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CfA£ LEAGUE SUBMITS COMMENTS ON CALIFORNIA PERFORMANCE REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS The League this week submitted its com- Commission Hearing to Receive Public ments on the California Performance Review, Comments touching on some fifty-eight recommendations The twenty-one member California Perfor- included in the CPR report that directly or poten- tially impact cities. The League's comments mance Review Commission held what is likely to cover public safety, transportation, tort reform, be its last meeting this week to receive input from environmental, land use, employee relations and CPR staff and take public comment. The gover- housing issues. They are based upon existing nor-appointed commission includes former League policy where one is available, or, potential League President and Long Beach Mayor Beverly impacts on cities. O'Neill, and League Board member and San Jose Vice Mayor Pat Dando. The California Performance Review project The commission is charged with sifting issued its 2500 page report in August to evaluate state government. According to the CPR website, through the myriad of recommendations and "The ultimate goal of the California Performance suggesting to the governor which ones to pursue. Review is to restructure, reorganize and reform The govemor will then make his own assessment state government to make it more responsive to of the report. Some recommendations he may the needs of its citizens and business commu- implement through executive orders; others will nity." require legislation. Still others will become part of the formal Government Reorganization Proposal , It its letter transmitting comments the League submitted to the Legislature. After a hearing by states, "The League was pleased to have the the Little Hoover Commission, the Legislature may opportunity to provide input on a number of topics debate the proposal, but cannot amend it. It must and issues considered by the CPR team. Never- either vote it up or down - a daunting thought theless, many of the recommendations and given the breadth of the potential items to be analyses contained in the report that impact cities included. are seriously flawed. Many were included without the benefit of League or city input and many The effort to evaluate how best to restructure demonstrate a need for better understanding of California government will be a long one and not the complexity of the issues involved or existing something accomplished overnight. The current law. Other recommendations do not provide CPR activities reflect early steps in a very, very sufficient details on how the restructured agency long process. Once the CPR Commission would work to enable the League to take a position makes its recommendations and the governor in support or opposition." reveals his preferences, the League will establish a process to more fully evaluate the proposed Many of the CPR recommendations go be- changes and provide input into the process. yond "restructucturing" state government - or, as In the meantime, we encourage cities to the governor said of the effort - "blowing up the boxes." Instead, they suggest new policy propos- review the League comments, which are posted als. The League also commented on those rec- on the Issues and Legislation section of the ommendations. many of which are worthy of more League website, and the CPR report itself, which thorough debate. is available at WWW.CDr.ca.QOv. The website includes the option of joining a list serve in order to be contacted with updates of CPR activities. PAGE 2/PRIORITV FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site-www.cacities.org