CCAC | Official Word | February 2024

CCAC FEBRUARY 2024 | VOLUME 25 ISSUE 2 CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

Official Word CCAC

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

UPCOMING EDUCATION

CALLING ALL MEMBERS!

OPPORTUNITIES

SUBMIT AN OFFICIAL WORD

CAL STATE SAN MARCOS

ARTICLE TODAY !

IIMC FUNDRAISING

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

IIMC FOUNDATION –

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT

SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE

FUND

D I D YO U K N OW. . .?

www.californiacityclerks.org

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MARC A. DONOHUE, MMC

MA RC DO NO HUE

holidays?

Happy Valentine’s Day, CCAC! According to one of my staff members in Eastvale, Valentine’s Day is the most important day of the year (apparently more important than Christmas, Mothers’ Day, etc). Where do you all rank Valentine’s Day amongst all the

I also see February as the “official end” of the holiday season after President’s Day on February 19. At least in Eastvale, we don’t see another official holiday until Memorial Day. Hope everyone enjoys their extra-long weekends!

the nominees, one will be selected as the Municipal Clerk of the Year, Assistant Deputy Clerk of the Year, etc.

• We’ll also be giving out a Lifetime Achievement Award and Innovative Program of the Year Award!

Questions? Please feel free to reach out to me directly or contact awards@californiacityclerks.org. Ready to submit your nomination? You can submit your nomination electronically on our Clerks of Distinction Awards webpage.

Nominations Open for Clerks of Distinction Awards & Pat Hammers Spirit Award!

I’m excited to announce that nominations are now open for the Clerks of Distinction Awards and the Pat Hammers Spirit Award! These awards will be presented at the City Clerks Association of California Annual Conference in April 2024 at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024.

When submitting a nomination, specifically, we want to hear the story, so please tell us in your own words why the nominee is deserving of these prestigious awards.

• The Pat Hammers Spirit Award recognizes the nominee’s attitude, commitment, and overall presence in the municipal clerk community.

Download flyer for additional information.

• The Clerks of Distinction Awards recognize the nominee’s abilities, skills, and accomplishments to their organization, community, and profession. From amongst

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2024 CCAC Annual Conference Registration for the 2024 CCAC Annual Conference is now open! This year’s annual conference will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego from April 3 – 5, 2024. Our conference registration total is approaching 200 attendees! The hotel is also close to selling out so if you are thinking of registering, don’t hesitate!

More information on registering for the conference can be found on our 2024 Annual Conference webpage.

CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

CCAC Election Update Thank you to everyone voted in the 2023-24 CCAC Election! This year, we had a 48% voter turnout which is our highest total in almost five years! Next year, let’s get above 50%! Congratulations to all the successful candidates. The winners are below in bold: Officer Position

Candidate

President (one-year term)

Jessica Blair, Communications Director/ City Clerk, Half Moon Bay

First Vice President (one-year term)

Ashton Arocho, City Clerk, Westminster Michael MacDonald, City Clerk, Ventura

Second Vice President (one-year term)

Suzanne Guzzetta, City Clerk, Milpitas Mitzi Ortiz, Director of Government Services, Aliso Viejo

Treasurer (two-year term)

Ricca Charlon, City Clerk, Ridgecrest

Director of Communications (two-year term)

Jozi Plut, City Clerk, Belmont Marsha Moore, City Clerk, Dublin

Director of Conferences (two-year term) Director of Mentor Development (two-year term) Director of Networking (two-year term) Director of Scholarships (two-year term)

Todd Stermer, City Clerk, Fresno Candice Alvarez, City Clerk, Lake Elsinore Roxanne Breceda, Deputy City Clerk/ Records Manager, Glendora Sylvia Bermudez, Clerk of the Board, Coachella Valley Water District

The 2024-25 Board of Directors will swear-in during the banquet night at the 2024 Annual Conference.

Excited to see our Board transition in front of our membership for the first time in over 30 years!

Networking Events Keep a lookout for upcoming networking event opportunities!

On February 15, a Speed Coaching event took place at Buena Park Community Center. Four City Managers, one Assistant city Manager, and one Deputy City Manager in Orange County were amongst the coaches in attendance. This event was free to CCAC members.

Our next Pop with the President virtual event will be on March 12.

Join us for some informative updates and fun giveaways!

As always, please feel free to reach out to me at mdonohue@eastvaleca.gov or (951) 703-4421.

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CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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CCAC

info@granicus.com | granicus.com

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

C alling A ll M embers ! S ubmit A n O fficial W ord A rticle T oday !

CALLING ALL MEMBERS! SUBMIT AN OFFICIAL WORD ARTICLE TODAY! ASHTON R. AROCHO, MMC, 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

Have you ever been interested in writing an article for the Official Word? Well now is your chance! Maybe you want to share a story about implementing a new software in your office, successfully handling your first recall election, or share a personal story on how you recently went sky diving or successfully fulfilled the first month of your New Year’s Resolution! Whatever it is, we want to hear from YOU! ASHTON R. AROCHO

To submit an article for review, please send it directly to info@californiacityclerks.org.

Happy writing!

CONTACT INFORMATION: ASHTON R. AROCHO, MMC CITY OF WESTMINSTER E: AAROCHO@WESTMINSTER-CA .GOV

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CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

L egislative U pdate

Legislative Update KERRY BIGELOW, MMC , DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Legislative Updates Webpage For the latest information on legislative matters, including CCAC’s Tracked/Priority Bill list, visit the Legislative Updates page.

Current Happenings in the Legislature The California State Legislature officially reconvened for the second year of the 2023-2024 legislative session on January 3. As of January 31, the Legislature had introduced KER RY B IGELOW 416 pieces of legislation since reconvening. Many of these are non-substantive spot bills, meaning full bill language has not been introduced, and we do not yet know their full content.

There are currently over 600 active bills. Hundreds more pieces of legislation will be introduced before the deadline on February 16.

Priority Bills CCAC’s lobbyist, Dane Hutchings, and his associates at Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG) review each bill and flag priority bills that may impact the municipal clerk profession. Working with the Legislative Committee, RPPG gathers information on potential impacts on municipal clerks so they can actively engage with lawmakers and agency officials on the legislation of interest to the CCAC membership. See the latest Priority Bill list here.

New Law & Elections Seminar Recap – Webinar Recording Available In January, RPPG hosted a lunch and learn for over 150 attendees to recap the December New Law & Elections Seminar presentation and highlight some of the expected policy trends that will impact the municipal clerk profession heading into 2024. Miss the webinar? View the recording and slides here.

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CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

L egislative U pdate

Update on AB 817 – Open meetings: Teleconferencing for Subcommittees and Advisory Bodies One measure of note is AB 817 (Pacheco), a CCAC-supported bill that would permit non-decision-making subcommittee and advisory body members to participate remotely in public meetings. Our advocates successfully secured the bill’s passage out of the Assembly. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it will face considerable obstacles. Does your agency want to support AB 817? If so, RPPG can assist. Contact Director of Legislative Affairs Kerry Bigelow at kbigelow@chulavistaca.gov.

2024 Legislative Deadlines and Events • January 31: Last day for each house to pass bills introduced in that house in 2023 • February 16: Last day to introduce bills • March 22 – 31: Spring Recess • June 15: Legislature must pass the main budget bill • June 30: Governor must sign the main budget bill • July 4 – August 4: Summer recess • August 31: Last day for the Legislature to pass bills; end of the 2023-2024 session • September 30: Last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills • January 1, 2025: Bills passed in 2024 go into effect unless otherwise stated in the bill

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CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

M embership U P date

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE MICHAEL MACDONALD, CMC, CPMC DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES

We are thrilled to share some exciting news regarding our membership growth. Thanks to your ongoing support, our association continues to thrive and expand. Here’s a snapshot of our latest membership update: Total Members: We are delighted that our total membership numbers continue to grow, reaching over 800 members and counting!

M ICHAEL M ACDO NALD

Important Update: Renewal Timeline Policy

At the January CCAC board meeting, the board approved a new membership termination policy. The purpose of this policy is to ensure the timely renewal of memberships and maintain an active and engaged membership base. Memberships that are not renewed within 90 days of their expiration will be terminated, leading to the loss of access to member benefits and privileges. This adjustment aims to streamline our renewal process, ensuring that you have ample time to review and renew your membership without any inconvenience.

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CCAC

THANK YOU

CCAC

2023 VENDOR OF THE YEAR

Hosted e-filing systems Form 700 Campaign Statements Lobbyist ordinance filings

Contact: Tom Diebert diebert@netfile.com

www.netfile.com

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

S cholarship update

SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE SYLVI A M . B E R M U D E Z , M PA , M M C DIRECTOR OF SCHOLARSHIPS

The CCAC Board is happy to announce the availability of scholarships to its membership. The CCAC Scholarship program was developed to help reduce the financial burden and aid our members in participating in education and training offerings, and further the member’s achievement toward CMC and MMC accreditation through IIMC. To be eligible for a scholarship you must be a CCAC member in good standing and complete the course or training to SYLVIA M. B ER M UDEZ receive the scholarship. Institute Scholarships may only be used towards the payment of registration costs. Education Course Scholarships awarded may be used for registration costs, lodging, and bona fide travel costs, in accordance with the CCAC Scholarship Policy.

Members wanting to apply for a CCAC scholarship may visit the scholarship page at: https://www.californiacityclerks.org/page/scholarship.

Calling all volunteers! The fundraising committee is looking for volunteers to help with fundraising efforts during the conference. Volunteers will assist with the silent and live auctions, merchandise sales, and various raffles during the conference.

If you are interested in being a member of the fundraising committee, please contact me directly at SBermudez@cvwd.org.

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CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

D id Y ou know . . . ?

DID YOU KNOW...?

H O L LY M . C H A R L É T Y , M M C DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Did you know that the majority of our regional education workshops are facilitated by our Regional Representatives? Did you also know that you don’t have to be a Regional Representative to facilitate an event?

H O L LY M .

CHARLÉTY

If there is a topic that you are really interested in, you can work with the Professional Development Director to get resources and assistance in finding a trainer and hosting a workshop. It’s a chance to bring more education to your area and get to know some of your local peers in the municipal clerk role.

It is just one of the many ways that you can give back to the profession, without having to commit to a role for a longer period of time. If getting involved is something you are considering, this is a great way to dip your toe in the water and see what it could be like, and the value of participating in the education program.

If interested, or to get more information, please contact the Director of Professional Development at pdd@californiacityclerks.org or 510-215-4305.

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CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

U pcoming E ducation opportunities

UPCOMING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES H O L LY M . C H A R L É T Y , M M C DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Check out these upcoming education opportunities through CCAC! You can always find up-to-date information on the CCAC website community calendar.

For questions, please feel free to email pdd@californiacityclerks.org

H O L LY M .

CHARLÉTY

Where

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When

Topic Sold Out

San Marcos 2/20-2/23/24

CMC Institute

Virtual San Diego

3/12/2024 4/2/2024

San Diego

4/3-4/5/2024

Pop with the President Athenian Dialogue: Atomic Habits CCAC Annual Conference Reset, Reconnect, Reimagine

Join Here Registration Open Registration Open

Virtual

4/10/2024

Monthly Municipal Clerk Book Club Chapter 9: Establishing Districts & Redistricting

Register Today

Virtual

5/8/2024

Monthly Municipal Clerk Book Club Chapter 10: City Boundaries & Other Jurisdictional Changes

Register Today

San Leandro

5/18/2024

Athenian Dialogue: Leading with Emotional Courage

Coming Soon!

CCAC

CAL STATE SAN MARCOS Cal State San Marcos and the City Clerks Association of California (CCAC) have formed an innovative partnership to establish the Municipal Clerks Institute.

The Institute strives to educate municipal clerks, engage them with one another and their communities, and elevate the profession as a continuum of public service.

Municipal clerks stand on the front lines of democracy in their communities, administering free and fair elections, among other functions. The Institute strives to support municipal clerks in these efforts to keep communities strong.

“We are excited about the partnership between California State University San Marcos and the City Clerks Association of California to launch the Municipal Clerks Institute,” said Dr. Godfrey Gibbison, dean of Extended Learning at CSUSM. “This program represents our shared commitment to advancing the professional development of municipal clerks and supporting their vital contributions to local governance.”

Through the partnership, CSUSM becomes the first and only California State University education partner authorized by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks to offer its Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) and Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) training program. CSUSM Extended Learning will be offering these training sessions online and in person.

“The Municipal Clerks Institute is a testament to our dedication to empower municipal clerks with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate their complex roles,” said Marc Donahue, president of the CCAC. “We believe that this partnership will have a lasting impact on the profession and contribute to the overall effectiveness of local government in California.”

The CCAC is a professional organization that promotes the education and professional development of municipal clerks and other local government officials. With a commitment to excellence, integrity and service, the CCAC supports the effective functioning of local government in California.

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY: CAL STATE SAN MARCOS ARTICLE REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND HERE

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

I I M C F undraising

IIMC FUNDRAISING COLLEEN J. NICOL , TREASURER IIMC FOUNDATION

The Foundation raises funds to support the education of municipal clerks through scholarships, conference speakers, and financial support of the IIMC Education Department.

Annually, American Legal Publishing donates a weeklong trip to Hawaii for two travelers, including airfare and hotel! Tickets are $25 each or 3 for $50. Tickets will be available by online sales only, due to Canadian law.

Tickets cannot be purchased in Calgary. The winner does not need to be present. Colleagues, friends, and families are encouraged to participate - yes, they can win, too!

The second promotion is the opportunity to win free registration and four nights lodging for the 2024 IIMC Annual Conference in Calgary valued at $1,600! Tickets are $10 for one and $25 for three. This promotion ends March 13, 2024, so it’s important to get the word out soon!

These are great opportunities and your support will be a huge help to the Foundation!

Thank you so much!

COLLEEN J. NICOL, TREASURER IIMC FOUNDATION

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CCAC

CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

I I M C F oundation – C alifornia E ndowment F und

IIMC Foundation – California Endowment Fund Help grow CCAC’s endowment to fund CMC and MMC scholarships through the IIMC Foundation! Donations are invested and interest only is used to fund scholarships for California’s CMC/MMC Institute.

CCAC’s endowment earnings are used for California municipal clerks only. Support the profession now and into the future by donating today.

DONATE TODAY

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CCAC

CCAC FEBRUARY 2023 | VOLUME 25 ISSUE 2 CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

Official Word CCAC

MEMBERS SAVE $55 WITH PROMO CODE EARLY2024 BEFORE FEBRUARY 16.

REGISTER TODAY

www.californiacityclerks.org