Municipal Finance Institute

December 14-15, 2023

San Diego Mission Bay Hotel

1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA

Register*

Designed for city officials and staff involved in fiscal planning for municipalities, the Municipal Finance Institute connects finance directors and other municipal finance professionals with the essential information they need for their job.

Finance Directors with a CPA Can Earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
Finance professionals who hold a license as a California certified public accountant (CPA) through the California Board of Accountancy will be eligible to earn Continuing Professional Education credits during the institute.

For registration questions, please contact Registrar, Megan Dunn.

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

For additional questions, please contact Associate Manager, Event Program, Erin Wylder.

Please see our event and meeting policies.

Become a sponsor

*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. 

2023 Institute Information

Registration

Full Registration Includes:

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

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. 

Please be sure to log into your MyCalCities account before clicking the registration link. You can confirm you are logged in by checking the top right corner of your webpage, which will say “Welcome” and your name when you are signed in.

Register online through your MyCalCities account by Wednesday, Nov. 29.

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 be invoiced and pay with a check, create your account and then reach out to conference registrar, Megan Dunn to request an invoice. Full payment is due at the time of registration. Registration via mail available until Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Conference registration is required to attend all conference activities including department, division, and caucus meetings as well as the General Assembly. Sharing of registration is prohibited.  

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

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

Full Conference Registration Fees

Member City Official $500
Non-Member City Official $1,500
All Others $660
Guest $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, Nov. 29. 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 at the 2023 Municipal Finance Institute. The deadline to reserve your discounted hotel room is Tuesday, Nov. 21 or until the hotel block is sold out, whichever is sooner. We recommend reserving your room early! 

STEP ONE: Register for the Conference 

Use the information outlined in the Registration section above to register for the seminar. Once completed, details are found in your MyCalCities Portal. NOTE: 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.

San Diego Mission Bay Hotel
1775 East Mission Bay Drive

Group Hotel Rate (per night): $189 per night, Single/Double Occupancy (plus tax and fees)

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 San Diego Mission Bay Hotel.   

Parking and Transportation 

Parking is complimentary for those attending the conference.

The Mission Bay Hotel is located five miles from the San Diego International Airport.

Schedule at a Glance

*Schedule subject to change 

Click here to view the 2023 Municipal Finance Institute program.

Thursday, Dec. 14

Registration Open 
8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m

Premium Sponsor Tables Open 
8:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m

Opening General Session
9:30-10:15 a.m.

Sponsor Break 
10:15-10:45 a.m.

Educational Session 
10:45 a.m.-Noon

Networking Lunch
Noon-1:00

Educational Session 
1:15-2:30 p.m.

Sponsor Break 
2:30-2:45 p.m.

Educational Session 
2:45-4:00 p.m.

Sponsor Break
 4:00-4:15 p.m.

Educational Session 
4:15-5:30 p.m.

Reception
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 15 

Registration Open
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 

Networking Breakfast
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. 

Educational Sessions
9:00 a.m.-Noon 

Lunch and Learn
Noon-1:30 p.m. 

Adjourn 
2:00 p.m.

Explore Previous Institutes

2022 Institute Session Descriptions

View the 2022 Municipal Finance Institute Program.

Wednesday, December 7

Breakfast On Your Own

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Premium Sponsor Tables Open

8:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Registration Open

8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Fiscal Officers President's Welcome

8:30-9:00 a.m.

2023 Playbook for Developments in Municipal Finance Law and Policy

9:00-10:15 a.m.

Leading experts will review the latest major developments for California city revenues. Learn about new laws, legal developments, risks, and opportunities that will affect your agency’s finances.

Moderator:
Tarik Rahmani, President, Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Department and Deputy City Manager, Carson

Speakers:
Michael Colantuono, Managing Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC
Nick Romo, Legislative Representative, League of California Cities
Jessica Sankus, Legislative Representative, League of California Cities

Visit with Sponsors

10:15-10:45 a.m.

Visit with several vendors offering products and services to benefit you and your city. Coffee, tea, and water will be available.

Creative Budget Management Tips

10:45 a.m.-noon

For finance directors, having a smooth budget management strategy not only saves time and resources for your city, it saves you from the stress that can come with it. Hear from city finance directors and their creative strategies in managing a complex, multi-faceted city budget.

Moderator:
Roberta Raper, Department Director, Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Department, Finance Director, West Sacramento

Speakers:
Lauren Lai, Finance Director, Milpitas
Mike McCann, Principal, McCann Consulting

Networking Lunch

noon-1:15 p.m.

CalPERS Pension Update

1:15-2:30 p.m.

Hear from a panel of experts on the latest developments, decisions, and outlook regarding the state’s developments and the current pension climate.

Moderator:
Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director and CEO, League of California Cities

Speakers:
Marcie Frost, CEO, CalPERS
Lisa Middleton, Mayor, Palm Springs

Visit with Sponsors

2:30-2:45 p.m.

Visit with several vendors offering products and services to benefit you and your city. Coffee, tea, and water will be available.

Addressing Pension Liability Without POBs: City of Upland's BLAST Strategy

2:45-4:00 p.m.

Learn about the city of Upland and its innovative approach to addressing pension liability. First, receive an overview and background on pension liabilities, CalPERS policies, and Pension Obligation Bonds (POBs). Panelists will review why POBs were so compelling, what has changed, and what other options may be available now. Then, hear about a recent case in the city of Upland, where potential litigation derailed its plans to issue POBs. The team was required to pivot and determine new creative ways to address their Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL). It’s a story of persistence, heartbreak, innovation, and success, culminating in Upland 'BLASTing' away their UAL.

 

Moderator:
Ward Komers, Assistant Director of Finance, Temecula

Speakers:
Kim Byrens, Partner, Best Best & Krieger LLP
Julio Morales, Senior Managing Director, Kosmont Financial Services
Stephen Parker, Assistant City Manager, Upland

Visit with Sponsors

4:00-4:15 p.m.

Visit with several vendors offering products and services to benefit you and your city. Coffee, tea, and water will be available.

Vital Information When Considering a Transaction and Use Tax (TUT)

4:15-5:30 p.m.

Agencies wrestling with balancing annual budgets may find a reduction in expenditures to be temporary and one-sided, especially post-pandemic. There are now more than 400 TUT's in place statewide, some designated for specific purposes, while others are available for general use. This session will provide examples of the timelines, workflow, and approaches taken by successful agencies to pass and implement a TUT.

Moderator: 
Karin Schnaider, Past President, Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Department and Assistant City Manager, Tracy

Speakers:
Susie Woodstock, Principal, HdL Companies
Bobby Young, Director of Client Services, HdL Companies

Cal Cities Sales Tax Working Group Update

5:15-5:30 p.m.

Receive an overview and update on the Cal Cities Sales Tax Working Group.

Speakers:
Roberta Raper, Department Director, Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Department, Finance Director, West Sacramento
Karin Schnaider, Past President, Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Department and Assistant City Manager, Tracy

Joint Networking Reception

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Make new friends and catch up with old ones while enjoying delicious appetizers and tasty beverages during the evening networking reception. This joint reception is open to attendees from all three Cal Cities conferences: the Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar, Municipal Finance Institute, and City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar. It's the perfect opportunity to form support networks inside and outside your profession.

Thursday December 8

Registration Open

8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Networking Breakfast

8:00-9:00 a.m.

California State and Local Economic Update

9:00-10:15 a.m.

The forces affecting our economy and finances are many: interest rates, inflation, home prices, war in Europe, state tax refunds, the American Recovery Plan Act, Inflation Reduction Act, remote work, climate change, and a travel industry in recovery. This panel of leading experts will analyze economic and financial trends as they discuss the year ahead for California cities. The group will identify important emerging trends in the economy and the linkages with municipal revenues, services, and costs.

Moderator:
Michael Coleman, CaliforniaCityFinance.com

Speakers:
Ted Egan, Chief Economist, City and County of San Francisco
Somjita Mitra, Chief Economist, California Department of Finance
Tracy Vesely, Principal, HdL Companies

Break

10:15-10:45 a.m.

Use this time to grab luggage and take a break before information packed sessions and closing lunch.

Case Study: Public-Private Cybersecurity Partnerships are the New Normal

10:45 a.m.-noon

The public sector is one of the top targets for cybercriminals. They know that encrypting one small system can easily disable an entire community. We have all heard tragic stories of confidential information being stolen and made public, money seized, and data compromised. Learn the steps from two cities who have taken action against cyberattacks, and how doing so made their communities safer, more secure, and stable. Finally, understand how you can overcome common roadblocks that can complicate the path to success with cybersecurity and technology, including funding and partnerships.

Moderator:
Scott Pettingell, Second Vice President, Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Department and Assistant Finance Director, Roseville

Speakers:
Marc Coopwood, Assistant Chief of Police (ret.), Vice President, Public Sector, Apex Technology Management
Manuel Orozco, Finance Director, Willits
Jay Varney, County Administrative Officer, County of Madera

Closing Luncheon and Peer Advice Panel: How to Thrive as a City Finance Director

noon-1:30 p.m.

A panel of California finance directors will share their thoughts, strategies, and recent experiences, the widespread challenges that surfaced, and what they learned. Find opportunities for collective learning during the session.

Moderator:
Dennis Kauffman, Past President, Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Department and ACM/CFO, Roseville

Speakers:
Julia Cooper, Director of Finance, San José
Brigitte Elke, Finance Director, San Luis Obispo
George Harris, Director of Finance/IT, Lancaster

Adjourn

1:30 p.m.

 

2022 Institute Session Materials

 

Previous Institute Session Materials

2020 Session Materials
2019 Session Materials




    Thank You Sponsors