Eleven Cities Awarded Cal Cities' Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Last month, the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) announced the 11 winners of the 2025 Helen Putnam Awards for Excellence. Since 1982, the awards have been presented to California municipalities for innovative programs or services that have improved quality of life and delivery of services for residents. 

Below is a list of the 2025 award recipients, provided by Cal Cities. 

You can read the full announcement from Cal Cities here. 

• City of Baldwin Park, Housing Programs and Innovations
  Baldwin Park’s Homeless Reduction Initiative features two “tiny home” facilities: Esperanza Villa for adults needing immediate shelter and Serenity Homes, the region’s first family-focused bridge housing project.
• City of Burbank, Health and Wellness Programs
  Burbank’s Adaptive Sports Expo (BASE) celebrates inclusion with adaptive sports and activities, fostering awareness, accessibility, and community through growing partnerships and participation.
• City of Downey, Community Services and Economic Development
  City of STEM, LA’s official science festival, unites 200+ organizations for a month-long celebration of STEM and creativity, engaging diverse communities with rich learning resources and activities.
• City of Hayward, Intergovernmental Collaboration
  Learn to Earn and Hire Hayward funds training for 300+ residents, creating $1.2M in salaries and connecting residents with skilled, high-wage jobs through strong partnerships.
• City of Lake Elsinore, Planning and Environmental Quality
  Lake Elsinore’s 2022 Lake Management Plan addressed long-standing water quality challenges worsened by heat and flooding, restoring the city’s historic crown jewel and revitalizing a once-celebrated destination.
• City of Moreno Valley, Partners Award for Excellence in City-Business Relations
  Moreno Valley’s Apprenticeship Hub connects residents to in-demand careers through apprenticeships, expos, and training, while providing employers with a skilled talent pipeline and boosting regional prosperity.
• City of Moreno Valley, Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government
  MoVaLEARNS supports second-year students with a stipend, mentorship, and career resources, reducing financial stress, boosting GPAs, and helping students stay in school.
• City of Needles, Public Works, Infrastructure, Transportation
  Bob Belt Marina Beach Project turned an unsafe riverfront into a climate-resilient park with shaded areas, hydration stations, ADA access, and restrooms, providing refuge from extreme heat and boosting community health and pride.
• City of Norwalk, Public Safety
  Norwalk’s Teen Alliance Program empowers ages 13-18 through community service, leadership, and skill-building, offering volunteer hours, monthly meetings, and community projects that enhance skills while benefiting the community.
• City of Pacifica, Internal Administration
  Pacifica’s AI assistant Ask Rose handles thousands of resident questions with a 92% success rate, improving access, equity, and efficiency in city services.
• City of Santa Paula, Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement
  Santa Paula’s civic Future Leaders Academy, bilingual newsletter, ZenCity feedback, inclusive workshops, and business roundtables help build trust, ethical governance, and community involvement.
• City of Watsonville, Economic Development Through the Arts
  Watsonville Brillante transformed the Civic Plaza Parking Garage into a 12,500-square-foot mosaic mural, celebrating the city’s agricultural roots and cultural diversity.