Annual Conference Session Materials
2026 Session Materials
Materials will be posted as they are made available.
- 2026 League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo Program
- A California Playbook for Funding Big Ideas
- All Hands on Deck Delivering Homeownership, Repair, and Affordability at Scale
- Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Case Studies
- Bots, Bulk Comments, and the Brown Act
- Building Council Effectiveness After A Contentious Election
- Campaign Season and City Hall Staying Legal, Ethical, and Out of Trouble
- City be Nimble, City be Quick Tools for Attracting and Retaining Businesses
- Designing Transitional Housing Through Collaboration
- E-Bikes at a Crossroads What California Cities Can Do Now
- Family-Friendly Cities Building and Investing in Youth Development Infrastructure
- Governing in the Fishbowl: How to Lead While Under 24/7 Scrutiny
- Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors and Officials (AB 1661)
- How Cities Are Regaining Operational Control
- How Cities Can Deliver Real Economic Relief
- How the Employee Experience Shapes Government and Community Outcomes
- How to Create Community Champions
- How to Strengthen Systems, Use Data, and Deliver Effective Services with Limited Resources
- Leading Productive and Respectful City Council Meetings
- Liability Landscape Update for California Cities
- Manhattan Beach’s Model for Successfully Reducing Homelessness
- Money for Nothing - Financing Economic Development Housing and Infrastructure Projects
- 2026 Playbook for Developments in Municipal Finance Law and Policy
- Preparing for Upcoming California Wildfire Defensible Space Regulations
- Public Funds Investing 101
- Rebuilding Roads In-House for Less Than Half the Cost
- Reducing Burnout: 10-Minute Practices for City Leaders and Staff Handout
- Reducing Burnout: 10-Minute Practices for City Leaders and Staff
- Rethinking How Cities Protect Communities
- Revitalizing Downtowns Without Losing the “Old Town Soul”
- SB 827 Fundamentals of Municipal Finances and Financial Management
- Small and Rural Cities Winning Playbook
- Strategies for Weathering the Next Natural Disaster
- Strengthening Public Trust and Safety Through Accreditation
- The Path to Shared Prosperity Advancing Economic Mobility from State to Local Action
- The Statewide Impact of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in California
- Tips for Supporting Employee Well-Being in Times of Change
- Tools for Navigating Immigration Policy Changes
- Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles (AB 1234)
- What Cities Must Know About New Housing Mandatory Inspection and Enforcement Laws
- What Stranger Things Can Teach Us About Leadership
Read all Speaker Bios here.
Download all Whitepapers.
View the City Attorneys Department Bylaws.
View the Proposed Bylaws Amendments and officers’ statement of support for the amendments.
Take the survey! Did you attend a Legal Issues Session? Tell us your thoughts here!
Legal Issues Session (Course ID AC261 – 1.5 hours Participatory MCLE)
General Municipal Litigation Update
Peter Pierce, Shareholder, Richards, Watson & Gershon
Kyle Brochard, Shareholder, Richards, Watson & Gershon
Paper | Presentation
Expanding Public Access: SB 707’s Updates to the Brown Act
Aleks Giragosian, Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC
Nicholaus Norvell, Partner, Best, Best, & Krieger
Paper | Presentation
Legal Issues Session (Course ID AC262 – 1.5 hours Participatory MCLE)
Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update
Stephen Velyvis, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
Paper | Presentation
Inspections, Abatements and the Fourth Amendment
Matthew Silver, Managing Partner, Civica Law, APC
Paper | Presentation
Legal Issues Session (Course ID AC263 – 3.25 hours Participatory MCLE)
California Municipalities and Federal Government Actions
James Ross, Partner and Head of Affirmative Litigation Practice, Renne Public Law Group
Jōvan Grogan, City Manager, Santa Clara
Yibin Shen, City Attorney, Alameda
Paper | Presentation
Financial and Policy Tools to Support Affordable Housing
Elena Gerli, Partner, Burke Williams & Sorensen LLP
Dima Galkin, Director, Community Development + Housing Consultant, Harris & Associates
Maxwell Blum, Partner, Burke Williams & Sorensen LLP
Paper | Presentation
Labor and Employment Litigation Update
Danny Y. Yoo, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper | Presentation
Gearing Up for Stricter E-Bike Laws: A Playbook for Cities
Teresa Acosta, First Vice President, League of California Cities and Council Member, Carlsbad
Jason Arnotti, Police Lieutenant, Carlsbad
Jennifer True, Senior Assistant City Attorney, Carlsbad
Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, Carlsbad
Paper | Presentation
Construction Delivery Methods: How to Choose?
Douglas McManamon, Principal, Meyers Nave
Paper | Presentation
Legal Issues Session (Course ID AC264 – 1.25 hours Participatory MCLE)
Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update
John Pearson, Deputy City Attorney, San Diego
Paper | Presentation
A Practical Guide to Litigation and Crisis Management Communication
Amanda Griffith, Director-Litigation, Sedgwick
Marc Zafferano, Senior Counsel, Boucher Law PC
Paper | Sample Media Questions|Presentation
Legal Issues Session (Course ID AC265 – 1 Hour Legal Ethics MCLE)
Nothing but the Truth? Candor and Honesty for City Attorneys
David King, Attorney, Hensley Law Group
Hon. Alma D. Puentes, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge/Former Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem, El Monte
Paper | Presentation
2025 Session Materials
- 2025 Annual Conference Program
- 2025 Playbook for Developments in Municipal Finance Law and Policy
- A Collaborative Discussion on Building Youth-Centered Cities - Assessment Tool
- A Collaborative Discussion on Building Youth-Centered Cities Toolkit
- Addressing the Erosion of Trust in Local Government
- ADUs, Group Homes, and Short-Term Rentals - Local Regulation and Enforcement
- Advancing Municipal Climate Action Through Partnership
- Are Council Meetings Getting Harder - Here’s How to Make Them Smoother
- Are Council Meetings Getting Harder - The Golden Rules for New Council Members - Western City Magazine
- Are Council Meetings Getting Harder - Tips for Effective Council Meetings - Western City 2024
- Beyond Boundaries - How Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Westminster are Leading Innovation in Homeless
- Building Climate Resilience - Innovating for the Future in a Changing Funding Landscape
- Building Family-Friendly Cities - Child Care as Critical Infrastructure
- City Clerks Workshop - Artificial Intelligence in Action - Practical Applications
- Coordinating Emergency Response Who Does What and How to Prepare - Resources
- Disaster Recovery Checklist and Best Practices for Municipalities
- Economic Mobility and You
- Effective Parking Management and the Future of Urban Parking
- Elevating Mental Fitness in the Workplace
- Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors and Officials (AB 1661)
- How Cities are Centralizing Communication to Boost Community Engagement
- How Redlands Reduced Homelessness Through Strategy and Collaboration
- How to Pass a Local Sales Tax Measure in Today’s Political Environment
- Maximizing Resources and Making Crime-Solving More Efficient with Data Intelligence Tools
- Navigating Wireless Facility Permitting, Charge Fair Market Values and Avoiding Common Pitfalls
- PBx Lessons in Branding for Local Jurisdictions
- Proactive Wildfire Preparedness Programs for Municipalities
- Proposition 36 Implementation Navigating the Local Challenges
- Reducing the Cost and Burden of General Plan Updates
- Reframing Career Challenges as Leadership Milestones
- Small Cities - Building Connections and Sharing Solutions
- Tell It to Me One More Time - Sharing the Story of Your City’s Financial Situation
- The New Grants and Economic Development Playbook
- The Power of Public Transportation in Shaping Communities
- The Rising Tide of Plastic Litigation - What Cities Need to Know
- Transforming Santa Ana’s Public Library into a Community Hub
- Trial by Fire - Communicating Effectively During Disasters
- Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles (AB 1234)
- Using Development Agreements to Build Community Benefit Projects
- Why Every Municipality Needs a Technology Plan – Yes, Even the Small Ones!
MCLE Session Materials
Legal Issues and City Attorneys Session Materials
Read all Speaker Bios here.
Download all Whitepapers here.
View the City Attorneys Department Bylaws here.
View the Proposed Bylaws Amendments here and read the officers' statement of support for the amendments here.
Check out the CEB Municipal Law Handbook here.
General Municipal Litigation Update
Speaker: Meghan Wharton, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley
Dangerous Conditions: Avoiding and Defending Public Property Liability Claims
Speakers: Brian Hamblet, Partner, Burke Williams & Sorensen
Robert Theiring, Senior Associate, Burke Williams & Sorensen
Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update
Speakers: Christie Crowl, Senior Partner, Jarvis Fay
Rick Jarvis, Managing Partner, Jarvis Fay
Meeting Housing Needs while Balancing CEQA and Fire Prevention Efforts
Speakers: Rubin Cruse, Partner, Renne Public Law Group
Kathryn Oehlschlager, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Affordable Housing: What City Attorneys (and Cities) Need to Know
Speakers: Andrew Shen, Partner, Renne Public Law Group
Gabrielle Janssens, Partner, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
Matthew Summers, City Attorney, Barsstow and Shareholder, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley
California Voting Rights Act: Conversations Around Achieving Election Equity
Speakers: Ryder Smith, President, Tripepi Smith
Doug Johnson, President, National Demographics Corporation
Chris Skinnell, Partner, Nielsen Merksamer, LLP
Sheri Damon, City Attorney, Seaside
Labor and Employment Litigation Update
Speakers: Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Geoffrey Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper | Presentation | Handout
Policy Shifts and Legal Battles: The Trump Administration’s Impact on Local Government
Speakers: Jena Acos, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Justin M. Bogda, Associate, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Paige Samblanet, Attorney, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update
Speakers: Andrea Velasquez, Sacramento
AI’s Seat at the Table: The Role of AI in Labor Relations
Speakers: Alexander Voldberding, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Gabriella Kamran, Associate, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper | Presentation | Printable Slide Handout
Public Records Act: Compliance and Tips for Navigating Difficult Requests
Speakers: Christine Wood, Partner, Best Best & Krieger
- 2024 Annual Conference Program
- 2024 Playbook for Developments in Municipal Finance Law and Policy
- A Collaborative Approach to Combat Fentanyl
- Are Cities Ready for an Electric Future
- Are You Ready for Disaster - Implementing Effective Crisis Management in the Early Stages of an Event
- Battling Misinformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
- Building Vibrant Communities Leveraging Partnerships for Fun and Engagement
- California Economic Forecast - Navigating Economic Trends
- Capital Improvement Funding for Technology and Innovation Within Cities - Black Leadership for Economic Development
- City Clerks Workshop - Local Democracy in the United States - Institutions, Trust, and Public Policy
- City Successes in Responding to Homelessness
- Code Enforcement
- Cyber Security and IT Strategy for Municipalities
- Don't Confuse Kindness with Weakness How to Handle Disruptive Public Meetings
- Economic Development and Public Finance - New Best Friends Forever
- Empowering Latino Homeownership - An Action Plan - Mojica
- Essential Tips for Effective Council Meetings
- Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors and Officials - AB 1661 Training
- Housing Law Jeopardy
- How a Transparency Portal Can Improve Accountability and Inform Citizens
- How Embedded Acoustic Lead Detection is Resolving Non-Revenue Water Loss
- How to Integrate Real-Time Crime Centers and Advanced Training Simulators
- How Your City Can Help Secure Residents the Best Possible Insurance Rates - Molloy
- Integrating Higher Education and Public Sector Employment
- Main Street Climate Resiliency - Urban and Rural Solutions
- Maximize Inflation Reduction Act Funding for Your Community
- Navigating Homelessness - Press Release Orange County Continuum of Care Approves Funding for Regional Navigation Centers
- Navigating Homelessness - A Successful Regional Partnership in North Orange County
- Navigating Homelessness - Orange & Los Angeles Counties
- Navigating Homelessness - Orange County Service Planning Areas Map
- Show Me the Money - Evaluating and Explaining Your City’s Financial Condition (3)
- Teamwork Makes the Dream Work - Effective City Council-City Manager Relationships Create Thriving Communities
- The AI Advantage - Automating Road Assessments for More Accurate Pavement Management
- The Rise of E-Bikes
- Trolls on Social Media Can I Block Them
- Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws & Principles - AB 1234 Training
- Where the Sidewalk Will End - The Dire Outlook For State Transportation Funding
- Winning Fistfuls of Dollars for Cities
- Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness
- Your Housing Element is Certified! Now What
MCLE Session Materials
See the MCLE session schedule here.
Read all Speaker Bios here.
Download all Whitepapers here.
LAC Report here
General Municipal Litigation Update
Speakers: Mark J. Austin, Partner, Burke Williams & Sorensen
Matthew Slentz, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC
Paper | Presentation
Hate-Bombing and Poetry Recitations: Handling Disruptive Public Comment
Speakers: Amy Ackerman, Partner, Renne Public Law Group
Eli Beckman, Mayor, Corte Madera
Jonathan V. Holtzman, Founding Partner, Renne Public Law Group
Paper | Presentation
Land Use and CEQA Litigation
Speakers: Christie Crowl, Partner, Jarvis Fay
John Luebberke, Of Counsel, Herum Crabtree Suntag
Paper | Presentation
Development Agreements - All You Need To Know For Successful Development
Speaker: Gabrielle Janssens, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
Karen Tiedemann, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
Paper | Presentation
The Builder’s Remedy: Fear and Trembling and Local Control
Speakers: Dave Rand, Founding Partner, Rand Paster & Nelson LLP
Susan Cola, Assistant City Attorney, Santa Monica
Barbara Kautz, Partner, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
Paper | Presentation
Improving Civility
Speaker: Honorable Wendy Chang, Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, Member, California Civility Task Force
Honorable Mary H. Strobel (Retired), Signature Resolution
Paper | Presentation
Labor and Employment Litigation
Speakers: Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Jennifer Rosner, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper | Presentation | Handout
Homeless Enforcement in Light of Boise, Grants Pass, and Supreme Court Review!
Speaker: Curtis Wright, Managing Partner, Serviam by Wright LLP
Paper | Presentation
Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation
Speaker: Sean Richmond, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Paper | Presentation
A Comprehensive Update on the Evolving Landscape of Tenant Protections
Speaker: Nazanin Salehi, Associate, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
Thomas Webber, Associate, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
Paper | Presentation
Surplus Land Act (Part 2)
Speakers: Jena S. Acos, City Attorney, Carpinteria, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Sydne Rennie, Associate Attorney, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Paper | Presentation
- 2023 Annual Conference Program
- Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis
- Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis - McChristian
- A Local Agency's Guide to HCD's Housing Accountability Unit
- A Tale of Two Cities Disparities in Mental Health
- Adapting Main Street for a Changing Retail Landscape
- After the Storm Lessons Learned from the California Storms
- AI in Governance- Opportunities and Ethical Considerations
- Assets and Opportunities Surplus Land Act 101
- Black Health and Wellness Healthcare Services within Communities of Color
- Building Americas Greenest City Hall
- Building in Economically Challenging Times
- Building Mobile Crisis Response Teams - Linkins
- Building Mobile Crisis Response Teams - Planck and Shyne
- California Cannabis Seven Years After Legalization
- California Cannabis- Seven Years After Legalization - Hillsman
- California Economic Forecast A Look Ahead
- CalPERS Funding Levels, Projections and Strategic Update
- Case Study Response to Homelessness in the City of Rialto - Kling
- Centralized Customer Relations
- City Clerks Workshop- 2024 Elections Trends, Legislation, and Practical Advice
- Connecting and Engaging to Make a Difference Mentoring Not Just Mangaging
- Connecting With Your Community Through Human-Centered Communication
- Cybersecurity Checklist - Kaufman
- DEI Recruitment at All Levels of Your Organization - Winney
- Enhancing Emergency Preparedness Through Whole Community Collaboration
- Fees! You Got ‘Em. How Do They Work Today - Colantuono
- Fees! You Got 'Em. How Do They Work Today - Seufert and Turner
- From Idea to Action Budgeting for Strategic Impact
- Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors and Officials (AB 1661) (5)
- Hiring Future Local Leaders How to Attract Top Talent
- Homelessness to Housed How Cities Create and Leverage Strong Partnerships - Schneider
- Increasing Collaboration Between Local Governments and Utilities on Installing Infrastructure
- Introduction to the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System
- Managing Difficult Conversations with Constituents
- Minority Leaders Reshaping Local Government
- Navigating The New State Housing Laws
- One City, One Team Establishing Effective City Manager-Council Relations
- Opt In Why Cities Should Care About Digital Rights
- Reducing Wildfire Risk to Wildland-Urban Interface Communities
- Righting Wrongs Addressing Discrimination Against AAPIs
- Stop Hate How Local Elected Officials Can Combat Rising Hate Crimes and Hate Speech - Mei
- The Mayor Said What! Staying Ahead of the News
- The Joint Powers Act and its Utilization in California
- Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles (AB 1234)
- What about CSA’s and other Revenue Tools?
- What the Bleep!” Limits of Public Comment
- What the heck is a CSA?
MCLE Session Materials
Access the MCLE sessions agenda here.
Access the MCLE Evaluation form here.
Read speaker bios here.
Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law (MCLE Specialty Credit for Technology in the Practice of Law)
Speakers: Peter Lee, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, Director, Center for Innovation, Law, and Society, UC Davis School of Law
Matthew Slentz, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Paper |
PowerPoint
General Municipal Litigation Update
Speakers: Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Meghan Wharton, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Paper |
PowerPoint
Meeting Disruptions, Workplace Violence Restraining Orders, and the Bane Act
Speakers: Jon R. di Cristina, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Ryan Richardson, Chief Assistant City Attorney, Oakland
Paper | PowerPoint
Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update
Speaker: John Luebberke, Of Counsel, Herum Crabtree Suntag
Paper |
PowerPoint
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing – State and Federal Law
Speakers: Celeste Stahl Brady, Shareholder, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
Yolanda M. Summerhill, Assistant City Attorney, Newport Beach
Paper | PowerPoint
Case Study: A Capital City’s Approach to Unsheltered Community
Speakers: Emilio Camacho, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Aaron M. Israel, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Beau Parkhurst, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Paper | PowerPoint
Labor and Employment Litigation Update
Speakers: Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper |
PowerPoint
CalPERS Legal Update, Emerging Issues, and Common Compliance Problems
Speakers: Steve M. Berliner, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Michael D. Youril, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper | PowerPoint
Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update
Speakers: Jeremiah Johnson, Partner, ColeHuber
Neil Okazaki, Senior Deputy City Attorney / Constitutional Policing Advisor, Corona
Paper | PowerPoint
Pay to Play No More? Levine Act (SB1439)
Speakers: Robert Fabela, City Attorney, Anaheim
Amanda B. Freeman, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Fresno
Rebecca L. Moon, Senior Assistant City Attorney, Sunnyvale
Paper|
PowerPoint
Practicing Ethics (MCLE Specialty Credit for Legal Ethics)
Speaker: Valerie Silverman Massey, Chief Deputy City Attorney, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, San Diego
Paper | PowerPoint