1. LOC Home
  2. Training & Events: Conferences
  3. 2026 Spring Conference
  4. 2026 Spring Conference Agenda

101st Spring Conference

2026 Spring Conference Preliminary Program

Agenda subject to change

Thursday, April 23

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.     Registration Open 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.      Breakfast 

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.      Councilors Workshop: Overcoming Divisiveness and Building Unified Communities

Conflicting goals. Fighting factions. Political polarization. Generation gaps. Race, ethnicity and class cliques. No one tells you how to overcome divisions like these in your own community. This interactive session will show you practical steps and simple ideas that pull people together. Bring your most challenging examples and stories to work on together. You'll see ways to tweak your projects to reach across divides and improve group coordination beyond silos. You'll leave with specific ways to apply this to your own work: Bring people together across groups, give everyone a small but meaningful role, and create experiences that change people’s thinking.

Speaker: Becky McCray, International Speaker, Co-founder of SaveYourTown

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.      OCCMA Workshop: Leading Through Difference: Personality, Council Education, and Transitions for City Managers

Effective city management requires navigating a wide range of personalities while maintaining trust, professionalism, and organizational stability. This workshop equips city managers with tools to understand personality dynamics, tailor engagement strategies, and educate individuals interested in council service about the realities of governance. Attendees will also explore best practices for onboarding and managing new councilors, reducing conflict, and fostering collaborative, high-functioning councils in real-world settings.

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.      OMA Workshop: From Tension to Teamwork: Conflict Resolution for Elected Officials

Conflict is inevitable in city leadership—but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Join the OMA for a high-energy, interactive workshop led by an experienced professor in conflict resolution. This session will focus on managing conflict within city government and between elected officials, offering proven strategies to de-escalate tension, strengthen collaboration, and lead through challenging situations with confidence.

Speaker: Dr. Jillene Krause, Visiting Assistant Professor, Eastern Oregon University

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.      Networking Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.      BREAKOUT SESSIONS (2)

  1. Fire Mitigation – How to Adopt a Defensible Space
  2. How to Review, Modify and Update Your Charter

12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.      Welcome, Lunch & Keynote: The Idea Friendly Method: Open Up to New Ideas

You don’t have to know all the answers. You just have to be open to new ideas. Today the Idea Friendly Method helps you put your ideas into action the easy way, break free from old-way thinking and create more meaningful participation by more people from all across your community. Learn three practical ways the research-backed Idea Friendly Method will help you improve the climate for new ideas and make it easier for you to build community. From small towns to city neighborhoods, you’ll position your community to thrive, no matter what the future brings.

Speaker: Becky McCray, International Speaker, Co-founder of SaveYourTown

1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.      Networking Break 

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      Tours (2)  

  1. Pendleton Woolen Mills Tour: 
    Step inside the Pendleton Mill and discover the craft behind the cloth. This guided tour offers an up-close look at the iconic Jacquard looms—impressive, state-of-the-art machines that rise two stories high as they weave intricate graphic and pictorial designs. Guests will also follow the journey of wool spinning, seeing firsthand how raw wool is transformed into strong, beautiful yarn. It’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes experience that brings Pendleton’s tradition of quality and craftsmanship to life.
  2. The Story Behind Hermiston’s Enterprise Zone Success: 
    Join us for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the Greater Hermiston Enterprise Zone (GHEZ), the premier driver of industrial investment in Umatilla County. Since 2009, this program has attracted more than $977 million in capital investment and created hundreds of full-time jobs. This tour will highlight key industrial sites, showcase the impact of Enterprise Zone agreements, and explain how the city of Hermiston and Umatilla County partner to facilitate business expansion, infrastructure development, and economic prosperity. Discover why major corporations are choosing to locate and grow in Hermiston.
     

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.      General Session: Insider Knowledge on State Grants and Programs

Join conversations with the certified “doers” in state government. Participate in our rotating roundtable discussions, designed to help city leaders quickly connect with experts on state grants, programs, and opportunities that support local initiatives. Topic areas will range from economic development to housing to transportation and more, giving your city actionable insights to take home and put to work.

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.      Offsite Networking Reception

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.      Onsite Caucus Reception
 

Friday, April 24
 

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.     Registration Open 

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.      General Session with Breakfast: Artificial Intelligence – Using AI in a Municipal Setting

11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.      Lunch, Awards, & Legislative Update

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.      BREAKOUT SESSIONS (2)

  1. *Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) Training *Only offered if certified by OGEC, if not, LOC staff will provide another training.

  2. ​​​​Growing & Inspiring the Next Generation in Local Government

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.      Networking Break  

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      General Session: Joint Caucus Session

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.      Mayors Coastal Caucus Meeting

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.     Onsite Reception