Mayor Lands and recently elected Councilmembers Marjorie Morgenstern and Brian Wheeler attended the League of California Cities ‘2023 New Mayors and Council Members Academy’ in our State Capital from January 18th- January 20th. Joined by Assistant City Manager Kevin Thompson and City Clerk Mike Maloney, our Cloverdale representatives participated in three days of educational seminars regarding the basic legal and practical framework in which city officials operate, including diversity, relationships between city council and city management, city planning, effective advocacy, financial responsibilities, legal obligations, open government, best practices and more. The attending councilmembers also had the opportunity to network and share ideas with other elected officials and city staff members from across the state. Here’s what they have to say about the experience:
“The best part of the conference was getting to know our new councilmembers, so that we can understand and respect each other as we make decisions for our community” - Mayor Lands
“I found the Academy in Sacramento to be highly informative. I particularly enjoyed the Do’s and Don’ts of Conducting a Public Meeting segment. It was a humorous segment while still being educational. I also enjoyed while in Sacramento getting to know the following people better: Mayor Todd Lands, Council Member Brian Wheeler, Assistant City Manager Kevin Thompson and City Clerk Michael Maloney.” - Councilmember Morgenstern
“I enjoyed the great networking opportunities, and meeting leaders in the League of California Cities network. However, the best take away was the presentation on fiduciary responsibilities, bid processes, and emphasis on good stewardship of public funds”. - Councilmember Wheeler
Overall, the conference was a success with three days of learning, connecting, and gaining tools for our Councilmembers to be effective city officials.
