Help pick the 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence winners

The League of California Cities needs your help picking the 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program winners! Each year, Cal Cities invites city officials to serve as volunteer judges. These juries are vital to the success of this program, which brings positive attention to cities and provides opportunities for city officials to learn from one another.

The Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program honors the outstanding efforts and innovative solutions made by city governments to improve services and residents' quality of life. Winners are recognized at the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo, Western City magazine, a statewide press release, Cal Cities' website, and presentations made at city council meetings.

Cal Cities is recruiting 70 volunteers to serve as judges for 11 categories. Once selected, judges will receive login credentials for the Helen Putnam web portal, where they can access the award applications and submit scores. Juries will convene via Zoom to determine the winners.

To serve as a Helen Putnam Award for Excellence judge - and to get an early look at some great innovations you can use in your city - please fill out an application form by May 10 and email it to Melissa Tualla. Award categories include:

• Community Services and Economic Development
• Economic Development through the Arts
• Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Housing Programs and Innovations
• Intergovernmental Collaboration
• Internal Administration
• Planning and Environmental Quality
• Public Safety
• Public Works, Infrastructure, and Transportation
• Ruth Vreeland Award, Engaging Youth in City Government

If your city has applied under a certain category, please do not volunteer for that category. For questions, please email Melissa Tualla.