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Dear Friends of ILG,
As summer begins to wind down, many of us are taking one last deep breath before the busy fall season is upon us. For our local leaders the months ahead bring full calendars, important conversations, and critical decisions. Conference season offers opportunities to learn from peers, discover new solutions, and strengthen the partnerships that help our communities thrive. At the same time, election season reminds us of the vital role public servants play in maintaining trust, transparency, and continuity through times of change.
At ILG, we remain committed to helping prepare and support our local partners through these times of growth and transition. As you will read below, we are expanding our leadership and governance team and customized offerings. If your agency needs help navigating decorum or civility in your public meetings, strategic planning and goal setting conversations, governance refreshers, updates to policy handbooks, or support preparing for onboarding new council and board members - we are here to help!
This customized approach also translates to our educational offerings. In response to what we are hearing from all of you, we are planning webinars on financial management and revenues, disaster resilience, workforce retention strategies, and more.
Public meeting management is also certainly a prominent theme among local agencies right now, and we’ll be hosting a few related sessions at upcoming conferences on Leading Productive and Respectful City Council Meetings, Managing AI in Public Engagement, and Hosting Inclusive Public Meetings. These topics complement our recent webinar on the updated SB707 requirements for Brown Act meetings. Our on-demand webinars and conference session details are below. Stay tuned for registration details for the upcoming webinars as well as a variety of new and updated resources across all four pillars of our work.
We look forward to connecting with many of you in the coming weeks—whether at conferences, in your communities, or virtually through our webinars and trainings. We remain committed to supporting local government leaders with the resources, insights, and partnerships you need to navigate the busy months ahead.
With appreciation,
Erica L. Manuel
CEO & Executive Director
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Meet ILG's Leadership & Governance Consulting Team
Our 2026 Priorities Survey reinforced what we hear every day from local officials and staff: leadership development, effective governance, effective public meetings, and role clarity remain among California's most pressing needs. In an effort to meet those growing needs, ILG has expanded our team to meet local agencies where they are and provide customized trainings and workshops, coaching, and conscious counsel on topics including:
- Effective Councils and Boards
- Goal Setting/Strategic Planning
- Civility in Public Meetings
- Governance Tools: Policy Handbooks and Codes of Conduct, Ethics and/or Civility Policies
- Building Trust through Public Engagement
- Team Building
- Communicating for Success
Learn more about our expanded team and contact us for more information about the customized services we offer.
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Daniel Chatigny
County Executive Officer, Placer County
Daniel Chatigny brings more than 25 years of public sector leadership in finance,
administration, and county government to the ILG Board. Currently serving as County
Executive Officer for Placer County, he began his tenure with the county in 2019 as Finance and Budget Operations Manager, where he helped strengthen the county's long-term fiscal health by developing robust budget processes that supported a healthy 17% general reserve and the development of balanced budgets over four consecutive cycles. He was promoted to Deputy CEO in 2022, Assistant CEO in 2024, and appointed County Executive Officer later that year.
Prior to joining Placer County, Chatigny served as Chief Fiscal Administrative Officer for Nevada County's Community Development Agency. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in
Government from Sacramento State University and an Executive Master of Public
Administration from Golden Gate University. An active member of the California Association of County Executives (CACE), he is committed to fiscal stewardship, operational excellence, and collaborative leadership. His experience reflects the broad range of expertise represented on the ILG Board, which includes city, county, and special district leaders, both elected and appointed officials, as well as active and retired public servants working together to strengthen local governments across California.
| | WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS | | |
Ann Marie Gallant
We are pleased to welcome Ann Marie Gallant to the ILG Board. A seasoned local government executive, Gallant has served as City Manager for several California cities, including Alameda, where she led the organization through significant financial and operational challenges during the Great Recession. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles with the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, helping lead the transformation of Hollywood, and with the cities of Carson and San Jose, overseeing major public works and infrastructure initiatives totaling more than $350 million.
Today, Gallant serves as Director of Emergency Operations for the Diocese of San Bernardino/Riverside, coordinating disaster preparedness and response for more than 100 parishes and schools. She also advises public agencies on leadership, organizational strategy, finance, and career development. Gallant holds a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Arts in American History from the University of California, Irvine. Her experience leading organizations through complex challenges and change brings valuable insight to ILG's work supporting resilient, well-governed communities throughout California.
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Carlos A. Urritia
ILG welcomes Dr. Carlos Urrutia to the Board. A local government executive with more than 40 years of experience, Dr. Urrutia served for 26 years as City Manager of Rocklin, where he guided the city’s transformation from approximately 8,000 to nearly 65,000 residents. In this role, he oversaw major infrastructure development, annexations, redevelopment programs, and economic development initiatives, while also leading the Rocklin Redevelopment Agency and Public Finance Authority. He previously served as City Manager of Soledad and held administrative roles in other California municipalities.
Beyond his city management career, Dr. Urrutia has taught municipal finance and public management at the University of Southern California and other institutions, and has consulted on governance and finance projects in Mexico, Colombia, and Central America. He currently advises public and private clients on municipal finance, land development, and infrastructure, including strategic work with Citrus Heights Water District and Monterey County.
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R. Michael Kasperzak, Jr.
We are pleased to welcome Mike Kasperzak back to the ILG Board after a six-year hiatus. A respected leader in California local government, Kasperzak served on the Mountain View City Council for eight years, including two terms as Mayor, and was President of the League of California Cities in 2012. He also previously served on the ILG Board, bringing valuable institutional knowledge and a longstanding commitment to advancing effective local governance.
His public service extends beyond city government, with leadership roles on the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, Valley Transportation Authority, Santa Clara Valley Water District, and the National League of Cities Board of Directors. Professionally, Kasperzak is a public and government affairs consultant, former commercial mediator, and former defense trial attorney. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lewis & Clark College and a Juris Doctor from UC Hastings (now UC Law San Francisco). His Bay Area geography, coupled with decades of experience in local governance, public policy, and regional leadership will provide valuable perspective as ILG continues to help local officials build strong, effective, and trusted communities across California.
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Training: Rethink Your 2026 Public Meeting & Workshop Approach with ILG's Meeting Mastery Training
Wednesday and Thursday,
September 16-17, 2026
10AM – 3PM each day, via Zoom
Public engagement is often a crucial (and, sometimes, mandated) part of local government projects. As your agency implements its priorities for 2026, you are likely scheduling community meetings, workshops, committees, and focus groups.
But we know public meetings can be a challenge to plan and run. At ILG, we want to help make your 2026 public engagement efforts a positive and fruitful part of your projects. Our Meeting Mastery facilitation skills and meeting design training has been specifically designed and tailored to meet the needs of local government staff responsible for leading community engagement efforts.
With our training, you’ll be empowered to hold successful meetings that promote inclusive and constructive conversations that help foster a more connected and engaged community. Register today to save your spot!
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Webinars on Demand - Positioning Your Public Engagement for Success: How to Plan Effective Public Workshops
Did you miss our recent webinar on planning effective public workshops?
Don't worry, our on-demand webinar, "Positioning Your Public Engagement for Success: How to Plan Effective Public Workshops," is now available for you to watch at your convenience.
Planning a process to collect community input can be challenging, especially when you're aiming to create a space for less formal and less contentious dialogue. The key to success often lies in the design of the event itself. How you plan and host a workshop can significantly influence how the community feels about both the topic and the overall project.
In this recording, you’ll hear directly from local government leaders who have navigated these challenges successfully.
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Webinars on Demand - Expanding Public Access: SB 707's Updates to the Brown Act
Stay ahead of California's evolving public meeting requirements with our on-demand webinar.
If you couldn't join us live for "Expanding Public Access: SB 707's Updates to the Brown Act," the full recording is now available for you to watch at your convenience.
With the signing of SB 707 last October, California has ushered in a new era of modernized public meetings. This legislation directly addresses long-standing challenges—from limited remote access and accessibility gaps to persistent barriers for multilingual and underrepresented communities.
Our expert-led webinar breaks down exactly what these changes mean for your agency.
| | ILG FOUNDER & AFFILIATE UPDATES | | |
Registration Open for the 2026 League of California Cities
Annual Conference
September 23-25, 2026
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
The League of California Cities has announced that registration is open for the 2026 Annual Conference and Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center, Sept. 23-25! The conference will feature inspiring keynote speakers and presentations on key topics for local leaders, plus peer-to-peer sharing with fellow California city officials. The Expo Hall will be brimming with opportunities to engage with organizations that provide essential services to cities. Join Cal Cities as they celebrate new leadership across the organization and consider new policy in the member-driven General Assembly and Resolutions process.
ILG is excited to host two sessions at the conference “Bots, Bulk Comments, and the Brown Act: Managing AI in Public Engagement” and “When the Gavel Drops: Leading Productive and Respectful City Council Meetings” as well as facilitate the state mandated trainings on ethics and harassment prevention. Team ILG will also have a table in the Expo Hall where we look forward to connecting with city leaders from around the state.
Register today!
The Institute for Local Government is a State Bar of California minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) approved provider and certifies each activity meets the standards for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the total amount of 2 hours (general credits). Provider #13881.
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MMANC's Annual Conference: Navigating Change, Leading with Purpose
September 27-30, 2026
Tenaya at Yosemite
After years of navigating crisis after crisis, local government professionals deserve more than another conference. The MMANC Annual Conference can be that reset. Three days. No downtown distractions. Just you, your peers, and the space to step back, think clearly, and invest in yourself. Every session is built around one test: will the person in the seat walk away with something they can use on Monday morning? The Conference officially kicks off with the main session and keynote speaker on Monday, September 28th at 12:00 pm.
ILG is excited to host a session, “Beyond the Microphone: Inclusive Public Meetings” highlighting public engagement and meeting design strategies and practices. We hope to see you there!
Learn more and register here.
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MMASC 2026 Annual Conference: Built to Last. Resilient Communities. Courageous Leadership
October 28-30, 2026
Rancho Bernardo Inn
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive
San Diego, CA 92128
Registration is now open for MMASC’s Annual Conference! This year’s theme "Built to Last: Resilient Communities, Courageous Leadership" is grounded in the work that local leaders do every day, strengthening our communities and leading with courage through change. Additional information on sessions will be released soon!
Register here.
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Mountain View Cuts Noise and Cleans the Air
What if reducing neighborhood noise could also cut air pollution, protect worker health, and open new economic opportunities?
The City of Mountain View is proving that smart, equitable climate action can deliver all these benefits at once. In a recent Western City Magazine article written by ILG's Nikita Sinha, you can read how the city partnered with the Day Worker Center to help local landscapers transition from gas-powered to zero-emission electric equipment—addressing environmental goals while supporting some of the community's most vulnerable residents.
Mountain View's efforts earned a Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award from ILG in 2025, recognizing its innovative approach to sustainability and community engagement.
Read the full article here.
| | ILG PARTNER NEWS, UPDATES & EVENTS | | |
Stay Current with These Public Agency Compliance Trainings
BBK provides practical, engaging compliance trainings designed to help California public
agencies meet mandatory training requirements while promoting transparency, accountability,
and effective governance. Their training offerings include:
- Ethics Training (AB 1234/2158 & SB 872): Fulfills California's mandatory ethics training requirements for local officials, board members, and designated employees, covering conflicts of interest, gift laws, financial disclosures, the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and ethical decision-making.
- SB 827 Fiscal Oversight Training: Offered in partnership with Regional Government Services (RGS), this training satisfies California’s fiscal oversight requirements and covers budgeting, financial oversight, internal controls, capital planning, investments, procurement, pensions, and risk management.
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (1-Hour & 2-Hour): Complies with California’s harassment prevention training requirements for both supervisory (2-hour) and non-supervisory (1-hour) employees, with practical guidance on preventing harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and fostering a respectful workplace.
All trainings are available in live virtual, in-person, and on-demand formats, making it easy for agencies to meet compliance requirements in the format that best fits their needs. Find out more on BBK’s Learning Hub.
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Wearable Technology in the Workplace
Wearable technology, such as Meta Glasses, is a recent trend that require employers to contemplate new privacy concerns for their employees.
RWG attorney Katherine Read's piece on the legal implications of wearable technology in the workplace has been published in the July/August issue of Municipal Lawyer. Read the full article here.
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