City Attorneys Spring Conference

May 8-10, 2024

Westin Rancho Mirage

71333 Dinah Shore Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA

Register*

Join the League of California Cities for three days of educational content and networking at the next Spring Conference.

The conference provides city attorneys with in-depth information about the latest municipal law issues, along with opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state. Previous topics included emerging issues related to revenue measures, police reform and qualified immunity, housing legislation, and more. MCLE credits are offered.

For sponsorship questions, please contact Associate Manager, Exposition Sales and Event Sponsors, Amy Wade.

For registration questions, please contact Megan Dunn. For program questions, please contact Erin Wylder.

Please see our event and meeting policies.

*With an update in technology, registration will now happen directly through your MyCalCities account. If you have not used your MyCalCities account already, please review details about the portal and contact us for questions. You will be asked to log in to register. Registration will require a credit card. 

2024 Conference Information

Registration

Full Registration Includes:

  • Admission to all educational sessions 
  • Admission to the Wednesday reception; Thursday breakfast and lunch, and Friday breakfast
  • Access to all program materials

Register online through your MyCalCities account by Wednesday, April 24. 

To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact conference registrar, Megan Dunn. Every effort will be made to honor requests submitted.

Registration Process: 

With an update in technology, registration will now happen directly through your MyCalCities account. Please take a moment to set up your account so you are ready to go for all Cal Cities events. If you have not used your MyCalCities account already, please review details about the portal and contact us for questions.   

Note: You will need to be logged into your MyCalCities account to register. You can confirm you are logged in by checking the top of your webpage, which will say “Welcome” and your name when you are signed in.   

Register here.  

If you are registering someone other than yourself, first sign in as yourself and then choose the option to register someone else.    

Note: Registrations through MyCalCities are available for credit card payments only. If you need to pay with a check, create your account and then reach out to conference registrar, Megan Dunn  to request a mail-in registration form. Full payment is due at the time of registration. Registration via mail is available until Wednesday, April 24.   

Conference registration is required to attend all conference activities. Sharing of registration is prohibited.    

View Cal Cities’ event and meeting policies in advance of the conference.   

Full Conference Registration Fees 

Represents Member City    $650 
Represents Non-Member City   $1,650 
Private Firms / Others  $775 

 

One-Day Conference Registration Fees 

Represents Member City    $360 
Represents Non-Member City Officials  $1,360 
Private Firms / All Others  $485 
Guest Reception Pass*  $50 


*The guest/spouse fee is restricted to persons who are not city or public officials, are not related to any Cal Cities Partner or sponsor, and would have no professional reason to attend the conference. It includes admission to Wednesday’s networking reception only. There is no refund for the cancellation of a guest/spouse registration. It is not advisable to use city funds to register a guest/spouse.  

Refund Policy 

Advance registrants unable to attend will receive a refund of rate paid, minus a $75 processing charge, only when a written request is submitted to Megan Dunn, and received on or before Wednesday, April. 24, 2024. Refunds will not be available after this date. If you are unable to attend, you may substitute a colleague for your entire registration.  

Hotel and Travel

A limited number of hotel rooms are available at reduced rates for registered attendees and sponsors. The deadline to reserve your discounted hotel room is Friday, April 5 or until the hotel block is sold out, whichever is sooner. 

STEP ONE: Register for the Conference 
Use the information outlined in the Registration section above to register for the conference. Once completed, details are found in your MyCalCities PortalNOTE: Instructions on how to access your portal can be found at this link.  

STEP TWO: Book a hotel room 
Once you’ve registered, you will receive a confirmation email directing you to the group housing reservations page.

Westin Rancho Mirage
71333 Dinah Shore Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA

Group Hotel Rate (per night): $239 per night, Single/Double Occupancy (plus tax and fees)
Wednesday, May 8 – Friday, May 10

Discounted hotel rates are available until Friday, April 5, or until rooms sell out, whichever comes first. We recommend reserving your room early! 

You must be registered for the conference prior to booking a hotel room. Do not make a hotel reservation unless you are sure it is needed. Your city/company will be financially responsible for all cancellation/attrition fees. 

SCAM NOTICE: There are many hotel scammers who may contact you claiming to be the housing bureau/service for the conference. Official emails regarding the conference will come from addresses ending in @calcities.org or the Westin Rancho Mirage.

Parking and Transportation 

Self parking is complimentary at the Westin for attendees of the conference (subject to change).

Nearby Airports:

Palm Springs International Airport: 6.7 miles away
Ontario International Airport: 80 miles away
Los Angeles International Airport: 110 miles away

Schedule
Explore Previous Conferences

2023 Conference Session Descriptions

View the 2023 City Attorneys Spring Program.

Wednesday, May 17

Registration Open        

10:30 a.m.-6:15 p.m.          

Lunch On Your Own

11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.   

General Session

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Moderator
Eric Danly, President, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Petaluma

  • Welcoming Remarks

Speaker:
Christine Davi, City Attorney, Monterey

  • Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

Speaker:
William Ihrke, City Attorney, Cerritos and La Quinta, Partner, Rutan & Tucker

  • “… and Other Duties as Required”: Talking to Non-Clients

Speakers:
Derek Cole, City Attorney, Oakley, Sutter Creek, Partner, Cole Huber
Joseph “Seph” Petta, Deputy City Attorney, Half Moon Bay, Partner, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney, Vernon
Deepa Sharma, Assistant City Attorney, Piedmont, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen

General Session

3:15-4:45 p.m.

Moderator:
Michael Colantuono, Department Director, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Grass Valley, Managing Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley

  • Implementing Districts - Now That You Have Gone to Districts, What Next?

Speakers:
Holly O. Whatley, Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Doug Johnson, President, National Demographics Corporation
Randi Johl, Legislative Director / City Clerk, Temecula

  • Housing Legislation and Status Density Bonus Law Update

Speakers:
Iman Novin, President, Novin Development Corp.
Patricia Curtin, Legal Counsel to Cities and Special Districts, Fennemore Wendel
Amara L. Morrison, Director, Fennemore Wendel

New Lawyers Meet and Greet (Under 10 years of municipal law practice)

5:00-6:00 p.m.
Meet colleagues, learn about the City Attorneys Department, share ideas about municipal law, and engage with the Cal Cities Attorney Development and Succession Committee.     

Reception

6:00-7:30 p.m.       

Make new friends and see old ones while enjoying delicious appetizers and tasty beverages during the evening networking reception. No host beverages.

Thursday, May 18

Registration Open

8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.       

Breakfast

8:00-9:30 a.m.                

Concurrent Group Discussions

8:30-9:30 a.m.       

New for 2023! Grab breakfast off the buffet and join one of these topical group discussions:

  • Coastal Cities

Moderator:
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney, Carlsbad

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Town Hall

Moderator:
Michael Lawson, City Attorney, Hayward

  • Homelessness and the Unsheltered

Moderator:
Andrew Jared, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley

  • Solo and Small City Attorney Offices

Moderator:
Heather Stroud, City Attorney, South Lake Tahoe

General Session

9:45-11:15 a.m.

Moderator:
Susana Alcala Wood, Second Vice President, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Sacramento

  • Preparation of Official Statements: Interplay between Disclosure Counsel and the Client

Speaker:
Jeffrey Massey, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Lawrence Chan, Shareholder, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth

  • The Unsheltered Residing in our Communities:  Navigating Constitutional and Practical Concerns   

Speakers:
Rene Alejandro Ortega, Partner, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger 
Eric Salbert, Deputy City Attorney, Chico, Senior Associate, Alvarez-Glasman & Colvin              

General Session

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Moderator:
Joseph Montes, First Vice President, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Alhambra, San Marino, and Santa Clarita, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen

  • Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

Speakers:
Alana Rotter, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland
Neil Okazaki, Deputy City Attorney / Police Legal Advisor, Corona

Networking Luncheon

12:30-1:30 p.m.

General Session                           

1:45-3:15 p.m.

Moderator:
Eric Danly, President, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Petaluma

  • Department Business Meeting and Colleague Recognition
    • President’s Report- Eric Danly
    • Department Bylaws Amendments- Eric Danly
    • Director’s Report- Michael Colantuono
    • Colleague Recognition- Department Officers
  • Labor and Employment Litigation Update

Speakers:
Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

General Session                           

3:30-5:00 p.m.

Moderator:
Susana Alcala Wood, Second Vice President, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Sacramento

  • SB 1383: What it is and How it Impacts Every Jurisdiction

Speakers:
Dana Dean, Counsel, Hanson Bridgett
Beth Hummer, Counsel, Hanson Bridgett
Alene Taber, Counsel, Hanson Bridgett

(MCLE Specialty Credit for Implicit Bias)

  • DEIB, Microaggressions, and Decentering: A Path to Cultural Shift in Organizations

Speakers:
David Gonzalez, Associate, Aleshire & Wynder 
Elena Gerli, City Attorney, Suisun City, Assistant City Attorney, La Cañada Flintridge and Rancho Palos Verdes, Partner, Aleshire & Wynder 
Yecenia Vargas, Assistant City Attorney, Perris and Cypress, Associate, Aleshire & Wynder

Friday, May 19

Fun Run

7:00-7:45 a.m.

Sponsored by Best Best & Krieger

Networking Breakfast

8:00-9:00 a.m.

Registration

8:00-10:30 a.m.

General Session

9:00-10:30 a.m.

Moderator:
Joseph Montes, First Vice President, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Alhambra, San Marino, and Santa Clarita, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen

  • General Municipal Litigation Update

Speaker:
Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley

  • What to do When First Amendment Auditors Come to Town

Speaker:
Deborah Fox, Principal and Chair of First Amendment and Trial & Litigation Practice Groups, Meyers Nave

General Session

10:45 a.m.-noon

Moderator:
Michael Colantuono, Department Director, City Attorneys Department and City Attorney, Grass Valley, Managing Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley

(MCLE Specialty Credit for Competence Issues)

  • Impaired Colleague? Addressing Attorney Competency, the Warning Signs, and Getting Help   

Speaker:
Lita Abella, Sr. Program Analyst, Office of Professional Competence, Lawyer Assistance Program, The State Bar of California

  • Closing Remarks and Adjourn

 

MCLE Session Materials

View the 2023 Officers Memo and Proposed Bylaws Amendment.

Complete the Spring Conference evaluation here.

View the full conference papers.

View the speaker bios.

Find papers and PowerPoints for sessions below in order of the agenda:

Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

Speaker:
William Ihrke, City Attorney, Cerritos and La Quinta, Partner, Rutan & Tucker

PowerPoint

 

“… and Other Duties as Required”: Talking to Non-Clients

Speakers:
Derek Cole, City Attorney, Oakley, Sutter Creek, Partner, Cole Huber
Joseph “Seph” Petta, Deputy City Attorney, Half Moon Bay, Partner, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney, Vernon
Deepa Sharma, Assistant City Attorney, Piedmont, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen

Paper | PowerPoint

 

Implementing Districts - Now That You Have Gone to Districts, What Next?

Speakers:
Holly O. Whatley, Shareholder, Highsmith & Whatley
Doug Johnson, President, National Demographics Corporation
Randi Johl, Legislative Director / City Clerk, Temecula

Paper | PowerPoint

 

Housing Legislation and Status Density Bonus Law Update

Speakers:
Iman Novin, President, Novin Development Corp.
Patricia Curtin, Legal Counsel to Cities and Special Districts, Fennemore Wendel
Amara L. Morrison, Director, Fennemore Wendel

Paper | PowerPoint

 

Preparation of Official Statements: Interplay between Disclosure Counsel and the Client

Speakers:
Jeffrey Massey, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Lawrence Chan, Shareholder, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Raut

Paper | PowerPoint

 

The Unsheltered Residing in our Communities:  Navigating Constitutional and Practical Concerns

Speakers:
Rene Alejandro Ortega, Partner, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger
Eric Salbert, Deputy City Attorney, Chico, Senior Associate, Alvarez-Glasman & Colvin

Paper | PowerPoint

 

Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

Speakers:
Alana Rotter, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland
Neil Okazaki, Deputy City Attorney / Police Legal Advisor, Corona

Paper | PowerPoint

 

Labor and Employment Litigation Update

Speakers:
Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Paper |  PowerPoint

 

SB 1383: What it is and How it Impacts Every Jurisdiction

Speakers:
Dana Dean, Counsel, Hanson Bridgett
Beth Hummer, Counsel, Hanson Bridgett
Alene Taber, Counsel, Hanson Bridgett

Paper | PowerPoint

 

DEIB, Microaggressions, and Decentering: A Path to Cultural Shift in Organizations

Speakers:
David Gonzalez, Associate, Aleshire & Wynder
Elena Gerli, City Attorney, Suisun City, Assistant City Attorney, La Cañada Flintridge and Rancho Palos Verdes, Partner, Aleshire & Wynder
Yecenia Vargas, Assistant City Attorney, Perris and Cypress, Associate, Aleshire & Wynder

Paper | PowerPoint

 

General Municipal Litigation Update

Speaker:
Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley

Paper | PowerPoint

 

What to do When First Amendment Auditors Come to Town

Speaker:
Deborah Fox, Principal and Chair of First Amendment and Trial & Litigation Practice Groups, Meyers Nave

Paper | PowerPoint

 

(MCLE Specialty Credit for Competence Issues)

Impaired Colleague? Addressing Attorney Competency, the Warning Signs, and Getting Help

Speaker:
Lita Abella, Sr. Program Analyst, Office of Professional Competence, Lawyer Assistance Program, The State Bar of California

Paper | PowerPoint

 

MCLE Credit

The League of California Cities1 is a State Bar of California minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) approved provider and certifies this activity meets the standards for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the total amount of 11.25 hours, including .75 hours of Implicit Bias subfield credit and 1 hour of Competence Issues subfield credit.

 1 Provider No. 1985

 

2022 Conference

2022 Conference Session Descriptions

Program
Wednesday, May 4

Registration Open 

10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
 

Lunch on Your Own 

11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

General Session

1:00–3:00 p.m.

Moderator
Dave Fleishman, City Attorney, Pismo Beach and Solvang

Welcoming Remarks

Speaker
Celia Brewer, City Attorney, Carlsbad

Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

Speaker
Timothy T. Coates, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland

Police Reform: Legal Challenges and Solutions

Speakers
Imran Dar, Associate, Renne Public Law Group
Jonathan Holtzman, Founding Partner, Renne Public Law Group 
Yuval Miller, Arbitrator/Mediator, Law Offices of Yuval Miller

 

General Session

3:15–5:00 p.m.

Moderator
Michael Colantuono, City Attorney, Grass Valley

The Tension Between the Right to Privacy and Police Technology

Speakers
James E. "Jeb" Brown, Senior Counsel, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Neil Okazaki, Assistant City Attorney, City of Riverside

Peace Officer Personnel Records and the California Public Records Act

Speaker
Geoffrey Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore


New Lawyers Meet and Greet (Fewer than 10 years of municipal law practice)

5:00–6:00 p.m.

How to Get Involved with Cal Cities and the City Attorneys Department
Meet colleagues, learn about the City Attorneys Department, share ideas about municipal law, and engage with the Attorney Development and Succession Committee.

LEGOLAND BLOCK PARTY

6:30–8:30 p.m.

Enjoy Hors d'Oeuvres and no host beverages in the event space inside Legoland.

Note: Attendees will not have full access to the park.

 

Thursday, May 5

Registration Open

8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Breakfast 

8:00–9:00 a.m.

General Session

9:00–10:30 a.m.

Moderator
Eric Danly, City Attorney, Petaluma

Staffing a Public Meeting: From War Stories to Your Story

Speakers
Joseph (Seph) Petta, Partner, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP
Derek Cole, Partner, Cole Huber LLP
Daniel Sodergren, City Attorney, Pleasanton
Jennifer Mizrahi, City Attorney, Desert Hot Springs (Stream Kim)
Attorney Succession and Development Committee

Practical Tips When Partnering with Outside Investigators

Speakers
Eli Makus, Managing Partner, Van Dermyden Makus 
Christina "Tina" Ro-Connolly, Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group
Vida Thomas, Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group


General Session

10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Moderator
Joseph Montes, City Attorney, Alhambra, San Marino, and Santa Clarita

Labor and Employment Litigation Update 

Speaker
Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Frequent FLSA Liability Risks in Public Agencies

Speaker
Jennifer Palagi, Associate, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore


Networking Luncheon

12:30–1:30 p.m.

General Session

1:45–3:30 p.m. 

Moderator
Dave Fleishman, City Attorney, Pismo Beach and Solvang

Department Business Meeting and Colleague Recognition

  • President’s Report
  • Director’s Report
  • Colleague Recognition 

Public Contracting: Purchasing Requirements and Renewable Energy/ Energy Efficient Projects

Speakers
Andrew Jared, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley
Ephraim Margolin, Associate Attorney, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley

FPPC Committee Update on Providing Conflict of Interest Advice

Speakers
Teresa Stricker, City Attorney, San Pablo
Rebecca Moon, Senior Assistant Attorney, Sunnyvale     

 

General Session

3:45-4:45 p.m. 

Moderator
Dave Fleishman, City Attorney, Pismo Beach and Solvang

New Housing Laws: Navigating & Implementing SB 8, 9, 10

Speakers
Claire Lai, Of Counsel, Meyers Nave
Alex Mog, Of Counsel, Meyers Nave
Scott Porter, Assistant City Attorney, Jones & Mayer


Concurrent Group Discussions 

5:00–6:00 p.m.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Town Hall

Moderator
Eric Casher, City Attorney, Pinole, Principal, Meyers Nave

Coastal Cities

Moderator
Cindie McMahon, Carlsbad

Homelessness

Moderator
Andrew Jared, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley

Solo and Small City Attorney Offices

Moderator
Heather Stroud, City Attorney, South Lake Tahoe


 

Friday, May 6

Fun Run

7:00 a.m.–7:45 a.m.

Breakfast 

7:45–9:00 a.m.

Registration Open

7:45-10:30 a.m.


General Session

9:00–10:15 a.m.

Moderator
Eric Danly, City Attorney, Petaluma

Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

Speaker
William Ihrke, City Attorney, La Quinta, Cerritos, Partner, Rutan & Tucker

The Mitigation Fee Act's Five-Year Findings Requirement: Beware Costly Pitfalls 

Speakers
Glen Hansen, Senior Counsel, Abbott & Kindermann, Inc.
Rick Jarvis, Managing Partner, Jarvis, Fay & Gibson, LLP


General Session

10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Moderator
Joseph Montes, City Attorney, Alhambra, San Marino, and Santa Clarita

General Municipal Litigation Update (MCLE Specialty Credit for Ethics)

Speaker
Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith Whatley, PC

Update on Counsel and Council Publication - A Focus On Ethics (MCLE Specialty Credit for Ethics)

Speakers
Valerie Armento, Chair, Ad Hoc Counsel and Council Committee, Interim City Attorney/General Counsel, City of East Palo Alto/Santa Clara County Habitat Agency
Glen Googins, City Attorney, Chula Vista
Inder Khalsa, City Attorney, Davis, Mill Valley, Richards, Watson & Gershon

Rules of Professional Conduct for City Attorneys

Speaker
Heather Linn Rosing, Shareholder and CEO, Klinedinst PC


Adjourn

12:30 p.m.
MCLE Session Materials

Complete the Spring Conference evaluation here.
View the complete set of papers here.
To access papers individually by session, see links below.

Read speaker bios  here.

Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

Speaker: Timothy T. Coates, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland

Police Reform: Legal Challenges and Solutions

Speakers: Jonathan Holtzman, Founding Partner, Renne Public Law Group
Jenica Maldonado, Partner, Renne Public Law Group
Yuval Miller, Arbitrator/Mediator, Law Offices of Yuval Miller
Paper | PowerPoint

The Tension Between the Right to Privacy and Police Technology

Speakers: James E. "Jeb" Brown, Senior Counsel, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Neil Okazaki, Assistant City Attorney, Riverside

Peace Officer Personnel Records and the California Public Records Act

Speaker: Geoffrey Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Staffing a Public Meeting: From War Stories to Your Story

Speakers: Joseph (Seph) Petta, Partner, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger
Derek Cole, Partner, Cole Huber
Daniel Sodergren, City Attorney, Pleasanton
Jennifer Mizrahi, City Attorney, Desert Hot Springs, Stream Kim Hicks Wrage & Alfaro
Attorney Development and Succession Committee

Practical Tips When Partnering with Outside Investigators

Speakers: Eli Makus, Managing Partner, Van Dermyden Makus
Christina "Tina" Ro-Connolly, Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group
Vida Thomas, Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group
PowerPoint


Labor and Employment Litigation Update

Speaker: Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Frequent FLSA Liability Risks in Public Agencies

Speaker: Brian Walter, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

 

Public Contracting: Purchasing Requirements and Renewable Energy/ Energy Efficient Projects

 

Speakers: Andrew Jared, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley
Ephraim Margolin, Associate Attorney, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley
Paper  | PowerPoint

 

FPPC Committee Update on Providing Conflict of Interest Advice

Speakers: Teresa Stricker, City Attorney, San Pablo
Rebecca Moon, Senior Assistant Attorney, Sunnyvale
Paper |  PowerPoint

 

New Housing Laws: Navigating & Implementing SB 8, 9, 10 

Speakers: Claire Lai, Of Counsel, Meyers Nave
Alex Mog, Of Counsel, Meyers Nave
Scott Porter, Assistant City Attorney, Jones & Mayer

Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

Speaker: William Ihrke, City Attorney, La Quinta, Cerritos, Partner, Rutan & Tucker
Paper |  PowerPoint

 

The Mitigation Fee Act's Five-Year Findings Requirement: Beware Costly Pitfalls

 

Speakers: Glen Hansen, Senior Counsel, Abbott & Kindermann
Rick Jarvis, Managing Partner, Jarvis, Fay & Gibson
Paper | PowerPoint

 

General Municipal Litigation Update

Speaker: Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley
(MCLE Specialty Credit for Ethics)

Rules of Professional Conduct for City Attorneys

Speaker: Heather Linn Rosing, Shareholder and CEO, Klinedinst
Paper |  PowerPoint

(MCLE Specialty Credit for Ethics)

Update on Counsel & Council Publication - A Focus on Ethics

Speaker: Valerie Armento, Chair, Ad Hoc Counsel and Council Committee, Interim City Attorney/General Counsel, East Palo Alto/Santa Clara County Habitat Agency
Glen Googins, City Attorney, Chula Vista
Inder Khalsa, City Attorney, Davis, Mill Valley, Richards, Watson & Gershon
Paper |  PowerPoint
2021 Conference

2021 Conference Session Descriptions

Friday, April 29

Virtual Fun Run - Sponsored by Best Best & Krieger

7:30 a.m.

A time-honored tradition, the Spring Conference Fun Run will commence virtually for the 2021 conference. Join your colleagues in a virtual 5K that you can take part in at your convenience between April 29 and May 21. Sign up for the Fun Run, download a virtual race bib to wear during your run, then upload your results once completed. Bonus if you can share a photo once completed on the Fun Run website.

 

Meet & Greet for Under 10 (less than 10 years of municipal practice)

8:30-9:15 a.m.

 

Department Business Meeting

9:30-11:30 a.m.

Friday, April 30

Coffee with Colleagues

8:15-8:45 a.m.

Join members of the City Attorneys' Department for informal networking over your morning coffee. Registered conference attendees are invited to attend. Refer to your welcome email for login information.

 

General Session

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Moderator: Lynn Tracy Nerland, City Attorney, San Pablo

 


Competency and Mindful Lawyering (MCLE Specialty Credit for Competency Issues)

Speaker: Mark Fingerman, Esq., LLM., ADR Services, Functional Mindfulness

 

Labor and Employment Litigation Update

Speaker: Suzanne Solomon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

 

Elected Officials and Employment Law: When the Rules Don't Apply


Speakers: Rebecca Green, Senior Attorney, Richards, Watson & Gershon | Jennifer Petrusis, Shareholder, Richards, Watson & Gershon

 

I Hear That Train A'comin': Municipal Legal Issues Involving Railroads

Speaker: Michael Conneran, Partner, Hanson Bridgett LLP

 

Friday, May 7

Concurrent Group Discussions

8:15-8:45 a.m.

Attend a discussion led by a subject-matter experts on topics including coastal cities, disaster preparedness, homelessness, and solo offices/small cities. Registered conference attendees are invited to attend. Refer to your welcome email for login information.

 

General Session

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

 

General Municipal Litigation Update

Speaker: Holly O. Whatley, Assistant City Attorney, Shareholder, South Pasadena, Ojai, Sierra Madre, Colantuono Highsmith Whatley, PC


Emerging Trends in Class Action Challenges to Revenue Measures

Speaker: Ryan Dunn, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley


TNC-User Tax: Getting Rideshare Companies to Pay Their ‘Fare’ Share

Speaker: Benjamin P. Fay, Partner, Jarvis, Fay, & Gibson, LLP

 

City Attorney Escape Room: Packaging Legal Advice for Non-Attorney Clients

Speakers: Gregg Kettles, Partner, Best Best & Krieger | Jennifer Mizrahi, City Attorney, Desert Hot Springs/ Stream Kim Hicks Wrage & Alfaro | Joseph Montes, City Attorney, BWS | Helen Peak, City Attorney, San Marcos | Joseph Petta, Partner, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP | Deepa Sharma, Senior Associate, Burke, Williams & Sorensen | Daniel Sodergren, City Attorney, Pleasanton

 

Friday, May 14

Coffee with Colleagues

8:15-8:45 a.m.

Join members of the City Attorneys' Department for informal networking over your morning coffee. Registered conference attendees are invited to attend. Refer to your welcome email for login information.

 

General Session

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Moderator: Amy Albano, City Attorney, Burbank

 

Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

Speaker: Timothy t. Coates, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland

 

A Rising tide against Qualified Immunity?

Speakers: Scott Davenport, General Counsel, Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP | Eugene P. Ramirez, Senior Partner, Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP

 

How Cities are Addressing Police Reform

Speakers: Jamal Anderson, Senior Associate, Renne Public Law Group | Jonathan V. Holtzman, Founding Partner, Renne Public Law Group

 

Black Lives Matter as Government Speech

Speaker: Catherine Engberg, City Attorney, Half Moon Bay

 

Friday, May 21

Coffee with Colleagues

8:15-8:45 a.m. 

Join members of the City Attorneys' Department for informal networking over your morning coffee. Registered conference attendees are invited to attend. Refer to your welcome email for login information.

 

General Session

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Moderator: Dave Fleishman, City Attorney, Pismo Beach, Solvang

 


Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

Speaker: Bill Ihrke, City Attorney, Partner, La Quinta, Rutan & Tucker

 

How Cities Can Abate Nuisance Properties at No Cost

Speakers: Dylan Brady, Assistant City Attorney, Petaluma | Ryan Griffith, Attorney & Associate Receiver, Bay Area Receivership Group | Amanda Pope, Attorney & Director of City Receiverships, Jones & Mayer

 

New Housing Legislation: Lessons Learned from Recent Litigation

Speakers: Barbara Kautz, Partner, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP | Kevin Siegel, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP


Public-Private Partnerships (P3s): How to Deliver Innovative, Local-Serving Projects

Speakers: Korin Crawford, Executive Vice President, Griffin | Swinerton | John Finke, President, Public Facilities Group | Vanessa Legbandt, Esq., Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth | Seth Merewitz, Partner; Chair P3 Working Group, Best Best & Krieger LLP

 

Virtual Fun Run Finish Line

12:30 p.m.

Thank you to Best Best & Krieger for sponsoring this time-honored tradition during the 2021 Spring Conference. We would like to thank everyone for participating in the 2021 Virtual 5K Fun Run, we hope you enjoyed it!

 

Virtual Fun Run Results/Closing Remarks

12:30 p.m. 

 

2021 Conference Access for Registered Attendees

In addition to access to all live sessions, session materials, and virtual networking opportunities, registering for the conference grants you access to all session recordings for later viewing for a limited time.  View the session recordings.