City Attorneys Spring Conference
May 17-19, 2023
Hyatt Regency Monterey
1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey, CA
Thank you for attending the 2023 City Attorneys Spring Conference in Monterey!
The conference took place Wednesday, May 17–Friday, May 19 where 500 California city attorneys, plus others in the field, explored current topics and engaged in networking opportunities.
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.
Save the date for the next conference on May 8-10, 2024 at the Westin Rancho Mirage in Southern California.
For registration questions, please contact Megan Dunn. For program questions, please contact Katie Pebler.
2023 Conference Information
Full Registration Includes:
- admission to all educational sessions
- admission to Wednesday reception, Thursday breakfast and lunch, Friday breakfast
- access to all program materials
Register online (requires credit card) by Wednesday, May 10.
There is limited capacity for this event and registration is subject to sell out prior to the registration deadline. Register early!
Mail-in registration (pay by check): Contact Megan Dunn to request a registration form.
Conference Registration Fees
Full Conference (Wednesday, May 17 - Friday, May 19)
Member City Officials and Staff $625
Non-Member City Officials and Staff $1,625
All Others $750
One-Day
Member City Officials and Staff $350
Non-Member City Officials and Staff $1,350
All Others $475
Add-Ons
Guest Reception Pass $50
*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 the Wednesday 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 Wednesday, May 10. 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 Attorneys Spring Conference is held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, 1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey, CA 93940.
A limited number of hotel rooms are available at a reduced rate for conference attendees. The discounted hotel rate cut-off for the Hyatt Regency Monterey is Monday, April 24, 2023.
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!
Group Hotel Rate (per night): $239 – Single/Double Occupancy (plus tax and fees)
Hotel Changes or Cancellations
Hotel reservation changes, date modifications, early check-out, or cancellations must be made directly through the hotel. Please note that after the discounted hotel rate cut-off date has passed, you may incur a financial penalty and minimum one-night room charge or attrition fees. The discounted hotel rate cut-off for the Hyatt Regency Monterey is Monday, April 24, 2023.
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
Hyatt Regency Monterey is centrally located on the Monterey Peninsula, five minutes away from the Monterey Regional Airport. Valet parking is offered (fee applies) as well as abundant complimentary self-parking.
For those arriving from the Monterey Peninsula Airport, complimentary shuttle service is provided daily. For arrivals, call (831) 372-1234 to request airport shuttle service. For departures, the shuttle departs from the hotel lobby hourly, and a quarter past the hour. Advanced reservations required.
Nearby Airports
- Monterey Regional Airport (MRY): 2 miles
- Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC): 72.1 miles
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 101 miles
*Schedule subject to change
View the 2023 City Attorneys Spring Program.
View the conference venue map and floorplan.
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.
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 Masey, 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
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
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
“… 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
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
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
Preparation of Official Statements: Interplay between Disclosure Counsel and the Client
Speakers:
Jeffrey Masey, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Lawrence Chan, Shareholder, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Raut
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
Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update
Speakers:
Alana Rotter, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland
Neil Okazaki, Deputy City Attorney / Police Legal Advisor, Corona
Labor and Employment Litigation Update
Speakers:
Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
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
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
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
(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
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 Session Descriptions
Registration Open
Lunch on Your Own
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
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)
LEGOLAND BLOCK PARTY
Note: Attendees will not have full access to the park.
Registration Open
Breakfast
General Session
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
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
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
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
Fun Run
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
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
Police Reform: Legal Challenges and Solutions
The Tension Between the Right to Privacy and Police Technology
Peace Officer Personnel Records and the California Public Records Act
Staffing a Public Meeting: From War Stories to Your Story
Practical Tips When Partnering with Outside Investigators
Labor and Employment Litigation Update
Frequent FLSA Liability Risks in Public Agencies
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
New Housing Laws: Navigating & Implementing SB 8, 9, 10
Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update
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
Rules of Professional Conduct for City Attorneys
Update on Counsel & Council Publication - A Focus on Ethics
2021 Conference
2021 Conference Session Descriptions
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Thank You Sponsors
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Call for Proposals
The City Attorneys Department of the League of California Cities solicits session proposals for two unique events throughout the year:
- January-March, for the City Attorneys programming at Annual Conference (current year)
- June-September, for City Attorneys Spring Conference (next year). Click here to submit your proposal for the 2024 City Attorneys Spring Conference.
We encourage you to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to share your ideas, knowledge and expertise with this important audience!
Who Can Submit
Submissions, non-commercial in nature, from any individual, group, business or organization, on any topic are welcome. The City Attorneys Department Officers will consider the educational value of each proposal and the extent to which it presents new and/or significant information. There is a limit of 3 submissions per law firm.
How It Works
Only proposals submitted online through the proposal form will be considered. As there is a 300 word limit for the description of each proposal, it is recommended you write your proposal in a word-processing program first and paste the final version into the online form.
Secrets to Great Proposals
Securing a spot on the program is highly competitive. You can increase your chances by preparing a thorough, thoughtful and complete proposal that tells how your session would help city attorneys and attorneys who work with local governments to improve their practice. When preparing your proposal consider the following elements:
- Is the topic new and/or critical for local government?
- Will this issue stimulate action and further important discussion?
- Sessions may not include sales, commercialism or product promotion of any kind.
Proposals are evaluated by the City Attorneys Department Officers. Criteria include:
- Information relevance
- Content expands knowledge
- Examples to support information
- Originality
- Timeliness
- Inclusion of good, solid ideas
- Logical conclusions
- Identification of resources
- Avoidance of product/vendor commercial
- Completeness
- Overall submittal
Submission Requirements and Review
The City Attorneys Department Officers will consider the educational value of each proposal and the extent to which it presents new or significant information. The department especially encourages submissions from new presenters with strong subject matter expertise and relevant speaking experience before larger audiences.
General Session Proposals
- Conference content covers a wide array of topics affecting local government. This format permits session time allotments range from 15 minutes to 60 minutes of an engaging presentation and discussion. The time allotted for each session may be shared by more than one speaker. The City Attorneys Department Officers reserve the right to adjust the time allotted for each session in order to place each session within the program time limits.
- If an originally accepted speaker cancels, the session may be rejected in the officers' sole discretion.
- Additional speakers not included in the original proposal are not permitted to be added without prior review and approval by the Officers and the League of California Cities.
- Paper - Each presenter must prepare a paper to accompany his or her presentation that meets the State Bar of California MCLE requirements.
- Presentation - Each presenter must prepare a PowerPoint presentation to accompany his or her presentation.
Please note: the City Attorneys Department Officers reserve the right to modify accepted proposal session titles, descriptions, presenters or other elements as necessary to ensure balance, quality, and enhance marketability.
Registration and Speaker Policy
The League of California Cities is a not-for-profit association, and to keep registration costs as low as possible, is unable to provide any reimbursement of expenses, travel, or other compensations. We recognize and deeply appreciate your interest and commitment. The success of our program depends on the efforts of practicing professionals willing to volunteer their time to professional education. Registration information will be available at www.calcities.org/events
Privacy Policy
We value your privacy and will never share any of your personal information nor sell your e-mail address to an outside party.