Anna Swanson is conference marketing coordinator for the League and can be reached at aswanson@cacities.org.

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Join city officials from throughout California at the League of California Cities 2014 Annual Conference & Expo to attend educational sessions and hear speakers with inspiring ideas to better serve your city and residents. Visit the Expo Hall to find state-of-the-art products and cost-saving services and explore the League Partner Speaker Theaters.

Expo and Grand Prize Giveaway

This year’s Expo will showcase more than 230 exhibitors, including over 60 first-time exhibitors. Be sure to schedule time to meet with vendors and learn how your city can benefit from their products, services and resources. The Expo Grand Opening, held in conjunction with the Host City Reception, will run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The Expo will be open on Thursday, Sept. 4, with new extended hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A Grand Prize will be given away during this year’s conference. Your city could be the lucky winner of a $3,000 voucher to spend on any U.S. Communities vendor. U.S. Communities is the League-sponsored government purchasing cooperative designed to save local agencies money. Three Expo exhibitors are also U.S. Communities supporting members: GameTime, Safeway-Mallory and TAPCO (Traffic and Parking Control). Please visit their booths to learn more about these products and services. The drawing will be held Friday, Sept. 5, during the Annual Business Meeting, which begins at noon. Be sure to watch for entry details inside the Expo Hall entrance. You must be present at the closing General Assembly to win.

League Partner Speaker Theaters

The League Partner Speaker Theaters, located in the Expo Hall, present speakers on a variety of interests for cities statewide. These Expo sessions highlight successful examples of public-private partnerships as well as case studies of innovative projects and programs that have worked in California cities. Hear from elected officials, city staff and industry experts who have found creative solutions to some of the challenging problems that cities face.

Networking Opportunities

The conference offers attendees a multitude of ways to connect with colleagues and experts from throughout the state to discuss common concerns, exchange ideas and share solutions. Networking events held throughout the conference will include gatherings hosted by the League’s diversity caucuses, regional divisions and League Partners.

League Professional Departments

Eleven professional departments make up the League, all of which play an integral part in the development and delivery of educational events and networking. These departments comprise:

1. City attorneys;

2. City clerks;

3. City managers;

4. Community services;

5. Fire chiefs;

6. Fiscal officers;

7. Mayors and council members;

8. Personnel and employee relations;

9. Planning and community development;

10. Police chiefs; and

11. Public works officers.

Each professional department is represented on the board of directors and plays a key role in League policy-making. Most department business meetings will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Regional Divisions

The League’s regional divisions function as a grassroots advocacy team and give city officials a way to become more involved in activities that reinforce the quality of life in their communities. The divisions provide the League board of directors with a diverse range of perspectives and give a voice to member cities throughout the state. All divisions are staffed locally by the League’s regional public affairs managers. Some League divisions hold networking events during the conference. Contact your regional public affairs manager (www.cacities.org/yourmanager) for more information.

Brown Act Requirements and League Conferences

The Brown Act, also referred to as California’s Open Meeting Law, permits a majority of the members of a legislative body to attend a conference (or similar gathering open to the public) that addresses issues of general interest to the public or public agencies of the type represented by the legislative body. However, a majority of the members cannot discuss among themselves — other than as part of the scheduled program — business of a specific nature that is within the local agency’s jurisdiction.

The League has long been a strong advocate for open government and transparency. Cities throughout California continue to comply with the requirements of the Brown Act even though the Legislature has suspended several of its provisions for a three-year period. City officials believe that this compliance serves the best interests of their communities and helps to foster transparency in local government.

More Information Online

Visit the annual conference page on the League website at www.cacities.org/AC to plan your conference schedule.

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This article appears in the September 2014 issue of Western City
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