Municipal Group Planning In-Person Conference in Fall

After more than a year of virtual meetings and conferences, leaders of a California cities’ technology association are tentatively planning an in-person fall conference.

The Municipal Information Systems Association of California’s board of directors decided last week — in a virtual meeting — that it will optimistically move forward with plans for the annual conference, scheduled for Sept. 26-29 at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, according to MISAC Executive Director Brad Walker.

“Much of the final decision about moving forward with an in-person conference depends upon where everything stands around the end of June — especially what the hotel sees in their crystal ball,” Walker told Techwire on Monday.

The MISAC board president, Roseville Chief Information Officer Hong Sae, told Techwire that assuming the in-person event goes forward, all appropriate precautions will be taken.

“The MISAC board of directors is fairly confident that by the end of September, when the annual conference is scheduled, both Riverside County and the state of California will once again be open for business,” Sae said. “We recognize and are cognizant of the fact that precautions may still be required, or at least be highly recommended. We will do everything we can to make sure all attendees are kept as safe as feasibly possible in a comfortable setting, and to make sure the event will be filled with innovative and digitally engaged agenda items.”

In a notice to MISAC members last week, Walker wrote: “Everyone on the board was cautiously optimistic that by the time the end of September rolls around, things will have made great strides towards returning to normal.”

Conference chairman Ed Miranda, IT manager for the city of Fremont and vice president of the MISAC state board, told board members last week that a “call for presentations” by members will be issued in the next couple of weeks.

And, of particular interest to tech industry vendors, Walker said: “Attendees can count on having 100 booths at the conference.”

Walker is working on the 2021-22 MISAC Strategic Partner program, which is the first step in nailing down how many exhibit booth spaces will be made available through the always-competitive exhibit booth lottery. Walker also reported that the MISAC staff was working on the online registration portal.

As for the conference agenda, Miranda said: “We will have 28 one-hour breakout session slots available to those interested in presenting. We have almost all of our keynoters and general session speakers nailed down already.”

More information about MISAC, its resources and the conference are available online.