Returning Attendee

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pre-Conference Workshop #1: The Art of Electronic Records Management

Diane Gladwell, Gladwell Governmental Services

What are current best practices for managing electronic records in other special districts?  What practices should your agency avoid? Diane R. Gladwell, MMC has assisted over 250 local government agencies in California and has assisted many agencies in implementing best practices and getting control over their electronic records and will share not only best practices and worst practices, but legal compliance for special district electronic records.

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pre-Conference Workshop #2: Policy and Procedure Writing

Antoinette Joy, CPS HR Consulting

This workshop offers practical, relevant, and effective tools to help organizations improve their rules and instructions so employees can actually use them.

During this course, participants learn to:

• Avoid the most common policy-writing mistakes.
• Distinguish between policies and procedures.
• Organize, write, and edit “reader-friendly” policies, procedures, and tasks.

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pre-Conference Workshop #3: Supervisory Skills for the Public Sector*

*Qualifies toward the completion of the SDLF Essential Leadership Skills Certificate

Michael Grabow, CPS HR Consulting

This course for supervisors will discuss and explore the supervisory skills necessary to work with people in the public sector environment. The course will cover what is expected of a supervisor; how to monitor and evaluate employees; and how to coach, mentor, and motivate employees. Through interactive exercises and engaging dialogue you will learn how to create effective, productive, and successful teams; describe the various roles of a supervisor; understand the Emotional Maturity Continuum and how to apply it in the workplace; list best practices for effective performance management; practice defining performance standards; explain the GROW model of coaching; identify what motivates people; list strategies for boosting motivation.

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

CSDA Benefits Bingo

We love maximizing the benefits we offer. You love winning prizes! Let’s all do what we love at the Board Secretary / Clerk Conference. We start with an exploration of membership benefits to make sure your district is taking full advantage of all we provide. Along the way, you’ll win prizes!

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Registration and Opening Reception

8:30 - 9:45 a.m.

General Session: The 10¢ Decision: How Small Change Pays off Big

Laurie Guest

Service is at the core of special districts. From staff and board culture to interactions with the public, the choices we make day in and day out have the potential to create exceptional experiences for everyone involved. Sure, some decisions are big ones. But more often, it’s the “10¢ decisions”—the ones that barely cost a dime but have a massive impact––that can transform service from so-so to stellar. With decades of firsthand experience to draw from, Laurie shares her insights into making smart, effective choices to improve guest encounters and staff satisfaction.

10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

The Person in the Middle—How the Board Secretary/Clerk Can Support an Effective Board, Manager, and Staff Team

Martin Rauch, Rauch Communication Consultants, Inc.
Tawnia Pett, Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District

Secretary/Clerks, through their work with the Board and Management team, often find themselves needing wide-ranging skills to deal with issues that may be out of their formal scope of work, such as: supporting boards and managers to work effectively together, improving board meetings, supporting a productive staff culture, dealing with internal board conflict or micromanagement of the staff, resolving board and manager conflict, responding effectively to the public, and more.

An expert in Board/Manager roles and relationships and an experienced Clerk will provide general insights and concrete ideas for how the Secretary/Clerk can effectively support the Board and Manager in dealing with these and other related issues. This will be an engaging session, with time to share your experiences, ask questions, and learn from the session leaders as well as from your peers.”

10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Navigating a Transition to By-District Elections

Malane Chapman, American River Flood Control District
Douglas Johnson, National Demographics Corporation
Scott Huber, Cole Huber LLP

Whether or not your district has received a demand letter, Board Clerks and Secretaries have likely had the CA Voting Rights Act (CVRA) on their radars and can be prepared to successfully complete the process of a transition to By-District Board elections. This interactive session, led by Special District Board Secretaries/Clerks who have completed the transition, will provide experience-based toolkits and resources that will familiarize attendees with key points of the CVRA, Elections Codes, and important deadlines for each stage of the process. In addition, it will provide case studies for drawing election district maps and tips for navigating through potential challenges. With the 2024 election cycle in our midst and 2026 fast approaching, what better time for Clerks to prepare?

12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

Networking Luncheon

1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

The Devious & Winding Trail: Conflicts of Interest & Ethical Considerations

Jeff Frey, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

Overview of conflicts of interest and ethical considerations under Government Code section 1090 and the Political Reform Act. This presentation will address contractual conflicts, non-contractual conflicts, Conflict of Interest Codes, Form 700 filings, and gifting issues.

1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Opportunities and Risks for Special Districts

Mac Clemmens, Streamline
Nick Clair, Lozano Smith, Attorneys at Law

Local Governments often lack a strong data backup strategy and foundation—leaving them at risk of losing data even when they think they are taking the right steps. Do you have the right data backup strategy in place? We will discuss the essential elements of a data backup and disaster recovery strategy to truly protect your organization’s data—specifically touching on how cloud-based solutions can enhance this strategy.

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.

Break and Networking with the Exhibitors

Sponsored by Umpqua Bank

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Tune Up to Get, and Stay, in Peak Legal Shape

Mark Meyerhoff, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Whether you are new to public sector labor and employment relations, or an experienced practitioner, this legal tune-up ensures you are up to date on the most significant legal developments in this area.

• Operating at peak efficiency to tackle the challenges ahead.
• Equal opportunity for fresh or experienced individuals to learn new relevant legal developments.

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Speak Easy, Speak Well

Stephanie Smith, Best Best & Krieger LLP

A speaker is a leader. A better speaker equals a better leader. A good leader leads from the heart, just as a good speaker speaks from the heart. If a speaker is not presenting or communicating clearly and effectively, they put a lid on the potential of their team. Learn how to use the four presenter voices of leadership – teacher, motivator, storyteller, and visionary. Public speaking and leadership are inherently related - discover the connections. Whether you are giving a prepared presentation, speaking spontaneously, or simply communicating with your colleagues, you are auditioning for leadership. Become a better speaker to become a more effective team leader.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Capture the attention of team members and keep it
• Overcome your innate fear of speaking in public and quell the naysayers who tell you that you can’t do it.
• Utilize spontaneous speaking opportunities as the language of leadership
• Utilize the power of communication to bring clarity an effective leadership to your team.

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Networking Reception

8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Bridging the Government Literacy Gap

Stephanie Smith, Best Best & Krieger LLP

In a world full of government double-speak and acronyms that tax even the most experienced public employee, the ability to use clear and concise communication has never been more crucial. This session focuses on the principles of writing in plain language and presenting information in a manner that is both accessible and engaging. Participants will be introduced to fundamental techniques of plain language writing, focusing on clarity, brevity, and directness. These principles will be brought to life through real-world examples from various public agencies. You’ll see firsthand how transforming forms, notices, election materials, and even ballot questions into straightforward, user-friendly formats can significantly enhance public engagement with agency government. The session promises to be an eye-opener, showing how simplicity in communication can turn routine interactions with district government from mundane to delightful. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with practical skills to apply these principles in their own work, ensuring that their communication is not just understood, but also appreciated by their audience. This session is ideal for anyone involved in public service communication, who is looking to make a positive impact through clear and effective communication. Join us to learn how the power of plain language can transform the public’s experience with agency government.

8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Cybersecurity and IT Strategy for Special Districts

Corey Kaufman, VC3

In this session, we will outline the necessary items to build out an effective IT strategic plan. This will include addressing the following items:

• What is required to build an IT Strategic Plan
• Identifying the goals of the local government agency
• How to identify the current risks and build a realistic plan to remediate those risks
• How does this impact the budget
• How to make sure that we have executed the plan we put together

10:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Break and Networking with the Exhibitors

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Trust-Building with Your Communities Through Communications

Ryder Todd Smith, Tripepi Smith

Is your 218 process going poorly? Did a First Amendment audit cause a lot of frustration? Is distrust in your district distracting the Board and staff from the mission? Let’s discuss the evolving world of communications, and social change, and how to help your agency develop the asset of trust with those you serve.

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Public Sector Customer Service

Stephanie Lowe, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

The workshop will cover an expansive myriad of issues related to working for a special district and being a direct representative of the special district to the public. This workshop will cover topics including:

• Public Sector Responsibility and Accountability
• Public Sector Transparency
• Public Perception of Public Sector Employment
• Customer Service Standards of Conduct
• Communicating to Members of the Public About Public Records Act Requests
• Implicit Bias

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Luncheon

Sponsored by SDLF

1:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Who Does What and Why: Establishing Good Governance

Amy Ackerman, Jim Ross, and Andrew Shen, Renne Public Law Group

This session will explain the roles of the Board, individual Board members, and District Managers to ensure effective governance. Using examples, the session will cover common problems that interfere with effective governance and can result in costly mistakes, including:

• The roles of Boards and individual members serving on the Board
• Non-Interference in Administrative Affairs
• Ensuring Brown Act and Ethics Compliance in Board Operations

1:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Developing a Language of Cultural Intelligence - Building a Living Glossary

CPS HR Consulting

Understanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in the post-2020 world requires a new language to effectively communicate through the lens of cultural intelligence. This language reflects a judgment-free perspective that serves to bring different groups of people together through a common understanding and appreciation of the lived experiences of others. This module will educate the participants on the common language of DEI to create a common understanding and common connections among divergent groups of people within an organization.

2:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Break and Networking with the Exhibitors

2:45 - 4:00 p.m.

Keeping up with the Brown Act

Oliver Yee, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Public agency board members, and the employees who support them, must understand the complex public meeting and transparency laws established by the Brown Act. Topics include agendas, closed sessions, and administrative decisions. Bring your questions, experiences, and challenges to this interactive, skills-based session!

• An overview of the public meeting law.
• Learn the best practices in working with the Brown Act compliance.
• Best practices in litigation and settlements.

2:45 - 4:00 p.m.

Increase Positivity and Kindness by Influencing Boards, Directors, and Supervisors

Neal Nybo, Motivational Speaker, Positivity Trainer

Negativity is a national challenge facing managers today. Mastering the craft of expressing positivity and practicing effective kindness today goes beyond understanding classic leadership principles. It takes personal and authentic micro-actions easy enough for leaders to implement immediately and regularly. In this energetic keynote, Neal shares how board secretaries and clerks can influence the leaders they interact with and their entire organizations.

4:00 p.m.

Graduation: Certificates Awarded

Event Concludes