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I. A -2 WESTERN CITY MAGAZINE READERSHIP SURVEY RESULTS Did You Know? Westem G:ty magazine, the League's monthly publication, is provided free to city officials as a membership benefit. It covers policy, process and fiscal issues that affect local government, and focuses on the League's strategic priorities. The magazine is a self- supporting project that pays its expenses with advertising revenue. PLEDGES POUR IN AT EAST BAY CITIPAC FUND RAISER The East Bay Division raised more than $1,500 for CITIPAC at its last meeting. Contribu,ions came from Council members in Concord, Hayward and Pleasant Hill. Urged on by League Board member and Pinole Mayor Maria Alegria, Division members from Walnut Creek and Hercules also pledged another $2,000, making the Oct. 16 the largest collection to date. Western City conducts a readership survey every three years to "check in" with League members about content. This year's survey revealed: • About 83 percent of those surveyed are regular readers of Western City who have read at least three of the last four issues. • Western City has an average of 3.2 readers per copy. • The best -read elements in the publication are Job Opportunities, Legal Notes, Everyday Ethics for Local Officials, feature articles and City Forum. • Topics of greatest interest to readers include fiscal reform /state budget, city finance issues, legal issues for cities, ethics, building public confidence in local government, and employee relations. Western City also maintains a website (www.westerncity.com) that features an archive of articles, writer's guidelines, an editorial calendar and current job opportunities in local government. The magazine focuses on a different topical theme each month. City officials interested in writing an article for the magazine should visit the writer's guidelines and editorial calendar sections of the website. The East Bay Division is working to raise $25,000 by the November Board of Directors' meeting. To date, Division members have raised and received pledges for about half. All but $1,000 has come from the city family. Alegria, League Past President John Russo and Walnut Creek Mayor Gwen Regalia are chairing the fund- raising drive. The Oct. 16 meeting was the second meeting in a row where Division members have topped the $1,500 mark in spontaneous giving. VLFfrompage 1 •• •......ee o ese.... The basis of the tentative ruling was that the HJTA and others failed' o allege compliance with the legal prerequisites for bringing a tax refund lawsuit. California law requires that a taxpayer take preliminary steps before contesting a fee increase. The taxpayer must first pay the fee, then ask for a refund of the fee, and finally have the refund request denied by the State. Because those filing the lawsuit failed to take these steps, the court dismissed the action. The HJTA has asked for a court hearing to object to the tentative ruling. The court's decision cannot become final until the hearing is con- ducted. In the event the tentative ruling to dismiss the lawsuit becomes final, it does not mean that another lawsuit challenging the "pulling" of the VLF trigger cannot be filed at a later date. The League will continue to work to ensure that local government revenues are protected and is committed to working with the new Administra- tion to resolve this issue. PAGE 2 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org