City Managers Virtual Conference

Department President’s Welcome and Cal Cities Update

Receive an update on priorities and issues for the League of California Cities, along with news for the city managers department.

Speakers: Steven Rogers, City Managers Department President, Town Manager, Town of Yountville | Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director, League of California Cities

Opening Keynote

Premium and Elite level sponsors are anxious to meet F2F and discuss the how’s and why’s your city needs their business expertise. Sponsors will be representing their products and services in the following areas; plant health care fighting against insects and diseases, affordable housing laws, code enforcement laws with cost-effective counsel, building safety, city engineering, pension and unfunded liabilities challenges, successful civic engagement platforms, IT Technology services, social learning network tools, identifying emerging issues of governance, sidewalk asset management, and preserving public services. Look for prizes and games during each of the sponsor Q&A sessions!

COVID-19 has impacted sales and hotel taxes, changing fundamental business models for retail, hotel, and accelerating residential and industrial. Economic development post-COVID is about retail reimagination with focus on shifting regional malls to blended use destinations and expanding residential and outdoor destination amenities. For hotels, both business and tourism, it’s about consumer perception of safety and “cleanliness”. A land-use revolution is underway as communities seek to resuscitate local economies and re-establish revenue momentum. Learn the primary economic development pathways to vitality and how cities can leverage government grants, special districts, public financing, and new zoning tools to achieve revenue and resiliency.

Moderator: Larry Kosmont, Chairman & CEO, Kosmont Companies

Speakers: Jim Dillavou, Principal and Co-Founder, Paragon Commercial Group | Sharon Landers, City Manager, Carson

Attend this panel discussion featuring public and private sector professionals from across the state looking back at the most challenging year in a century. Panelists will discuss the dual and dynamic impacts of the pandemic, including the nationwide awakening to racial and social justice needs and racial inequities, alongside keeping a complex city operation functioning. They will examine impacts to their respective communities and workplaces and share their view of changes to how cities will operate now and into the future. Will our work/home balance be altered permanently? How can turn our discussions and aspirations to make racial equity sustainable?

Moderator: Alex Smith, Deputy Executive Officer, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority

Speakers: Ernie Hernandez, City Manager, City of Hawaiian Gardens | Robert Lowe, First Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services | Izzy Murguia, Senior Management Analyst, Poway

Public engagement is even more complicated in a COVID environment with compounded concerns around transparency, access and language. How can city managers rise above the fray to position their communities for constructive dialogue that improves public trust while also accomplishing local priorities? How can city mangers encourage their staff to integrate equity into their planning and engagement processes without detailing initiatives and doubling budgets? This session will provide practical tips for incorporating equity into public engagement activities. It will explore a range of options to help local leaders build community relationships, increase public participation and find common ground.

Join the Department Officers and members of the City Managers Department for an informal “Coffee Chat” before the conference begins for the day. Come (virtually) to network with your peers, and gear up for everything you will learn in the day ahead!

Moderator: Meghan McKelvey, Manager, Department and Member Services, League of California Cities

The COVID-19 pandemic and recession is infecting the economy and, with it, municipal revenues. This panel of leading experts will analyze economic and financial trends and discuss the year ahead for cities in California. The group will review expectations for recovery in the travel industry; the outlook for state budget impacts and revenue allocations; trends in key revenues including lodging, property and sales taxes; and will provide evaluation tools for your agency.

Moderator and Speaker: Michael Coleman, League Fiscal Policy Advisor, CaliforniaCityFinance.com

Speakers: Leila Bengali, Economist, UCLA Anderson Forecast | Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California | Ken Nordhoff, Principal, HdL Companies

While city managers across the state are expressing a desire to increase racial equity and social justice within their organizations, many don’t know where to start. Some leaders fear saying or doing the wrong thing. Others are growing increasingly aware of what they don’t know, especially as pertains to policies and practices that may inadvertently perpetuate structural racism and other inequities. Join us for a courageous conversation on how to lead organizations dedicated to fair and equitable practices all while navigating the vast number of political challenges and tensions that accompany this effort. We will cover practical approaches to go beyond the transactional and into the long-term relational mindset needed to shift into an organizational culture of genuine equity and inclusion.

Moderator: Elisa Cox, Deputy City Manager, Rancho Cucamonga

Speakers: John Gillison, City Manager, Rancho Cucamonga

Cal-ICMA President's Remarks

Remarks: Dominic Lazzaretto

Promoting Civility in Times of Heightened Partisanship and Polarization

In the wake of the November election, local governments statewide are navigating polarization and partisanship at the federal, state and local levels. City managers are working hard to balance this while also managing new council dynamics, economic uncertainty resulting from the COVID crisis and a myriad of other challenges local governments face on a daily basis. Join a panel of city officials to hear strategies and lessons learned about how to manage relationships with elected officials, increase civility, continue operations and communicate effectively with your community.

Premium and Elite level sponsors are anxious to meet F2F and discuss the how’s and why’s your city needs their business expertise. Sponsors will be representing their products and services in the following areas; plant health care fighting against insects and diseases, affordable housing laws, code enforcement laws with cost-effective counsel, building safety, city engineering, pension and unfunded liabilities challenges, successful civic engagement platforms, IT Technology services, social learning network tools, identifying emerging issues of governance, sidewalk asset management, and preserving public services. Look for prizes and games during each of the sponsor Q&A sessions!

When a crisis hits, we automatically go into crisis mode. Whether it’s a global pandemic, a gas explosion, or a brush fire, city managers and fire chiefs naturally act fast in dealing with the issue at hand. But, how do we remember to stay within the ethical guidelines in a rapidly evolving situation? Attend this frank discussion of the emotional impacts and ethical considerations leaders must navigate when confronting critical events.

Moderator: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager, Arcadia

Speakers: Jim Lewis, City Manager, Pismo Beach

The session will tell the stories of Cities and how the importance of organizational values benefited their City’s team, especially during crises such as COVID-19. Cities will also discuss how they developed and implemented their values. One of those examples is the City of Murrieta. Months before the COVID-19 crisis, Murrieta underwent an employee driven initiative. Engagement with all levels of employees and commitment from the City Executive Team was vital to the process. The initiative concluded with an academy awards style ceremony, revealing the values to all employees. Each of the Cities, Rancho Cucamonga, Hayward and Pismo Beach will highlight their values in action such as hiring based on values, utilizing values as part of performance evaluations, and much more.

Moderator: Louie Lacasella, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Murrieta

Speakers: Jorge Garcia, Management Services Director, Pismo Beach | Kelly McAdoo, City Manager, Hayward | Lori Sassoon, Deputy City Manager/Administrative Services, Rancho Cucamonga | Kim Summers, City Manager, Murrieta

Please join the League Partners for a hosted wine tasting event on Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Get together with your colleagues from across the state virtually and enjoy some wine and social time.

RSVP to Melissa Tualla by Monday, January 18th with your mailing address to receive your wine flight for the tasting event.

Premium and Elite level sponsors are anxious to meet F2F and discuss the how’s and why’s your city needs their business expertise. Sponsors will be representing their products and services in the following areas; plant health care fighting against insects and diseases, affordable housing laws, code enforcement laws with cost-effective counsel, building safety, city engineering, pension and unfunded liabilities challenges, successful civic engagement platforms, IT Technology services, social learning network tools, identifying emerging issues of governance, sidewalk asset management, and preserving public services. Look for prizes and games during each of the sponsor Q&A sessions!

Nationwide, cities have responded to widespread calls to reimagine the role police departments play in public safety. This panel explores different models for how cities interact with their police forces and how these models might influence potential reforms. Panelists will discuss their wide range of viewpoints and experiences when it comes to city administration, labor negotiations, and working hand-in-hand with community leaders to define how the police can best serve their communities.

Moderator: Ken Pulskamp, Executive Director, CCMF

Speakers: Jackie Gomez Whitley, Retired Chief of Police, Cypress Police Department | David Reynoso, Chief of Police, El Monte | Shawny Williams, Chief of Police, Vallejo Police Department

Being able to establish and maintain effective communication with the city council is essential to a successful council/manager relationship, and there are many variables to consider. A city manager’s relationship with the city council can be impacted by the manager’s relationship with department heads. Even managers who have a good working relationship with their city councils are often challenged by an outlier” council member. Plus, department head selection and termination can affect council relations. Panelists will explore these and other issues and challenges associated with communicating with elected officials, including strategies for dealing with varied personalities, communication styles, information expectations, and how to meet these expectations of city council during a work-from-home environment

Moderator: John Russo, Principal, Synchronicity Associates

Speakers: Troy Brown, City Manager, Moorpark | Alexander Nguyen, City Manager, City of Oxnard | Deanna Santana, City Manager, City of Santa Clara

CCCMF President's Remarks

Speaker: Ken Striplin

Closing Keynote