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TELECOM from page 6 ............. Legislative Bi II Action ............................... working to set up district-level meetings with mem- bers of Congress and legislators. To find out more The following are summaries of just a few of about this activity, please contact your League the legislative bills that are currently being regional representative. acted upon by the League of California Cities. For more information about these and Tips for Effective Advocacy other bills, please visit the League website's new "Issues and Advocacy" Remember that personal contacts with your page (www.cacities,ora/ representatives are going to carry the most weight issuesandadvocacy) - a one-stop location - a phone call, a visit to the district office, some to access information about legislation, type of personal meeting. You can use the talking policy issues and related developments. points on the League's Advocacy Center to help get the conversation going. Second in the order of \You can track information on bills effectiveness: a snail mail letter - on your letter- (www.cacities.orgllegtracking), locate legisla- head, or even hand written. tors and legislative committees, send letters to legislators or the media through the online Finally, if you don't have time for the other Advocacy Center, research League policy options, use email. It's available on the Advocacy positions, access useful related links, and Center to make it easy for you to be an advocate much more. for your city. It's much better than not writing at all - but if sent to your representative's office, is not ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY likely to be as effective as a personal contact. (The exception: if you know your representative well AS 2951 (Goldberg). Capitol Facilities enough to access his or her personal e-mail.) Fees. Assemblymember Goldberg is once again taking on the difficult issue of capital facilities fees. ........................ AB 2951 would not change the current rate-setting practices of municipal utilities, but would clarify LEAGUE BOARD from page 6 the existing Cortese Law regarding the separation of monthly utility rates from one-time capital Sanders, council member, EI Centro; Ana Ventura facilities fees. Phares, mayor, Watsonville; Mike Segala, vice mayor, Suisun City; Richard Dixon, mayor, Lake Under the current law, municipal utilities Forest; David Doolittle, council member, Yuba negotiate the one-time charges for extension of City; Art Madrid, mayor, La Mesa; Dennis Downs, capital facilities to public education entities and fire chief, Pasadena; Lorraine Dietrich, council state agencies, but monthly rates for water, sewer member, Livermore; and Rudy Natoli, council and electric service are billed as they are to all member, Pismo Beach. customers. The Nominating Committee will meet on July AB 2951 is drafted to protect all ratepayers. It 28 before the July 28-29 League board of directors would prevent any cost-shifting in monthly rates meeting, to review the applications of potential from public agencies to residential and commer- nominees. The committee's recommendations cia I users. It would ensure a fair rate-setting will be announced during the Opening Session of process for public agencies to prevent any im- the League's Annual Conference in San Diego on proper cost recovery from this class of ratepayer. September 6. In addition, it will prevent confusion about the differences between extension of capital facilities to serve new customers and the necessary Continued on Page 8 Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 7 March 31, 2006 . Issue #13