2026 LOC 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)

Fire Mitigation – How to Adopt a Defensible Space

This session provides a roadmap for jurisdictions looking to implement and enforce defensible space standards to reduce wildfire risk. Participants will learn how to draft effective codes, navigate the legal adoption process, and engage their community to ensure long-term compliance and property resilience. The session will bridge the gap between fire science and practical policy application for a safer built environment.
City Charter Health Check – How to Review, Update, and Adapt

Is your city’s charter keeping pace with modern governance? This session provides a practical framework for performing a comprehensive review of your charter to identify obsolete provisions, legal inconsistencies, and opportunities for structural improvement. Participants will explore the essential phases of the review process—from appointing a charter commission to engaging the voters who will approve the changes. An examination of recent charter updates from across the state will illustrate how peer cities are evolving to meet future governance challenges.

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)

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.
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.

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Offsite Networking Reception

Join us as we wrap up the first day of conference with a networking reception! Enjoy drinks and appetizers with your peers.

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

Friday, April 24

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. General Session with Breakfast: Unlocking the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Your City

As the mystery around artificial intelligence (AI) begins to fade, AI’s potential to improve local government operations is becoming clearer. In this session, you’ll discover how AI can streamline city processes, enhance efficiency, and improve decision-making in municipal settings. A panel of leading experts in using AI to optimize workflows and document management will share practical strategies for implementing AI that can save time, reduce costs, and improve service quality in your city.

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 p.m. Networking Break

10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS (2)

Making Government Interesting

Explore innovative communication strategies that are reshaping how local government connects with its community. Learn how strategic storytelling and creative outreach can turn complex government information into compelling, community-centered messages.
Building Stronger Communities with Local Microgrids

In recent legislative sessions, Oregon lawmakers have passed key laws that open the door to local microgrid projects, offering new funding opportunities and a pathway to greater energy resilience. Microgrids are an exciting tool for strengthening our communities by ensuring a more reliable and sustainable power supply. This panel will provide an overview of how local leaders can start exploring and implementing microgrid projects in their cities, helping to boost energy security, reduce costs, and prepare for the future.

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

Enjoy lunch with fellow attendees as we present the 2026 LOC City Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements by cities across Oregon with the Award for Excellence and the Good Governance Award.

Following the awards presentation, LOC Legislative Director Nicole Stingh will provide attendees with an overview of what transpired during the 2026 legislative session, focused on key legislative outcomes that will impact cities across Oregon.

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

*Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) Training

*Only offered if certified by OGEC, if not, LOC staff will provide another training.

State law requires that members of governing bodies of public bodies with expenditures for a fiscal year of $1 million or more attend an Oregon Government Ethics Commission certified training on Oregon’s Public Meetings Law. This training will cover the necessary areas of public meeting laws and satisfy the training requirement.
Growing & Inspiring the Next Generation in Local Government

Cultivating a robust talent pipeline is essential for the future of Oregon cities. This session examines a high-impact partnership between Eastern Oregon University, the nonprofit Rural Engagement & Vitality Center, and local governments. Panelists will demonstrate how pairing students with municipal projects solves real-world challenges while providing invaluable hands-on experience. Participants will learn how to bridge the gap between academia and city hall, foster meaningful mentorships, and implement scalable programs that inspire young professionals to choose public service careers.

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