Gold Briefs Council on League of Cities Meeting

Councilman Julian Gold discussed his experience at the California League of Cities educational seminar for newly elected officials at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

"It's really a primer of what new council members need to know at a fairly high level," said Gold, who started his last March. "Policy roles, land use, the legal powers and obligations of a council member, the relationship between the council and the mayor, elementary city finances" and ethics were among the topics covered during the event in Sacramento last week.

"Among the side benefits of this trip was an opportunity to meet briefly with some of our lobbyists up there and discuss some of the issues in Sacramento that affect the city," Gold said. "The single best opportunity, though, was actually the conversation with the other new council members and the mayors."

Gold noted Beverly Hills' relatively solid economic status compared with other California locales that have been hit hard by high unemployment and depressed housing markets.  

"It made me recognize how fortunate we are," he said. "There are many cities in this state that are in really, really dire circumstances."

Gold attended the conference with City Manager Jeff Kolin.

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