Stay up to date on the latest major developments for California city revenues. Learn about new laws, legal developments, risks and opportunities, and federal actions that will impact your agency's finances.

Introductory Remarks: Kristopher Mooney, Director of Finance and Treasurer, Palm Springs

Opening Remarks: Lisa Soghor, President, Fiscal Officers Department and Chief Financial Officer, Culver City

Speakers: Michael Colantuono, Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC | Caroline Grinder, Legislative Advocate, League of California Cities | Ben Triffo, Legislative Advocate, League of California Cities

Do you know what to do if your city experiences a cybersecurity incident? Join this dynamic session to learn how to develop and test a municipal cyber incident response plan before you need one. Hear from expert panelists on lessons learned from real-world breaches, and learn how to coordinate with state and federal agencies during cyber incidents. Leave this session with the confidence to respond to real incidents with speed and efficiency.

Moderator: Scott Pettingell, Finance Director, Roseville

Speakers: Mohammad Ahmed, CEO, Infinity Technologies | Jessica Alcaraz, Deputy Director of Administrative Services, Pico Rivera | Angelina Graves, Assistant City Manager, Pico Rivera

The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) continues to shape the financial landscape for California cities, not only through its Asset Liability Management process, but also through its response to federal and state finance policies. CalPERS leadership will go beyond the basics to outline the market and policy forces informing the strategic decisions to move to a Total Portfolio Approach, as well as providing an update on 2025 CalPERS experience study and a review of actuarial assumptions. With experienced city financial officers in mind, this discussion will provide the insights you need to position your city as a proactive partner with CalPERS.

Moderator: Brian Mohan, First Vice President, Fiscal Officers Department and City Manager, Moreno Valley

Facilitator: Johnnie Pina, Legislative Advocate, League of California Cities

Speakers: Fritzie Archuleta, Deputy Chief Actuary, CalPERS | Michele Nix, Chief Financial Officer, CalPERS

Roughly 29% of public agencies use AI, but how do you know if you’re using it to its full potential? In this session, we will explore AI and immediate ways you can implement it to support accounting and finance tasks. Leave understanding how AI can help you allocate more time towards strategic planning, spot the difference between AI models, and new ideas about how you should use AI now to save you time.

Moderator: Daniel Choe, Past President Fiscal Officers Department and Deputy Director of Administrative Services, Rocklin

Speakers: Bryant Baek, CEO & Co-Founder, Bettercast AI | Steve Hargis, CIO, Moreno Valley | J.R. Wright, Chief Information Officer, Culver City

As a finance professional, you are constantly asked to predict the future. But what happens when the future refuses to cooperate? Volatile revenues, unfunded mandates, and shifting economic conditions can derail even the most carefully crafted budget to a crumbling heap.. This session will explore the cognitive biases and ingrained habits that cause leaders to cling to outdated financial models or reject innovative ideas, and will outline the 3C Framework (Catch On, Consider Data, Create Solutions), to counter those tendencies. Leave with practical tools to make decisions under pressure, to find novel solutions to ongoing challenges, protect your team from burnout, and cultivate a culture of "creative resilience" that allows your city to not just survive, but thrive in any circumstance.

Introductory Remarks: President, Fiscal Officers Department and Chief Financial Officer, Culver City

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Caroline Brookfield, Veterinarian and Author

Mingle with colleagues and sponsors while enjoying delicious appetizers and tasty no-host beverages during the evening networking reception. This joint reception is open to attendees from the Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar and the Municipal Finance Institute. It’s the perfect opportunity to form support networks in and outside your profession.

New this year, join our interactive breakfast “Listserv Live”. Ask questions, hear how your peers deal with the issues you are facing, and meet colleagues face-to-face. Find all the support you can get on the Fiscal Officers Listserv, with the added bonus of putting faces to email addresses.

Moderator: Brain Mohan, First Vice President, Fiscal Officers Department and City Manager, Moreno Valley

With budgets regularly being tightened, economic development financing can help by strategically financing projects that will grow the tax base. There are many economic development tools that communities can leverage to balance the needs of their residents, businesses, and municipalities. This session will discuss tax increment financing, bond programs, and district formation as well as other tools that can help your city thrive and grow its resource pool. Speakers will give attendees examples of how to partner with private resources and layer these programs to successfully finance their community’s future.

Moderator: Lisa Soghor, President, Fiscal Officers Department and Chief Financial Officer, Culver City

Speakers: PJ Gagajena, City Manager, Moorpark | Gurbax Sahota, President & CEO, California Association for Local Economic Development | Scott Wagner, Deputy Director of Finance, Santa Rosa | Leni Zarate, Vice President, DTA

As public agencies look to banks or capital markets to borrow funds, the credit of their agency dictates the interest rate. Establishing a strong credit profile takes years of careful planning, adopting sound financial policies, and preparing for the day when project financing becomes necessary. Join our expert panel as they discuss ways to get ahead of the curve and set your city up for success.

Moderator: Brian Mohan, First Vice President, Fiscal Officers Department and City Manager, Moreno Valley

Speakers: Ryan Cornell, Administrative Services Director, Paso Robles | Craig Hill, Managing Principal, NHA Advisors, LLC