The California Shelf

Guide to Local Government Finance in California
Michael Multari, et al.
Solano Press Books
PO Box 773, Point Arena, CA 95468
www.solano.com
9781938166174, $90.00, PB, 332pp

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Local-Government-Finance-California/dp/1938166= 175

Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and revised second edition, "Guide to Loca=
l Government Finance in California" by the team of Michael Multari; Michael=
Coleman; Kenneth Hampian; and Bill Statler brings the financial picture fo=
r California governments up to date, while making this comprehensive refere= nce resource even easier to use.

This new edition of "Guide to Local Government Finance in California" provi= des a solid foundation for those who are interested in better understanding=
and navigating the complexity of California local public finance. The firs=
t edition, published in 2012, introduced a unique look at local government = finance covering not only the vital fundamentals - like budgeting, accounti= ng, and investing - but also lesser known yet equally powerful forces that = affect the ability of cities, counties and special districts to deliver ess= ential services. In a constantly changing environment, economic conditions = evolve, new laws are enacted, different issues become especially topical to=
the public and the academy.

This new second edition of Guide to Local Government in California addresse=
s those changes with discussions of: Court decisions related to rate struct= ures and pensions; Fiscal reforms that were emerging in 2012 that have been=
advanced (or dropped); Increased interest in the early diagnosis of possib=
le fiscal difficulties; How some of the benefits of redevelopment that were=
lost might be recaptured, including Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Dist= ricts; Other incremental changes to the system.

In addition, much of the statistical information contained in the numerous = charts and graphs has been updated with more current data, and the graphics=
have been improved. The glossary has been significantly expanded to help c= larify some of the technical terms used in the book. The primary purpose of=
this book is to provide a solid foundation for those who are interested in=
better understanding and navigating the complexity of California local pub= lic finance.

Critique: An essential resource for public agency managers and other staff,=
including planners and policy analysts, as well as appointed and elected p= ublic officials, teachers, students, and citizens at large who want to unde= rstand and improve California's complex system of local government finance,=
"Guide to Local Government Finance in California" is impressively comprehe= nsive, and throughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. Feat= uring four Appendices (An Overview of Public Finance Theory; Detailed City = Budget Process; Presenting Financial Information; Useful Information Source= s), a two page Bibliography, a sixteen page Glossary, and a seven page Inde=
x, "Guide to Local Government Finance in California" will prove an invaluab=
le addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Cali= fornia Governmental Policy & Finance collections. It should be noted that "= Guide to Local Government Finance in California" is also available in a dig= ital book format (Kindle, $45.00).

Editorial Note #1: Government Finance Almanac, an online resource of data, = analyses and articles on California municipal finance and budgeting. He is = the principal fiscal policy advisor both to the California Society of Munic= ipal Finance Officers and, for over twenty years, to the League of Californ=
ia Cities. Coleman is a popular presenter at graduate schools and conferenc= es, and is the author of numerous articles and references on the topic. Col= eman received an MPA from the University of Southern California.

Editorial Note #2: During Ken Hampian's thirty-five year public sector care=
er he served at the county, federal and city levels of government, includin=
g twenty years in San Luis Obispo where he retired as city manager in 2010.=
Honors have included the League of California Cities John S. Nail Award an=
d selection to the prestigious Presidential Management Internship Program. =
In the summer of 2011, Hampian served without compensation as the interim c= ity manager of beleaguered Bell, California, during a time of dire need. Hi=
s service there has been recognized by a variety of professional associatio= ns. Today Hampian teaches, trains, writes, and consults.

Editorial Note #3: Michael Multari was the community development director i=
n Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo before co-founding Crawford, Multari & Clar=
k, Associates, a consulting practice that provided planning and fiscal assi= stance to public agencies throughout California. Since leaving CMCA in 2000=
, he has served as the executive director of the non-profit Morro Bay Natio= nal Estuary Program and has worked on various campus planning projects at C=
al Poly San Luis Obispo. He received an MPA from Princeton University and h=
as been a member of the adjunct faculty in the City and Regional Planning D= epartment at Cal Poly for over twenty years.

Editorial Note #4: Bill Statler served as the director of Finance & Informa= tion Technology for the City of San Luis Obispo for twenty-two years and fo=
r ten years as finance officer for the City of Simi Valley before that. Und=
er his guidance, San Luis Obispo received national recognition for excellen=
ce in its financial planning, budgeting, reporting and management systems. =
He has played a large leadership role in the municipal finance profession, = including serving on the Board of Directors of the League of California Cit= ies as well as president of the California Society of Municipal Finance Off= icers (CSMFO) and the League's Fiscal Officers Department, In 2011, Statler=
was awarded the CSMFO's Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding co= ntributions to the municipal finance profession; and in 2012, he received t=
he Cal-ICMA's Ethical Hero Award for his services to the City of Bell in th=
e aftermath of well-publicized scandals. Statler continues to be deeply inv= olved in the field as a consultant, trainer and author.

Navagating The California Coastal Act
Jana Zimmer
Solano Press Books
PO Box 773, Point Arena, CA 95468
www.solano.com
9781938166211, $80.00, PB, 255pp

https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-California-Coastal-Jana-Zimmer/dp/1938166= 213

Synopsis: With the publication of "Navigating The California Coastal Act", = Jana Zimmer presents the only book that provides a comprehensive but concis=
e overview and guide to practice under the California Coastal Act.

Offering a clear understanding of current substantive standards and procedu= res including how development along the coast is defined, where it may be p= ermitted and under what substantive and procedural standards, and how juris= diction over planning for development and conservation in coastal areas is = determined, "Navigating The California Coastal Act" features practice tips = throughout the book suggest ways to work effectively with Coastal Commissio=
n staff and present cases to the Commission. Navigating the California Coas= tal Act is intended for planners and officials at local, state, and federal=
agencies, as well as property owners, real estate developers, attorneys an=
d judges, interested citizen activists, and students.

The topics covered in "Navigating The California Coastal Act" include: The = Coastal Commission its qualifications, organization, and role in implementa= tion of the Coastal Act; The Local Coastal Program its purposes, processes,=
and common issues; Coastal development permit requirements types of permit=
s, and emerging or recurring issues; The Coastal Commission hearing and app= eal process; Interpreting and applying Coastal Act standards; Other relevan=
t agencies and laws; Enforcement of the Coastal Act; Judicial review.

Appendices contain a glossary of terms and summaries of key legal cases. "N= avigating The California Coastal Act" reflects both a love of the coast, an=
d a love of the law, and is enhanced by extraordinary photography, courtesy=
of Reeve Woolpert, and the artwork of the author.

Critique: "Navigating The California Coastal Act" is enhanced for the reade=
r with the inclusion of illustrations, a two page listing of Acknowledgment=
s, two Appendices (Glossary of Terms & Table of Authorities), and a three p= age Index. Comprehensive and exceptionally well organized and presented, "N= avigating The California Coastal Act" is unreservedly recommended for perso= nal, professional, community, and academic library instructional reference = collections. It should be noted that "Navigating The California Coastal Act=
" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $40.00).

Editorial Note: Jana Zimmer is a Santa Barbara-based attorney, arbitrator, = and former Coastal Commissioner with over 35 years of experience in work un= der the California Coastal Act. During her legal career, she represented pu= blic agencies, environmental organizations, and private parties with issues=
before local government and the Coastal Commission. From 2011 to 2015, she=
served as an at large appointee of the Speaker of the Assembly, John Perez=
.. She served as Vice-Chair of the Coastal Commission from December 2013 to = July 2015. Ms. Zimmer currently works as an expert witness, facilitator, an=
d governmental relations consultant specializing in Coastal Act matters. Sh=
e remains licensed to practice in California, the 9th Circuit, and before t=
he U.S. Supreme Court.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
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The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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