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8.4. SR 01-03-1994 r I ~\ ( l! flk River ITEM 8.4. TO: FROM: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ,_ (\ LORI JOHNSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR~~ DATE: DECEMBER 27, 1993 SUBJECT: APPROVAL FOR ATTENDANCE OF NATIONAL GFOA CONFERENCE As you know, the 1994 budget includes funds for staff training and for department heads to attend a national conference. In the past, department heads have received Council approval prior to attending a national conference. In that regard, I would like to request authorization to attend the Government Finance Officers National Conference which will be held in Minneapolis on June 5-8. e Since the conference is to be held locally, the only expenses for attending will be the cost of registration, mileage, and very limited meal expenses. The registration cost is $250 if paid by January 28. The 1994 budget includes $1,500 for the national conference for the Finance Department. Since this is a one time opportunity for additional staff members to attend a national conference, I would like authorization to register Joan Frick, Senior Accounting Clerk, and Brenda Ebner, Accounting Clerk, for the conference. The cost of sending additional staff to the conference will be far under the amount budgeted for the national conference. Although the conference starts on Sunday, I would request that Joan and Brenda attend during normal working hours so no overtime pay would be necessary. In addition, someone from the Finance Department will be available at City Hall at all times. I have attached a preliminary list of some of the sessions that will be held at the conference. As you can see, there is a wide variety of topics to be covered, many of which would be beneficial to all finance staff. Since there is seldom training available that is applicable to finance staff, many finance directors are sending additional staff members to this conference. I have been working with the Minnesota GFOA on organizing this national conference and feel that it will be a very good conference. In summary, I am requesting approval to attend the National GFOA conference in Minneapolis and to also register Joan and Brenda. The early registration fee of $250 per person must be paid by January 28 or registration increases to $295 per person. e P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 PRELIMINARY TOPICS FOR CONFERENCE SESSIONS AND ROUNDTABLES GFOA's 88th Annual Conference June 5 - 8,1994 . Minneapolis, Minnesota e Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting Sessions: . Out with the old? - Developing a new financial re- porting model · New horizons for pension accounting . Accounting changes for proprietary funds . A new approach to contributions and subsidies . Who am I? - Practical guidance on defining the fi- nancial reporting entity . Introducing the 1994 GAAFR . Certificate program update . So you want to be an intemal auditor! . A preparer's guide to note disclosure . Choosing wisely - How to select accounting soft- ware e . GASB Update · New directions in Canadian governmental ac- counting · Managing fixed assets - Beyond financial report- ing . A changing profession for a changing world - Ac- counting in the 21 st century . Surviving the Cure. - Accounting for disasters . Insurance accounting - Practical guidance for governments and pools . State of the art - Governmental accounting at the state level . Service efforts and accomplishments - Where and when? . Cost accounting or costly accounting Roundtables: . Calculating and reporting arbitrage . Popular financial reporting . Obtaining the CAnFR . Applying for the Certicate of Achievement Budgeting and Financial Planning Sessions: . Using a popular budget to get the word out . Implementing program budgets: techniques. pit- falls and benefits . Enterprise fund transfers: how much is enough? . Cutting budgets without impeding performance · Restructuring government . Assessing your revenue potential . Streamlining the budget review process . Preparing an award-winning budget document . Integrating performance measurement into your budget Roundtables: · Tips for budget reviewers . Beyond cost-of-service: utility rates for the 90s . Selecting performance indicators Cash Management and Investing Sessions: Investment strategies for the 90s . An introduction to derivatives · Evaluating investments for bond and COP pro- ceeds . Selecting an outside investment manager . Economic update and outlook . Centralizing revenue collections . Internal controls for cash management . Security pricing in changing interest rate environ- ments . Privatizing the treasury function (over) Roundtables: . Evaluating and developing investment policies · Portfolio return, measurement and reporting . Paying for banking services Capital Finance and Debt Administration Sessions: · Disclosure: why and how? . Evaluating the pricing of municipal bonds · Complying with arbitrage requirements . Public finance around the world · What's new in debt financing · Negotiated selling in a competitive environment . Developing policies and plans for infrastructure replacement · Public-private parterships to finance capital infra- structure . The role of the finance officer in economic devel- opment Roundtables: . What do you need to know from your underwriter · Selling the bond issue · Paying for capital costs of unfunded mandates Computers and Technology Sessions: . Client-server technology in government finance · The impact of technology on cash management . Geographic information systems (GIS): A tool for finance officers . Riding down the information highway Roundtables: . The computer software acquisition process Management and Intergovernmental Relations Sessions: - Washington Update Total quality leadership . Women in the workplace . Local government oversees . Government and the media: A relationship that can work Roundtables: . State and local government finance: research and practice · International exchange opportunities . Sharing the wealth: contributing to GFOA publications and research Pensions and Other Benefits Sessions: . Defined Contribution Plans: Slippery slope or sal- vation - . Health Care Reform: What it means to state and local government employers Politics of actuarial process and funding decisions . Hard facts about soft dollars: directed brokerages . Retiree health care . Pension plan qualifications: The IRS is getting se- rious · Sink or swim: New portfolio options . Family and medical leave: What are govern- ments supposed to do? . Designing pension systems Roundtables: . Health care options for small governments . Pension obligation bonds . Flexible work schedules: Job sharing and others e