City Managers Conference
February 8-10, 2023
The Westin Carlsbad
5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA
Designed for city managers and assistant city managers, this conference provides city officials with the essential information and updates needed to effectively run their cities. Previous topics include diversity, relationships with council members, COVID-19 and the future, public safety, financial impacts of the pandemic, and more.
For questions, please contact Associate Manager, Event Program Katie Pebler.
2023 Conference Information
As of January 3, 2023, registration for the conference is sold out. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list and receive a notification when an opening becomes available, please email Megan Dunn.
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 online
Special needs? Contact conference registrar Megan Dunn before Friday, Jan. 20.
Full Conference Registration Fees
| Member City Officials and Staff | $750 |
| MMANC / MMASC Members (Asst./Deputy City Mgrs. ONLY) | $600 |
| Non-Member City Officials and Staff | $1,750 |
| All Others | $875 |
One-Day Conference Registration Fees
| Member City Officials and Staff | $370 |
| MMANC / MMASC Members (Asst./Deputy City Mgrs. ONLY) | $295 |
| Non-Member City Officials and Staff | $1,370 |
| All Others | $445 |
| Guest (Wed. Reception ONLY) | $75 |
*The guest/spouse fee is restricted to persons who are not city or public officials, are not related to any League 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.
Please view the Event and Meeting Policies for more information.
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 Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Refunds will not be available after this date. If you are unable to attend, you may substitute a colleague for your entire registration.
The City Managers Conference is held at The Westin Carlsbad. A limited number of hotel rooms are available at the conference location at reduced rates for registered attendees and sponsors. The deadline to reserve your discounted hotel room is Monday, Jan. 9, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
STEP ONE: Register for the conference.
After your registration for the conference is received and processed, a confirmation email will be sent containing a link to the discounted hotel reservations page.
STEP TWO: Book a hotel room.
Hotels are subject to sell out prior to the deadline – reserve early!
Westin Carlsbad (Conference Location)
5480 Grand Pacific Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Group Hotel Rate (per night): $239– Single/Double Occupancy (plus tax and fees)
Sheraton Carlsbad (Overflow hotel)
5420 Grand Pacific Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Group Hotel Rate (per night): $239– Single/Double Occupancy (plus tax and fees)
Hotel Changes or Cancellations
Hotel reservation changes, including cancellations, must be done through the hotel directly. Please note that any requests received after Monday, Jan. 9, 2023 will be booked on a space and rate available basis. Hotel is subject to sell out before deadline date.
PLEASE NOTE: The information you provide to Cal Cities when registering for a Cal Cities conference or meeting may be shared with the conference or meeting hotel(s). The hotel(s) will also share with Cal Cities the information you provide to the hotel(s) when you make your hotel reservation for the conference or meeting. The information shared between Cal Cities and the hotel(s) will be limited to your first name, last name, email, and dates/length of stay in the hotel.
CAUTION! 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. If you are making hotel reservations for others, please confirm with each individual, in advance, that they actually need hotel accommodations and intend to use them on the dates you are reserving.
Parking and Transportation
The Westin Carlsbad offers valet parking (fee applies) as well as abundant complimentary self-parking.
Nearby Airports
- San Diego International Airport (SAN): 33 miles
- John Wayne Airport (SNA): 56 miles
*Schedule subject to change
View the 2023 City Managers Conference schedule here.
View the 2023 City Managers Conference speaker bios here.
Registration Open
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Lunch on Your Own
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Opening General Session
1:30-3:15 p.m.
Opening Remarks
Justin Hess, President, City Managers Dept. and City Manager, Burbank
Cal Cities Remarks
Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director and CEO, League of California Cities
Ali Sajjad Taj, President, League of California Cities and Council Member, Artesia
City Managers Department Awards
Keynote Presentation
Alie Ward is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning science correspondent for CBS’s The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca, and host of Did I Mention Invention? on the CW. She also appears on Netflix’s science series Brainchild and Science Channel’s How to Build Everything. Previously, she was the co-host of the GE’s series In the Wild with co-host Adam Savage of Mythbusters and a contributor on Cooking Channel’s ongoing show Unique Sweets.
Alie studied both science and film in college and was a staff writer/editor for the Los Angeles Times and on-air contributor to KTLA. She volunteers at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and is a co-founder of the science communication collective Nerd Brigade. She is also a culinary host, appearing on Cooking Channel’s Food: Fact or Fiction. Previously, she created, co-wrote and co-hosted the Cooking Channel series Tripping Out with Alie and Georgia and over 50 videos for Cooking Channel. She also hosts Ologies, a comedic science podcast.
Speaker
Alie Ward, Science Communicator & TV Host
Networking Break
3:15-3:45 p.m.
Women in Government Meet-Up
3:15-3:45 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
3:45-5:00 p.m.
How Do I Deal With This?
Despite our best efforts, there are many aspects to the role of city manager that we cannot foresee or control. Many of these circumstances involve unexpected occurrences with our city council members, ranging from scandals to resignations. Join this panel discussion as it delves into how the "unthinkable" can happen with elected officials, and strategies to mitigate it. Learn about the practical, political, legal, and ethical issues that shape our response to these occurrences.
Moderator
Peter Pirnejad, City Manager, Los Altos Hills
Speakers
Daniel Jordan, City Manager, Duarte
Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager, Los Gatos
Scott Wolfe, City Manager, Buellton
Lessons from the Trenches: Key Strategies for Leveraging Public Works
Effective communication and the celebration of “wins” is essential to building trust and goodwill within a community. A high-functioning public works department can be a strategic partner in this pursuit. But what if department leaders avoid or miss opportunities for communication and publicity? What other lessons can city managers learn from their public works counterparts? In this session, attendees will hear from former public works directors-turned-city managers as they share key lessons and techniques for leveraging this sector.
Moderator and Speaker
Jason Holley, City Manager, American Canyon
Speakers
Erica Ahmann Smithies, Public Works Director, American Canyon
Greg Humora, City Manager, La Mesa
Ashin Oskoui, City Manager, Belmont
Michael Rogers, City Manager, Tracy
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Alternative Responses to Mental Health and Other Crises
Attendees will learn new approaches from around the state on the following topics: how to respond to crises related to mental illness, how these programs have been implemented, and challenges faced.
Moderator
Pamela Antil, City Manager, Encinitas
Speakers
Matthew Chidester, City Manager, Half Moon Bay
Jorge Cisneros, Chief of Police, Anaheim
Marisa Creter, Executive Director, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
Networking Reception
5:00-6:30 p.m.
Make new friends, and see old ones while enjoying delicious appetizers and tasty beverages during the evening networking reception.
Registration Open
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Networking Breakfast
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Visit with Sponsors
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Successful DEI Programs and Lessons Learned
Learn how to start a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program that establishes a more equitable and inclusive community while simultaneously embracing diversity and a sense of belonging. In this session, cities will share their approach to starting and managing DEI programs, including challenges, successes, and lessons learned.
Moderator
PJ Gagajena, Assistant City Manager, Moorpark
Speakers
Briana Evans, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Redwood City
Jaqui Guzman, Deputy City Manager, Sunnyvale
David Wilson, City Manager, West Hollywood
Sales Tax: Understand Hidden Nuances of California Sales Tax Distribution
Participants will hear from two of the foremost firms in California with unique expertise in sales tax: HdL and Avenu Insights. Learn how sales tax is distributed differently in many situations, including online versus brick and mortar, in- state versus out of state seller, and auto versus jet fuel sales. Then, understand how county pools work and why, and learn the differences between regular Bradley Burns and a transaction and use tax. Following the presentation, participants will receive an update and hear next steps from the Cal Cities’ City Manager's Department Sales Tax Working Group (re-formed in 2021).
Moderator
John Robert Gillison, Immediate Past President, City Managers Department and City Manager, Rancho Cucamonga
Speakers
Fran Mancia, Vice President National Government Relations, Avenu Insights and Analytics
Leyne Milstein, Assistant City Manager, Sacramento
Ken Nordhoff, Principal, HdL Companies
Nicolas Romo, Legislative Representative, League of California Cities
As public engagement around the dais evolves and social media becomes a public soapbox, understand the challenges that face cities in balancing First Amendments rights with employee safety and maintaining city operations. Hear about two distinct experiences and what steps cities can take today to mitigate legal quandaries related to the First Amendment and keep city hall from being paralyzed by these disruptions.
Moderator
Reva Feldman, Retired City Manager, Malibu, Strategic Advisor, Avenu Insights and Analytics
Speakers
René Bobadilla, City Manager, Montebello
Deborah Fox, Principal, Meyers Nave
Networking Break
10:15-10:45 a.m.
Find coffee and tea during break as you visit with colleagues.
New City Managers Meet-Up
10:15-10:45 a.m.
Interested in meeting other new city managers from around the state? Find caffeine and meet up with colleagues new to the profession during a focused coffee break.
Concurrent Sessions
10:45 a.m.-noon
Telling Your Organization's Story
Cities do important work for our communities, but if city managers don’t tell their stories throughout the year, community members and stakeholders won’t know how their tax money benefits the community. Proactive messaging will help your city foster relationships with stakeholders that will benefit them later. This session will cover how to incorporate strategic communications into your city’s general plan, and feature case studies from public agencies that have successfully gained community trust and inspire impactful engagement.
Moderator
Ryder Smith, President, Tripepi Smith
Speakers
Christine Brainerd, Communications Director, Folsom
Maurice Chaney, Public Information Officer, Roseville
Erin Morales, President, California Association of Public Information Officials
Successful Recruitment and Retention Post-COVID, the Great Resignation and Retirements
COVID-19, the Great Resignation, Baby Boomer retirements, and working towards diversity, equity and inclusion have significantly impacted a city’s ability to hire, retain, and recruit executives. What are the best practices and effective strategies to change this? How does a city compete in this very competitive landscape? What should a city manager know and consider to position themself to hire and retain employees effectively? Discover answers to these questions and learn about the latest trends and challenges in the municipal environment for, hiring, retaining, and recruiting personnel at the executive level.
Moderator
Marcella Marlowe, Former City Manager, San Marino
Speakers
Ron Bow, City Manager, Monterey Park
Anton "Tony" Dahlerbruch, Executive Recruiter, Peckham & McKenney Executive Search
Wendy Levy, Director of Human Resources, Santa Barbara
Surplus Land Act: Know the Facts Before You Transact
California is facing a housing crisis. The state has revved up enforcement to accelerate the production of affordable housing including the use of public agency-owned land. Effective in 2020, the Surplus Land Act (SLA) requires public agencies to follow a process to sell or lease any public property by first offering it to a state-controlled list of affordable housing developers. Learn how the SLA process impacts local land use. Receive best practices on how to navigate the sale, lease, and licensing of public agency property to pursue public-private projects, producing economic development results while staying in compliance with state requirements.
Moderator
Scott Mitncik, Senior Vice President, Kosmont Companies
Speakers
Matthew Cody, Of Counsel, Best, Best & Krieger
Laura Nunn, Senior Manager, CA Department of Housing & Community Development
Jim Vanderpool, City Manager, Anaheim
Networking Luncheon
noon-1:15 p.m.
General Session
1:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Opening Remarks
Karen Pinkos, First Vice President, City Managers Dept. and City Manager, El Cerrito
Observations from Local, State, and National Economists
Learn from three experts as they discuss economic trends and forecasts from local, statewide, and national perspectives. Panelists will address their differing expectations in each respective area.
Moderator and Speaker
Michael Coleman, Fiscal Policy Advisor, CaliforniaCityFinance.com
Speakers
Ted Egan, Chief Economist, City and County of San Francisco
Ann Hollingshead, Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst, Legislative Analyst's Office
Dr. Peter Rupert, Director at UCSB Economic Forecast Project, Professor of Economics, University of California Santa Barbara
Networking Break
2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
CalOES Meet and Greet
2:45-3:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
3:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Delivering Economic Development Successes in Partnership with your Council and Community
City managers are under constant pressure to deliver economic development results. Local economic development can be misunderstood as marketing to prospective employers or communicating a business-friendly environment. Setting expectations and engaging with the city council and community are critical to achieving economic development success. As heads of their organizations, city managers can build an economic development-centered culture with staff, the community, and city council that will have far-reaching impacts on economic outcomes. This session features two economic developers-turned-city management professionals who will share their perspectives and discuss practical examples.
Moderator
Gurbax Sahota, President and CEO, California Association for Local Economic Development
Speakers
PJ Gagajena, Assistant City Manager, Moorpark
Aaron Laurel, City Manager, West Sacramento
Ethics Matter: Be inspired by your professional values
Let’s shift the focus on the ICMA Code of Ethics from enforcement to inspiration. How do the defining values of integrity, fairness, justice, and political neutrality inspire you to excellence? How do they produce better outcomes in your organization and community? Think about a time when you stood firm on a principle, and it wasn’t easy! Rediscover values for the city management profession and how best to apply them to real world challenges.
Moderator
Brett Channing, Deputy City Manager, Lake Forest
Small City Succession Planning: Creating a Culture of Growth
The Great Resignation combined with the Silver Tsunami has made it difficult for public agencies across the state to retain employees. This struggle can magnify within smaller public agencies, including when a staff member leaves, which often means the loss of institutional knowledge that may span several “positions.” This engaging panel discussion will examine strategies for small cities to implement when hiring and retaining talent, creating a culture of growth, and proactively building a succession plan. Learn best practices for creating a talent pipeline within your small city so that when an employee leaves, you can rest assured that critical services will remain uninterrupted.
Moderator
Jonathan Shull, Chief Executive Officer, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority
Speakers
Mark Alexander, City Manager, La Cañada Flintridge
Jim Lewis, Department Director, City Managers Department and City Manager, Pismo Beach
Lydia Romero, City Manager, Lemon Grove
Registration Open
8:00-10:00 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
8:00-9:15 a.m.
“ICMA Preparing the Next Generation” Turns 20: Progress and Challenges
9:15-10:30 a.m.
It has been 20 years since the “ICMA Preparing the Next Generation” guidebook was published. Since then, Generation Z employees have entered the workforce and managers are facing new challenges and impacts to the profession as a result of ‘The Great Resignation’. During this session, the guidebook co-author and current city management professionals will discuss what has occurred over the past 20 years and the ongoing challenges of identifying, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of city managers.
Moderator and Speaker
Frank Oviedo, Assistant City Manager, Santa Clarita
Speakers
Frank Benest, Liaison, Next Generation Initiatives, ICMA
Karen Pinkos, First Vice President, City Managers Department and City Manager, El Cerrito
Aly Zimmermann, City Manager, Rocklin
Break
10:30-10:45 a.m.
Closing General Session
10:45 a.m.-noon
Strategies to Beat Burnout
“Resilience goes beyond bouncing back. It’s the ability to thrive – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually – regardless of what may be happening in your environment.” – Adam Markel
A leading international keynote speaker, Adam’s message of resilience as the competitive edge in the face of today’s complex markets has resonated worldwide. An attorney-turned transformational trainer, Adam is a sought-after workplace culture catalyst who inspires, empowers, and guides organizations and individuals to create sustainable, high-performance strategies.
Adam has been a keynote speaker and trainer for Fortune 500 companies and conferences including Harvard University, Canon, and the Northeast Business Group on Health. He’s shared the stage with the likes of Tony Robbins, Michael J. Fox, and Stedman Graham.
Adam credits much of his success to the principles he learned during his eight years as a Jones Beach lifeguard in New York. Since his days on Jones Beach, Adam has spent his life protecting others and bringing them back from the brink of professional drowning – including his own. After building a multi-million-dollar law firm specializing in finance, commercial and employment litigation, Adam turned a mid-life crisis into a mid-life calling, pivoting his own career path. Enjoy your time with Adam as he shares tangible and effective takeaways to sustain you as a city leader over time.
Speaker
Adam Markel, Best Selling Author, Renowned Keynote Speaker, Resilience Researcher, and Founder & CEO, More Love Media
Adjourn
noon
2022 Conference Session Descriptions
Click to view the full 2022 City Managers Department Conference Program (PDF)
Registration Open
10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Lunch On Your Own
11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Opening General Session
1:30-3:15 p.m.
Keynote: The Social Psychology of Negotiations
From working with the city council and other department heads at your city to life outside of your career, there are a broad array of negotiation skills needed to get solutions accepted and implemented. Through using a simulated negotiation exercise, you will be introduced to a “toolbox” of negotiation skills based on social psychological principles that will help you more effectively navigate relationships, problem solve, and achieve mutually beneficial solutions.
Break
3:15 -3:30 p.m.
Straight, No Chaser
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Listen in as city managers share their experiences during the recent past, the widespread challenges that surfaced, and what they did about it. Then, participate in collective learning with your colleagues by sharing your own experiences.
Rene Mendez, City Manager, Gonzales
League Partner Hosted Welcome Networking Reception
5:00-6:30 p.m.
Breakfast Buffet Open
7:45-9:00 a.m.
Registration Desk Opens
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Visit Sponsor Tables
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
9:00-10:15 a.m.
There is high interest from both city staff and the community to advance equity in city government. As city managers and department heads responsible for leading this work, how do we harness this energy to create a culture of equity for our organizations? What are the challenges we’re facing and the successes we’ve experienced? Learn city strategies to approach equity and get the opportunity to share your own city’s experiences.
When issues get tense in your city, having a solid relationship with your city attorney can make a significant difference. You may not always see eye-to-eye, but understanding the key elements of building that relationship, and maintaining when undertaking a difficult issue, will help smooth the process and light the way to win-win solutions.
Discover the importance of utilizing a variety of revenue tools, in both recovery mode as well as for long-term fiscal sustainability in a changing economy. The panel will address revenue options and the importance of public engagement as a fundamental effort. Updates via recent case law and legislative changes affecting cities across California will be provided. Select case studies statewide will be reviewed, including tales of challenges and successes in the city of Rancho Cucamonga. The topic of fiscal sustainability is a constant challenge for cities across the state, and perhaps more than ever as we emerge from the COVID pandemic. Attendees will leave the session with actionable information that can be applied to their city.
John Gillison, Department President and City Manager, Rancho Cucamonga
Visit with Sponsors Coffee Break
10:15-10:45 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Emergencies move fast and have devasting physical and economic impacts on communities. One way to prepare your city is to have a strong relationship with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). This relationship can help cities understand the short and long-term funding and program opportunities available to your city from the state. Learn about the programs that CalOES administers and take-away tips on how to build stronger relationships and support each other. Understand how the wide variety of programs offered by the state can benefit your city and can mitigate the impacts of an emergency. Proactively learn how to partner with CalOES on these programs and ask questions about how to best operationalize disaster preparedness and cost recovery in your city.
Knowing that innovation is critical isn’t enough. “Getting it” is one thing. “Getting it done” is quite another. When your city thinks of itself as a community builder, quality of life advocate, and service provider, then it starts to behave differently. And that’s where innovation surfaces because to innovate is to implement change that creates a new dimension of performance. In this session, practical strategies and proven techniques are presented to (re)set the tone of a dynamic, always-on, learning culture that’s essential to unleash creativity and lead to faster, better innovation.
Many cities throughout California are experiencing dramatically increased Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers, economic inequities, and homelessness. Now, a state program seeks to support local governments by creating a framework to help local agencies document prohousing policies and gain additional preference for competitive grant programs. Join us to learn best practices and lessons learned from cities that are leading the charge and get your burning questions answered.
Networking Luncheon
12:00-1:15 p.m.
Join your colleagues for a networking lunch, with remarks given by Cal Cities Executive Director and CEO, Carolyn Coleman.
Afternoon General Session
1:15-2:45 p.m.
Social media tools empower governments to quickly inform and mobilize residents in support of community events and initiatives. They are also tools that enable rapid sharing of disinformation across residents that range from the politically motivated designed to manipulate, to the factually inaccurate that need only be coherently corrected. This presentation encompasses the design of policies and practices, and digs deeply into derailing disinformation viral messaging that originates from diverse sources, some legitimate and some disingenuous.
Sarah Stoeckel, Councilmember, City of Titusville, Florida
Visit with Sponsors Coffee Break
2:45-3:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
3:15-4:45 p.m.
Explore tips for increasing diversity on your team. How do you move from just saying you want to increase diversity and inclusion, to actually seeing your staff at all levels of your organization and leadership reflect the diversity of the region you serve? This session will provide stories, tips, and tricks (and pitfalls to avoid) from colleagues who have been successful in doing so.
In 2020, a protest outside the home of Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan threatened the very institution of democracy, moving the public debate forum from its rightful place in Council Chambers and the ballot box to the personal domicile of a civic leader. When events like this happen, how can city leaders and administrators protect themselves and their families while fostering greater community trust? Do existing channels for public debate suffice, or are more outlets needed to make the public feel heard – particularly in the age of digitization?
*In order to participate in this session, bring a laptop or tablet which may be shared with others. Groups at each roundtable will complete digital decision-making activities as a team
A continuation of the afternoon General Session. Given a set of interactive scenarios, participants will develop and use a toolkit of technological, relational and communication solutions to combat disinformation. Next, learn how to apply principles of civil discourse that neither disparages residents who are spreading disinformation nor legitimizes viewpoints that are damaging to the community. Finally, create a plan to enable a rapid response team that bridges government and community to promote both correct information and civility across individuals who disagree with each other.
Presidential Networking Reception
Evening on Your Own
Breakfast Buffet Open
7:45-9:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
9:00-10:15 a.m.
A new generation of elected leaders is joining city councils, bringing new perspectives and policies to the dais. They also have different experiences with government and may be interacting with a city manager for the first time. Plus, their fresher viewpoints may clash with more seasoned councilmembers. Learn first-hand from fellow city managers how they navigate these varying views and how it can affect decision making.
Hear from three city managers as they discuss programs and partnerships that are addressing homelessness.
Helene Schneider, Regional Coordinator, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
As we move beyond the COVID-19 crisis, some cities are back to pre-pandemic norms while others have adopted new hybrid work models. Will hybrid work fundamentally change the way local government operates? Hear from city managers about their experiences with different remote work models in varying organization sizes, and best practices for work in the post-COVID world. Speakers will consider the impacts of a hybrid workplace on labor negotiations, equity concerns, tax-related issues, accessibility, city-wide versus department-specific remote work policies, and the implications of the state government’s decision to permanently change the way they work.
Justin Hess, Department Vice President and City Manager, Burbank
Karen Pinkos, City Manager, El Cerrito
Coffee Break
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Closing Session
10:30-11:45 a.m.
CCMF Remarks
California has one of the largest and most diverse economies in the world and has been an epicenter of innovation, entertainment, agriculture and tourism in America for over a century. A combination of things, mostly stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause economic disruption and uncertainty. Municipal revenues are affected in turn – but uniquely. This panel of leading experts will analyze economic and financial trends and discuss the year ahead for California and its cities.
Adjourn
*Schedule subject to change
2022 Conference Session Materials
- A Tale of Three Cities: Partnerships and Programs for the Unhoused
- Combating Disinformation on Social Media
- Creating a Culture of Equity - Diemer
- Make Your City Attorney Your Best Friend
- Prohousing Programs: Demonstrating Statewide Leadership While Meeting Local Goals - Gutierrez
- Show Me The Recovery - Colantuono
- Show Me The Recovery - Gillison, Seufert, Wood
- Think Outside the Building
Previous Conference Session Materials
- 2021 Legislative and Budget Efforts to Addressing Housing Production and Homelessness Crisis
- California Municipal Finance and Economic and Outlook in the Pandemic - Beteta
- California Municipal Finance and Economic and Outlook in the Pandemic - Nordoff
- Creating Emotionally Health Workplaces During COVID-19
- Developing Organizational Values and Seeing Them in Action
- It's Not Transactional, It's Relational Addressing Racial Equity - Sanchez
- No Hotels? Less Retail? What’s a City Manager to do?
- Promoting Civility in Times of Heightened Partisanship and Polarization
- Reimagining the Role of Police in Public Safety
- 2020 City Managers Conference
- #13Percent Update: The Rise of Women in City Management
- American Canyon’s Unique Partnership
- Anniversary Bell- Are We More Ethical 10 Years Later?
- Build & Support Your Rural Economy
- Dept. of Housing and Community Development Share Strategies for Housing Planning
- Housing Law Jeopardy
- How Cities Can Protect Employees Through Workplace Violence Restraining Orders
- How to Prepare for a Blackout
- Huckey v. Temecula: The “New” Trivial Defect Rule for Public Sidewalks
- Independent Contractors and CalPERS: How to Prepare, What to Avoid
- Local Government Transformation in the 21st Century - Bronson
- Local Government Transformation in the 21st Century - McAdoo
- Local Government Transformation in the 21st Century - Robustelli
- Local Government Transformation in the 21st Century - Schutz
- Local Government Transformation in the 21st Century - Intro
- Multi-Housing Model in the City of Kerman
- Pitfalls to Avoid in the City Management Profession
- Powerful Leadership: Effective Tips for Stellar City Managers
- Regional Alignment of Wireless Communications
- Regional Partnerships: How to Address Homelessness Differently
- Straight from the Source California’s Pension System Today - Middleton
- Straight from the Source: California’s Pension System Today - Frost
- Straight from the Source: California's Pension System Today - Mehryar
- Strategies for Dealing With Council-Manager Role Conflicts
- The Costing Mindset in Collective Bargaining
- 2019 City Managers Conference Program
- A California Pension Update - Frost
- A California Pension Update - Hutchings
- A Key Ingredient for City Manager Success: Effectively Communicating With Your City Council - Duggan
- CPUC: Overview of Proceedings Affecting Local Governments - Palmer
- Developing a Fiscal Health Response Plan - Johnson
- Elevating Trust In Local Government - Griffiths
- Examining Homelessness: Collaborative Local Approaches and Strategies
- Final Announcement for City Managers 2019
- Leadership Post #MeToo - Martel
- Leading California Cities Into The Future
- Major Incident Communications: Technical Solutions, Political Risks, and Community Information
- Retooling Stodgy Organizational Cultures
- The CVRA and the Profound Impact on Local Governance
- The Ethical Issues That Most Frequently Entrap City Managers - Perego
- The New Age of Civic Engagement
- The Shifting Sands of Economic Development: Welcome to the "O"-Zone
- Update on the Autonomous Vehicle Revolution
- What's New With Cyber Security - Horn
Thank You Sponsors
.png?sfvrsn=a642ab8d_3)
.png?sfvrsn=5167f1a9_4)
.png?sfvrsn=8caee6e2_3){kind=logo}
Call for Proposals
We encourage you to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to share your ideas, knowledge, and expertise with this important audience! For questions, please contact Katie Pebler.
Who Can Submit
How It Works
Target Audience
- Is the topic new and/or critical for city government?
- Will it draw a wide audience?
- Will this issue stimulate action and further important discussion?
- Does the panel reflect the diversity of California cities (north/south, large/small, urban/rural)?
Tips for Successful Proposals
- Think big
- Vary the viewpoint
- Pare down the panel
- Speaker skills matter
- Plan for a crowd
- Try something new
- Interact with the audience
- Fill in the blanks
- Quality counts
Types of Proposals
- Keynote Speaker
Keynote speakers are high-profile and designed to bring everyone together for a general session / and may set the tone of the event. This format permits approximately 45-60 minutes of an engaging presentation by a single speaker. Depending on time restrictions, the presentation may be followed by approximately 15 minutes of questions and answers with the audience or a moderator. - Panel Discussion
Panels consist of a moderator and a maximum of three speakers who participate in a 60 minute engaging presentation and discussion followed by approximately 15 minutes of questions and answers. - Speed Sessions
Fifteen minute bursts of information on one topic by one speaker followed by five minutes of questions & answers. Typically, these engaging presentations are based on focused projects or personal experience. - Facilitated Group Discussion
A 75 minute interactive conversation on a topic led by a single facilitator. You may include a maximum 15 minute presentation on which the issue/concern is framed and, then, guide a discussion among the attendees with prepared questions. At the conclusion of the discussion, the facilitator must spend time summarizing key findings, suggestions, and points. - Alternative Format
Be creative! If your session does not fit one of the above formats, this is your opportunity to propose something different. Please be sure to provide the time, room setup, and other important details. Alternative formats will be accommodated based on interest level, space, and set-up availability.
Submission Requirements and Review
Successful Proposal Considerations
- Relevance - What are the practical applications of your ideas? Have you included reasoning and documentation to support your conclusions, recommendations and outcomes? Conference attendees prefer presentations focused on outcomes or results. Make the definition and background portions of your presentation brief. Highlight problems encountered, options available, choices made, documented pre- and post-change effects and lessons learned.
- Content expands attendees' knowledge - Will your presentation expand knowledge beyond entry-level basics? Most conference participants are elected officials, appointed officials, and seasoned professionals. In general, direct your presentation to an intermediate or advanced audience.
- Originality - Does your presentation advance existing ideas or present new ideas? Has this material been presented elsewhere? You might apply proven techniques to new problems or identify and apply new approaches, techniques or philosophies. Assess the degree to which an application is a new tool. Avoid highlighting a named product or service…focus instead on the general attributes, benefits and drawbacks of a given application, process or tool.
- Examples - Do you have an appropriate number of examples? Documenting comparative results convinces participants that your ideas have been tested in the real world.
- Timeliness - Will your presentation still be up-to-date and cutting-edge in six to nine months when the conference occurs? Will your topic have implications in the future? How relevant is your topic in the context of pending legislation, regulations and technology?
- Inclusion of good, solid insights - What attendees want to learn is the reality versus the hype, the positive and negative attributes, problems encountered but not often discussed, realistic expectations for the operational use and adaptability to a changing environment. They are searching for guidelines and models to simplify or manage their own application or installation.
- Logical conclusions - Are your conclusions supported by data? Attendees place a high value on supporting data in assessing the value and applicability of presentations. Include adequate and convincing details.
- Identification of outside resources - Have you included sources of information, benchmark data or other examples?
- Avoidance of product/vendor commercial - No commercials and/or proprietary information for particular products, services or vendors are permitted.
- Completeness of proposal - The quality, completeness and accuracy of the proposal will be considered during session selection process.
- Preferred Speaker Qualifications - Panelists should reflect the diversity of California with a north/south, large/small, urban/rural representation when possible.
- Five or more (5+) years of public presentation experience.
- Two or more (2+) years of experience related to working in or presenting on the topic or idea.
- More than two (2) successful speaking engagements to large audiences at a regional or state level in the past two years.
- Must not pose a conflict of interest with subject/business area or must disclose such information in each speaker bio submitted.
- No commercialism.
To ensure a variety of perspectives, Cal Cities policy limits the number of times an individual, group, business or organization can speak at a single conference. In addition, each panel should have no more than one panelist per city/county, firm, company or organization (exceptions may apply).
- Overall - In the end, you must make your case for the importance of this topic and its relevance to participants.