Blogs

Scroll Stopping Strategy: Building a Bridge to Your Constituents

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
By Jennifer Nentwig (APR-M), Principal, Tripepi Smith Originally published in the California Special Districts Magazine. Visit the Member Submitted Content page to become a contributor and share your story with other districts. For many public agencies, social media began as a straightforward tool for transparency and a reliable place to share office closures, holiday hours or press releases. However, as constituents increasingly turn to platforms like Instagram, Facebook or Nextdoor for real-time interaction, there is a growing expectation for agencies to evolve their digital presence into a dynamic, two-way conversation. At Tripepi Smith, we have ...

H.R. 2766 NSDA Plan for Congressional August Recess

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
By National Special Districts Association T he National Special Districts Association (NSDA) has updated H.R. 2766 resources for a grassroots push during the Congressional August Recess. August is a critical month for the Special Districts Fairness and Accessibility Act of 2026: H.R. 2766 and its Senate companion, S. 2014. NSDA, of which CSDA is a founding member, is asking special districts to help create a unified definition of special districts in federal law, with H.R. 2766 and S. 2014, having reached a pivotal stage in Congress. Download Special Districts Fairness and Accessibility Act Infographic In March, ...

Key Updates from D.C. on Federal Grants and OMB Rule

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
By: National Special Districts Association The United States Senate adjourned for August recess this weekend following a lengthy Friday, August 7 session that stretched into early Saturday morning. During the session, the Senate passed its continuing resolution (CR) in The Senate also confirmed its “en bloc” package of 74 nominations, including Todd Blanche to be Attorney General, David Cummins for TSA administrator, Hal Duncan to be deputy director of OMB, and Cameron Hamilton for FEMA administrator. Separately, Senate Budget Chair Ron Johnson (R-WI) released the Senate version of Reconciliation 3.0 on Friday, August 7, which would provide ...

Federal Update: Week of August 10, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
Both chambers are out of session for the August recess, with the House returning on August 31 and the Senate on September 14 the next publication will be on August 31. Congress: FY 27 Appropriations: On Monday, August 3, the Senate voted 89-4 on the motion to proceed on the legislative vehicle for a continuing resolution (CR). The Senate CR would fund federal agencies, delay the OMB proposed rule, and provide a clean extension of surface transportation reauthorization through December 11, 2026. The measure also contains a provision delaying the federal ban on certain intoxicating hemp-derived THC products from November 12 to December 11, 2026. ...

Grants Update: Week of August 10, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
New Grant Opportunities Department of Agriculture FY 2026 Housing Preservation Grant Program (HPG) WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program provides grants to qualified organizations to assist low- and very low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. Funds may be used for a range of housing preservation activities, including installing handicap accessibility features and repairing or replacing electrical wiring, foundations, roofs, insulation, heating systems, and water and waste disposal systems. Click here for more information. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants include state and local governmental entities, ...

Small Steps, Big Impact

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
By: @Kristin Withrow In advance of his keynote address at the CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase in Palm Desert this August, keynote speaker Ben Nemtin explained what he’s learned about tackling big goals - and how it can have big impact on public sector agencies. At its core, Nemtin’s philosophy is simple: big goals aren’t achieved in giant leaps. They’re achieved through consistent, incremental action. When Nemtin and his friends created a list of “impossible” dreams—everything from playing basketball with the President to delivering a baby—they weren’t just chasing adventure. They made a commitment that for every item they crossed off ...

SDRMA August Recommended Safety Talk– Hazard Communication

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
Submitted by SDRMA. For more information email memberplus@sdrma.org If your employees work with or may be exposed to hazardous chemicals, it’s important to understand the Cal/OSHA requirements outlined in CCR 5194 , which include, but are not limited to: Developing a written Hazard Communication Program Conducting a hazard assessment to identify the chemicals employees may be exposed to during their work activities. Obtaining Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and ensuring they are readily accessible for each hazardous chemical in the workplace. Conducting annual employee training on the hazards of the chemicals they work with, how to read ...

Sacramento Suburban Water District Purchases Groundwater Well Contractor to Secure Scarce Expertise

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
Submitted by Sacramento Suburban Water District Move brings specialized well maintenance capability in-house to strengthen system reliability. Sacramento Suburban Water District ( SSWD ) announced that it has purchased Kirby’s Pump and Mechanical (KPM), a California Class A General Contractor that specializes in mechanical work on groundwater well pump systems. Licensed groundwater well contractors are in short supply in California. Adding KPM’s expertise allows the District to maintain pumping capacity and respond quickly to repairs, both reactively and proactively. SSWD entered into an exclusive agreement with KPM in 2023 to maintain and repair ...

Federal Update: Week of August 3, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
The Senate is in session. The Senate returns today to consider the CR. The House will return on August 31, 2026. FY27 Appropriations: Today, the Senate will hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed on the legislative vehicle for a continuing resolution (CR). On Sunday, the Senate Appropriations Committee released CR text that would fund federal agencies through December 11, 2026. The Senate’s CR includes language that would delay the implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule through December 11, 2026, and provides a clean extension of surface transportation reauthorization through the same date. If the Senate ...

Grants Update: Week of August 3, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
New Grant Opportunities Department of the Interior FY 2026 BLM Forest and Woodlands Resource Management - Bureau wide WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to maintain and improve the resilience of forest and woodland ecosystems to wildfire, insects, disease, and drought through density management using timber sales, stewardship agreements, and other agreements. Click here for more information. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are state, local, and special district governments; public, private, and state-controlled institutions of higher education; Tribal governments and organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501c3 ...

Make Your Voice Heard: Submit a 2027 Legislative Proposal

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti CSDA is now accepting legislative proposal submissions for the 2027 legislative year. Districts are encouraged to submit ideas to create new laws or improve existing laws that affect special districts statewide, regardless of geographic location or the services they provide. Submissions will be reviewed by CSDA staff and assessed for political implications, potential consequences, cost of implementation, likelihood of success, and other relevant factors. Proposals will then be presented to the CSDA Legislative Committee for consideration. CSDA members are invited to submit a proposal by September 2. Share your legislative proposal ...

CSDA Supports Effort to Preserve Goat Grazing for Wildfire Prevention

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti For decades, goats have played an important role in California's wildfire prevention efforts by reducing vegetation and managing hazardous fuels. From protecting critical infrastructure to clearing overgrown open space, prescribed grazing has become an increasingly valuable tool for local governments working to reduce wildfire risk. However, a recently expired labor provision now threatens the economic viability of many commercial goat grazing operations. Why it matters to special districts Special districts of all types rely on prescribed grazing to manage vegetation, reduce wildfire fuels, and maintain defensible space around ...

CalPERS Relaunches Rulemaking for Retired Workers Regulation

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
By: @Aaron Avery The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has recently reinitiated its rulemaking for its Regulation Defining Limited Duration for Post-Retirement Appointments. The purpose of the rulemaking is to provide a definition of “limited duration” that includes restrictions on the duration for which CalPERS retired annuitants may work in retirement at a CalPERS-covered employer (this regulation is limited to the period of time constituting “limited duration” not the number of hours that may be worked each year or other requirements for working in retirement). CalPERS previously advanced its regulation in a 2022 rulemaking . (See ...

Brown Act Bill Grants Relief to Eligible Legislative Bodies

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
By: @Marcus Detwiler Senate Bill 1187 (Durazo) , a bill that has nearly reached the Governor’s desk, would make major revisions to the obligations placed on “eligible legislative bodies” that were enacted as part of last year’s Senate Bill 707 by the same author . Specifically, for those special districts whose boards met statutory criteria designating them as eligible legislative bodies – a fraction of the special districts in California – the obligations connected to translating materials or facilitating translations as a part of the Brown Act would cease to exist. Because SB 1187 contains an urgency clause, the elimination of these translation obligations ...

CARB Submits Finalized ACF Regulations to Office of Administrative Law

By Morgan Leskody posted 11 days ago
By: @Brittney Barsotti On July 30, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) submitted the final Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which are posted online . The application and scope of the regulations have retained some language from the most recent 15-day draft , stating the regulations apply to any fleets that contract with a state or local government. The inclusion of the contractor language is concerning because this could sweep in private fleets – this issue is discussed more below. This issue is further detailed in CSDA’s 2nd 15-day comment letter which can be viewed here . CSDA’s repeated ...

Special Districts at the Intersection of AI and Infrastructure

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
By; Robert Dugan, Director, Placer County Water Agency On data readiness, supply chain transformation, and the governance advantage districts already have Special districts exist because communities decided that certain infrastructure responsibilities are too important, too technical, and too long-term to be managed well by general government. Water. Sanitation. Fire protection. Recreation. Resource conservation. The governance model is built on the premise that focused accountability produces better outcomes than diffuse responsibility. Artificial intelligence is about to test that premise in a new way — and I think special districts are better positioned ...

CSDA Board of Directors Election Results – Seat C

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
The results are in! Congratulations to our newly elected and re-elected CSDA Board of Directors members for Seat C. We are pleased to announce that our incumbent directors have each been re-elected to serve another three-year term, and we are excited to welcome a new board member representing the Northern Network. 2027–2029 CSDA Board of Directors – Seat C Bay Area Network Antonio Martinez Board Vice President, Contra Costa Water District (Re-elected) Central Network Curtis Jorritsma General Manager, Hilmar County Water District (Re-elected) Coastal Network Vincent Ferrante Commissioner, Moss Landing Harbor District (Re-elected) Northern ...

Grants Update: Week of July 27, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
New Grant Opportunities Grants for Buses & Bus Facilities Program and Low-No Program Are Now Open! The Federal Transit Administration just released a joint Notice of Funding Opportunity for two programs: the Low or No Emission Grant Program and the Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program. Together, approximately $610 million is available for transit bus and facility projects this cycle. FTA encourages applicants to apply to both programs when a project is eligible under each. If a dual-submitted project is selected for funding, FTA will determine which program funds the award. Both programs are open to local government entities that operate ...

Federal Update: Week of July 27, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
The Week Ahead 7.27 – 7.31 The Senate is in session. The Senate returns today to consider nominations. The House will return on August 31, 2026. Congress FY27 Appropriations: Last week, the House passed a stopgap CR measure in a 220-205 vote to fund the government through December 4, 2026. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has reportedly told appropriators that he wants to finalize a Senate version of the CR this week. Unlike the House measure, the Senate CR is expected to include most, but not all, of the White House’s requested anomalies . OMB Proposed Rule: Democratic appropriators, including Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), ...

Restoring the Source: Protecting the San Gabriel Valley’s Watershed

By Morgan Leskody posted 19 days ago
By: Patty Cortez, Assistant General Manager, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District On a bright Saturday morning, volunteers gather in the Angeles National Forest with a shared purpose: restoring and protecting the watershed that supports the San Gabriel Valley. Traveling from across the region, participants range from Girl Scout troops and college students to seniors, all ready to spend the day planting trees, collecting trash, and making a tangible difference through the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District’s (Upper Water) Watershed Restoration Program. Safeguarding the Source of Local Water The Watershed Restoration Program ...