Given the broad focus of the Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy on political and social infrastructure, in addition to physical infrastructure facilities, the Institute will create and host a series of Legislative briefings and Leadership Institutes for state and local elected officials and their senior staff members. Given the limitations of term limits at both the state and local level, the part-time nature of most local elected positions and the complexity of infrastructure issues, briefings will be scheduled periodically at the Sacramento Center, the main campus and other appropriate venues to provide substantive briefings on issues related to infrastructure investment, traditional public finance principles and best practices in the area of infrastructure investment as well as process issues related to open meetings and hearings, public participation, handling difficult people and defensive communication skills, dealing with the press and skills training in the role of presiding officer, public speaking and advocacy. Faculty for the briefings and institutes will be drawn from the Schools, Centers and Institutes on the USC campus with an occasional Scholar in Residence for a particular discipline.

To ensure the success of the Legislative Briefings and the Leadership Institutes, the Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy will work closely with the leadership of the California Legislature, the League of Cities, the Special District Association and the California State Association of Counties. Additional funding in the support of the Legislative Briefings and the Leadership Institutes will be solicited.