2020 CA Special District Sep-Oct by California Special Districts Association

C ALI FO R N I A

SPECIAL DISTRICTS Vo l um e 15 , I s s u e 5 • Se p t e mb e r- Oct o b e r 2 0 2 0

A Publication of the C alifornia Special D is tr ic ts A s s oc iation

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS • PAGE 16

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH UNPRECEDENTED TIMES HELPING THE YOUTH OF GILROY RISE UP page 20 Ask the Experts:

How to Copy and Paste From One Device to Another PAGE 10

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DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION ACCREDITATION

TAKE YOUR DISTRICT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

SPECIAL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

The District of Distinction Accreditation is designed as a way for districts to highlight their prudent practices important to effectively administer and govern a special district. In a time when proper fiscal management and responsibility in public agencies is paramount, it has become increasingly important to demonstrate that districts have sound fiscal management, transparency, and governance policies/practices in place. Apply today! 1112 I Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 • t: 916.231.2909 • www.sdlf.org Volume 15 • Issue 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Community Connections: Feature: Interview with Laurie Brown:

Virtual Communication Tips

05 President’s Message 06 CSDA News 08

Professional Development: Board Secretary/Clerk Conference and Virtual Exhibitor Showcase

10 Ask the Experts: How to Copy and Paste From One Device to Another 18 Movers and Shakers 19 You Ask, We Answer: Audit Services

Port of Hueneme and Partners Host 20th Farmworker Food Distribution at the Friendly City by the Sea

20 Solutions & Innovations: Helping the Youth of Gilroy Rise Up 24

Legal Brief: Issues Public Employers Face During Mass Protest – Q&A

28 Managers Corner: Diversity; Equity; Inclusion: An Opportunity for Transformation

For editorial inquiries, contact CSDA Communications Specialist Kristin Withrow, at 877.924.2732 or kristinw@csda.net.

Connecting the Community Through Unprecedented Times

32 Take Action: 2020 State Legislative Year Highlights 34 Managing Risk: Preventing Cybercrime 37 Districts Make the Difference: About Special Districts 38 Money Matters: Energy Performance Contracting for Special Districts 40

What’s So Special: Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County

For advertising inquiries, contact CSDA at 877.924.2732 or advertising@csda.net.

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

CSDA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Efforts for Special District Relief During Unprecedented Times As of the time of this writing, it is my sincere hope that between the time of this message and Joel Bauer, CSDM the mailing of this issue, CSDA Board President the nation’s cases of coronavirus have declined steeply and our businesses and lives have taken a step toward normal. It is the uncertainty of our collective condition that motivates CSDA to continue our legislative efforts for relief. The “Special Districts

Two bills have been championed by CSDA in partnership with the National Special Districts Coalition. Collectively, the bills will recognize and formally define special districts, requiring states to share 5% of Coronavirus Relief Funds within 60 days of receipt from the US Treasury.

Provide Essential Services Act” (S. 4308) has been introduced to the US Senate as a companion bill to HR 7073, the House of Representative’s bill by the same name. These two bills have been championed by CSDA in partnership with the National Special Districts Coalition. Collectively, the bills will recognize and formally define special districts, requiring states to share 5% of Coronavirus Relief Funds within 60 days of receipt from the US Treasury. Special districts will be required to complete an application process with the state to show their level of need and the state would have some flexibility for funds in those areas that rely less on special districts for their infrastructure. Special districts would also gain access to capital as established in the CARES Act. CSDA will continue to monitor these bills as they make their way through the system and will be providing timely updates on our website at csda.net and in our weekly eNews briefs to members and business affiliates. In this edition of California Special Districts, we are pleased to highlight some of our 2020 award winners. Conejo Recreation and Park District shares continued on page 6

CSDA Board and Staff Officers

Staff

JOEL BAUER, CSDM, PRESIDENT, West Side Cemetery District

NEIL MCCORMICK, Chief Executive Officer MEGAN HEMMING, Professional Development Director CASSANDRA STRAWN, Member Services Director KYLE PACKHAM, Advocacy & Public Affairs Director TODD WINSLOW, Publications Director RICK WOOD, Finance & Administration Director JENN JACOBS, Member Services Representative ELEANOR BOLING, Member Services Representative EMILY CHA, Member Services Specialist MARCUS DETWILER, Legislative Analyst DILLON GIBBONS, Senior Legislative Representative COLLEEN HALEY, Public Affairs Field Coordinator JIM HARROLD, Database & Online Communities Coordinator MUSTAFA HESSABI, Legislative Analyst-Attorney CHARLOTTE HOLIFIELD, Public Affairs Field Coordinator COLE KARR, Public Affairs Field Coordinator CHRIS NORDEN, Public Affairs Field Coordinator CHRIS PALMER, Public Affairs Field Coordinator AMBER PHELEN, Executive Assistant RACHAEL POPPINO, Professional Development Assistant ALYSSA SILHI, Legislative Representative JENNIFER SMITH, Professional Development Coordinator ERIC SPENCER, Member Services Specialist ANTHONY TANNEHILL, Legislative Representative DANE WADLÉ, Public Affairs Field Coordinator ROMAN WASKIEWICZ, Legislative Assistant JAMES WILFONG, Senior Designer KRISTIN WITHROW, Communications Specialist

RYAN CLAUSNITZER, CSDM, VICE PRESIDENT, Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District ELAINE MAGNER, SECRETARY, Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District STANLEY CALDWELL, TREASURER, Mt. View Sanitary District VINCENT FERRANTE, PAST PRESIDENT, Moss Landing Harbor District

Members of the Board DON BARTZ, CSDM, Phelon Pinon Hills Community Services District RALPH EMERSON, Garberville Sanitary District CHAD DAVISSON, CSDM, Ironhouse Sanitary District JERRY L. GILMORE, Truckee Sanitary District PETER KAMPA, CSDM, Groveland & Copper Valley Community Services District JO MACKENZIE, Vista Irrigation District NOELLE MATTOCK, El Dorado Hills Community Services District SANDI MILLER, CSDM, Selma Cemetery District LORENZO RIOS, Clovis Veterans Memorial District KATHERINE STEWART, Vandenburg Village Community Services District FRED RYNESS, Burney Water District ARLENE SCHAFER, Costa Mesa Sanitary District

California Special Districts Association 1112 I Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 toll-free: 877.924.2732 • www.csda.net

A proud California Special Districts Alliance partner

CSDA NEWS

2020 CSDA Board Election Results

Congratulations TO THE 2020 CSDA AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to the following individuals who were recently elected to the CSDA Board in seat C for the 2021–2023 term!

Individuals and districts both received awards acknowledging their achievements in various areas including exceptional public outreach, leadership, and innovations! Winning submissions from each category are as follows:

NORTHERN NETWORK Fred Ryness, Director Burney Water District SIERRA NETWORK Pete Kampa, General Manager Groveland Community Services District BAY AREA NETWORK Stanley Caldwell, Director Mt. View Sanitary District CENTRAL NETWORK Steve Perez, General Manager Rosemond Community Services District COASTAL NETWORK Vincent Ferrante, Director Hoss Landing Harbor District SOUTHERN NETWORK Arlene Schafer, Director Costa Mesa Sanitary District

The 18-member board consists of three directors from six networks in California. If you have any questions on the board election process, please contact Executive Assistant Amber Phelen at 877.924.2721 or at amberp@csda.net.

EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC OUTREACH & ADVOCACY AWARD

• Conejo Recreation & Park District for its Connecting the Community Through Unprecedented Times (Large District Category) • Placentia Library District for its COVID-19 Response to the Community (Small District Category)

INNOVATIVE PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD

• Santa Clara County Library District for its Rise Up: Supporting At-Risk Youth (Large District Category)

• San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District for its Model of Cooperation: How the San Bernardino Basin Groundwater Council Achieved Record Recharge in 2019 (Small District Category) CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

• Independent Special Districts of Orange County (ISDOC)

STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

• Sonja Kawa, Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency

BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

• George Lange, Conejo Recreation & Park District

GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

• Dean Wetter, Valley-Wide Recreation & Park District

RALPH HEIM EXCEPTIONAL OUTREACH & ADVOCACY AWARD

• Christine Compton, Irvine Ranch Water District

WILLIAM HOLLINGSWORTH AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

• Douglas Siden, East Bay Regional Park District

CSDA will be highlighting the winners through the end of the year in a variety of ways through CSDA’s communication channels including articles, the website and social media.

President’s Message continued their exceptional public outreach programs to inspire us all to maintain our community connections during this isolating time, while the San Bernadino Basin Groundwater Council details their innovative program to recharge groundwater aquifers for greater sustainability in resource management. CSDA Staff and Board congratulates our award winners and are grateful to all the excellent nominations we received. There are many examples of extraordinary service, innovation and creativity in our special districts 6

and the awards process is an annual reminder of the ingenuity and dedication we see in our diverse membership. As CSDA continues our commitment to excellence in operations for all special districts, we will maintain our focus on the stories, legislation, and education that keep special districts thriving. It is our hope that you stay well and safe as CSDA finds solutions to the coronavirus challenges we face, as we look forward to the day that we can come together in person. California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

2020 CSDA

William Hollingsworth Award of Excellence California Special Districts Association is proud to announce the recipient of this year’s William Hollingsworth Award of Excellence is Douglas Siden from the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). Doug Siden has served for 24 years on the EBRPD Board, and spent a lifetime committed to social justice – starting long before the term was coined. To Doug, it was never a catchphrase, or mere “vision statement” to put on the district’s letterhead. He spent decades rolling up his sleeves and doing the tough work throughout the East Bay community to make social justice a reality. Through active community involvement, Doug identified the need and opportunity to provide for full integration of local government services, community needs and capacity, legislative activities, and solid governance practices. As the largest park district in the United States, Doug recognized the park system would only find its greatness through synergy with all the agencies and components working together. An outspoken advocate for promoting special districts and their purpose, he also promoted the education of directors, managers, and staff of special districts to ensure each level worked together effectively. Volume 15 • Issue 5

He fought every day to promote access and enjoyment of East Bay Regional Parks’ 120,000 acres, including 66 regional parks, to every segment of the community. He also understood the park district could not do it alone – that the public had to be part of the journey, and it would take many partners to succeed. That is why he served for many years on East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s Executive Board. It’s why he became a founding member and former chairperson of the Martin Luther King Freedom Center in Oakland. And founded the San Leandro Creek Alliance. And led the fight to establish the Alameda County Creek and Watershed Symposium. It is why then-Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt appointed him to the advisory committee of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore. As a Board member, he advocated and pounded the pavement for countless hours and weekends to help EBRPD pass Measures CC and WW – the latter, at $500 million, the largest bond measure ever for a local district to acquire and develop new parks. In his “other” life, he has been a Baptist minister for six decades. He directed a youth camp for Baptist Churches of the

West for 20 years and led the effort to establish yearround camps in Santa Cruz and near Lake Tahoe. He values his time with his wife Marilyn, four children, and 12 grandchildren. The William Hollingsworth Award is not open for nominations but is awarded from the CSDA Board of Directors. It is reserved for individuals who have been vigilant in championing for special districts over time. We are pleased to bestow this prestigious award on such an esteemed advocate of East Bay Regional Park District and special districts everywhere.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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Board Secretary/Clerk Conference Goes Virtual The Board Secretary/Clerk Certificate has become the gold standard for special district board secretaries and clerks throughout California. We invite you to participate as a first-time attendee to earn your certificate, or come back this year to advance your knowledge of special districts through new and exciting breakout sessions tailored for you.

Beth Z.

ATTENDEES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO:

• Beth Z. - Your Nerdy Best Friend - general session “Leading with Focus: Collaboration & Productivity Without a Billion Videoconferences” • Laurie Brown - general session “How to Listen so People Can Hear You” • Board Secretary/Clerk Certificate Sessions for First-Time Attendees • Live Super Sessions • 12 different breakout session options for returning attendees

Laurie Brown

• Networking and Exhibitor Demos • Virtual Escape Room • Virtual Happy Hour BINGO

Visit Our Virtual Exhibitor Showcase

Visit csda.net/community-home for the Virtual Exhibitor Showcase.

Missing the opportunity to hear about the latest and greatest in products and services for special districts? Even though we can’t be together at the CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase; you can still connect online! We have teamed up with many of our Business Affiliate members to bring you a Virtual Exhibitor Showcase featuring 30- and 60-minutes videos about products and services you may need in your district. Videos include: Community by Diligent, Centrica Business Solutions, Streamline, Black Mountain Software, NBS, AllPaid and more.

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VISIT CSDA’S SAMPLE DOCUMENT LIBRARY WWW.CSDA.NET - LIBRARY INCLUDES STRATEGIC PLAN EXAMPLES 8

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

Your Community. Your Services. Your District! This campaign is centered on the concept that special districts go beyond providing important services to their communities. They make a difference in the lives of their residents and help our state thrive. The goal is to bridge the gap between special districts and the essential services that millions of Californians value. The first step is to visit DistrictsMaketheDifference.org. The website features a simple-to-use toolkit filled with public awareness videos, web banners, posters, factsheets, and other materials that can be easily downloaded.

Follow, like, subscribe, share!

Volume 15 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 5

MAKE THE

DistrictsMaketheDifference.org DistrictsMaketheDifference.org

ASK THE EXPERTS

CSDA’s

Board Secretary/Clerk Conference & Certificate Program TM

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MONDAY: OCTOBER 26, 2020 8:30 – 9:45 A.M.

Opening Keynote Leading with Focus: Collaboration and Productivity without a Billion Videoconferences Beth Z. - Your Nerdy Best Friend

How to Copy and Paste from One Device to Another By Beth Ziesenis, Your Nerdy Best Friend

I bought a PC recently because it has features my Mac doesn’t (gasp!). One of the functions I am CONSTANTLY missing on the PC is my Mac’s Handoff feature. It’s where I can copy something on my Mac then immediately paste it into my iPhone or iPad, and vice versa. Turns out I use this functionality all. the. time. It was the perfect solution for things like: • Sharing a URL with my sister via text • Inputting the address of a contact into Amazon to send someone a gift • Copying a few lines of text from an article on my phone so that I could use it in an article • Grabbing a picture from my computer to text to the hubby I actually can’t name all the things I used it for because it is such second nature… I bet I used it at least once a day. And when I was using the PC and couldn’t paste into my iPhone, I would grit my teeth and take 3-4 extra steps to get the information from one place to another. GRRR. Luckily for us in 2020, multi-device copy/paste functionality is available on a number of platforms. You just have to set it up.

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

Here’s a handy guide for copying/ pasting among devices: All Apple Devices

Apple has hooked all of its devices together with a feature called “Handoff.” Requirements: • Handoff has to be enabled on all devices • The devices have to be near each other • The devices have to have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on You can read the instructions from Apple.

Windows 10 Devices

Microsoft devices that run Windows 10 can share Cloud Clipboard. Read the notes from Microsoft. Requirements: • You have to be signed into your Microsoft account on all devices • Cloud Clipboard has to be enabled on all devices

Android Devices and PCs

Android devices and PCs running Windows 10 more or less play well together. You have to connect your Windows/ Microsoft account with the devices, and they can transfer information back and forth.

Most of the newer Samsung devices will do the copy/paste stuff. Here’s what Microsoft says. I have a Google Pixel 3, and that will do things like files, photos and websites, but not copy/paste text. Some of the connection relies on an app called Your Phone. It can also connect with an app called Microsoft Launcher.

Apple Devices and PCs

Err. Umm. Y’all know Apple and Windows don’t play nice, right? This doesn’t work quite as well or do quite as much. You can send a webpage you’re on through the Microsoft Edge browser app and/or an app called Continue on PC.

Chrome Browser Clipboard Sync

This kind of freaked me out. There’s a secret place in the Chrome browser that has all kinds of weird settings I don’t understand. But in that list you can find two settings that let you send text from one Chrome browser to the clipboard in your nearby devices. Go to chrome://flags continued on page 13

Representing California public agencies for over sixty years.

Greg Stepanicich Jim Markman Roxanne Diaz Ginetta Giovinco Craig Steele Dave Fleishman Volume 15 • Issue 5

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INTERVIEW

CSDA’s

Board Secretary/Clerk Conference & Certificate Program TM

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’re taking t hi We

TUESDAY: OCTOBER 27, 2020 8:30 – 9:45 A.M.

Keynote How to Listen so People Can Hear You Laurie Brown

Virtual Communication Tips By Kristin Withrow

Communication is a cornerstone of any civilized society. In the hierarchy of human needs, it rests just below food, shelter and oxygen on the scale of necessity to humankind. Communication is inherently critical to all business function. With the isolating response to the novel coronavirus bringing new challenges to the nation, we knew it had to be a central topic at this year’s Board Secretary/Clerk Conference. CSDA is excited to bring Laurie Brown’s creative, entertaining program to our Virtual Board Secretary/ Clerk Conference in October. If you’d like to learn more about Laurie Brown, visit her website lauriebrown.com. 12

How do we keep ourselves apart yet stay connected to all the people that make our business lives function?

Enter speaker Laurie Brown on the keynote topic, “How to Listen so People Can Hear You.” A charismatic, entertaining thought leader in communication technique, Brown works with audiences around the world to bring people together. She will bring our conference attendees an introspective view into their own communication style while keeping everyone engaged and entertained. And she will do it all in the virtual realm! While we promised not to give away all her topics for the conference, she did chat with us about the current challenges we face as we adapt to life online. Here are a few tips to consider before your next virtual meeting. California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

Avoid what Brown calls “Zoom Fatigue” by hiding your self-view.

Sharing video on your calls is important because it adds the element of facial expression and body language to bring a full spectrum, in-person communication experience. But when was the last time you had a real conversation with someone while also staring at yourself in the mirror? There is a level of selfevaluation that occurs when we can see ourselves speaking. This extra feedback element has a downside: it causes us to be self-conscious, and it is distracting. Maintain your video connection but hide or minimize the self-view function and you will experience more natural interactions.

Avoid “Visual Noise.” Pay attention to your video conference backgrounds.

If you have vibrant paintings, busy bookshelves with tchotchkes and visible book titles, or other complex elements, use the virtual background function. Visual noise includes moving elements, like family members passing behind you or your cat walking across your keyboard. If you are in a busy space, you’ll be more likely to look away from your connection and cause people to wonder what is taking your attention away from the conversation. The more you reduce these elements, the more focused your conversations will be.

Be concise and change it up occasionally.

Speaking to people via video link is processed differently in our brains. We tend to relate to these connections in the way we would a television show. We are wired to lose our focus on the screen after about 20 minutes. If you are doing all the talking, remember to ask questions, provide visual cues or other elements that break up the monotony of a long topic. Volume 15 • Issue 5

One of the key barriers Brown identifies in all communications is perception. She teaches, “The words we use are viewed through the lens of the non-verbal (cues).” Our visual presence includes our facial expression and body language. Our vocal presence is reflected in the tone of our voice and the pace at which we speak. “We all have different styles. When our styles match, it is easier to get you to agree with me,” she says. To put that knowledge to actionable use, try to match your style to the person you are speaking with. If you are a fast paced, high energy, highly task-oriented person and you are speaking to a more socially relatable, conversational, emotional person you may steamroll over them rather

“We all have different styles. When our styles match, it is easier to get you to agree with me.”

than bringing them along in the conversation. Be self-aware as you speak so you can change your vocal presence (voice tone and pace) and use visual feedback (facial expression) to keep people tuned in to what you are saying. These suggestions can be immediately implemented to enhance the effectiveness of your next video conference. We are excited to hear Brown’s other suggestions for boosting our communication skills and maximizing effectiveness for our next board meeting, staff meeting or customer interaction.

continued from page 11 In the search box on that page, enter ‘clipboard,’ and you should find two settings: 1. Enable receiver device to handle shared clipboard feature 2. Enable shared clipboard feature signals to be handled Then when you highlight text in one Chrome browser, just right click to see a new option: Copy to Device, with a dropdown of all the nearby devices. You have to enable the flags thingy on each device you want to get things from. I had also enabled a Windows setting to receive and send from other nearby devices.

Third-Party Clipboards You can find a few clipboard apps that offer universal access. Check these out: • Magic Copy Copy text or a link on one device, then open the Magic Copy app. That puts the copied material onto the clipboard. Then go to the other device and open Magic Copy. Now you can paste. • Clipbrd Install the Google Chrome Extension and download the app onto your Android devices to copy in one and paste in the other.

Beth Ziesenis is Your Nerdy Best Friend. She is the author of several books on technology including “The Bigger Book of Apps.” A return speaker for CSDA, Beth travels the country talking to organizations about free and bargain technology.

FEATURE

Port of Hueneme and Partners Host 20th Farmworker Food Distribution at the Friendly City by the Sea Feeding the Frontlines Makes History Hosting its 20th Food Drive During COVID-19

“The City of Port Hueneme (pronounced ‘Why-nee-mee’)” The Port of Hueneme and local community partners Clinicas Del Camino Real, Lujan Transport Inc., Port customer Del Monte and more, as part of the Feeding the Frontline, Feeding our Farmworkers effort, have hosted 20 food distributions across the County of Ventura. The Port has played an important role in coordinating these events and bringing together different partners to help address the current food scarcity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest event was held on Saturday, June 27 at the Orvene S. Carpenter Community Center in Port Hueneme and had the full support of the City of Port Hueneme. “Our work does not stop at the docks,” said Oxnard Harbor District President Jess Ramirez. “It actually continues to impact the community as soon as our customers receive the goods that they are also contributing, to maintain our community food distributions to particularly those directly affected by the pandemic.” “Since this Pandemic Emergency began, the City of Port Hueneme has focused our efforts to best support of the most vulnerable members of our community. As host of this 20th food scarcity solutions initiative, we couldn’t be more proud of this grand opportunity to literally serve them even more and partner with our good friends at the Port of Hueneme,” remarked the City Manager of Port Hueneme. The Port of Hueneme recognizes its place as an economic driver and especially as a safety net for our community during these turbulent times. Throughout this endeavor, over 10,000 families have been provided with bananas, strawberries, produce, and hand sanitizer as well as bilingual COVID-19 information to help relieve some of the economic stress that the

pandemic has imposed on working families. The Port is substituting its Banana Festival (usually held in September) for increased COVID-19 relief activities this year, as directed by the Oxnard Harbor District Commissioners, who felt the need to provide a different type of community support during these times. Miguel Rodriguez, the Port’s Community Outreach Manager, and the lead organizer for these events, stated, “It’s very gratifying to be able to do this very important work at a time when resources are scarce. Efforts like these are a testament that no one will go hungry in our community as long as we continue to have truly committed leadership at all levels. Twenty events are a result of social capital built on intentional collaboration with a vision to provide where we can have most impact.” The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast. The Port is governed by five locally elected Port Commissioners. The Port moves $9.5 billion in goods each year and consistently ranks

among the top ten U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $1.7 billion in economic activity and creating 15,834 traderelated jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $119 million in direct and related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services. In 2017, the Port of Hueneme became the first port in California to become Green Marine certified and was voted the Greenest Port in the U.S. at the Green Shipping Summit. The City of Port Hueneme (pronounced “Why-nee-mee”) is a unique community along Ventura County’s Gold Coast just south of the City of Oxnard and Channel Islands Harbor. Port Hueneme is unique because of its rich history, culture, and traditions, dating back to the Chumash Indians who made their home here for centuries and because of its long-established, close relationship with the U.S. Navy’s Port Hueneme and Point Mugu naval facilities.

LARGE DISTRICT

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

CSDA 2020 AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC OUTREACH & ADVOCACY

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH UNPRECEDENTED TIMES By Tim Duerr, Conejo Recreation & Park District We are in unprecedented times, but with challenges come new opportunities. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) under the policy direction of the five-member Board of Directors, has provided essential services and ways to enrich the quality of life in the Conejo Valley. For their efforts and leadership, they have been awarded the 2020 CSDA Exceptional Public Outreach & Advocacy Award (Large District) and the 2020 Board Member of the Year Award. CRPD is located in Ventura County on the western border of LA County. 16

CRPD serves 140,000 residents in the city of Thousand Oaks and surrounding unincorporated areas (covering over 60 square miles total). The District is receiving these awards for its ongoing efforts to meet the evolving needs of the community, through a diverse offering of programs and services, throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. CRPD staff have ensured the 60+ population in the community continue receiving meals through the Senior Nutrition Lunch program. Fueled by a passion to serve, staff developed a minimal contact drive-through, instituted physical distancing, and partnered with a local non-profit

for delivery services. In addition to seeing an increase from 60 meals to approximately 140 meals per day, staff provide socialization to individuals who would not otherwise have human interaction. The Safe Passage Lunch program has been a successful partnership between multiple agencies and volunteers. Together they have ensured continuous lunch services during school closures for families in two areas of the community with higher crime and gang influence. Approximately 300 meals are served daily between the two sites. The program has also distributed and coordinated other necessities California Special Districts â&#x20AC;˘ Sept-Oct 2020

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

including diapers, baby formula, fresh produce, and Wi-Fi capabilities at home so children can participate in distance learning. Food Share Ventura County reached out to CRPD in late March, looking for a large drive-through distribution center location. Utilizing CRPD park property, 10-14 part-time CRPD employees have been assisting with registration and food distribution every Thursday since April 2, distributing approximately 400 food kits to residents in need. CRPD was also asked to open facilities to conduct blood drives while adhering to Covid-19 guidelines. Since March, CRPD has hosted more than 10 blood drives with each having over 60 draws. As the demand for face masks and medical caps increased, the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) volunteers answered the call. As of August, 13 volunteers have produced and donated over 2,500 homemade masks and over

280 homemade medical caps to 23 local organizations. In addition to providing essential services to the community, CRPD made tremendous efforts to engage the community, provide creative outlets, and offer support to parents tasked with homeschooling their children. To support local print media and connect to the community, the recreation division contributed a full-page ad for 8 consecutive weeks in the Thousand Oaks Acorn. Content included fun historical trivia, weekly contests, and kids’ activities. Showing the community that they were missed, CRPD launched the “At Home” campaign, leaving goodie bags on the doorsteps of 100 randomly selected patrons filled with recreation supplies, materials, and messages from staff. Almost overnight, the world turned to virtual options for communication and socialization. CPRD followed suit by increasing social media posts and

creating a Virtual Recreation Center on the CRPD website. The Virtual Rec Center is a place for fun, education, and resources for the community while confined to their homes. The webpage offers links to free online options for indoor fitness activities, kid-oriented videos, virtual tours, educational games, audio books, suggested outdoor activities, the latest Covid-19 information, and more. Virtual courses were also offered, and preschool and prekindergarten programs continued via Zoom that included story times, fingerplay, songs, and show and tell. Teachers provided at home packets for their students and some locations celebrated graduation with a drive by parade. For more information about the programs being offered by Conejo Recreation and Park District, follow them on Facebook at ConejoRPD or visit their website at www.crpd.org.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

MOVERS& SHAKERS Santa Ynez Community Services District (SYCSD) has appointed Jose Acosta to the position of General Manager. He brings 23 years of water experience in the water utility sector to the new role. The SYCSD is an independent district that operates to provide community sewage disposal services in the Santa Barbara area.

Gilroy Community Librarian Lani Yoshimura is retiring from the Santa Clara County Library District after a 50 year career of public service and 46 years with the Gilroy Library. “I will miss that magic spark of connection with each individual, the joy Lani Yoshimura of watching change and growth in a person or a community,” she says. She plans to spend time with her centenarian mother and on sculpting and writing projects.

Providing Special Districts with Focused Legal Strategies We counsel clients throughout California in sectors including Water, Public Finance, Public Agency, Environment, Infrastructure, Employment, Data Protection, Government Relations and Eminent Domain. What solutions are you seeking?

Brian Oftedal, president of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Fire Board, recently received national recognition for his work as an advocate for emergency medical services (EMS). The National Association of Brian Oftedal Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) named Oftedal one of three recipients of the 2020 National EMS Advocacy Award. First awarded in 2014, Oftedal is the first Californian to earn the honor. CAPIO California Association of Public Information Officers (CAPIO) is pleased to announce that Tiffany Baca, Public Affairs Manager for the Municipal Water District of Orange County has been honored as the 2020 Communicator of the Year Award. This award recognizes an individual who, in the judgment of the CAPIO Awards Committee and Board of Directors, demonstrates exceptional abilities, skills and talents in leading their organization to greater and more successful communications and public engagements.

Do you have movers and shakers in your districts to highlight? Send to CSDA Communications Specialist-Editor Kristin Withrow at kristinw@csda.net for consideration in this section.

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

Questions Appear in CSDA Communities

YOU ASK, WE ANSWER

Q&A

Audit Services Gary Neumann, General Manager Weott Community Services District Here’s a question for you all. We are a community services district providing water and wastewater services. We have used the same company for our annual financial audit for the past 5 years. I’ve recently learned that we cannot use the same company again. Do we need to put out to bid or can we simply call 3 or more companies and request quotes in order to find a new auditor? I’m not sure the proper protocol and want to be sure to do this correctly. Thank you for any feedback or advice.

Volume 15 • Issue 5

Susan Cash, Administrative Project Manager Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District You can use the same firm, just not the same lead auditor. Government Code section 12410.6.(b) indicates that commencing with the 2013-14 fiscal year, a local agency shall not employ a public accounting firm to provide audit services to a local agency if the lead audit partner or coordinating audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit, or the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit, has performed audit services for that local agency for six consecutive fiscal years. For purposes of calculating the six consecutive fiscal years, the local agency shall not take into account any time that a public accounting firm was employed by that local agency prior to the 2013-14 fiscal year. The Controller may waive this requirement if he or she finds that another eligible public accounting firm is not available to perform the audit. If you use a small firm and cannot change lead auditors, then you have to look to your own procurement code as to how you would find another auditor. Bradley Bartells, Partner Mann, Urrutia, Nelson CPAs & Associates I agree with Susan’s comments. As for putting the audit services out to bid, there are several resources you can use. The easiest for you will be put out your RFP on the CSDA website, which will send out an e-mail, similar to the open forum e-mails. You can also use FindRFP, FennBridge, or BidRFP.

Engage with your peers and ask questions on CSDA’s Open Forum community! CSDA Disclaimer: This section is not intended to be legal advice. Members should always seek legal counsel. The information contained here is for general reference purposes only.

LARGE DISTRICT

SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIONS

CSDA 2020 AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Helping the Youth of Gilroy

RISE UP

Families in South Santa Clara County are better equipped with preventative measures to handle issues involving youth crime and school violations thanks to a collaborative program led by the Gilroy Library, part of the Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD). While world famous for its garlic, this community of nearly 60,000 located just south of Silicon Valley has some of the highest rates of juvenile arrests and citations in the county, largely stemming from gang activity in certain distressed neighborhoods. Local schools also have related significant expulsion and truancy rates.

California Special Districts â&#x20AC;˘ Sept-Oct 2020

To tackle this complex problem, the County of Santa Clara brought together its agencies that play a major role in the lives of local youth, including Gilroy Library, the Social Service Agency – Department of Family and Children Services, and the District Attorney’s Office. To ensure the community was fully represented, the South County Youth Task Force, a coalition of South County government agencies and nonprofit/community organizations, was invited. The program they developed, in partnership with best practices from academic researchers, was titled Rise Up: Supporting At-Risk Youth. Gilroy Library was chosen as the host for most of the programming due to its availability seven days a week, status as a neutral and safe space, and its mission to help educate the community and provide services in multiple languages to all ages. The Gilroy Library is a recognized center of the community. The program combined an array of services for different members of the family, to provide a positive impact on the developmental process of youth from birth to adolescence. With almost a quarter of the local community born abroad and nearly half of households speaking another language at home, mostly Spanish, cultural competency and bilingual content was essential. A grassroots curriculum developed by researchers at Santa Clara University entitled “Resilient Families,” was offered to Spanish-speaking mothers of children up to three years old. To ensure community buy-in to the program and lasting impact, a group of local mothers was recruited to assist. Unrelated to the women in the program, these “madrinas”

Volume 15 • Issue 5

“The program combined an array of services for different members of the family, to provide a positive impact on the developmental process of youth from birth to adolescence.” (godmothers) were trained to provide support and encouragement to young mothers. Upon completion of the mentorship program, the madrinas obtained the title of “promotora,” or peer instructor. Monthly family social gatherings were held to better connect mothers, their spouses/partners, and children to each other and to the madrinas. For teens, programming was selected with significant input through community conversations with atrisk youth and their families. Rise Up collaborated with an ongoing “Late Night Gym” program for at-risk youth created by the City of Gilroy and the local nonprofit called Community Solutions. Staff from Late Night Gym were trained as program leaders to provide regular mindfulness sessions with attending youth. In addition, an

array of educational and entertainment programs were created including outdoor family movie screenings courtesy of the Gilroy Library, cooking classes at a culinary arts school, and field trips were organized to destinations including the California Academy of Science, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Manresa Beach, sites of interest for local at-risk youth. The Gilroy Library also offered the 2019 Summer Reading program, including events and prizes for the completion of at least 5 books. This was all part of an effort to approach the needs of residents in a holistic way, following the Harwood model of youth engagement, a prestigious training program provided by the State Library. Another participating group called “Project Parent,” focused on helping the families of four dozen youth facing continued on page 22

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truancy and delinquency issues, and teaching parents strategies to steer their children toward more positive paths. This twelve week course taught parents in gang hotspots how to end parent-child arguments, help their children improve their grades and school attendance, avoid using drugs, and stay out of gangs. Classes were taught in Spanish. Lastly, a “Restore Leadership Program” trained nearly two dozen community leaders to work with at-risk youth, encouraging a unique approach for living a mindful life. This sustainable program led by local organization Carry the Vision sought to create a new wave of leadership for the Gilroy community, who in turn would train other future influencers, and in so doing continue the progress being made.

In all, hundreds of individuals took part in Rise Up. Many had never taken part in a library program before, with the majority saying at the completion of the program that they had come to see the Gilroy Library as an important part of the community that could help them achieve a better future and avoid possible negative influences for their family members. They also expressed that they had learned something from their experience with Rise Up and they planned to apply this new information in their own neighborhoods. The lessons from Rise Up are numerous. Including local youth and adults in the planning process for a community intervention program greatly increases its chance of being accepted and put into action by locals. Libraries are ideally situated to serve

as a platform for community learning. Training community members to help amplify program messaging and recruit new generations of mentors creates the potential for long lasting and profound impact. Providing interventions at multiple levels of youths’ lives produces better outcomes, on average, than no or single focus interventions. The ultimate impact of Rise Up may not be known for some time, but early indications are that the program is part of a positive change for South County. Rise Up has been recognized by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) with a Challenge Award, as well as CSDA with its 2020 Award for Innovative Program of the Year (large district).

California Special Districts are facing unprecedented challenges. BB&K is prepared to partner with your District in its response and recovery. Let our experienced General Counsel, Labor & Employment, Environmental, Finance and LAFCO attorneys help you navigate the complex and ever-changing road ahead.

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California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

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Volume 15 • Issue 5

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LEGAL BRIEF

Issues Public Employers Face During Mass Protest – Q&A By J. Scott Tiedemann and David A. Urban

Our nation has continued for months to react to the death of George Floyd, and this reaction includes the thousands who have participated in mass protests across the country in June 2020. Many people feel compelled to speak openly and passionately about an issue of national importance. Public employees likely wish to express their views as well, and this includes not only those working to keep local government running effectively, but the public safety personnel working to keep the peace. The following discusses the speech rights of public employees relevant to this year’s mass protests, and how agencies can respond to the expression of their employees in different types of scenarios related to protests. 1. What First Amendment rights do public employees have in relationship to their own employers? In most circumstances, public employees have a right under the First Amendment to speak freely without adverse action from their employer if three requirements are met. First, 24

the employee must speak on an issue of “public concern.” This includes topics of importance to the nation or community at large. Second, the employee must speak outside the scope of their “official duties.” This means the employee’s speech must not constitute the activity they are expected to do as part of their job. Third, the speech must satisfy a balancing test between the government interests of the employer under the circumstances and the speech rights of the employee. If what an employee says causes or sufficiently threatens to cause disruption to the agency, then the employee will not prevail on this third step and the speech will not

have First Amendment protection. As you will read below, this three-part test under First Amendment law answers many of the questions that arise in this area. Under this First Amendment test, the subject matter of the recent protests regarding police conduct and civic equality without question constitutes one of “public concern.” Yet, by contrast, a police officer making statements in attempting to de-escalate a conflict during a protest, or speaking at a press conference hosted by her agency, would likely not have protection for his or her speech because the officer would be communicating as part of “official duties.” The agency has the right to critique the officer’s performance in dealing with the conflict, or in speaking at the press conference, without regard to First Amendment rights of the officer. But if an agency employee participates in a protest on their own time, their expressive activity is not pursuant to “official duties.” If no disruption to the agency results or is sufficiently threatened, the employee will likely have First Amendment protection for their expression. 2. What if an employee asks for time off to engage in peaceful protesting? An agency in responding to the request for time off should treat it in the same manner as it would treat such a request based on other general personal reasons. If the agency allows time off only for protected leaves including sick leave, for vacation scheduled in compliance with agency policy, or for other narrowly defined reasons, it does not need to make an exception for protest activity. But if the California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

leave policy allows impromptu or short-notice personal days for any reason, the agency should allow the leave and indeed would risk a free speech retaliation claim in denying it based on the expressive conduct the employee intends. If the agency suffers from short staffing, it can deny the leave consistent with its current policies but has to make clear it would have denied the leave regardless of what activity the employee intended. The agency has to make clear it is not effectively punishing the employee for the view they intend to express or for the personal activity in which they plan to engage. 3. What if an employee’s protesting leads to their arrest for curfew violation, or other civil disobedience, 0r criminal misconduct? Under Labor Code section 432.7, except in cases involving police officer employees, an employer may not take disciplinary action against an employee based solely on the employee’s arrest. To avoid free speech concerns, the employer’s response should not constitute or appear to constitute punishment or disparate treatment based on viewpoint. If the employer investigates and confirms the employee engaged in wrongdoing, including even something on the level of a curfew violation, the employer should not impose more harsh discipline because the conduct took place in the course of expressive activity and should not create the

appearance that this is the case. Doing so could lead to claims that the employee suffered more harsh discipline for having aligned with viewpoints related to the protests. 4. What if an employee engages in a protest and expresses hostility toward the agency? In this scenario, because the expression is on a matter of public concern, and the employee does not act pursuant to “official duties,” a balancing test applies that weighs that agency’s legitimate interests against the employee’s speech interests. Courts recognize that under constitutional free speech principles, public employees have the right to criticize their own employers and will uphold that right unless the employer can point to sufficient harm to their operations or functioning, which can include disruption in the workplace. If the employee violates certain important rules in their expression, this can serve as the basis for discipline consistent with the balancing test – these can include rules against divulging confidential information of the agency, or rules against an employee improperly representing themselves as speaking for the agency. Aside from the First Amendment, other laws including the California Constitution to some extent protect the privacy of continued on page 26

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employees in their off-duty conduct. Employers can only control off-duty conduct in limited circumstances when an employer’s legitimate workplace interests outweigh an employee’s right of privacy in personal activities. 5. What if employees turn to social media to engage in harsh criticism or hate speech regarding their colleagues who participate in the protests? An agency can take action against the employees consistent with the First Amendment if the balancing test described above has been met. In supporting such action, it is important that the employer make the required showing of impact on the agency. A public employer can potentially make this showing by demonstrating that the postings harm the reputation or credibility of the agency, render the employee unable to perform his/her duties satisfactorily, impair working relationships with fellow employees, or hinder the agency in managing and directing its work force. 6. Does an agency need to allow workplace signs, e-mail signature blocks, clothing, or other symbolic expression in the workplace regarding the protests? This depends on what workplace rules the agency currently has governing display of personal items at work, dress codes, and similar matters. Under constitutional free speech principles, a public employer can generally have such rules as long as they are “reasonable” and “viewpoint-neutral.” If the employer’s rules preclude such expression and it has consistently enforced those rules, the employer is entitled to enforce them for expression relating to the ongoing protests now. But if the employer has, for example, allowed employees to use various personal messages in their e-mail signature, then the employer will have difficulty arguing now that employees cannot use messages related to the protests (unless the employer can show disruption would result or other sufficiently important administrative 26

reasons). Also, if the agency adopts rules now in order to block expression related to the protests, a Court could regard this as retaliation for free expression and an attempt to censor a certain viewpoint in violation of the First Amendment. (As a caveat, special rules apply to expression pursuant to state labor relations laws – the California Public Employment Relations Board (“PERB”) has held that public employees have the right to display union insignia and messages regarding working conditions, and that rules to the contrary are presumptively invalid.) It is important to note that this summer’s mass protests involve issues related to the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) protected classification of race, and the subject matter of the protests is expanding to other protected classifications. Employers have to consider that their conduct related to the protests could rightly or wrongly serve as evidence in cases in which the agency’s employment practices are challenged under those laws. Sensitivity and courtesy in these matters is key, and agency employees committed to the public interests may be willing to voluntarily refrain from expression, or decline to object to their colleagues’ expression, in the interest of harmony in an important time for the organization. 7. Can an agency coach employees about their speech during times of mass protest? An agency can do so, but should avoid appearing to tell employees what views to express or coercing employees to remain silent or express viewpoints they do not share. California has statutory laws against employers coercing political activities of employees. (Gov. Code, §§ 1101, 1102.) Appearing to force an employee to endorse a certain viewpoint on a public issue can lay the groundwork for a later claim of First Amendment violation. But reminding employees of the heightened sensitivities in the current times and how important their role is in maintaining order and positive relations with the public can benefit the agencies and the employees themselves.

The employer can point out in a wellmeaning way if warranted that in dealing with the public and other agencies and organizations, now is not the time for comments that can be misinterpreted, spontaneous remarks that one will later regret, or taking a tone in conversations that is likely to provoke conflict. 8. Are there other laws aside from the First Amendment potentially relevant to employees’ involvement with mass protests? There are a number of others. For example, if employees are speaking about their wages, hours, and working conditions, then state labor relations laws like the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act are potentially invoked and have to be considered. Speaking out about race, religion, gender, and other protected classifications when related to conduct in the workplace can invoke the protections of anti-discrimination laws like the FEHA, and employees’ pointing out alleged illegal conduct of their employer can have the protection of statutory whistleblower laws. In addition, Government Code section 3203 limits the rights of cities, counties and most districts to place any restriction on the “political activities” of their employees. Employers, however, can place limits on political activities of employees on work time or on the agency premises. (Gov. Code, § 3207.) Also, under state law, employees of local agencies cannot participate in political activity while in uniform. (Gov. Code, § 3206.) There are additional rules for public safety and fire personnel. Free speech questions present complex legal issues, and it is prudent to seek advice of counsel. This is certainly true at this unprecedented time in our history when agencies must make important decisions quickly. J. Scott Tiedemann is the Managing Partner and David Urban is a Senior Counsel at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, one of the largest public sector employment and labor law firms in California. They can be reached at stiedemann@lcwlegal. com and durban@lcwlegal.com.

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

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Volume 15 • Issue 5

MANAGERS CORNER

Diversity Equity Inclusion

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION By Jacques Whitfield, Senior HR Consultant, CPS HR Consulting

California Special Districts â&#x20AC;¢ Sept-Oct 2020

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

hese words from Charles Dickens written over a century and a half ago may be used to accurately describe the state of affairs in which we find ourselves today. Two decades into the 21st Century reveals a world few could have ever imagined only a generation ago. Advances in science, technology and information have transformed our big blue planet into a small global village, intimately connected through technology and scientific advances to rival the best imaginations at Marvel Studios. At the same time, the world economy has been humbled by a global pandemic as millions have been economically disrupted from their

“normal” ways of life. Furthermore, the global system of white supremacy and racial inequity that has existed for over 400 years has been exposed and challenged in the United States and around the world. There is plenty of reason to be extremely concerned over the future of humanity as we know it. And yet, I am extremely optimistic about the present and the future. As we continue to navigate these historically interesting times, my invitation to the reader is that this is the BEST time to be alive. Never before in the history of the human civilization have so many people been focused on creating a better political, economic, and social existence for humanity. We are finally asking (and beginning to answer) the difficult “grown up” questions.

The public sector has had a front row seat to all of these major changes and transitions. Understandably, there are some in the public sector who see these changes as the “beginning of the end” of the world as we know it. I choose to embrace an alternative and much more optimistic view. The Chinese characters that create the symbol for the word “crisis” is also used to create the word “opportunity”. While there are legitimate crises that we must immediately and soberly address as a modern society, there is also tremendous opportunity to step into our greatness. As leaders in the public sector, it is critical that we fulfill our leadership roles in public service by providing a blueprint to successfully navigate these critical times. Here are five helpful “grounding steps” to maximize the movement which we are experiencing in order to successfully navigate these times. continued on page 30

Volume 15 • Issue 5

Begin with the End in Mind. This is an easy one. We are all familiar with

the personal development philosophy of Steven Covey. This is a great place to start dealing with the national and global events of the day. What a marvelous opportunity to actively embrace all the American idealism embedded in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. What is the world that we are seeking create? A world in which every human being is acknowledged as “created equal” and endowed with certain “inalienable rights” of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” How aspirational to acknowledge that “We, the People” is, in fact, inclusive of ALL human beings, regardless of race and ethnicity, sex and gender, national origin, disability or marital status, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. A wise person once said that a person’s reach should be beyond the stars, for what’s a Heaven for. Let us take this opportunity to “double-down” on the hope and dream of America to truly become that shining city on a hill. Let us take this moment to acknowledge the humanity and goodness in all of us, as opposed to becoming more divided and balkanized according to class, socioeconomics, race, and politics. Let us create a vision for a better America and a better, more connected world.

Acknowledgement over Agreement. Rather

than merely exchanging one world view for another world view, let us embrace a fundamental element of cultural intelligence and openly admit that there is more than one world view. Rather than demanding agreement from others to embrace our world view, let us collectively create the intellectual capacity to hold multiple and competing ideas and world views. Acknowledgement gives us that intellectual capacity. Acknowledgment

“Rather than demanding agreement from others to embrace our world view, let us collectively create the intellectual capacity to hold multiple and competing ideas and world views. “

is having the capacity to see, hear, feel, respect, and appreciate the life’s journey of others. Acknowledgement does not require agreement. The demand for agreement has created the intense divisions that we see in American politics and in the so-called “culture wars.” Acknowledgement allows for multiple thoughts and ideas to co-exist without threat or harm.

Pro Humanitate (For Mankind). Dr.

Maya Angelou said, “We are more alike than we are unalike.” This saying is true in a number of contexts – genetically, holistically, and socially. Rather than focusing on highlighting our differences, my invitation is that we choose to highlight our similarities and commonalities as human beings. We are more than Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, whites, and people of color, affluent and challenged. We are all humans. Even when we disagree with one another. Especially when we disagree with one another. When it comes to issues relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion, let us remember our humanity. The work we are doing is not about dividing people into an equity “naughty or nice” list; rather, it is about changing the systems that produce adverse outcomes for people.

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable.

Anyone who has decided to get in shape, lose weight, gain lean muscle, learn how to swim, or learn a new language understands this axiom. The transformation of institutional systems and people will require no less energy. As with losing weight or learning a new language or doing anything that requires making a fundamental change in a way of being, it is not comfortable, and it is not easy. And that is OK! My invitation is that we do not look for a quick fix through a “one and done” training program. Let us be clear about what it is we are undertaking. We are fundamentally seeking to change 400 years of an overarching global mindset that has placed white males and white people as the undisputed rulers of every major institution in Western society. Creating a truly inclusive society that actively embraces and affirms every human being on the planet is not going to be easy or comfortable. And that is OK! Throughout history, humans have risen to the occasion to achieve monumental and world-changing accomplishments. In the words of Winston Churchill, we have nothing to fear but fear itself.

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

This Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint.

The old prescription of “take two compliance trainings, get some rest and call me in the morning” will not cure what is currently ailing us. This is not about a check-the-box training, take an assessment and return to your regularly scheduled work program. This is transformation work, and transformation work takes time. Lots of time. My invitation to everyone is that we all develop a great deal of patience and persistence to see this work through until we have achieved our aspirational objectives. We are all standing at a powerful crossroads in human history. We have been in powerful crossroads before and we have risen to the occasion. I am quite confident that we can and WILL do it again. But we cannot be successful if we are divided, feudal, fearful, or xenophobic in our worldview. Our success lies in being thoughtful, sober, and optimistic as we begin to methodically address systems of inequity and replace them with systems and ways of being that acknowledge and bring us together. I, for one, am ready for this challenge.

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TAKE ACTION

2020 STATE LEGISLATIVE YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

The 2019-2020 California Legislative Session was one for the history books. Facing a pandemic and catastrophic wildfires, State Legislators navigated uncharted waters. They were forced to repeatedly reschedule hearings and deadlines and eventually change legislative rules to allow remote voting. As a result of these challenges, the State Legislature passed just 405 of the bills introduced in 2020. That’s less than one-third of the 1,564 bills the Legislature sent the Governor during the second year of the last two-year legislative session in 2018. Despite the reduced number of bills approved by the Legislature, they nonetheless introduced nearly 2,400 of them with hundreds affecting the operations and finances of special districts. A few highlights from 2020’s advocacy efforts include:

• Blocked costly two-year e-mail retention mandate (AB 2093) • Sponsored reinstatement of short-term district loan option (AB 2107) • Secured special district eligibility for $50 million fund to prepare for public safety power shutoffs (SB 74) • Prevented property tax postponement executive order and covid-19 property value reassessment (SB 1431) • Stopped new board agenda mandate (SB 931) • Protected development impact fee revenues (10+ bills) • Secured amendment to allow business to business exemption from ab 5 for districts using independent contractors (AB 2257) • Defeated effort to eviscerate association-related resources for public agencies (AB 315) A major factor in CSDA’s advocacy success is the grassroots participation of local special district leaders who contact their legislators to communicate the real-life impact proposed legislation would have on the communities that special districts serve. This year, CSDA averaged 240 district position letters in response to each formal Call-to-Action.

CSDA ACTIVITY DURING 2019 - 2020 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION • 5,423 Bills Reviewed • 1,456 Bills Actively Tracked • 252 Bills Directly Lobbied – 130 Bills Supported – 122 Bills Opposed

TAKE ACTION SEASONS OF ADVOCACY: FALL • Virtual District Tours: Invite your legislators to a “virtual tour” of your district. Use Zoom or another platform that allows you to connect with your legislators and offer a better understanding of your district. Keep the tour visual and interactive, preferably with live or prerecorded video. And, be sure to keep it short—nothing longer than 60 minutes. • Virtual Legislative Events: Investigate what virtual events your legislators may be hosting and show up. Be sure to ask a question or chat a compliment on behalf of your district. Follow up with a handwritten “thank you” that includes your business card to ensure the legislator recognizes your attendance. • Social Media: Watch for opportunities to share positive stories in the news and on social media. With so few chances to connect with the public and your legislators in-person, social media is more valuable than ever.

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

Federal COVID-19 Relief Advocacy Continues

This year, with ongoing COVID-19 relief negotiations, an economic downturn, and a Presidential election, Fall 2020 is shaping up to be both dramatic and momentous, with significant implications on special districts’ advocacy for federal funding. CSDA is committed to continue building on its recent success securing introduction of S. 4308 and H.R. 7073, the Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act. During August recess, CSDA along with its National Special District Coalition partners communicated with key legislative offices on Capitol Hill and developed a support coalition of more than 75 special districts stakeholder organizations across the country. To date, CSDA has helped generate 333 letters of support from California special districts requesting federal COVID-19 relief. This has helped to secure cosponsorship of the Special Districts Provide Essential

Volume 15 • Issue 5

Take Action brochure Designed to equip district leaders for grassroots advocacy and public outreach. Request copies from the CSDA office or when speaking with your public affairs field coordinator.

Services Act from both of California’s U.S. Senators and 23 members of the California Congressional Delegation. Has your district sent a letter to Congress in support of the Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act? Visit csda.net/take-action to download CSDA’s letters to Congress and our most up-to-date sample letter for your district to send your representatives within the California Congressional Delegation.

MANAGING RISK

PREVENTING CYBERCRIME By Debbie Yokota, ARM, Chief Risk Officer, SDRMA

What is cybercrime? Cybercrime is a hazard against different organizations and people whose computers are connected to the internet and particularly mobile technology. Cybercrime basically is defined as any criminal activity that occurs over the internet. 34

In a technically driven society, people use various devices to make life simple. The increasing access to and continuous use of technology has radically impacted the way people communicate and conduct their daily lives. Nevertheless, the internet and computer can pose threats which can negatively impact civilization. Cybercrime is a hazard against different organizations and people whose computers are connected to the internet and particularly mobile technology. Cybercrime basically is defined as any criminal activity that occurs over the internet. There are many examples; such as fraud, malware such as viruses, identity theft and cyber stalking. Earlier, cybercrime was committed mainly by individuals or small groups. Today, criminals that indulge in cybercrimes are not motivated by ego or expertise. Instead they want to use their knowledge to gain profits promptly. Cybercrimes are broadly categorized into three groups, such as crime against: 1. Individual 2. Property 3. Government

INDIVIDUAL This type of cybercrime can be in the form of cyber stalking, trafficking and “grooming.” Law enforcement agencies are considering such cybercrime very serious and are joining forces worldwide to reach and arrest the offenders.

PROPERTY This type of cybercrime involves offenders stealing a person’s bank details to drain off

money; run a scam to get naïve people to part with their hard earned money; use malicious software to gain access to an organization’s website or disrupt the systems of the organization. The malicious software can also damage software and hardware, just as vandals damage property in the real world.

GOVERNMENT Crimes against a government agency are denoted as cyber terrorism. If criminals are successful, it can cause devastation and panic amongst the citizenry. In this class, criminals hack government websites, military websites or circulate propaganda. High-profile data breaches at companies California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

like Twitter and Marriott get a lot of media coverage, but cybercriminals are increasingly going after community groups, schools, small businesses, and municipal governments. Just in the midwest, hospitals, libraries, voter registration systems, and police departments have fallen victim to one type of digital hijacking or another. In today’s increasingly complicated environment, all companies need to know what to look for and how to handle cybercrime. Everyone should know the basics of how to protect themselves and the groups or organizations they are a part of. Here is a brief look at some of the cybersecurity best practices every public agency should be considering:

1. KEEP EVERYTHING UP TO DATE Many breaches, including the 2017 breach at the Equifax credit bureau that exposed the financial information of almost every American adult, boil down to someone leaving outof-date software running. Most major computer companies issue regular updates to protect against newly emerging vulnerabilities. Keep your software and operating systems updated. To make it easy, turn on automatic updates when possible. Also, be sure to install software to scan your system for viruses and malware to catch anything that might get through.

2. USE STRONG, UNIQUE PASSWORDS Remembering passwords, especially complicated ones, isn’t fun, which is why so much work is going into finding better alternatives. For the time being, though, it’s important to use unique passwords that are different for each site and not easyto-hack things like “123456” or “password.” Choose passwords that are at least 14 characters long. Consider starting with a

favorite sentence and then just using the first letter of each word. Add numbers, punctuation, or symbols for complexity if you want, but length is more important. Make sure to change any default passwords set in a factory, like those that come with your Wi-Fi router or home security devices. A password manager program can help you create and remember complex, secure passwords.

3. ENABLE MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION In many situations, websites are requiring users not only to provide a strong password but also to type in a separate code from an app, text message, or email message when logging in. It is an extra step, and it’s not perfect, but multifactor authentication makes it much harder for a hacker to break into your accounts. Whenever you have the option, enable multifactor authentication, particularly for crucial log-ins like bank and credit card accounts. You could also consider getting a physical digital key that can connect with your computer or smartphone as an even more advanced level of protection.

4. ENCRYPT AND BACK UP YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DATA If you can, encrypt the data that’s stored on your smartphone and computer. If a hacker copies your files, all he’ll get is gibberish, rather than, for instance, your address book and financial records. This often involves installing software or changing system settings. Some manufacturers do this without users even knowing, which helps improve everyone’s security. For data that’s crucial, like financial information, or irreplaceable, like family photos, it’s continued on page 36

SDRMA Board and Staff Officers

Staff

MIKE SCHEAFER, PRESIDENT Costa Mesa Sanitary District

LAURA S. GILL, ICMA-CM, ARM, ARM-P, CSDM, Chief Executive Officer C. PAUL FRYDENDAL, CPA, Chief Operating Officer ELLEN DOUGHTY, ARM, Chief Member Services Officer DEBBIE YOKOTA, AIC, ARM, Chief Risk Officer WENDY TUCKER, Member Services Manager ALANA LITTLE, Health Benefits Manager JENNIFER CHILTON, CPA, ARM, Finance Manager DANNY PENA, Senior Claims Examiner HEIDI SINGER, Claims Examiner II ALEXANDRA SANTOS, Health Benefits Specialist II ASHLEY FLORES, Management Analyst/Board Clerk TERESA GUILLEN, Member Services Specialist I MARGARITO CRUZ, Accountant

SANDY SEIFERT-RAFFELSON, VICE PRESIDENT, Herlong Public Utility District ROBERT SWAN, SECRETARY, Groveland Community Services District

Members of the Board DAVID ARANDA, CSDM JEAN BRACY, CSDM, Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District TIM UNRUH, CSDM, Kern County Cemetery District No. 1 JESSE CLAYPOOL, Honey Lake Valley Resource Conservation District

Consultants DAVID BECKER, CPA, James Marta & Company, LLP LAUREN BRANT, Public Financial Management DEREK BURKHALTER, Bickmore Actuarial CHARICE HUNTLEY, River City Bank FRANK ONO, ifish Group, Inc. ANN SIPRELLE, Best Best & Krieger, LLP KARL SNEARER, Apex Insurance Agency DOUG WOZNIAK, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Volume 15 • Issue 5

Special District Risk Management Authority 1112 I Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95814 tel: 800.537.7790 • www.sdrma.org

important to keep copies. These backups should ideally be duplicated as well, with one stored locally on an external hard drive only periodically connected to your primary computer, and one remote, such as in a cloud storage system.

Spotify music or video in the Netflix app—to make it more difficult for hackers, or even casual users, to spy on you. There is a wide range of free and paid VPN options

finance person asking for funds to be transmitted to a bank account. Verify all emails requesting funds be transferred or payments sent even if you recognize the sender.

6. BEFORE MAKING ANY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS VERIFY REQUEST

IN SHORT: BE CAUTIOUS, PROACTIVE, AND INFORMED

5. BE CAREFUL USING PUBLIC WI-FI

We are seeing more and more financially related cybercrime against public agencies. An email will be sent to an agency from a vendor partner requesting funds with new banking information. After the funds are transmitted, the public agency discovers the email was fraudulent and sent by an unknown party who copied an email from one of their vendor partners. Another ruse is to copy an email by an officer or other employee within the agency that is then sent to the

Of course, there is much more a person or organization can do to protect private data. Firewall software built into both Windows and Mac OS– or downloaded separately–can help stop viruses and worms from making their way into your systems. No person, organization, or computer can ever be 100% secure. Someone with the patience, money, and skill can break into even the most protected systems. But by taking these steps, you can make it less likely that you and your organization will be a victim.

When using public Wi-Fi, anyone nearby who is connected to the same network can listen in on what your computer is sending and receiving across the internet. You can use free browsers like Tor, which was originally developed to provide secure communications for the U.S. Navy, to encrypt your traffic and camouflage what you’re doing online. You can also use a virtual private network to encrypt all your internet traffic, in addition to what goes through your browser—like

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California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

DISTRICTS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

About Special Districts Educational brochure, video promotes understanding of special districts CSDA has released two tools aimed at a wide array of audiences to help raise awareness and understanding of what is dubbed the most local and specialized form of local government—special districts. They include a free downloadable 16-page educational brochure about special districts and a three-minute video entitled “Special Districts 101.” These publicly available tools bring alive the essential services provided by special districts, such as: fire protection, water, utilities, sanitation, parks and recreation, libraries, health services, and even mosquito abatement and cemeteries. They address how the public forms a special district, how it is funded and governed, and most importantly, the profound impact special districts make on the daily lives of every Californian. The new special districts brochure and video are concise, straight-forward resources aimed at anyone who

MAKE THE

Volume 15 • Issue 5

wishes to better understand their local government, from the teenager hearing of a special district for the first time in a civics class, to a resident. These are also useful tools for advocates, leadership in local government, and special districts who need help explaining these highlyspecialized, but often under-recognized, agencies in public forums or advocacy efforts. “California’s 2,000 special districts are local service specialists,” said CSDA Chief Executive Officer, Neil McCormick. “Special districts are community formed and community

Facebook Page Reaches 1,000+ Fans As a part of our effort to raise awareness, the Districts Make the Difference campaign’s social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter regularly share fresh, timely and often inspiring examples and stories of how special districts are continuing to serve the public with excellence—even in the face of significant challenges this year. Both Districts Make the Difference social media

owned to provide constituents with essential services on a daily basis. We developed these informational tools in an effort to promote transparency as well as educate and equip the public who ultimately oversee and govern the special districts serving their families and businesses.” The brochure and video are being released to local government partners’ associations, news media, online educational platforms, and providers who may reach youth, but typically get limited information about local government, especially special districts, in their civics curriculum. Additional videos will follow focusing on various aspects of special districts. School administrators, curriculum planners, and counselors may be particularly interested in a coming video that explores the wide range of satisfying public service professions that students can pursue in the special districts world: scientists, engineers, health care providers, technology experts, librarians, biologists, hydrologists and physical education specialists are just a short list of the experts sought by special districts that offer stable, satisfying careers. These resource materials and more can be found at csda.net/learn-about.

accounts are attracting new fans and followers from all across California, and on August 27, the Facebook page reached a total of 1,000 fans. By continuing to spread the word about the special districts, the public outreach campaign aims to inspire civic engagement at the local level and bolster efforts to improve the quality of life in California communities for decades to come. Like Districts Make the Difference at facebook. com/yourcadistricts and follow us at twitter.com/ yourcadistricts. 37

MONEY MATTERS

www.centricabusinesssolutions.com

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING FOR SPECIAL DISTRICTS Leverage Energy Savings and Low Interest Rates to Implement Facility Improvements By Josh Steeber, Account Executive & John Gajan, Senior Director

Municipalities, special districts, and schools typically struggle to address deferred maintenance demands and improve the performance of their facilities in the face of rising operating costs and tight capital budgets. In light of these challenges, Energy Performance Contracting should be considered as a potential method that can help facility managers and financial stakeholders alike! Energy Performance Contracting is a method of delivery whereby a specialized and accredited contractor can develop and implement upgrades to facilities. These upgrades are focused on reducing your utility expenses – electricity, gas, and water – through the implementation of technological and equipment retrofits and/or control strategies. An Energy Services Contractor or Company (ESCO), accredited by the National Association of Energy Services Companies (NAESCO) will identify the various opportunities available throughout your district to replace and upgrade equipment – HVAC equipment, chillers, boilers, interior and exterior lighting, building control systems – to achieve performance improvements while lowering the monthly utility costs.

INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT – The process should follow a standard performance contracting approach, starting with an Investment Grade Audit of your buildings and facilities. During this phase, all the energy-using equipment will be surveyed and the collected data, along with utility billing records, will be used to validate and create a ‘baseline’ energy usage profile. Working off this baseline, options for system and equipment improvements are identified. A good audit will also incorporate the input from facility and maintenance staff as well as users and occupants to determine where the needs are most critical. The costs of implementing these improvements are developed using actuarial data, historical project cost information, and bids or quotes from equipment vendors and labor subcontractors.

California Special Districts • Sept-Oct 2020

FINANCING OPTIONS – Multiple

third-party financing options are available for public sector institutions. A well-structured project will generate annual operational savings in excess of the annual debt service on a financed project. This is one of the features of the Performance Contract approach that makes these types of projects attractive to the financial community as well as the facility owners. Municipal leases, certificates of participation, revenue bonds, and traditional loans are among the many options available for consideration for districts with solid credit ratings. Being able to fund a significant capital project without impacting the general fund or raising local taxes or user fees is one of the advantages of structuring a performance contract with third party financing.

TURNKEY DESIGN BUILD – Another

feature of this program is that the ESCO will take on sole responsibility for the design and construction of these improvements. In this manner, they are able to fast-track the process – as compared to a traditional design, bid, build methodology – and reduce the burden of managing multiple design, construction, and procurement contracts that your staff would otherwise be required to support.

GUARANTEEING YOUR INVESTMENT – Another aspect of a strong program is the ‘performance guarantee.’ This is an industry recognized methodology for demonstrating that, on an annual basis, the proposed utility savings are being achieved. This limits the risk to the district and ensures the

long-term viability of your project. A measurement-and-verification (M&V) plan will be developed by the ESCO to demonstrate how savings are calculated and verified on an annual basis. Each year, the district may receive a report demonstrating the performance of their systems and equipment as compared to the guaranteed savings. In summary, improving your facility’s infrastructure, achieving longer term sustainability, carbon reduction, or efficiency targets, all while reducing your annual operational costs can be achieved utilizing a Performance Contracting approach that requires no initial upfront capital outlay and puts singlesource responsibility on the Contractor to deliver guaranteed results.

CSDAFC Board and Staff Officers JO MACKENZIE, PRESIDENT, Vista Irrigation District PAUL HUGHES, VICE PRESIDENT, CSDM, South Tahoe Public Utilities District MATTHEW MCCUE, SECRETARY, Mission Springs Water District

Members of the Board GEORGE EMERSON, Goleta Sanitary District VINCE FERRANTE, Moss Landing Harbor District GLENN LAZOF, Regional Government Services Authority ARLENE SCHAFER, Costa Mesa Sanitary District

Recent Financings CSDA Finance Corporation provides financing solutions for a wide variety of facility improvements and equipment purchases, including solar installations, lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, and more.

Consultants RICK BRANDIS, Brandis Tallman, LLC STEFAN MORTON, Municipal Finance Corporation WILLIAM MORTON, Municipal Finance Corporation ALBERT REYES, Kutak Rock LLP SAUL ROSENBAUM, Prager & Co., LLC NICOLE TALLMAN, Brandis Tallman, LLC

Staff NEIL MCCORMICK, Chief Executive Officer AMBER PHELEN, Executive Assistant RICK WOOD, Finance & Administrative Director

CSDA Finance Corporation 1112 I Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 tel: 877.924.2732 • www.csdafinance.net

Heritage Ranch Community Services District Solar Project : $1,500,000 Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District Construction/Energy Conservation Improvements: $1,200,000 Delta Vector Control District Construction/Mosquito Fish Hatchery: $1,000,000 Bear Valley Community Services District Generator Purchase: $300,000

Call 877.924.2732 to learn more about our competitive rates, flexible terms, and personalized service.

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Volume 15 • Issue 5

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL

WATER EMERGENCY RESPONSE ORGANIZATION OF ORANGE COUNTY Tell us about the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County The Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC), administered by the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), supports and manages countywide emergency preparedness, planning, response, and recovery efforts among Orange County water and wastewater utilities. The program is supported by a group of Orange County water and wastewater agencies and is funded by the Cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana, MWDOC, the Orange County Sanitation District, Orange County Water District and the South Orange County Wastewater Authority. How did this organization come about? Created in 1983, WEROCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary mission was originally to coordinate and support preparedness activities 40

and provide mutual aid/assistance during an emergency. The concept was introduced even before the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) was created in California. Over the years, additional core functions were added to build a strong and resilient program supporting the member agencies during the response and recovery to a major emergency or disaster. What partnerships are involved and who benefits? WEROC has built a network of communications and partnerships not only with member agencies, but other organizations, such as County of Orange Emergency Management, Orange County Fire Authority, Cities, CalOES, CalWARN, California Public Utilities Commission, Independent Special Districts of Orange County, and Orange County Water Association to name a few. People at all levels starting with the community, local, state and at the federal level. California Special Districts â&#x20AC;˘ Sept-Oct 2020

METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (METROPOLITAN) DISTRICT SIZE: 37 MEMBER AGENCIES LOCATION: ORANGE COUNTY POPULATION: 3.2 MILLION WEBSITE: MWDOC.COM

When agencies collaborate, everyone benefits. WEROC advocates on behalf of member agencies with federal, state, and local partners representing their needs and concerns to influence positive changes to legislation, procedures, and operational capabilities. What is the focus of this project and what is the district’s involvement with it? To carry out its mission, WEROC provides essential resources, trainings, and exercises to member agencies and to coordinating partners throughout the county and state. The program takes an active role in engaging trained

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1983

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff and maintaining two EOC’s that are used to coordinate emergency response operations during large scale disasters. What is most rewarding about this project? The leadership and support at the executive and elected level from the Municipal Water District of Orange County and its member agencies, Orange County Sanitation District, Orange County Water District, South Orange County Wastewater Authority, City of Anaheim, City of Fullerton, City of Santa and WEROC’s signatory member agencies validates the importance of the WEROC program and its day-to-day role and emergencies activities.

SPECIAL DISTRICTS HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS Over the years, I have developed a niche market, providing advisory services and customizing investment management strategies for over 36 special districts in California. At Stifel, we have established ourselves as one of the nation’s leading wealth management and investment banking firms. With more than 400 offices across the nation, our philosophy on investing is grounded on a 130-year-old tradition of trust, understanding, and solid, studied advice. Established in 1890, our company provides a comprehensive portfolio of financial services designed to address the varied needs of a broad range of investors. We believe in strong individual relationships that stand the test of time.

Volume 15 • Issue 5

The people in this industry are so dedicated in supporting the community and being able to provide safe drinking water and maintain wastewater services. The water and wastewater workers are usually not thought about during a disaster, but they maintain such a vital and critical infrastructure that without it, the cascading effects would be felt by everyone. Can other districts embark on similar efforts? Absolutely, it’s based on the mindset that this program is a system and an organization with a specific mission built to benefit all of its member agencies.

Sandra H. Wheeler Vice President/Investments

(805) 903-1065 (877) 816-1231 toll-free sandra.wheeler@stifel.com 999 Monterey Street, Suite 360 San Luis Obispo, California 93401

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SPECIAL DISTRICT RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Navigate the unexpected with a constellation of expertise. For over 30 years, SDRMA has been helping California public agencies manage risk and navigate liability with confidence. In fact, our experienced consultants and technical experts work exclusively with public agencies. All your coverage and risk management needs are met by a single resource that functions as an extension of your team. We vigilantly monitor the conditions ahead so you can focus on what you do best. Learn more about our Workers’ Compensation, Property/Liability and Health Benefits Programs at www.sdrma.org or 800.537.7790.

Volume 15 • Issue 1

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