California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) staff members presented risk management and new legislation to municipal agencies and industry professionals at the 2022 Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) and California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) Annual Conferences.
MMASC encourages local government professionals across Southern California to advance professional development through learning and connecting. This year’s MMASC Annual Conference took place in Rancho Mirage from November 2–4.
Senior Risk Manager Melaina Francis moderated a session titled “A Formula for Ending Homelessness: Addressing Short-Term Needs and Long-Term Goals” at the annual conference. The session included a panel of successful homelessness reduction strategists, including Hafsa Kaka, director of homelessness strategies and solutions for the City of San Diego; Sylvia Solis Daniels, housing program manager for the City of Vista; and Matt Bates, executive vice president of City Net. The panel shared how to manage and mitigate homelessness through actionable steps that will cultivate partnerships and prevent relapse.
CALPELRA develops resources, training, and educational events to help public sector employees better serve their communities. This year’s annual conference took place in Monterey from November 15–18, and Employment Practices Manager Kelly Trainer Policky led two presentations as part of the “Learning a New Playlist” program.
In her first session, she and Katy Suttorp of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, presented “Clearing the Air: What’s Happening with Cannabis in the Workplace Now and Where the Winds Might Blow.” Policky and Suttorp tackled questions employers face as the legal landscape around the lawful uses of cannabis continues to evolve and shift, discussed current and anticipated cannabis-related laws, and suggested how public agency workplaces can prepare for these changes. She followed with a presentation, “The Not-So-Greatest Hits: Top Ten Mistakes Employers Make in Preventing and Responding to Harassment,” where she shared best practices to improve agencies’ prevention of and response to workplace harassment.
“Sharing insights and best practices amongst industry peers and professionals reinforces our commitment to helping our members manage risk,” said Chief Executive Officer Jon Shull. “We are grateful for the opportunity to attend and present at both MMASC and CALPELRA annual conferences this year.”
Providing innovative risk management solutions for its public agency partners for more than 40 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) is one of the largest municipal self-insurance pools in the state, with more than 120 member cities and other governmental agencies. Members actively participate in shaping the organization to provide important coverage for their operations. The California JPIA provides innovative risk management solutions through a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services, including liability, workers’ compensation, pollution, property, and earthquake coverage, as well as extensive training and loss control services. For more information, please visit the California JPIA’s website at cjpia.org.
