101st Annual Conference
2026 Annual Conference Preliminary Program
Agenda subject to change
Thursday, October 15
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Conference Registration Open
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Trade Show & Continental Breakfast
More than 78 organizations are exhibiting this year, showcasing innovative products and services that can help make your city a great place to live and work.
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Councilors Workshop - Governance & All That Jazz: City Councilor Jeopardy
Get ready for a lively, interactive workshop where three brave city councilors face off in a city council themed "Jeopardy!" game that’s all about governance and serving as a city councilor. The workshop will include table conversations around key city council topics like finance, budget, and governance.
Facilitator:
• Nina Vetter, City Manager, Newport
Speaker:
• TBD
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. OMA Workshop & Business Meeting: Leading with Civility: Strengthening Trust, Dialogue, and Community Leadership
This workshop equips mayors with practical tools for fostering civil discourse, navigating public disagreement, and modeling constructive leadership in their communities. Participants will explore how civility builds trust, improves decision-making, and helps local leaders bring people together across political, social, and cultural differences.
Speaker:
• Travis Stovall, Mayor, Gresham
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. OCCMA Workshop & Business Meeting: Relationships That Matter
This workshop is not included in registration and has an additional fee of $100.
Strong local governments depend on strong professional relationships. This workshop helps city managers, administrators, and recorders build productive partnerships with city councilors and city attorneys. Participants will explore communication strategies, trust-building techniques, role clarity, conflict management, and approaches for fostering collaboration that supports effective governance and organization success.
Speaker:
• TBD
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. People of Color Caucus Business Meeting and Lunch
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch and Trade Show
Lunch is provided for attendees in the trade show. Grab lunch, visit with your colleagues, and learn how these vendors can help your city achieve its goals.
12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Local Tours
Pre-registration required. Tours are not included in the price of registration and have an additional $55 fee. Visit the conference registration booth if you haven’t pre-registered. If you are pre-registered, the tour will be listed on the back of your badge.
- State Capitol Tour
- How to Multi-Purpose Bond
- Passing a Community Services Levy
- Tools (Funding Streams) for Creating Housing with a Walking Tour of House Projects
12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- Data Centers: Rhetoric and Real Talk
Across the state, community members are asking questions and sharing concerns about the development of data centers. The realities and rhetoric around data centers can be hard to grasp even for those paying close attention. How do they impact communities? From land use to energy and water usage to economic development and revenue, join this session to hear from experts about the impacts of data centers. Attendees will learn insights and hear deliberations from the Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee.
Speakers:
• Hillsboro
• Prineville - From Headlines to Hashtags: Journalists, Creators and the Future of Local Storytelling
How your city’s story is told through mainstream media is ever-changing — and who tells this story matters more than ever. Join local Oregon journalists and digital creators for a candid conversation about how information flows in today's media landscape and what that means for cities. Hear from reporters on what really goes into covering local government — the pressures, the process, and what makes a story land — then explore how creators are stepping into that space to talk about issues like public safety, housing, transportation, and civic participation in ways that reach new audiences. Together, we'll discuss how municipalities can work alongside both journalists and creators to strengthen trust, improve transparency, and tell more human stories about public service.
Speakers:
• Anne Marie Lewis, President, Funk/Levis & Associates
• Gold Meadows, Evening News Anchor, KMTR/KVAL-TV
• Bryce Dole, Reporter, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) - Prosperity Starts Local: Strong Cities, Stronger Oregon
As policymakers consider the Prosperity Council's recommendations, cities will be critical to turning vision into results. This panel explores how local investments, economic development strategies, and revenue policies can support growth, competitiveness, and opportunity across cities and the state.
Speakers:
• Oregon Business Council
• Govenor's Prosperity Council - Talking About Local Revenue: Messaging and Tools
Cities across Oregon face revenue challenges stemming from an outdated and complex property tax system. In this session, Espousal Strategies will introduce messages and communications tools developed for LOC members to use in conversations with their communities. Learn how to explain the structural problem clearly, connect it to the local services residents care about, and build public understanding that supports the case for statewide reform. Materials are designed to work for cities of any size, across urban and rural Oregon.
Speaker:
• Mike Westling, Director of Strategic Communications, Espousal Strategies
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Snack Break & Trade Show
3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Welcome and Keynote
Start the program with a warm welcome and an inspiring keynote presentation. This opening session will provide valuable insights, establish the event's key themes, and energize attendees for the program ahead.
Speakers:
• Carol MacInnes, LOC President; Mayor, Fossil
• Patty Mulvihill, Executive Director, League of Oregon Cities
5:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Welcome Reception
Kick off the 101st Annual Conference at our opening social event. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages* while connecting with colleagues and peers from across Oregon. Attending city officials and government representatives are warmly invited to join us. Please note: conference badges are required for admission. **Please Note – badges must be presented for admittance. Our attending city officials and government representatives are invited to join.
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. LOC Nominating Committee Meeting
First, the committee will hear candidates for the 2027 LOC Board of Directors present their qualifications for service on the League’s governing body. The committee will then prepare a proposed slate for a vote by the full membership during Saturday morning’s Annual Membership Meeting.
6:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Dinner on Your Own
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Caucus Mixer
The Women’s Caucus and People of Color Caucus, hosts of the annual LOC Mixer, invite you to connect with colleagues from across Oregon. Enjoy desserts, a no-host bar, and casual networking in a relaxed setting. Be sure to join the BINGO game for a fun way to meet new people and make connections.
Friday, October 16
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast with Trade Show
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Small Cities Networking
An opportunity for cities with a population less than 7,500 to network and have a conversation with peers about issues specific to small cities.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Medium Cities Networking
An opportunity for cities with a population of 7,500 to 25,000 to network and have a conversation with peers about issues specific to medium-sized cities.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Large Cities Networking
An opportunity for cities with a population greater than 25,000 to network and have a conversation with peers about issues specific to large cities.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Veterans Connect Meeting
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Talking about Revenue: Messaging and Tools
Cities across Oregon face revenue challenges stemming from an outdated and complex property tax system. In this session, Espousal Strategies will introduce messages and communications tools developed for LOC members to use in conversations with their communities. Learn how to explain the structural problem clearly, connect it to the local services residents care about, and build public understanding that supports the case for statewide reform. Materials are designed to work for cities of any size, across urban and rural Oregon.
Speaker:
• Mike Westling, Director of Strategic Communications, Espousal Strategies
9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Regional Tours
Pre-registration required. Tours are not included in the price of registration and have an additional $55 fee. Visit the conference registration booth if you haven’t pre-registered. If you are pre-registered, the tour will be listed on the back of your badge.
- Amazon Fulfillment Center PDX8 Tour: Woodburn
Tour Amazon’s PDX8 fulfillment center in Woodburn, the largest and most advanced in the Pacific Northwest. This 3.8 million-square-foot, five-story facility uses more than 6,000 robotics systems and 30 miles of conveyor belts to move up to 40 million stored items efficiently. Employing 3,500+ people, PDX8 offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the technology, automation, scale, and economic impact driving modern e-commerce fulfillment. - Timberlab & Millersburg: Building a CLT Future
Tour Timberlab’s 200,000-square-foot Cross laminated timber manufacturing facility in the city of Millersburg, Oregon—one of the largest investments in U.S. wood products history. Learn from economic development leaders about why Timberlab selected Millersburg, hear from the city manager on permitting and approvals, and explore the future of mass timber manufacturing, including the nation’s largest all-wood industrial warehouse. Takeaways include the role of engineered wood products, site selection factors, and strategies for collaboration between industry and cities.
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- Building Community Trust - Gain it and Keep it
TBD
Speakers:
• TBD - Evidence in the Room: Turning Research into Local Policy
Do you feel the gap between research and local governance decisions? If so, this session features case studies describing how a local policy or program was shaped by the partnership between local leadership and OSU’s Policy Analysis Laboratory (OPAL). Audience members will learn and practice strategies for leveraging university research through interactive activities and discussion. OSU faculty will facilitate dialogue with the audience aimed to learn: What would make research more useful to you and what gets in the way?
Speakers:
• Leanne Giordono, OSU OPAL Associate Director, Oregon State University
• Marina Denny, OSU Associate Vice Provost for Engagement, Oregon State University - How Cities Can Use Public Nuisance Law to Protect Communities
How cities can use public nuisance law as a proactive enforcement tool to address persistent community harm? Focusing on statutorily defined nuisances, the presentation will explain how these claims can be pursued without the traditional burden of proving substantial and unreasonable interference. The session will also cover key considerations for drafting and updating local nuisance ordinances to address new, emerging harms and to ensure they withstand judicial scrutiny.
Speakers:
• David Fauria, Associate, Markowitz Herbold PC - Reframing Career Challenges as Leadership Milestones
Navigating a career in local government often means facing unexpected challenges. These challenges can serve as pivotal leadership milestones. This session features city managers who bounced back from tough moments, transforming professional obstacles into powerful lessons in leadership. Attendees will gain strategies for building resilience, leveraging challenges as opportunities, and harnessing a mindset that turns setbacks into comebacks.
Facilitator:
• Sabrina Cotta, City Manager, Ashland
Speakers:
• Martha Bennett
• Bryon Smith, City Manager, Hermiston
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Networking Break
10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Workshops
- Emergency Management Workshop: The Prepared Jurisdiction: A Blueprint for Continuous Emergency Management
Disasters are dynamic, unpredictable, and costly. They can’t be controlled, are hard to contain, and leave a lasting impact on the landscape, communities, and people. What we can control is intentionally preparing, practicing, and streamlining recovery. Linking these phases positions cities and regions to realize the best possible outcomes when disasters strike. Recovery begins with planning, and planning begins with recovery. This workshop will aid in making the best of the worst times. See preliminary agenda. - Offsite Location: Local Government Center, 1201 Court St. NE, Room 113, Salem, OR 97301.
- Speakers:
• Jennifer Letz, Mayor, Sisters
• Bryan Cutchen, Mayor, Oakridge
• Michelle Bradley, Director, Port of Tillamook - Artificial Intelligence Workshop: Transforming City Operations with AI
Equip your city to navigate the rewards and risks of artificial intelligence. This workshop provides a clear, actionable roadmap covering everyday legal compliance, shared governance models, and real-world caution tales. Learn how departments are actively using AI to boost public engagement, streamline heavy workloads, and uplift city priorities—all while applying human-centered leadership that values and protects staff expertise. See preliminary agenda.
Speakers:
• TBD
10:45 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- AI in City Hall: Tools, Risks, and Governance
Artificial intelligence is already being used by city employees - are you aware, and are you ready? Learn practical ways cities are using AI today, common risks to avoid, and how to develop policies that encourage innovation while protecting sensitive information and maintaining public trust. Leave with practical governance ideas and resources you can implement immediately.
Speakers:
• Bates Russell, Informational Services Director, Tualatin - Lessons from Adopting a Housing Production Strategy
Cities with more than 10,000 residents must create a housing production strategy (HPS) to address local housing shortages, with a focus on affordability and diverse housing types. Join city leaders who have worked with outside consultants and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development on their HPS and to learn from their experiences: what went well; where there was room for improvement; and tips to make your own process more effective.
Speakers:
• Dan Zinder, Planning Director, Molalla
• Eunice Kim, Community Planning and Development Director, Salem
• Violet Brown, Planning Manager, 3J Consulting - Eye of the Storm: Leading Without Burnout
City leaders are trained to respond to high-pressure situations, constantly putting out fires — but few are taught how to survive prolonged stress and uncertainty without paying for it later. Dr. Zarya Rubin, a Harvard-educated former neurologist and TEDx speaker, breaks down the science of chronic stress and burnout, offering a practical, nervous-system-based framework for leading through instability without sacrificing personal health or effectiveness.
Speakers:
• Dr. Zarya, Rubin, MD - Modernizing Sunshine: Public Meetings Law Reform
Oregon’s public meetings law saw expansive reform in 2023, and jurisdictions are navigating the new administrative and operational requirements. Join this session to explore the origins, evolution, and attempts to update this law. Participants will learn about upcoming efforts to address unintended consequences of reform and have the opportunity to share their thoughts on balancing transparency and public trust with administrative feasibility.
Speakers:
• Tim Rosener, Mayor, Sherwood
• Chad Jacobs, Senior Partner, Beery, Elsner & Hammond, LLP
• Evyn Mitchell, State Government Relations Manager, Portland
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Women's Caucus Business Meeting and Lunch
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch with Trade Show
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Regional Tours
Pre-registration required. Tours are not included in the price of registration and have an additional $50 fee. Visit the conference registration booth if you haven’t pre-registered. If you are pre-registered, the tour will be listed on the back of your badge.
- Using Grants to Reshape a Community
Explore how the city of Independence leveraged grants, legislative allocations, and federal funding to transform its downtown and launch the next generation of infrastructure investments. Travel by trolley to key projects, learn strategies for securing discretionary funding, aligning vision and messaging, and managing funded projects. Conclude with refreshments and an informal discussion with state and federal funding partners on what makes projects competitive and fundable. - New City Hall and Police Station & Downtown Redevelopment
Tour Silverton’s downtown transformation, featuring the new city hall and police station, the future Plaza Park, and the Main Street project. Together, these $12.5 million investments are advancing redevelopment, placemaking, infrastructure renewal, and community livability. Learn how Silverton is leveraging diverse funding sources to modernize public spaces while planning a future mobility hub that will connect transportation options in a walkable downtown core.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- What do Cities Prioritize When Facing a Financial Cliff?
With many Oregon cities facing fiscal crises, leaders are being forced to do more with less. When expenditures start to outpace revenues, how do city leaders prioritize their budgetary needs? This session will deliver practical tips to help both elected and appointed officials safeguard and fund core municipal services. Beyond the numbers, participants will learn crucial communication strategies to build public trust, manage community expectations, and clearly articulate the reality of difficult budget cuts.
Facilitator:
• Rochelle Anderson, City Manager, Monmouth
Speakers:
• Cathy Clark, Mayor, Keizer
• Lily Morgan, City Manager, Gold Hill
• Barry Murphy, City Manager, Baker City
• Olivia Clark, Councilor, Portland - Managing Free-Speech Risks in City Government: Three High-Impact Areas
City leaders are increasingly navigating complex questions about free speech, both inside and outside of government. This session brings together three critical areas where First Amendment considerations intersect with day-to-day municipal operations. The presentation will explore when city employees and officials may speak on matters of public concern and when the law requires administrators to permit or limit that speech. It will also address public forum issues, including what limits cities can impose on controversial or sensitive content in areas like meeting rooms and social media pages. Finally, discussion will focus on the specific context of public comment at council and committee meetings, including how officials can set boundaries that maintain order without engaging in unlawful viewpoint discrimination.
Speakers:
• Aaron Landau, Special Counsel, Miller Nash LLP
• Christine Taylor, Special Counsel, Miller Nash LLP
- What Can the National Guard do for you?
While National Guard members are widely recognized for their critical role in state emergency mobilizations, such as disaster response, their contributions to local communities extend far beyond these missions. This session will outline the diverse ways in which National Guard members positively impact their communities. Learn how your community can collaborate with National Guard members and units to enhance community programs, leverage professional expertise, and build resilience through joint initiatives.
Speakers:
• COL Paul Dyer, Commander 41st Infantry Brigrade and Director of Strategic Strength, Oregon National Guard
• COL Russ Gibson, Commander 82 Special Troops, Oregon Military Department
- Let's Talk Trash: Oregon's Solid Waste Franchise System
Join us for an introduction to Oregon’s nationally recognized waste collection and recycling system, and the essential role local governments play in making it work. Learn how franchise agreements provide a framework for public-private partnerships that support local control, reliable service, accountability, and environmental and public health goals. Identify strategies for maximizing community benefits, gain a clearer understanding of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, and hear timely updates on the implementation of the Recycling Modernization Act (RMA).Speakers:
• TBD
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Snack Break & Trade Show
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- Leaders Under the Microscope: Handling Complaints against Elected Officials and Executives
This session addresses the sensitive process of intake and investigating complaints against high-level leaders (elected and staff). The session covers initial intake, complaint acknowledgment, identifying decision-makers, hiring third-party investigators, maintaining confidentiality and compliance with public records and meetings law, and ensuring reporting procedures are followed to prevent investigatory bias. Speakers discuss best practices and provide real-world examples of what not to do.
Speakers:
• Heather Van Meter, Partner, Miller Nash LLP
• Liani Reeves, Partner, Miller Nash LLP - Cybersecurity for Cities Under Attack: Practical Response Planning and Notification
Municipal cybersecurity systems are being put to the test every day by phishing scams, spoofing, malware, and ransomware. Hackers are targeting cities to access resident data and infrastructure systems that are left vulnerable due to constrained resources and the expertise required in today’s cyber environment.
Speakers:
• TBD - Paying for Infrastructure Without Raising Rates
Oregon cities face growing pressure to address aging infrastructure amid rising costs, limited staff capacity, and public resistance to rate increases. This expert-led session highlights common patterns that drive cost escalation, staff strain, and public pushback—and what helps cities evaluate funding, sequencing, and delivery options before decisions become constrained.
Speakers:
• TBD - Utilizing Your City Attorney
Whether your city attorney is in-house or contracted, learn how to best utilize your legal counsel from a panel of city staff and their attorneys (both in-house and contracted).
Speakers:
• Amanda Guile-Hinman, City Attorney, Wilsonville
• Jeanna Troha, City Manager, Wilsonville
• Carrie Connelly, Attorney, Local Government Law Group
• Kenna West, City Manager, Independence
• Josh Soper, Attorney, Beery Elsner & Hammond LLP
• Tyler Deems, City Manager, Sandy
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Scenic Strides to Riverfront Park
Join us for a scenic 45-minute run/walk from the Salem Convention Center to Riverfront Park and back. The route follows downtown Salem streets to the iconic Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge, offering beautiful views of the Willamette River and surrounding parkland. Participants can enjoy a relaxed pace, fresh air, and a glimpse of one of Salem’s favorite outdoor destinations before returning to the Convention Center.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Awards Dinner
The Awards Dinner is a conference tradition, acknowledging the recipients of this year’s Exceptional Service Awards.
Speakers:
• TBD
8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. President's Reception
Immediately following the awards dinner, join LOC President Carol MacInnes to celebrate our winners, enjoy desserts, and unwind with an after-dinner drink at the no-host bar.
Saturday, October 17
7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration Open
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Pick up Voting Delegate Cards
Member cities will vote on LOC officers and board members for 2027. Each city is entitled to cast one vote at the meeting. Voting cards will be available starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday outside the room and must be picked up by 7:30 a.m. Delegates may not vote without a card. Voting by proxy is not permitted.
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast & Annual Business Meeting
The LOC’s Annual Business Meeting is an opportunity for member cities to get involved with the LOC through the election of new board members. It also includes a report by the executive director of 2026 accomplishments, a preview of new initiatives for 2027, and an awards presentation from CIS.
Speakers:
• Patrick Priest, Executive Director, CIS
• Patty Mulvihill, Executive Director, League of Oregon Cities
• Tim Rosener, Mayor, Sherwood
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 p.m. Networking Break
8:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Conflict Management
Speakers:
• TBD
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 p.m. Networking Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Navigating Conflict: Lessons from the Front Lines of Local Government
Conflict is part of the job, whether it's a heated council meeting, a disagreement with staff, or tension with the community. This session brings together a small panel of local elected officials for an honest conversation about how they've handled conflict in their own roles.
Speakers:
• TBD