2023 FDAC Annual Conference Program

Welcome my fellow FDAC members and supporters!

We are happy present our 2023 FDAC Annual Conference, a place to gather, network, and most importantly share and gain knowledge. Thank you for attending and participating. The FDAC Education Committee and staff have worked very hard to put together this comprehensive and dynamic program. Please make sure you provide feedback after each session so we may better serve your needs in the future. We are happy to see familiar faces and new ones too.

Make sure to visit and talk with our exhibitor and sponsors as we could not provide this high level of training without their support.

Enjoy the conference!

Chief Jim Comisky, Ret.

President FDAC

Education Committee Members

Ret. Chief Steven Hall, Education Committee Chair

Ret. Chief Jim Comisky, FDAC President

Chief Walter White, FDAC Zone Director

Chief Don Butz, FDAC Zone Director

Chief Kirk Noffsinger, FDAC At – Large Director

Ret. Chief Steve Kovacs, FDAC Immediate Past President

Chief Sean Grinnell, Education Committee Member

Thank you to our Industry Partners!

FDAC 2023 Annual Conference Schedule at a Glance

Pre-Conference – Tuesday, March 14, 2023

9:00 AM – 11:30 AM FDAC Quarterly Board Meeting

11:00 AM – 4:30 PM Registration Open

PM – 3:00 PM Exhibitor Set – Up

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM The Ethical and Transparent Fire District: Ethics in Public Service

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Break

2:45 PM – 4:45 PM Preventing Workplace Harassment, Discrimination

Mt./ Stag’s Leap and Retaliation in Fire Districts

Conference Day 1 – Wednesday, March 15, 2023

7:45 AM – 8:30 AM Breakfast sponsored by GSRMA

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM Welcome to the 2023 FDAC Annual Conference

Opening Ceremonies by the Napa Fire Color Guard

Welcome from Napa Mayor Ret. Captain Scott Sedgley and FDAC President Chief Jim Comisky, Ret.

8:45 AM - 10:00 AM 21st Century Fire Service DEI & B

Dr. Reginald Freeman, Oakland Fire Chief

AM – 10:15 AM Coffee Break sponsored by PARS

AM - 11:40 AM California State Fire Officials

11:40 AM – 12:00 PM Industry Product and Services Updates

Ballroom

Foyer 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

PM – 1:00 PM Lunch sponsored by Ridgeline

Concurrent Sessions

From the Outside In: The Role of a Fire Chief Carneros/Mt. Veeder

Building a Balanced Cash Management Program: Stable and Howell Mt./Stag’s Leap

Variable Net Asset Value Investment Pools

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Dessert Break sponsored by Holman Capitol

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Concurrent Sessions

Anatomy of an Annexation Carneros/Mt. Veeder

Inside FIRESCOPE and the Fire & Rescue Mutual Aid System Howell Mt./Stag’s Leap 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Sponsored Reception

Ballroom

FDAC 2023 Annual Conference Schedule at a Glance

Conference Day 3 – Friday, March 17, 2023

Session Details & Descriptions

Pre-Conference – Tuesday, March 14, 2023

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM THE ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENT FIRE DISTRICT: ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE

California law requires periodic ethics training for each elected official, member of a legislative body, and any employees who may be so designated by their agency. This training will satisfy the state’s legal requirements and will teach you what you need to know to ensure you and your district are operating fairly, ethically, and transparently in accordance with California ethics laws.

Speaker

Moderator

Erin Kunze, Associate Chief Steve Leighton

Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

2:45 PM – 4:45 PM

North Tahoe Fire Protection District

PREVENTING WORKPLACE HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION

The training and education provided in this workshop includes defining harassment, discrimination, and retaliation – and how it differs from “abusive conduct.” It affords participants a forum for discussing how these terms specifically apply to fire district employees. The workshop also covers the types of responses to claims that are necessary, and strategies to prevent harassment in the workplace. The focus of the workshop is practical guidance and includes discussions of common situations and examples.

Speaker

Moderator

Tony Carvalho, Associate Chief Jeff Gilbert

Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Conference Day 1 – Wednesday, March 15, 2023

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM Welcome and Opening Ceremonies

Williams Fire Protection District

8:45 AM – 10:00 AM OPENING KEYNOTE – 21ST CENTURY FIRE SERVICE

DEI & B

For the first time in history, there are 5 generations in the workplace. The various and competing interests of the generations can pose a significant challenge to any organization or person in a position of authority who is not prepared to proactively lead and manage. Fire service members have historically been reflective of overall societal needs and demands that mirror their respective communities. Before organizations can pursue and celebrate diversity and members enjoy an equitable environment that is inclusive and gives everyone a sense of belonging, there must be a culture that addresses psychosocial hazards. Diversity is a fact, equity is intentional, inclusiveness is an act and belonging is a feeling.

Speaker

Moderator

Dr. Reginal Freeman, Fire Chief Chief Jim Comisky, ret. City of Oakland South Lake County Fire Protection District

10:15 AM – 11:40 PM CALIFORNIA STATE FIRE OFFICIALS

11:40 AM – 12:00 PM INDUSTRY PRODUCT AND SERVICES UPDATES

Session Details & Descriptions

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

FROM THE OUTSIDE IN: THE ROLE OF A FIRE CHIEF

This session is intended for anyone who moves into the role of Fire Chief from outside of an organization. It examines reframing organizational culture through four specific lenses: Structural, Human Resources, Political and Symbolic. Furthermore, it discusses the three main leverages for creating organizational renewal: Leadership, Structure and Policies.

Speakers

Chief Walter White

Amador Fire Protection District

Chief Dan Haverty

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District

Moderator

Chief Sean Grinnell

Sonoma County Fire Protection District

A BALANCED CASH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: STABLE & VARIABLE NET ASSET VALUE INVESTMENT POOLS

BUILDING

Joint Powers Authority investment pools are meaningful complements to the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) when it comes to the prudent stewardship, knowledgeable management, and diversified investing of your District's cash. In this session, representatives of California CLASS will cover stable and variable Net Asset Value investment pools, both of which are permitted investments for California fire districts.

Speaker s

Brent Turner, Regional Director of Strategy

California CLASS

Bob Shull, Director California CLASS

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Sessions

ANATOMY OF AN ANNEXATION

Moderator

Chief Don Butz

Lakeside Fire Protection District

This session will identify and explore the relationships and steps necessary for a successful Annexation, Consolidation or reorganization including but not limited to finances, politics, labor relations and LAFCO requirements.

Speaker s

Kurt Latipow, Vice President Emeritus

AP Triton LLC

Deputy Chief Brian Helmick

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

Chief Lewis Broschard

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

Lou Ann Texeira, Executive Officer

Contra Costa LAFCO

INSIDE FIRESCOPE AND THE FIRE & RESCUE MUTUAL AID SYSTEM

Moderator

Chief Chris Tubbs

Southern Marin Fire District

Mill Valley Fire Department

District Fire Chiefs review the FIRESCOPE program and the Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System with first-hand knowledge as related to Fire Districts participation within both programs.

Speaker s

Chief Eric Walder

Waterloo Morada Fire Protection District

Chief Maurice Johnson

El Dorado Hills Fire Department

Moderator

Chief Steve Kovacs, ret.

Murphys Fire Protection District

Session Details & Descriptions

Conference Day 2 – Thursday, March 16, 2023

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM FDAC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND ELECTIONS

This session will also include program updates from FAIRA, FASIS, FDAC EBA, and FireRescue GPO.

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE,

CARE COURT AND THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS

This session will address the potential impact of Care Court, but it will also focus on the existing role of community paramedicine in the fire service and the broader challenges first responders face with the homelessness crisis across the state.

Speaker

Brian Rice, President

Moderator

Chief Jeff Willis

California Professional Fire Fighters Big Bear Fire Protection District

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM FIRE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRENDS & BEST PRACTICES

This session will discuss a nationwide 3-year behavioral health study regarding the challenges facing today’s firefighter/EMS professionals and the best practices to meet our first responder community’s growing needs.

Speaker

James Hyde

Author & Executive Coach

Susan Feenstra

Teacher, First Responder Peer Support

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM AN EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

Moderator

Chief Walter White

Amador Fire Protection District

TEAM: THE CHIEF AND BOARD WORKING TOGETHER

During this presentation, participants will have an opportunity to hear about chief officers and the organization's governing board working together to ensure an effective leadership team that serves the organization's patrons despite the unique perspectives and responsibilities of the two components.  Participants will hear symptoms that ultimately can sometimes be attributed to an ineffective leadership team. Participants will review the leadership team expectations and responsibilities of individual board members since sometimes an ineffective leadership team can be traced back to an individual or a small group of board members.  Participants will also review the leadership team expectations and responsibilities of a chief officer or small group of chief officers. And finally, participants will learn techniques to prevent and unfortunately deal with rogue board members and chief officers.

Speaker

Monte Olsen, Executive Director Locum

NAEFO

1:45 PM – 3:15 PM Concurrent Sessions

LONG TERM FIRE DISTRICT FUNDING

Moderator

Chief Steve Hall, ret.

Central Fire Protection District

This session will be a panel discussion regarding “filling of the funding hole” left in local government fire since the forming of ERAF. The focus will be on how districts can be made whole again through a steady stream of funding from the State. There will be time for Q & A with the panelists.

Panelists

Chief Richard Pearce, Tiburon Fire Protection District

Chief Chris Tubbs, Southern Marin/Mill Valley Fire Protection District

Chief Jim Comisky, ret., South Lake County Fire Protection District

Chief Eric Walder, Waterloo Morada Fire Protection District

Chief Jeff Meston, ret., Executive Director, California Fire Chiefs Association

Moderator

Chief Tim Henry, North Central Fire Protection District

Session Details & Descriptions

FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR FIRE DISTRICTS

This session will describe how to evaluate operating/capital needs, service delivery options, creating a vision for the future, and how to incorporate these concepts into a financial plan to assure long-term financial viability. The plan sets the stage for board policy, budgeting, pursuing revenue generating options, and community outreach.

Speaker

Cathy Dominico, Managing Partner, Capitol PFG

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Concurrent Sessions

CALIFORNIA FIRE DISTRICTS LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

Moderator

Chief Kyle Heggstrom, Linda Fire Protection District

This session will discuss the most critical court decisions and laws impacting fire agencies in the past year, including an analysis of the newest statutes and court opinions and how these new developments impact your agency. We will also provide practical tips for your agency to ensure compliance.

Speaker

Nathan Jackson, Associate

Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Moderator

Deputy Chief Brian Helmick

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

ACHIEVING COMMUNITY LEVEL WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION THROUGH ALIGNMENT

This 90-minute session will provide attendees with a detailed panel presentation and discussion addressing current efforts to align science based WUI loss reduction efforts at both the parcel and landscape level across key stakeholders to include communities, the insurance industry, and government.

Panelists Moderator

Chief Frank Frievalt, Western Fire Chiefs Association

Chief David Winnacker, Moraga-Orinda Fire District

Nancy Watkins, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman

Chief Daniel Berlant, CalFire Acting State Fire Marshal

Mike Peterson, California Department of Insurance

Steve Hawks, Director of Wildfire Policy

Conference Day 3 Friday, March 17, 2023

Chief Eric Walder, Waterloo Morada Fire Protection District

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM FDAC LEGISLATIVE & PP-GEMT UPDATE

This session will touch on early trends being seen and tracked by the Cal Chiefs and FDAC Joint Legislative Task Force for the 2023 – 2024 California legislative term as well as provide an update regarding the PP- GEMT program.

Speaker Moderator

Russ Noack, Public Policy Advocates

Julee Malinowski-Ball, Public Policy Advocates

Deputy Chief Ted Peterson, Southern Marin Fire Protection District, Mill Valley Fire Department

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM GENERATIONAL WORKFORCE

Chief Richard Pearce, Tiburon Fire Protection District

IN THE FIRE SERVICE

Today, there are at least four distinct generations in the workforce. These generations range from the Baby Boomers to the Gen Z or Zeds. Each generation brings special attributes to the job, but they also bring challenges when there are intrinsic clashes in values and beliefs of what is important and what is not. Fire service leaders must recognize and navigate distinct differences in core values, methods of communication, and work ethic. This session will address these differences and suggest a path forward where leaders seek to identify the best qualities in each individual and how each generation can learn from the next.

Speaker Moderator

Chief Tonya Hoover, Deputy Fire Administrator

United States Fire Administration

Chief Eric Walder

Waterloo Morada Fire Protection District