What will you learn at the annual conference

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By Cal Cities Education Staff

The Annual Conference and Expo is a great way to learn from other California cities and meet your continuing education needs. Here's a sneak peek at what to expect when you join over 1,900 city officials (and counting) in Long Beach for three days of education, collaboration, and connection this Oct. 16-18.

Whether you're new to city government or need insights on emerging trends, the annual conference has something for everyone. Elected officials and city staff of all tenures can discover how to combat misinformation, build leadership skills, and facilitate civil conversations in their communities.

City managers can find new ways to solve big city problems in small towns, foster strong partnerships with their city councils, and build more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations. Public works directors can learn how to prepare their communities for an electric future, new ways to reduce water loss, and automate road assessments. And finance directors can get a detailed look at California's economic future and learn new tactics for budgeting amid economic uncertainty.

City attorneys and city clerks can also earn continuing education credits - more details below.

Attending the conference can spur important ideas and discussions long after you return home. Take a moment with your team to review the newly released educational sessions. Then, divide them among your group to maximize the conference's full educational benefits.

Sessions may change, so check out the educational sessions - also found in the "schedule at a glance" section of the Annual Conference and Expo webpage - for the latest information.

Legal education credits

Attending the annual conference is a great way to earn your Minimum Continuing Legal Education credits. Although geared toward legal professionals, the sessions are open to all conference attendees.

Credit-earning presentations will feature updates in four litigation areas: a general municipal update, labor and employment, land use and CEQA, and municipal tort and civil rights. Legal experts will also review how to handle disruptive public comment, the builder's remedy, public camping ordinances, and other notable legal developments.

All credit-earning sessions will be marked as "Legal Issues Session" on the annual conference program and website. The sessions are supported by, and coordinated with, the Cal Cities City Attorneys Department.

State-mandated training

Local officials can also meet their state-mandated ethics and workplace harassment training requirements at the annual conference. Elected and appointed officials must receive two hours of training in specified ethics laws and principles every two years. This includes Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles (AB 1234 training), which officials must receive within one year of becoming a public servant.

Local officials must also take workplace harassment prevention training. Sexual HarassmentPrevention Training for City Officials (AB 1661 and AB 1825 training) will focus on how to identify, prevent, and properly respond to workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and abusive conduct to avoid personal and agency liability, as well as how to comply with AB 1825, AB 2053, AB 1661, and SB 396.

The Institute for Local Government, a State Bar of California Minimum Continuing Legal Education approved provider (#13881), will conduct both training courses. The sessions meet the state bar association's standards for legal education credits for the total amount of two hours (general credits) per training.

Sign-in will begin 30 minutes prior to each session. Attendeesmustbe presentfor the full two hours to receive the certification of attendance. Entry will be prohibited once the session begins.

Certified Municipal Clerk/Master Municipal Clerk credit

The annual conference allows city clerks to expand their knowledge through a Certified Municipal Clerk/Master Municipal Clerk accredited workshop. The workshop begins with a 30-minute Cal Cities City Clerks' Department Meeting, followed by approximately four hours of training. Additional registration ($175) is required to attend the workshop.

Registration information

The annual conference is filling up fast! Conference registration closes on Oct. 4 or when the conference sells out.Full conference registration is $700 for member city officials and includes access to all general and concurrent sessions, the expo, CitiPAC and diversity caucus receptions, and Wednesday's host city reception.

Cal Cities strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. For accommodation or accessibility inquiries, please contact Conference Registrar Megan Dunn. Every effort will be made to honor requests submitted.

Scammers may contact you claiming to be the housing bureau/service for the conference. Cal Cities has contracted with LiveCon as the official housing bureau/service for the 2024 Annual Conference and Expo. Official conference emails will come from addresses ending in @calcities.org or @live-con.com, or the actual hotel. Neither party will call you directly without prior communication.

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