Everything you need to know about the 2025 City Leaders Summit

By Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

Will you be one of the approximately 400 city officials in Sacramento next week for Cal Cities' biggest advocacy event, the City Leaders Summit? If so, here's what to expect.

Get started with a briefing on advocacy priorities and a member rally

The summit kicks off on April 23 with a walkthrough of Cal Cities' top advocacy priorities, followed by a member rally and press conference on Cal Cities' budget priorities. Together, city officials will make a unified call for ongoing funding to prevent and reduce homelessness, funding to implement Proposition 36, and protections to the funding obligations in last year's $10 billion climate bond.

That day, city officials can also lobby lawmakers and get an in-depth look at the top legislative issues from lawmakers, subject matter experts, and other city officials. The day ends with a legislative reception hosted by the California State Association of Counties and Cal Cities and sponsored by Cal Cities Partners.

Be sure to check in and grab your summit badge upon arrival. Individuals without badges will not be able to enter educational sessions and receptions. Equally important to note: Cal Cities will not provide lunch on the first day. If you want to stay at the convention center, lunch will be available for purchase at a food truck in the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center Plaza.

Discover solutions and strategies for local challenges

Thursday and Friday will feature educational sessions on statewide topics, including gang prevention, environmental inequities, disruptive public comments, forever chemicals, governance, zoning, and more.

The summit will also feature two exciting keynote presentations. Tristan Cleveland, an urban planner and researcher, will give a keynote address on April 24 on how to redesign cities in a way that draws people together and restores trust. Closing out the summit is Lee Silber, an entrepreneur and best-selling author. He will help city officials understand what motivates each generation to vote and how to create personalized messages for different age groups.

Celebrate cities!

Join Cal Cities in celebrating California Cities Week at the summit. The weeklong celebration, April 20-26, recognizes the work cities do for all Californians. During the summit, there will be opportunities to boost awareness about the value of cities, as well as honor the people - city officials like YOU - who work tirelessly to deliver essential services.

Want to prep before the summit?

Documents with key information - including Cal Cities' state budget ask and the top bills impacting cities - will be distributed during the summit. However, you can start prepping for your meetings today by reviewing previous Cal Cities Advocate articles.

Cal Cities Advocate has featured articles about Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget, Cal Cities' sponsored bills, the top bills in each issue area, Prop. 36, and other issues. Cal Cities also has a weekly primer on the biggest bills with direct impacts to cities.

What else do I need to know?

Online registration ends April 16, but officials can still register on-site if space is available. Registration for all three days starts at $650 for city officials from any member city. Summit registration includes admission to all educational sessions, the Wednesday reception, Thursday breakfast and lunch, Friday breakfast, and access to all program materials.