Tuesday, August 29, 2023
7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Conference Registration
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
CSDA Board Meeting
7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Exhibitor Showcase Open
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
8:45 - 10:45 a.m.
Opening General Session and Keynote
The Heart of Leadership: The Secret & Science to Influencing & Leading During Transformation
Seth Mattison, CEO and Founder of FutureSight Labs
Leadership has always been about one thing: influence. To effectively manage transformation today, leaders must have the understanding and the skill to not only connect with the rational and logical aspects of people’s brains but also have the capacity to reach their hearts to understand what ultimately drives human behavior at the deepest level.
As traditional hierarchies are re-examined and leadership becomes less about title, tenure, and time at the organization and more about influence, impact, and connection to their heart, our ability to develop, cultivate, and grow our personal presence and own our capacity to reveal our full selves every single day will become the new mandate for leadership in the modern era.
In this highly interactive deep-dive discussion, leadership keynote speaker Seth Mattison will shed light on these questions and add a new perspective to the conversation of leadership today by dissecting the most critical skills and competencies leaders will need to acquire to elevate their impact on the teams they’re supporting, the organizations they’re leading, and the communities they live in.
Attendees gain:
- Perspective on the neuroscience and neuroradiology of influence and change
- An unprecedented look at the future-ready skills and competencies to prime performance, culture, and organizational growth
- Strategies for activating the power of empathy and attunement to drive engagement
- Access to case studies from category-leading brands activating heart-based cultures to drive growth
Awards
- GM of the Year
- Board Member of the Year
- Staff Member of the Year
- SDLF New and Renewing CSDM and Recognition
SDLF Essential Leadership Skills Certificate
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
ABCs of Alternative Delivery Models for Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs)
Melanie Mow Schumacher and Taj DuFour, Soquel Creek Water District; David Gehrig, Hanson Bridgett, LLP
With alternative delivery models being used more frequently for capital improvement projects (CIPs), it's important to know the pros/cons of various procurement methods. Design-build (DB) construction is a delivery method that provides an owner (special district) with a single point of contact for both the design and construction phases of the project. Unlike traditional design-bid-build (DBB), the phases overlap, and team members (owner and DB firm) collaborate throughout the process to provide successful project delivery. There are several things to consider and will be shared in the presentation:
- What are the different types of delivery methods and the considerations/benefits/limitations of each?
- What type of delivery model is best for the project you’re considering?
- What type of contract should you use?
- Do state and federal funding have implications for the type of procurement model to use?
- Does design-build actually save time or money?
- Do I need more staffing resources to support design-build implementation?
Public Agencies' Role in Forest Management and Keys to Successful Grant Applications
Joel Metzger, Utica Water and Power Authority
Andrew Fecko, Placer County Water Agency
Mark Egbert, Georgetown Divide & El Dorado County Resource Conservation Districts
Greg Schroer, U.S. Forest Service
As landscape-scale forest management becomes increasingly important to protect our communities, water supplies, and timberlands, public agencies have a unique opportunity to take leading roles in being good stewards of our natural resources. Hear from public agency managers who are on the cutting edge of forest management in California, learn about their ongoing projects, and find out how they worked with stakeholders. Local, state, and federal grants/appropriations are critical to public agencies' ability to move forest management projects forward, and the panel will identify preferred funding sources and share the keys to successful grant applications. If a public agency in your community is ready to take on a forest management project, you don't want to miss this panel!
Role of the Board, Parliamentary Procedure, Brown Act, and Conflicts of Interest
Oliver Yee, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
The Board has significant fiduciary responsibilities and duties, much of which is guided by the law. This session will cover the essential legal functions and foundational principles surrounding board governance. Specifically, it will cover key provisions of the Brown Act, ethical responsibilities, conflicts of interest, and parliamentary procedures.
Save Money and Time with Programmatic Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs)
Tom Kennedy, Rainbow Municipal Water District
Joanne M. Dramko, HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc.
CEQA compliance adds a great deal of time and money to every project. With rapidly aging infrastructure every pipeline will need work sooner or later. Rather than performing a separate CEQA action every time, Rainbow MWD decided to perform a Programmatic EIR (PEIR) to cover every pipeline in the District. Though this process took a bit longer, by evaluating nearly 400 miles of pipeline all at once, over 75% of water and over 90% of sewer pipelines are now fully covered by the action. The remaining pipelines are also covered with pre-defined monitoring and mitigation steps. In this presentation, attendees will learn:
- The challenges and cost of one-at-a-time CEQA processes
- How to go about doing a systemwide PEIR
- The cost and time benefits of a systemwide PEIR
- How future projects can be incorporated into the PEIR via addendums
Practicing Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Sylvette Wake, CPS HR Consulting
There is strong evidence that emotional intelligence is one of the strongest predictors of performance. Some research states that it is responsible for 58% of job performance and 90% of top performers have a high EQ. So, getting more EQ is a good thing. Join us to learn about the four quadrants of emotional intelligence and what you can do to boost your EQ.
Required Ethics Compliance Training – AB 1234 (Part 1)
Richard D. Pio Roda and Alex J. Mog, Meyers Nave
AB 1234 mandates agency officials receive two hours of ethics training every two years. This training covers all required topics, including conflicts, financial gain, prerequisites of office, transparency, and fair process.**
*Must attend both sessions to receive your digital certificate.
**This presentation has been approved for 2 hours of MCLE credit by the State Bar of California. Meyers Nave, a Professional Law Corporation, is an MCLE-licensed provider. PN #10416
LAFCOs – An Additional Resource for Districts
Joe Serrano, LAFCO of Santa Cruz County
Where does a district go to change its jurisdictional boundaries? Who determines when a new district is formed? The answer is the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). By the end of this session, not only will you understand the synergy between special districts and LAFCOs but you will leave as a LAFCO expert.
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch with the Exhibitors
All conference attendees are welcome to attend lunch in the exhibit hall. Enjoy your lunch while taking time to learn more about our exhibitors and the valuable services they provide. From risk management to accounting, HR, legal, banking services, and more – our exhibitors have some of the best of what you’re looking for!
Lunch is included in conference registration.
1:45 - 3:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
How CUPCCAA Benefits Special Districts in Delivering Public Works Projects
Will Clemens, Oceano Community Services District
The California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act provides special districts with the ability to implement alternative bidding procedures on public works projects costing less than $200,000. The Act is voluntary and supports participating special districts with efficient and flexible project delivery. This session will cover key provisions of the act, benefits of participation and how to opt into the Act, pitfalls to avoid, and recent updates.
Public Events to Build Community Equity
Joshua Bonner, Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District
Victoria Llort, Coachella Valley Water District
Tara Bravo Mulally, CV Strategies
Community equity has never been more important, as districts are increasingly responsible for solving some of the most pressing local issues in your neighborhood. Events and public gatherings can be an important component of your district’s communication and public engagement plan. As an interactive experience, events allow your district to engage the community on a positive footing, building your district’s image beyond just the service(s) you offer. offer. Learn how to engage the community, build your brand, and recognize valuable partnership opportunities that exist within your community. Use your next event to move from the special district no one understands, to a trusted community partner with an interest in giving back.
Great for Young Professionals!
You Can (Central) Bank On It: The Importance and Impact of the Federal Reserve System to Your District’s Investment Program
Laura Glenn, Public Trust Advisors
How much do you really know about how the Federal Reserve works? While we have all seen “the Fed” in the news, how do its decisions impact the economy and the investor? In this session, attendees will gain a fuller understanding of the role that the Federal Reserve System plays in managing the nation’s money supply, influencing the economy, and serving as a lender of last resort. This session is meant to demystify a subject that is often presented and discussed in unnecessarily incomprehensible jargon, so if you are curious to learn more about the Federal Reserve and monetary policy in plain-English terms, please consider attending.
The Brown Act in a Modern World
Chelsea Straus, Richards Watson Gershon
This presentation will review the following:
- The Brown Act's new virtual meeting rules, including AB 361, AB 2449, and the Brown Act's traditional teleconferencing options.
- AB 992's rules for commenting on social media about agency business.
- Avoiding constitutional issues when monitoring your social media pages.
What’s All the Buzz About? How Partnerships Fuel Drone Innovation
Joshua Metz, Regional Government Services
Chris Bley, Insight Up Solutions
Becca Fenwick, UCSC CITRIS Institute for Drone Education & Research (CIDER)
Come see what all the buzz is about this budding industry before it takes off!
We’re on the cusp of a workforce transformation - and Monterey Bay, industry, governments, and academia have joined forces to chart a path for drones and robotics to automate work while strengthening the community. A panel of leaders will share their lessons learned on strategic coalitions and working across organizations and sectors to craft a common vision for the future.
- The audience will leave with:
- Ideas for creative partnerships
- Guidance for transformative collaboration
- A glimpse into how drones and robotics will change the workforce
The session will highlight the role that community education, advocacy and funding has played in setting the stage for this initiative. It will also explore unique approaches to stretching and sharing resources – something all special districts prioritize. You don’t want to miss it.
Ethics (Part 2)
Richard D. Pio Roda & Alex J. Mog, Meyers Nave
See the previous session description (must attend both sessions to receive your digital certificate).
Hearings, Protests and Elections, Oh My! Implementing a Property-Related Fee
Kevin King, Reclamation District No. 1000
Eric Grotenhuis, Page Design
Greg Ghironzi, NBS
Aging infrastructure and increasing costs of service are common problems for many local agencies and the procedural challenges presented by Prop. 218 for property-related fees can be daunting. With a thoughtful approach to fee setting and implementation, funding for the operation, maintenance, and capital needs is possible to achieve. This session will discuss considerations for the fee-setting process, the approval procedure to include both the hearing and election steps and public outreach efforts exemplified using a case study of Reclamation District No. 1000’s stormwater fee.
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Leadership vs. Management
Robert Gutierrez, Rainbow Municipal Water District
Steve Hernandez, Water Wise Pro
Understanding the critical differences between leadership and management is an essential tool in efficiently operating any organization. Management is a form of control, while leadership is a form of influence. Persons in positions of authority need help to understand the dynamics of these two styles, impacting their ability to get the most out of their staff. This session will explore the concepts of servant leadership and how to leverage this leadership style to increase production, morale, and the willingness to stay with the organization.
Great for Young Professionals!
Pricing Debt: Interest Rates, Fees and Other Variables
CSDA Finance Corporation Consultants:
Rick Brandis, Brandis Tallman, a division of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
Albert Reyes, Kutak Rock LLP
Stefan Morton, Municipal Finance Corporation
Don Bartz, Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services District
Nicki Tallman, Brandis Tallman, a division of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
When an agency considers financing, interest rates are often the first concern and can vary based on a number of factors. In this interactive panel discussion, CSDA Finance Corporation consultants explain how financings are priced and interest rates are set in both the bond market and the bank placement market. We’ll be joined by a special district general manager who will share insight into the financing process and the importance of communicating to board officials each step of the way.
How to Recruit When No One Knows What You Do
Kylie Sun, Tripepi Smith
Cathy Thompson, Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions
Many agencies are finding it difficult to not only keep employees engaged, but to find new, motivated talent to join their team. The challenge of finding new employees increases when it isn’t clear what exactly your organization does or what it values. Finding qualified candidates goes hand in hand with your ability to clearly communicate your organization’s mission, culture, expectations, and responsibilities.
Presenters will share their tips and tricks for creating a seamless and successful recruiting process that educates the public on your organization and brings in top talent prospects.
Attendees will:
- Hear lessons learned from the speakers’ recruitment experience,
- Learn to show your agency’s uniqueness,
- And take away tips that will inform their future recruitment.
Embracing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging as the Cultural Norm
Neena Kovuru, UKG Public Sector
Implementing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) initiatives today isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s a business imperative that positively impacts the workforce and drives employee retention and engagement. To attract and retain talent in the post-pandemic world of work, governmental organizations need to move beyond DEI&B checkboxes and create inclusive cultures where employees feel valued and know they belong.
In this session, UKG Public Sector Principal, Knickeita Vassell Bullock, will explore:
- Evaluating your organization’s DEI&B progress
- Why there is no better time than now to prioritize DEI&B in the workplace
- How a DEI&B program designed around behaviors and moments that matter elevates us from just “going through the motions” to enabling true inclusivity
- How facilitating real organizational change requires programs that teach from outside our comfort zones and encourage honest dialogue in a safe environment
- The sustainability of DEI&B and building a practice that lasts
Privacy and the Need to Share Information in the Workplace
Robert Cutbirth and Lena Wade, Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney
Employees regularly provide confidential, personal health information (PHI) to employers and claims administrators through the onboarding process, requests for leaves of absence (LOA) or disability accommodation, and in response to workers’ compensation claims. PHI might then be stored, shared, and used by Human Resources, Benefits, Risk Management, Claims Administrators, and others. Even with good intentions, such acts (and omissions) may create risk exposures in terms of statutory privacy violations, may harm or negate your ability to best manage LOA/disability accommodation requests, or result in a loss of defense to claims. This session will:
- Breakdown the laws protecting employee privacy.
- Summarize recent updates to privacy laws.
- Demonstrate safe practices to help avoid these risks.
- Provide tips on how to respond when unfortunate errors in this area occur.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest and Maintaining Public Trust
Alex J. Mog, Meyers Nave
This session will provide a detailed overview of conflicts of interest laws, including a special focus on significant changes related to campaign contributions, as well as tips for maintaining public trust.
Maintaining public trust is critical to successfully serve as a public official. Conflicts of interest, both real and perceived, are a quick way for public officials to lose that trust. Session attendees will learn:
- A detailed overview of conflict of interest laws, including the Political Reform Act and Government Code section 1090;
- Explanation of the requirements of SB 1439, which establishes significant new conflict of interest rules regarding campaign contributions; and
- Tips for maintaining public trust
This presentation has been approved for 1 hour of MCLE credit by the State Bar of California. Meyers Nave, a Professional Law Corporation, is an MCLE-licensed provider. PN #10416.
Learn How to Make Your Website Accessible Before A Costly Lawsuit Forces You
Martin Rauch, Rauch Communication Consultants, Inc.
Mac Clemmens, Streamline
State and federal laws and a growing number of legal judgments are pushing special districts to make their websites, media, and documents accessible to people with disabilities.
If you don’t know if your district’s website and documents are Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, they probably are not. And it could cost your district up to $4,000 per day in fines.
Join us at this fast-paced session where you will learn: what is web and document accessibility and how it affects members of your district; why your district should care; and guidance on how your District can get and stay compliant. You’ll even leave with your website’s ADA score from checkmydistrict.org. There will be time for questions and answers.
It is critical to act now because web accessibility lawsuits jumped 56% in 2021 and hit a record high in 2022. It’s a situation that the Wall Street Journal calls “very perilous.” Of course, making your website and documents accessible is also the right thing to do.
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Mix and Mingle in the Exhibit Hall
Stop by the exhibit hall for a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres. Be sure to enter for one more chance to win one of our fabulous prizes!
The exhibit hall closes on Tuesday, August 29th at 6:30 p.m.