact Megan Dunn. For all other questions, please contact Christina George.
Please review Cal Cities’ event and meeting policies.Cal Cities by the Numbers
476 Member Cities
57 Board Members
16 Regional Divisions
10 Municipal Departments
5 Diversity Caucuses
Cal Cities Bylaws
Cal Cities staff, boards, departments, finances, committees, and divisions are governed by an extensive set of bylaws.
FPPC Compliance
The League of California Cities is a “publicly funded nonprofit organization” for purposes of Government Code section 84222.5. This statute imposes several requirements, including posting Cal Cities’ FPPC ballot measure campaign filings on its website.