HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-30-2020 Agenda - Special Meeting
Friday, October 30, 2020
San Luis Obispo City Council Agenda Page 1
5:00 PM SPECIAL MEETING 990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Heidi Harmon
ROLL CALL: Council Members Carlyn Christianson, Andy Pease, Erica A. Stewart,
Vice Mayor Aaron Gomez and Mayor Heidi Harmon
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA
BUSINESS ITEM
1. DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF CONFERENCE SESSIONS ATTENDED DURING
ANNUAL LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
(CONFERENCE PROGRAM ATTACHED)
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn to the next Regular Meeting of the City Council scheduled for Tuesday, November 17,
2020, at 6:00 p.m., via teleconference.
ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
& EXPO 2020
www.cacities.org/ac
OCTOBER 7–9, 2020
Welcome!
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
INTERACTIVE • EXPERIENTIAL • COLLABORATIVE
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 2 |
Program
Opening General Session
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
PRESIDING | John Dunbar, President, League of California Cities and Mayor, Yountville
National Anthem and Color Guard
State of the League: Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director, League of California Cities
Nominating Committee Report: James Lewis, City Manager, Pismo Beach
Past Presidents’ Lifetime Achievement Award
Keynote Address: YOU ARE AWESOME: How to use positive psychology research to prime your brain for positivity during the
pandemic
City leaders have lived in a world where juggling many expectations is part of the norm, and now are also preparing for an uncertain future. We are
relying on resiliency to get communities back on track, but with so many seemingly setbacks and tragedies, how do we get back up and bend instead
of break? Attend this inspiring keynote session with Neil Pasricha and discover that resilience, change, and growth can come from times of challenge,
and the time to act is now. Based on fresh research Pasricha published in Harvard Business Review together with the latest in neuroscience and
positive psychology, he will offer advice and science-backed secrets mixed with stories of his own personal failures to help you build up fortitude and
live a happier, more intentional life. By taking this journey with Neil as your guide, learn how to positively reframe your own perceptions of failure,
understand the science behind it, and ultimately, how to become your most unbreakable and awesome self
SPEAKER | Neil Pasricha, Director, The Institute for Global Happiness
Division Events
Orange County
8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Sacramento Valley Division
11:30 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.
Peninsula Division
11:30 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.
North Bay Division
11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
East Bay Division
11:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.
Los Angeles County Division
11:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.
Riverside Division
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Department Meetings
City Managers
1:15 - 2:00 p.m.
Fiscal Officers
2:30 - 3:15 p.m.
Fire Chiefs
3:45 - 4:15 p.m.
Personnel and Employee
Relations
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 |
Board of Directors Meeting
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Asian-Pacific Islander Virtual Karaoke Battle
6:00 - 8:00 pm
| TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 |
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 3 |
The Role of Local Governments in Adapting to Climate Change
1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
California’s geographic, economic and environmental diversity calls for
distinct adaptation measures to extreme weather conditions such as
drought, flood, sea level rise, wildfires and windstorms. State legislation-
-SB-379, SB-246, SB-1000 requires cities/counties to incorporate climate
adaptation and environmental justice in their general plans. Last year,
the California Resiliency Challenge, led by large businesses, utilities
and foundations, established a grant program for planning projects to
protect critical infrastructure in vulnerable communities. What innovative
and replicable hazard mitigation efforts should be considered by local
government entities, and what are some of the sources of funding?
PRESIDING | Kome Ajise, Executive Director, Southern California Association of
Governments
SPEAKERS | Louise Bedsworth, Executive Director, California Strategic Growth
Council
Qiana Charles, Principal Manager, Government Relations, Southern California
Edison
Judith Mitchell, Board Member, SCAQMD, CARB, Council Member, Rolling Hills
Estates
Rates, Policies and Reforms… How COVID-19 Will Impact
CalPERS Employers
1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
In the midst of COVID-19 recovery, employers want to know: How has
the downturn in the market impacted CalPERS employer rates? Will
market downturn spark a push for benefit reform? What legislative or
administrative changes do we need to be aware of moving into 2021? In
this session, participants will engage in a discussion with CalPERS policy,
political and financial experts as we discuss these questions and more.
During this discussion presenters will share best practices and attendees
will see real-time actuarial modeling scenarios from sample agencies to
understand how employing best practices can mitigate rising CalPERS
contributions rates.
MODERATOR | Leyne Milstein, Assistant City Manager, Sacramento
SPEAKERS | Dane Hutchings, Managing Director, Renne Public Policy Group
Jasmine Nachtigall-Fournier, President, GovInvest Inc.
Building a Virtual Emergency Operations Center: Lessons
Learned From COVID-19
1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Representatives of two California cities will discuss COVID-19
communications and emergency management lessons learned, with a
specific focus on the creation of a Virtual Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) environment that will be used by the cities to manage future
incidents. The panel of city leadership and emergency management
experts will discuss Virtual EOC tools available, including messaging
systems, resource request management, damage assessment tracking,
mapping systems, situational reports, incident action plans, and
employee resource support tools. Lessons learned will be discussed in
addition to demonstrations of the customized technology designed and
utilized successfully during the crisis.
MODERATOR | Tammy Letourneau, City Manager, Laguna Niguel
SPEAKERS | Jacob Green, Managing Director, Emergency Management Services,
Interwest Consulting Group
Justin Martin, Deputy City Manager, Laguna Niguel
Darryl Polk, Director of Innovation and Technology, Rancho Cucamonga
Talking Together About Housing
in Burlingame: Building
Community Support
1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
In 2018, the City of Burlingame
approved their first affordable
housing development with the
aid of two “listening and learning”
community housing conversations.
The conversations included brief
presentations by city staff followed
by facilitated table discussions
discussing housing challenges and
creative solutions. Council members and city staff listened but did
not participate. The information collected was instrumental in the
development of much needed affordable housing in the community. In
this session, learn how to plan a community conversation about housing,
hear about outcomes from these conversations from Burlingame and
nine cities in San Mateo County, and participate in a short demonstration
of a community conversation.
PRESIDING | Jessica Stanfill Mullin, Sustainability Program Manager, Office of
Sustainability, County of San Mateo
SPEAKERS | Susan Clark, Executive Director, The Common Knowledge Group
Donna Colson, Council Member, Burlingame
Kevin Gardiner, Community Development Director, Burlingame
Local Government Apprenticeship and Workforce Strategies: A
Latino Caucus Perspective
2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Does your local agency need an innovative, cost-effective strategy for
talent development? Apprenticeship, for trades and non-trades positions,
is one solution that can meet your agency’s talent development
needs for new and incumbent employees. Through partnerships with
community colleges across California, cities can strengthen and sustain
a skilled workforce that meets evolving community needs. In this session
you will discover the apprenticeship’s economic and social impact on the
organization and explore how an apprenticeship can work for your city.
Planned with the Latino Caucus
PRESIDING | Alicia Aguirre, LCCLC Board Member, Mayor, Redwood City
SPEAKERS | Agustin Beltran, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, Northern
California Carpenters Regional Council
Joshua Modlin, Director, Earn & Learn, Foundation for California Community
Colleges
Susan Sifuentes Trigueros, Interim Director of Public Affairs, Southern California
Gas Company
Randi Kay Stephens, Program Manager, Institute for Local Government
Roberto Uranga, LCCLC President, Long Beach
Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty, Fear and Recovery
2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Collectively, California had one of the most aggressive responses in the
nation when it came to stay-at-home and social distancing directives
during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach also
meant a longer timeline of a concerned public who were itching to go
back to “normal.” Learn how three cities coped with unique situations to
keep their communities informed, calm their city staff, and pave the road
to economic recovery.
MODERATOR | Karen Pinkos, City Manager, El Cerrito
SPEAKERS | Jasonn Holley, City Manager, American Canyon
John Pietig, City Manager, Laguna Beach
Cameron Smyth, Mayor, Santa Clarita
| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 |
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 4 |
| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 |
Placemaking and Community Branding That Leverages Your
Natural Assets
2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Quality of place is the new currency for competitive communities
and their brands must convey it. Waterways, trail systems and even
productivity of the land speak to a community’s unique character and
serve as attractions for talent, tourism and economic development.
Hear about the power of branding and marketing a community’s natural
assets. Learn about uncovering and leveraging natural assets in your
community to drive quality of life and spark interest in the community,
and finding sources of funding for investing in and improving your
natural assets for wider public usage and enjoyment.
MODERATOR | Will Ketchum, President, North Star Place Branding + Marketing
SPEAKERS | Marlene Best, City Manager, Santee
Robert Haswell, CEO, Placer County Visitor’s Bureas
Using Big Data to Reduce Catastrophic Impacts of Wildfire
2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
While the COVID-19 crisis will constrain budgets and impact the
traditional way we fight large fires, it has not reduced the likelihood of
large fires. Big data and associated analysis enable the development of
comprehensive mitigation plans consisting of: • Thoughtful fuel reduction
• Detailed evacuation plans • Realistic exercises for both residents and city
staff to give plans real world value These tools have only been available to
major metropolitan communities in the past, but a number of platforms
that are in widespread use throughout the tech community have made
these tools available to local jurisdictions of all sizes.
PRESIDING | Jonathan Holtzman, Partner, Renne Public Law Group
SPEAKERS | Charlie Crocker, CEO, Zonehaven Inc.
Dave Winnacker, Fire Chief, Moraga-Orinda Fire District
Tim Woodbury, Director of State and Local Government Affairs, Splunk
Is Your City Really Prepared for Rising Pension Costs?
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Many cities have been struggling for years to meet their pension
obligations. This year, they have been hit even harder with the
devastating impacts of COVID-19 on their revenues, expenses and the
economy as a whole. Is your city adequately prepared for the inevitable
pension cost increases? This session will discuss fiscal tools available
to local governments to plan ahead for the future and prepare for times
of economic uncertainty. Panelists will share a case study on an agency
that has implemented a strategy for addressing their increasing pension
liabilities and mitigating retirement system investment volatility.
MODERATOR | Kevin O’Rourke, Retired City Manager, Senior Consultant, PARS
SPEAKERS | Charlie Francis, Former Finance Director / Gov’t Finance Consultant,
Retired / PARS
Jennifer Meza, Manager, Consulting, PARS
Rachael Sanders, Senior Manager, Consulting, PARS
Resetting Your Community Post-COVID-19
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
The pace and enormity of change continues, and the ability to just
“survive” massive disruption is table stakes. The ability to concurrently
run the business of public service and reinvent it has become a
determinant of long-term success. Forward-looking leaders recognize
that ongoing success requires innovation and change. Transitioning the
transactional and one-directional relationship from government-citizen
to a more collaborative approach of community builder-community
member breathes life around a shared purpose. In this session, practical
tips, tools and techniques will be shared to enlist your community
members so you succeed by choice, not by chance.
MODERATOR AND SPEAKER | Patrick Ibarra, Co-Founder and Partner, The
Mejorando Group
SPEAKER | Anne Ambrose, Director of Administrative Services, Palmdale
Regional Partnership: How to Address Homelessness Differently
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
In an effort to comply with a federal mandate as well as recent case law,
the North Service Planning Area (North SPA) – comprised of the cities of
Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Los
Alamitos, Orange, Placentia, Villa Park, Stanton, and Yorba Linda – have
collaborated on a regional approach to address homelessness. Based
on the local mandate by Federal Judge David Carter, these cities were
required to work on a homeless housing plan, which includes creating
Navigation Centers – one in Placentia and one in Buena Park. Learn
about the beginning of this unique collaboration and the efforts involved
in creating a comprehensive agreement and partnership.
PRESIDING | Kevin O’Rourke, Retired City Manager, Senior Consultant, PARS
SPEAKERS | Damien R. Arrula, City Administrator, Placentia
Jim Sadro, City Manager, La Habra
James Vanderpool, City Manager, Anaheim
LGBTQ+ Executive/Ally: Bolstering Your City’s Economic and
Social Prosperity
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
According to studies, evidence now shows that cultural diversity and
tolerance are not by-products but key drivers of economic progress, and
that proximity, openness and diversity operate alongside technological
innovation and human capital as the key engines of economic
prosperity. A panel of experts and fellow city officials will present the
economic and social benefits to cities which embrace diversity. The
panel will also discuss key challenges and strategies for successful
LGBTQ inclusion. Planned with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Queer (LGBTQ) Caucus
PRESIDING | Catherine Carlton, Council Member, Menlo Park
SPEAKERS | Tom Baker, Founder/Board Member, BuildOUT California
Lisa Middleton, Council Member, Palm Springs
Paul Pendergast, President, BuildOUT California
Gabriel Quinto, Council Member, El Cerrito
Rural City Information Exchange Meeting
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Latino Caucus Reception
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
CitiPAC - Annual Leadership Reception
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a fun “virtual” CitiPAC Trivia Night event. Teams will be broken
into regional divisions and will compete against each other for the honor
of being the top division in the League. Contestants will be asked several
rounds of questions with the ability to break into separate zoom rooms
to discuss and confer on their final answers. The event will provide a fun
informal way to interact and connect with conference attendees while
supporting CitiPAC in its efforts to protect local control at the ballot box.
Attendance is free and a suggested contribution of $25 will get you a
CitiPAC martini glass and mixology package to be used during the virtual
reception. We ask that you visit www.citipac.org/events/trivia to register.
*Trivia Night is a benefit to support CitiPAC. Please do not use a public
computer or resources to participate in this event.
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 5 |
What You Need to Know About Municipal Revenues
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Join two leading experts for this information-packed update of the
latest developments in all things concerning money for California cities:
important changes, significant challenges, and new opportunities.
Learn about the latest legal developments and laws affecting your city's
finances, hear about trends and prospects for core city revenues, and
how to obtain financing tools.
SPEAKERS | Michael Colantuono, Managing Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith
& Whatley, PC
Michael Coleman, League Fiscal Policy Advisor, CaliforniaCityFinance.com
Is a Virtual Workforce Our New Normal?
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
In spring 2020, many cities found themselves scrambling to set up virtual
workforces and virtual council meetings. After the dust has settled and
technology kinks have been smoothed out, what have we learned?
Are remote workforces and virtual public meetings here to stay? Come
learn from a group of city management professionals as they share
their various insights and experiences in empowering their staff to work
remotely, as well as advice on how to sustain the option if you so choose.
PRESIDING | Aaron Adams, City Manager, Temecula
SPEAKERS | Robert Bell, Managing Parter, Peak Point Consultants
Grace Leung, City Manager, Newport Beach
Michele Williams, Chief Information Officer, Culver City
Modern Emergencies: How to Incorporate Digital
Communications Into Emergency Plans
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Upon the arrival of COVID-19, fresh approaches to digital content
were vital in sharing critical information and services to San Francisco
residents. However, the addition of formalized digital teams bucks the
traditional structure of an emergency operations center. Join us to learn
more about how San Francisco modernized its approaches from the
people who worked on the ground.
PRESIDING | Rebekah Otto, Senior Content Strategist, City and County of San
Francisco
SPEAKERS | Linda Acosta, Communications, San Francisco Department of Public
Health
Anita Cheng, Content Designer, San Francisco Digital Services
Persis Howe, Content Strategy Lead, City and County of San Francisco
What to Do When In-Person
Engagement Isn't Possible
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The COVID-19 outbreak has created a
"new reality" in many sectors, including
public participation. In this session, city
leaders will learn innovative ways to use
virtual platforms to engage residents
around budgeting, land use planning and
transparency, without meeting face-to-
face. Many of these tools and techniques,
while essential in this time of physical distancing, also have the potential
to engage new, hard-to- reach segments of the community, and will be
useful beyond this current crisis.
MODERATOR | Erica Manuel, CEO & Executive Director, Institute for Local
Government
SPEAKERS | Robert Johnson, City Manager, San Jacinto
David Loya, Community Development Director, Arcata
Hanna Stelmakhovych, Program Coordinator, Institute for Local Government
Diversity Caucus Business Meetings
Asian-Pacific Islander
10:45 - 11:30 am
Lesbian Gay Bisexual-Transgender Queer
11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Latino
12:45 - 1:15 p.m.
African-American
2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Women’s
3:45 - 4:15 p.m.
Coastal Cities Group Meeing
11:45 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
General Session
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
PRESIDING | Cheryl Viegas Walker, 1st Vice President, League of California Cities and Mayor, El Centro
Cities for Workforce Health
Award Beacon Awards
Helen Putnam Award for Excellence
National League of Cities Update
Keynote Panel: Advancing Racial Equity: A Discussion
Cities across the nation are grappling with frustration, outrage, and grief stemming from the effects of systemic racism. Join leadership from the
National League of Cities REAL Department and three California city leaders for a discussion on how they are building more equitable and just cities.
SPEAKERS | Leon Andrews, Director of Race, Equity And Leadership (REAL), National League of Cities
Dr. Matt Rahn, Council Member, Temecula
Wade Nomuro, Mayor, Carpinteria City Council
Dan Wright, Vice Mayor, City of Stockton
| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 |
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 6 |
| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 |
General Resolutions Committee
1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
All Annual Conference Resolutions will be considered by the General
Resolutions Committee (GRC), which consists of representatives from
each division, department, policy committee and individuals appointed
by the League President. Resolutions that are approved by the GRC,
and resolutions that are approved by the policy committees, but not
approved by the GRC, are next considered by the General Assembly. Any
city official from a member city wishing to speak during public comment
should email resolutions@cacities.org with the name, title and city
to receive connection information. For additional information on the
resolution process, please visit www.cacities.org/resolutions.
League Partners Speaker Theater
1:30 - 2:15 p.m.
Reopening Safely: Disinfecting Your Building & What to Do If an
Employee Tests Positive
Reopening facilities under COVID19 restrictions is a tricky proposition. Join
us to learn what you need to know before you reopen. Presenters will cover
the preferred methods to disinfect and create a safe space for employees
and constituents. The session will also cover what to do if an employee
tests positive. Do all employees need to be tested? Do you need to shut
down your whole facility? What methods can be taken to disinfect when a
confirmed case has been reported? Learn what other cities have done and
what methods they have used to avoid setbacks. Receive best practices to
help ensure employee health and safety. Presented by ServPro
SPEAKERS | Kyle Trelford. Regional Marketing Consultant, SERVPRO
Matt Wilson. Regional Marketing Consultant, SERVPRO
Ten Years After the Bell Scandal: Are We More Ethical?
2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
It’s been ten years since revelations of corruption gripped the city of Bell
and cities across the nation. The city of Bell, led by strong reformers,
has come a long way toward restoring sound ethics and restoring its
reputation. This panel will focus on real life experience with ethical
lapses and the heavy lifting involved with overcoming incidents of abuse
of public trust. It will address not only well known and obvious cases of
corruption, but also ethical dilemmas when leaders are forced to choose
between competing values and maintain the public’s trust in the process.
MODERATOR | Thaddeus McCormack, City Manager, Lakewood
SPEAKERS | David Aleshire, City Attorney, City of Bell; City of Signal Hill
Michael Flad, City Manager, South Gate
Ali Saleh, Mayor, Bell
From Vision to Reality: Lessons Learned in Complete Street
Implementation
2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
As California’s population continues to rise, municipalities are looking
to incorporate active transportation infrastructure into their Capital
Improvement Programs (CIPs). Complete Street designs, which
incorporate bike and pedestrian features, are one way to encourage and
improve multimodal travel. Over the past several years, cities along the
Central Coast have integrated Complete and Green Street designs into
their major infrastructure goals. Along the way, they’ve learned lessons
that any city can benefit from as active transportation grows. Learn how
city leaders from Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, and Paso Robles delivered
these types of projects, and their recommendations for successful design
and implementation going forward.
MODERATOR | Larry Kraemer, Director of Public Infrastructure, Cannon
SPEAKERS | Jeff Lee, Mayor, Grover Beach
Jim Lewis, City Manager, Pismo Beach
Steve Martin, Mayor, Paso Robles
League Partners Speaker Theater
12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Can Counties and Cities get Along? EIFDs are a Start.
It’s a new era of local government cooperation; it starts with Tax Increment
Financing sharing through an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts
(EIFD). This relatively new tool has sprouted 3 EIFDs consisting of counties
and cities who voluntarily joint ventured their property tax increment to
induce transit-oriented development, housing and many other community
amenities including parks and roadways. Learn how these unique local
partnerships are put together and operate. Hear directly from County
and City Officials on how they evaluated the decision to create a Public
Financing Authority to manage the EIFD activities and deliver community
benefits and improvements over time. Presented by Kosmont Companies
PRESIDING | Larry Kosmont, Chairman and CEO, Kosmont Companies
SPEAKERS | Damien R. Arrula, City Administrator, Placentia
Scrap Your Fears About Food Waste Regulations:
Preparing for SB1383
12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
The plates of city officials are full! From managing pandemic response
efforts to rolling out electric vehicle infrastructure, there is no shortage
of topics to tackle. Ironically there is one topic that often slips right off
the plate: food waste! New requirements around organic waste recycling
will soon be a reality and cities are scrambling to position themselves to
meet the aggressive targets. In this session you will learn how SB 1383
regulations will impact your city services and delivery, and hear promising
practices from colleagues about developing and implementing local
programs to reach the statewide organic waste reduction targets.
PRESIDING | Nicole Enright, Associate Program Manager, Institute for Local
Government
SPEAKERS | Jennifer Chong, Public Works Program Manager, Half Moon Bay
Charles Helget, Director Government Affairs, Republic Services
Cara Morgan, Branch Chief, CalRecycle
Housing Law Update
12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
Between 2017 and today there have been numerous changes in law
impacting the role of a city in housing development. This session will
provide an update on recent changes in Housing law with a focus on
the Housing Crisis and Housing Accountability Acts, Density Bonus Law,
ADUs, Housing Elements Law, and No Net Loss issues facing cities today.”
MODERATOR AND SPEAKER | Lauren Langer, Partner, Best Best & Krieger LLP
SPEAKER | Todd Leishman, Of Counsel, Best Best & Krieger LLP
Informing Through Crisis: COVID-19’s Impact on Black
Communities in California
12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
During this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, people look to government
leaders and trusted local news sources to understand the impact on their
communities. Californians are now accustomed to – and rely on – data-
driven daily briefings from government leaders to better understand the
course of the virus. Especially for the hardest hit populations of our state,
this data is essential to making both short- and long- term decisions. This
session will explore a number of questions about one of the hardest hit
populations – the Black community – and the necessary data to support
the decisions local governments make. Planned with the African American Caucus
PRESIDING | Michelle Burroughs, Deputy Director, University of California,
Riverside School of Medicine’s Center for Healthy Communities
SPEAKERS | Justin Cummings, Mayor, Santa Cruz
Tanu Henry, Managing Editor, California Black Media
Maureen Kamau, Co-Founder, Black Girls MAPP
Marla Matime, Executive Director, African American Caucus
Acquanetta Warren, Mayor, Fontana
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 7 |
| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 |
How Women in Government Can Navigate Their Way to
Corporate Boards
2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Many women in government believe that their experience is not deep
enough in corporate experience to be qualified for boards. In this
strategy session, learn from experts in the field how government careers
can lead to corporate boards. Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, author of
two books, The Board Game: How Smart Women Become Corporate
Directors and Winning the Board Game: How Women Corporate Directors
Make the Difference, will moderate a fireside conversation and share key
lessons on how women can get appointed to corporate boards. Planned
with the Womens Caucus
MODERATOR | Ellen Kamei, 2nd Vice President, Women’s Caucus, Vice Mayor,
Mountain View
SPEAKERS | Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, CEO, 2020 Women on Boards
Wendy Greuel, Board of Director, Fisker Inc.
Department Meetings
Public Works
2:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles (AB 1234)
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Ability to join webinar will begin 30 minutes prior to the session. Each
attendee must register individually, be signed in, present for the full two
hours, and participating in online polling throughout the entire session
in order to receive the certification of attendance. Registration and entry
into to the webinar will be prohibited once the session begins. (Planned
with the Institute for Local Government) The Institute for Local Government 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 2 hours (general
credits). Provider #13881 State law requires elected and appointed
officials to receive two hours of training in specified ethics laws and
principles every two years. Newly elected and appointed officials must
receive this training within one year of becoming a public servant. Join a
panel of experts as they help navigate the ethics laws and principles.
SPEAKER | Joan Cox, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP
League Partners Speaker Theater
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
“Building Community Disaster Resilience; From Mandates to
Best Practices”
A global pandemic compounded by California’s wildfires, floods,
mudslides, and other natural and man-made crises have triggered the
need to reimagine emergency management response and recovery
strategies and apply newly identified best practice to building
community resilience. This session will be led by seasoned emergency
managers and local city management executives skilled at helping
participants understand the legal requirements of disaster planning
and response while helping attendees enhance their approach to
municipal emergency management success. The session will explore
the mandates and best practices of emergency planning, continuity
of operations planning, post-disaster financial recovery, and the
after-action reporting and improvement process. The session will
further cover best practice crisis communications strategies with the
community and your organization, emergency management strategic
planning, and building an effective emergency management program
in a time of limited resources and increased community expectations.
Presented by Interwest Consulting Group
SPEAKERS | Jacob Green, Managing Director, Emergency Management
Services, Interwest Consulting Group
Advancing Racial Equity: An Introduction
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
As city leaders work to dismantle the barriers to equity and justice in
California’s cities, the League will be providing education and capacity-
building resources to support you. Join leadership from the League and the
National League of Cities REAL Department as we set the stage for the work
ahead to expand our knowledge and capacity to eliminate racial disparities,
heal racial divisions and build more equitable communities. This session
is a re-run of a webinar the League offered on August 27, 2020. It is being
offered during Annual Conference as an extension to the Thursday General
Session keynote panel. Panelists will not be available for Q&A.
Speakers | Leon Andrews, Director of Race, Equity And Leadership (REAL),
National League of Cities
Recovering From Ransomware
3:45 - 5:00 p.m.
In this session, panelists will perform a case study on a city that was a victim
of a ransomware attack. Hear about the impact to city operations and the
road to recovery from a ransomware attack. Learn what can be done to
prevent or at least decrease the impact of ransomware attacks from the
city’s auditor and cybersecurity professional. The session will cover topics
like cyber risk management, governance of information and technology,
cyber insurance coverage, and free resources to help you prepare.
MODERATOR AND SPEAKER | Donald Hester, Cybersecurity Director, Maze &
Associates Accounting Corporation
SPEAKERS | Doug Alessio, Administrative Services Director, Livermore
Benjamin Buecher, I.T. Manager, Lodi
Social Media & Government: What Are the Rules of Engagement?
3:45 - 5:00 p.m.
May cities and elected officials block or regulate public participation on
their social media accounts? May elected officials unfriend, deny or not
respond to friend requests on Facebook? May people be blocked, muted
or unfollowed on Twitter? How should policies be drafted and enforced
regarding the public’s use of these social media accounts? This session
will explain the legal standards through case law from the Second,
Fourth and Fifth Circuits, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second
Circuit’s landmark decision in Knight v. Trump. Panelists will include
practical advice for complying with this new area of law.
MODERATOR | Stephanie Hill, Marketing and Virtual Experience Manager, Meyers Nave
SPEAKERS | Deborah Fox, Chair, First Amendment Practice and Trial & Litigation
Practice, Meyers Nave
Margaret Rosequist, Of Counsel, Meyers Nave
Evening Events
Beacon Spotlight Awards Reception
5:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Lesbian Gay Bisexual-Transgender Queer Caucus Annual
Reception and Drag Queen Bingo
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Women’s Caucus Reception
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 8 |
Department Meetings
City Attorneys'
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
City Clerks
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Mayors & Council Members
10:15 - 11:00 a.m.
Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors and Officials
(AB 1661)
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Ability to join webinar will begin 30 minutes prior to the session. Each
attendee must register individually, be signed in, present for the full two
hours, and participating in online polling throughout the entire session
in order to receive the certification of attendance. Registration and entry
into to the webinar will be prohibited once the session begins. (Planned
with the Institute for Local Government). The Institute for Local Government 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 2 hours
(general credits). Provider #13881 This informational and interactive
workplace harassment prevention training will focus on current and
emerging issues resulting from the #MeToo movement, and teach
officials and supervisors how to identify, prevent, and properly respond
to workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and abusive
conduct in order to avoid personal and agency liability in compliance
with AB 1825/2053/1661 and SB 396.
SPEAKER | Rebecca Green, Attorney, Richards, Watson & Gershon
Advancing Racial Equity: National League of
Cities’ Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL)
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Do you have questions from Thursday’s General
Session or want to bring NLC REAL to your city?
Connect live with leadership from NLC REAL for a
direct discussion and Q&A about what is available
to your city. No presentation will be given, the
conversation will be driven directly by questions
and comments from you, our members.
NLC’s Race, Equity, And Leadership (REAL)
Department serves to strengthen local leaders’ knowledge and capacity
to eliminate racial disparities, heal racial divisions, and build more
equitable communities. Through training and online resources, REAL
helps NLC members build safe places where people from all racial, ethnic
and cultural backgrounds thrive socially, economically, academically
and physically.
SPEAKERS | Leon Andrews, Director of Race, Equity And Leadership (REAL),
National League of Cities
Layoffs, Furloughs, & Concessions –
Negotiating in Challenging Times
9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
It has only been a little more than a decade since the Great Recession,
but for many cities recession discussions are once again underway or
on the horizon. This session will review strategies for layoffs, furloughs,
freezing step increases and other concessions, as well as the meet and
confer obligations surrounding these issues. A review of the process of
impacts/effects bargaining will be highlighted using case studies.
Presenters will highlight the pros and cons of items such as short vs.
long-term labor agreements, impact of furloughs on exempt employees,
and suggestions for communicating the rules of engagement during
financially challenging times.
MODERATOR AND SPEAKER | Laura Drottz Kalty, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
SPEAKER | Peter J. Brown, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Libraries Respond in Crisis and Beyond
9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
When cities were tested responding to COVID-19, many turned to
libraries to fill gaps no other agencies could. From lending Wi-Fi hotspots
for distance learners to setting up childcare centers for first responders,
library staff answered the call. This quick transition from information
centers to virtual community centers is nothing new for the library. In
addition to traditional services, libraries provide support for job training,
early education, wellness, and more. This session will demonstrate how
a well-trained staff and solidly equipped facilities can produce a huge
return on investment and serve as a crucial element in your emergency
preparedness toolkit.
PRESIDING | Heather Cousin, Library Services Director, Thousand Oaks
SPEAKERS | Jeanette Contreras, Library Director, Placentia Library District
Hillary Theyer, Library Director, Monterey County Free Libraries
Derek Wolfgram, Library Director, Redwood City
Telecommuting Policies – Hot Topics & Key Issues to Consider
10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
The topic of telecommuting has been gaining traction, but this year
with shelter in place orders in effect, telecommuting rapidly became
a necessity in many public agencies. This session will review issues to
discuss and incorporate into telecommuting policies for both exempt
and non-exempt employees and the overlapping need to meet and
confer on this subject for represented employees. Telecommuting can
work well in some cases and create challenges in others. In the public
sector, accountability is critical and we will discuss ideas to meet those
expectations while offering telecommuting options when feasible.
MODERATOR AND SPEAKER | Kristi Recchia, Labor Relations Director, Liebert
Cassidy Whitmore
SPEAKER | T. Oliver Yee, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 |
League of California Cities 2020 Annual Conference & Expo| 9 |
Code Enforcement During a Pandemic: Lessons Learned
10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
The COVID-19 pandemic required California cities to take extraordinary
emergency measures to protect public health and safety of their
communities. Now that our attention has turned to long-term efforts,
cities need to re-examine the resources available to them to maximize
pandemic response effectiveness and public safety. This panel will
explore relevant statutes, case law, lessons learned, and best practices
for the role of code enforcement during pandemics.
PRESIDING | Curtis Wright, Founding Partner, Silver & Wright LLP
SPEAKERS | Larry Breceda, Public Safety Manager, Duarte
Brian Briggs, Deputy County Counsel, County of Monterey, Office of the County
Counsel
Peter Lemos, Code & Housing Enforecement Chief, Sacramento
Integrating Lessons from Race and Trauma into Local Services:
Achieving Better Results at Lower Cost
10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Many city and county services (child welfare, schools, juvenile justice) are
meant to protect our children and provide them with opportunities for
rehabilitation. Unfortunately, the experiences are traumatizing for many
children and young adults, leading to a vicious cycle where local public
costs increase and public safety decreases. This trauma is exacerbated
by COVID-19, racial injustice, and violence. In this session, we discuss
lessons we can integrate into local service planning to achieve better
results, and reduce costs. This session is a part of our virtual series to
support dialogue with experts on how we can address these critically
important issues. This API Caucus session is co-hosted in partnership with the
League of California Cities African American Caucus & the USC Sol Price School of
Public Policy in Sacramento.
MODERATOR | Lois Takahashi, Director, and Houston Flournoy Professor of State
Government, USC Price in Sacramento
SPEAKERS | Walter Allen, Chair of the League’s African American Caucus, Council
Member, Covina
Sheng Thao, Incoming President, API Caucus, Council Member, Oakland
Dr. Dexter Voisin, Dean & Professor, University of Toronto
General Assembly
11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
During this final step in the Annual Conference Resolutions process,
delegates from each member city will consider the recommendations
of the General Resolutions Committee. Resolutions approved by the
General Assembly become League policy. Please note there is no public
comment during the General Assembly. For additional information on
the resolution process, please visit https://www.cacities.org/resolutions.
African-American Caucus Reception
6:00 - 8:00 pm
| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 |
Closing General Session
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. PRESIDING | John Dunbar, President, League of California Cities and Mayor, Yountville
Policy Committee Chairs
Report of the General Assembly
Welcome to New Board of Directors
Leadership Transition
Closing Keynote: Communicating in Times of Crisis
Award-winning journalist and host of the show Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien, shares what
it was like filming her new documentary in Seattle just as the leading edge of the coronavirus
began its devastating run through the community. She talks about arriving in Washington
State with the intent of focusing on Seattle’s biggest public health crisis, homelessness and
society’s most vulnerable. Her team had to pivot quickly once they were faced with a brand-new crisis: Covid-19 and the vulnerability of everyone in
society. O’Brien discusses how the pandemic has impacted her world as well as her thoughts on how our communities will adapt.
SPEAKER | Soledad O'Brien, Award Winning Journalist, Documentarian, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist