Katie Pebler is conference program manager for the League and can be reached at kpebler@cacities.org.

Join your colleagues from throughout the state at the largest annual gathering of California city officials: the 2019 League of California Cities Annual Conference & Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center, Oct. 16–18. Meet with approximately 2,000 elected officials, city staff and partners and choose from more than 40 educational sessions designed to enlighten and inform.

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Activities will begin Wednesday morning with AB 1234 Ethics Training, a City Clerks’ Workshop and League policy committee meetings, followed by the business meetings for the League’s professional departments. Functioning as professional societies for city staff and elected officials, department meetings present an excellent opportunity to learn how people in similar roles interact with — and contribute to — education and policy development within the League.

If this is your first time attending the Annual Conference & Expo, you’ll want to join us from 12:45–1:15 p.m. for an orientation designed to help you navigate the numerous learning opportunities available. The League’s leadership will explain how to get the most out of your conference experience.

The conference will officially kick off early Wednesday afternoon with the Opening General Session, where attendees will hear from a dynamic keynote speaker and the League will announce the winners of the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence. Following the Opening General Session, you will have an opportunity to attend various education sessions before the evening’s festivities. The first night of the conference will be packed with networking opportunities at the grand opening of the Expo Hall and the Host City Reception presented by the City of Long Beach. Activities will continue late into the night at the CitiPAC 14th Annual Leadership Reception, featuring music, food and beverages.

Thursday, Oct. 17

A full day of educational and networking opportunities lies ahead on Thursday. During the morning General Session, a variety of speakers will discuss futuristic tools currently available to city leaders and how technology will continue transforming the landscape of our communities. Learn how you can ensure your city will not only survive but also adapt and thrive as our state experiences major changes in demographics, mobility and technology.

Thursday’s sessions examine topics such as affordable housing, homelessness, pensions, municipal finance and much more. Attendees also have the option of visiting the City Attorneys’ Track sessions, covering the latest trends and issues affecting public law practitioners. Business meetings for the League’s diversity caucuses are slated for Thursday afternoon.

Find excitement, food and friends in the Expo where lunch will be served for all attendees on Thursday. The Expo will feature over 250 companies showcasing a wide range of products and services designed to help communities by improving local services and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Later that evening, networking opportunities abound at various receptions held by the League’s diversity caucuses, League Partners and League divisions.

Friday, Oct. 18

The final day of the conference offers attendees professional development opportunities with over a dozen break-out sessions before the Closing Luncheon and General Assembly.

During the Closing Luncheon, celebrate the future of the League as the 2019–20 board of directors is sworn into office. Policy development plays a key part in the League’s legislative effectiveness, and the Annual Conference Resolutions process is one way that city officials can directly participate in developing League policy. Any city official, individual city, division, department, policy committee or the board of directors can submit resolutions, which are due to the League office by midnight, Aug. 17. Resolutions will be considered during policy committee meetings on Wednesday, the Resolutions Committee on Thursday and the General Assembly on Friday.

Watch for updates on the sessions and speakers at www.cacities.org/AC. We look forward to seeing you in October!

Complete your registration at www.cacities.org/events. A variety of registration options are available. Take advantage of the Early Bird registration rate until Aug. 14.

This article appears in the August 2019 issue of Western City

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