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CAO FORUM 2009

The Local Government Management Association of British Columbia is pleased to announce the staging of the 2009 CAO Forum to be held at Harrison Hot Springs Resort from February 18-20, 2009. The CAO Forum is an annual opportunity for local government chief administrative officers to meet with their colleagues to discuss issues of mutual concern in a congenial atmosphere. The Forum will once again feature interactive two-way discussions with speakers on subjects of interest to local governments. The Forum will provide an excellent opportunity for frank and open dialogue between CAOs and these speakers. (Detailed

program description below). Regular CAO Forum activities will include the popular “nuts and bolts” session, where CAOs can informally discuss common problems and the solutions that are working for others. Cost: LGMA Members - $495 + GST, Non Members $595 + GST (Registration limited to CAO's) Full details on the program and registration information are available at http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/conference/cao2009.asp Deadline for booking hotel rooms at negotiated rate: January 14, 2009 Phone 1-800-663-2266 for reservations Group name LGMA- CAO Forum Main Hotel $125. West Wing . $145. West Tower $165 Further information on the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and directions on how to get there can be found at http://www.harrisonresort.com/ The LGMA gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Staples, McDannold, Stewart for the 2009 CAO Forum.

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2009 CAO FORUM FEBRUARY 18-20, 2009

Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Program Agenda

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009

7:00- 9:00 PM WELCOMING RECEPTION

Greetings from Isabell Hadford, President, Local Government Management Association

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2009

7:00 – 8:30 AM BREAKFAST

8:30–10:00 AM The renewal of the RCMP service contract with the Province

of British Columbia and its impact on local governments Guest Speaker: Murray Dinwoodie, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Surrey

The contract between the RCMP and the Provinces (including British Columbia and its local governments) will expire in 2012. A working group from BC has been struck to participate in the negotiation of the new policing agreement that may have wide-ranging impacts on communities of all sizes. This session will provide an update on the status of the negotiations with opportunities for delegates to provide input to BC’s local government member of the negotiating team.

10:00 – 10:15 AM BREAK

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10:15 – 11:30 AM “Fire and Rescue Services in British Columbia-A proposed model for the future” Speakers: David Stuart, CAO, District of North Vancouver and Becky Denlinger, BC Fire Commissioner.

Whether they be career or volunteer based, fire and rescue departments across the province protect the lives and property of British Columbians. A working group consisting of representatives of the various fire related professional associations (Chiefs, Firefighters, Prevention Officers, etc) has developed a series of wide ranging recommendations that will, if adopted by the Provincial Government and local governments, result in significant changes in the way fire/rescue services are coordinated and provided. As part of the consultation undertaken to develop these recommendations, LGMA representative David Stuart (CAO, District of North Vancouver) was invited by the working group to provide input. Working with an internal LGMA advisory committee of CAOs, David has brought forward comments to the working group on financial and implementation issues related to the proposed Fire Services Model.

This session will provide CAOs with an update on the status of

the proposal and the likely impacts on local governments. 11:30 AM–1:00 PM LUNCH

Guest Speaker: Guy Gensey, Acting Director Trade Initiatives, Ministry of Technology, Trade and Economic Development- An Update on TILMA and its impacts on local governments

The UBCM and the Minister of Technology, Trade, and Economic Development have signed an agreement with respect to TILMA and its application to local government, which will come into effect on April 1, 2009. Mr. Gensey will provide an overview of the agreement and what will be required to ensure its proper implementation.

1:00 PM-4:30 PM “Size Doesn’t Matter: How Local Governments Cope with

Huge Expectations” Co-hosted by the LGMA and University of Victoria School of Public Administration Alumni Association.

Many local government practitioners are feeling challenged by what they see as ever-increasing expectations on the part of their Boards, Councils and citizenry to develop programs and provide services in areas which may arguably be considered to be outside the traditional “core services” of local government. For example, to address issues and challenges related to homelessness; affordable housing; “Healthy Communities” initiatives; global warming / climate change; arts and culture; regional policing and transportation, to name a few.

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These rising expectations have not necessarily been accompanied in all cases by new or increased sources of funding. What funding may be available is no longer in the form of unconditional revenue sharing grants. Rather, the grant funding tends to be conditional in nature requiring in many cases funding contributions from the local government, and rigorous accountability and reporting requirements. That, in itself, is a challenge for many local governments strictly in terms of securing the necessary resources to investigate, apply for, budget and administer these various grant funding opportunities.

These challenges raise many interesting questions in terms of the proverbial “downloading” debate. But they also raise potentially more serious issues with respect to whether these non-traditional activities are eroding resources and diverting attention from the essential local government core services, and exacerbating, for example, the well publicized “infrastructure deficit”. And are some of these issues and challenges simply beyond the capabilities of smaller municipalities to tangibly address without significant governance and fiscal restructuring?

Moderator: Gary Nason, CAO, District of Central Saanich Panel Speakers: Gaetan Royer, CAO District of Port Moody, Professors Jim McDavid and Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, Local Government Institute, University of Victoria School of Public Administration, Dale Wall, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Community Development, Bernie Magnan, Vancouver Board of Trade

6:00– 7:00 PM NO HOST RECEPTION 7:00 PM DINNER After Dinner Speaker: Kyle Hamilton

Olympic Gold Medalist

As Captain and stroke seat of the Canadian Men's Eight, three time World Champion Kyle Hamilton lead his team to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – Canada's first men's rowing gold in 16 years! Hamilton speaks on aspects of leadership, teamwork, and the small but significant moments which defined his Olympic experience. Audiences relive the experience of being an Olympic favourite, and the pressure and intensity of Captaining of one of Canada's top medal hopes and successes.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009

7:30 – 8:30 AM BREAKFAST and LGMA UPDATE

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8:30–10:00 AM Staff recruitment and retention strategies in the face of the impending boomer retirement tsunami. Speaker: Doris Bentley, Centrepoint Career Management

In an era of talent shortages, challenging economic times, and impending baby boomer retirements, how do you build a sustainable culture of engagement that attracts and retains the best people, fosters satisfaction, and drives high levels of productivity and commitment?

Combining years of research and experience, this session will detail the roles of three critical stakeholders and present core elements for building a truly successful recruitment and retention strategy. You will learn the vital messages and defined roles that must be shared with managers, employees, and senior leaders. Ways that you can reassure and cultivate top talent to keep them motivated and engaged will be explored. You’ll come away with practical and innovative steps to creating and sustaining a strategy that will give your organization the talent edge it needs to thrive in the years ahead.

10:00–10:30AM Break and hotel checkout

10:30–11:45 AM “NUTS AND BOLTS” SESSION

The ever popular session where CAOs can informally discuss common problems and the solutions that are working for them.

11:45 AM ADJOURN Note: Lunch on Friday is not included.

Getting to Harrison Hot Springs Resort

From Vancouver (90 minutes)

• Take the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1), on the south side of the Fraser River, to the Agassiz-Harrison turnoff (exit 135) east of Chilliwack (129 km, or 80 mi., from downtown Vancouver). Turn north on Highway 9 and follow the signs through the town of Agassiz for Highway 9 to Harrison Hot Springs.

• Take scenic Highway 7 along the north side of the Fraser • Scheduled daily bus service to Chilliwack

From the Interior of British Columbia

• Access from the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5), Hope/Princeton Highway (Hwy 3), or Fraser Canyon Highway (Hwy 1) via Hope then take Highway 7 along the north side or Highway 1 along the south side of the Fraser River. Take exit 135 and follow the signs for Harrison Hot Springs.