Articles, Newsletters & Misc.

Hello, CALBO Members!

As summer winds down, I hope each of you found time to enjoy the many wonders our great state has to offer. Whether you hiked new trails, explored a new city, or simply relaxed by a backyard campfire, I trust you’ve had a chance to recharge from the daily grind. Meanwhile, CALBO has been hard at work!

Our Legislative Team has had a successful year advocating on behalf of our profession in Sacramento. They’ve proactively engaged with key bills during the final stretch of the legislative session, ensuring our voices were heard. To keep you informed, we’re hosting a webinar on September 18, 2024, recapping the current bills impacting our industry. For details and registration, visit the legislative events page – we look forward to seeing you there!

This fall, I encourage you to join us for CALBO Education Weeks, whether in person or virtually. We’re partnering again with our production team to provide a seamless learning experience at both locations. If you’re attending virtually, facilitators will be available in real-time to answer your questions via chat. This won’t be a canned experience – I promise. If you’re attending in person, take time to visit our industry partners during the five breaks each day to explore the latest innovations and services. For more information and to register, click here.

I’d be remiss not to mention the launch of our second annual Permit Technician Career Advancement Academy this fall. This new leadership resource developed by CALBO aims to enhance the professional development of counter technicians, cultivating participants’ technical and interpersonal skills strengthening building department operations and the careers of building safety professionals at the counter. Due to popular demand, we’ve extended this Academy to both Burlingame and Costa Mesa venues. A few spots remain in Costa Mesa – click here for more information. 

As we approach Education Weeks, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone making these events possible. A big thank you to the California Training Institute (CTI) Commissioners for crafting a fantastic lineup of courses. To our instructors, facilitators, and moderators, your dedication to providing top-notch training is invaluable. And of course, a special thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors for your continued support. I hope you make the time for you and your staff to attend courses, either virtually or in person. With 16 new courses, there is something for everyone.

This fall also brings an opportunity to come together as a profession as we host the International Code Council’s (ICC) annual conference in Long Beach.  Our CALBO team has been working with ICC for years on preparations and we know you’ll enjoy all that is in store for us October 20-23.  Registration details available here.  

Looking for additional professional development? Visit the CALBO calendar for the latest on all our current events, including the 63rd Annual Business Meeting in Hollywood, April 13-17, 2025. Mark your calendars for this and other great opportunities!

And as a special announcement, I am very pleased to welcome Ms. Susan Dowty to Team CALBO as a Consultant to our community.  A stranger to no one within our industry, Susan will assist with curriculum development, industry outreach, and spearhead CALBO’s efforts to launch on-demand training to our members.  On behalf of CALBO’s Board and Members, we are honored to welcome Susan to the team and look forward to her many continued contributions to our community. 

I look forward to seeing many of you this fall. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to protecting our communities and tackling the challenges we face as code officials.

Sincerely, 
Jeff Janes

The 2024 CALBO Education Week season starts this month. If you haven’t registered yet, time is running out — Burlingame course registration closes in two weeks!

Don’t miss this NEW interactive course designed to provide updates, insights, and resources from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program.

California Accessory Dwelling Units: Navigating Regulations for Compliance (0.6 CEUs & 6 LU | HSWs)

- Education Week: Burlingame on Thursday, October 3, 2024
- Education Week: Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 31, 2024
- Virtual or In Person attendance options

Course Highlights:

• Effective use of HCD’s ADU Handbook.
• Legislative history of ADUs and the most recent laws effective as of January 1, 2024.
• Common terms, typologies, and exemptions.
• Important ADU topics: zoning, conversions, parking, impact fees, fire sprinkler, solar, manufactured homes, ordinances, and much more.
• Non-structural overview of ADUs and how to effectively implement following legal and regulatory parameters.

With both in-person and virtual attendance options available, register today!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the CALBO Office or call 916-457-1103.

Whether it’s year-round wild-fire season or the constant threat of earthquakes, California Building Departments are not immune to the ever-changing landscape of emergency preparedness. 

Emergencies come without warning, and vary from minor to major, but what remains consistent is the need for building department staff to be prepared as Evaluators and/or Coordinators within Cal OES’ Safety Assessment Program!

Take one of these courses to renew or become a SAP Evaluator and/or Coordinator! 

Safety Assessment Program: Evaluator and Coordinator Training – 0.6 CEUs
2024 CTI Education Weeks (Virtual and In Person)

Thursday, October 3, 2024 - Burlingame
Thursday, October 31, 2024 - Costa Mesa
8:00am – 3:30pm
ICC PP Course No. 32004 (0.6 CEUs) - In Person
ICC PP Course No. 32005 (0.6 CEUs) - Virtual
AIA Course No. 20: 2022 (6 LU | HSWs)

Want additional information or ready to register for upcoming trainings? Please visit the Professional Development webpage for more information. We will “see” you there!

If you have any questions, please email the CALBO Office or call 916-457-1103.

Dear Friends of CALBO, 

As CALBO begins its 63rd year, I am honored to step into the role as president and serve our membership. I also want to express my sincere gratitude for the trust you have placed in me and the CALBO Board of Directors for this membership year. 

It was wonderful to see many of you in Indian Wells as we celebrated our 62nd Annual Business Meeting. Our annual gathering provided a fantastic opportunity to connect, collaborate, share experiences and plan for the future of building safety. Congratulations to all our award recipients as we celebrated the achievements of the best and brightest in our industry.  A special thanks goes out to our loyal industry partners, numerous sponsors and over forty-five exhibitors, whose unwavering support significantly contributed to the success of not only our annual business meeting but events throughout the year. Thank you!

In line with celebrating Building Safety Month in May, CALBO hosted nineteen aspiring building safety leaders at our annual Building Officials Leadership Academy (BOLA) in Sacramento from May 13-17. We applaud this group of building safety leaders embarking on this pivotal journey of personal and professional growth. If you are interested in learning more and to be added to the waitlist, email the CALBO Office at info@calbo.org.

On May 16th, CALBO hosted nearly fifty municipal leaders at our inaugural Building Leaders in Our Profession event. This 8-hour training session featured speaker Rachel Kuhlen, who covered a wide range of contemporary topics aimed at  creating additional soft skills for attendees and their overall leadership abilities. The interactive format allowed attendees to engage directly with each other   fostering a collaborative learning environment. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the practical insights and actionable strategies they gained from the session.  Stay tuned for more professional events like this in the future!

Our advocacy efforts are in full drive in Sacramento with CALBO taking numerous stances on bills that will be impacting our industry. For a full report of all the bills we are currently tracking, please visit our Bill Report page. Last month, we also held our annual Leadership & Advocacy Day at the Capitol. CALBO members from all across the state visited with over twenty-five different offices discussing the roles of building departments and key issues. I would be amiss if we did not recognize that the California State Legislature has chaptered Assembly Concurrent Resolution 201 (ACR 201), declaring May as California Building Safety Month. Thank you for your recognition of our industry!

We are also very proud of our CALBO Professional Engagement Committee for coordinating the Virtual Career Expo which took place on May 1, 2024. CALBO teamed up with Diablo Valley College Workforce Development Team where we hosted dozens of students and job seekers interested in a building and safety careers as well as hearing personal experiences from current professionals while also allowing the participants to engage directly with questions.    

CALBO is continuing to offer a variety of live webinars covering essential code topics, and much more. This fall, we will also return with our traditional hybrid offerings for Education Weeks in Burlingame from September 30 – October 3, 2024, and Costa Mesa from October 28 – 31, 2024. Both hybrid events offer opportunities to attend courses either virtually or in-person. Over two dozen new courses will be launched, so please review the entire catalog before registering. There will be new offerings for permit technicians, plan reviewers, inspectors and much more!

During the Education Week in Burlingame, the Permit Technician Career Advancement Academy will be offered building upon the success of last year’s launch. The Academy transitions between Northern and Southern California each year to provide equitable access to this invaluable opportunity. Congratulations to the twenty-three leaders who where our first graduating Permit Technician Academy class celebrated at our 62nd Annual Business Meeting.  We can’t wait to see the newest department leaders at the next Academy! You can also find more information on the Academy page, including common questions and answers. Join the waitlist by emailing the CALBO Office at info@calbo.org. 

As we move into the busy months ahead, I encourage you to invest in yourself both personally and professionally, which allows you the opportunity to give back to your family, community, profession, and CALBO as your professional organizational hub. I look forward to “seeing” you all this fall at our Education Weeks. 

Best regards,
Jeff Janes, CBO
CALBO President