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

Local Government Spring Conference

Registration Now Open!

Hotel Information

Preliminary Agenda

Tuesday, April 25

8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.    Councilors Workshop - Combating Misinformation in the Era of Polarization

Speaker: Elizabeth Schroeder, Associate Professor of Economics, School of Public Policy, Oregon State University

Americans are increasingly turning to the internet and fragmented media sources for news and information, leading to a crisis of misinformation. We’ll discuss the challenges facing elected officials in this environment, and the best tools for fighting misinformation, communicating effectively through all the noise, and maintaining public trust.

8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.    Mayors (OMA) Workshop - Active Civility: How Mayors Can Help Local Political Cultures Heal

Speaker: Ron Mock, Professor Emeritus of Politics and Peace Studies, George Fox University

America is experiencing the highest levels of bitter political polarization in living memory, driven by unprecedented changes in society and technology. These dynamics affect us at the local level too, with potentially devastating effects on quality of life in our communities. This workshop will demonstrate how mayors can foster a healthier, happier, local political culture by: looking at disagreements in a different light; improving the "soil" of the relationship’s ecosystem within our communities; modeling a three-tiered approach to civility and the stewardship of disagreements; and building the community's capacity to disagree without distrusting. 

8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.    Managers (OCCMA) Workshop -  Finding the City Path Forward for Houselessness and Community Members in Crisis

Facilitator: Sara Singer Wilson, President, SSW Consulting
Speakers:
   Jerry Gillham, City Manager, Sutherlin
   John W. McIlveen, Ph.D., LMHC, State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA)
   Fred Boss, Oregon Department of Justice
   Glen Suchanek, MSW, CSWA, QMHP, CADCIII, CRMII, Behavioral Health Specialist, Milwaukie

Come share and learn how communities across the state are addressing houselessness, opioids and the mental health crisis. What is working? What is not? And where can communities get funding to support these neighbors in need?

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Networking Break

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.    Welcome Lunch & Keynote - Andrea Bell, Executive Director, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)

Ms. Bell oversees the strategic direction, vision, and growth of the state agency responsible for providing stable and affordable housing across Oregon. In her previous role with OHCS, she served as Director of Housing Stabilization, where she led the implementation of a wide range of homeless services, energy and weatherization assistance, rental assistance programs, and policy initiatives.

 

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.     Networking Break

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.     Breakout Sessions

• Cyber Security – Prepare and Respond to a Cyber Disruption
  Speaker: Sherri Yoakum, CSS Business Engagement Manager, Enterprise Information Services, Oregon Department of Administrative Services
  The world is increasingly dependent on technology, and systems are more complex and interconnected than ever. Likewise, malicious cyber actors are highly skilled, and attacks on government organizations are increasing. This session will cover how cities can be prepared to respond to cyber disruptions.
• Successful Strategies to Help Oregonians in Crisis
  Speaker: Mike Savara, Interim Chief Programs Officer, Oregon Housing & Community Services 
  Housing is the key to ending homelessness. OHCS staff and panelists will provide updates on housing-focused shelter interventions, including: navigation centers; interventions that support chronically homeless individuals such as permanent supportive housing; and new strategies to address youth experiencing homelessness.  This session will also share strategies to keep people stably housed.

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

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.     Breakout Sessions

• OHCS Affordable Rental Housing Programs
  Speaker: Kim Travis, Housing Integrator Public Affairs Division, Oregon Housing & Community Services
  Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is the state’s housing finance agency, providing financial and program support to create and preserve quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of lower and moderate income.  This session will provide an overview of key affordable rental housing programs and key elements to successfully qualify for competitive funding.
• Aging Infrastructure: Tidal Gates - The Struggle with Flooding and Drainage
  Speakers:
    Henry Balensifer, Mayor, Warrenton
    Mark Kujala, Clatsop County Commission Chair, Warrenton Levee and Tidegate Consultant
    Emilee Cooke, Project Assistant Coordinator, Business Oregon, Infrastructure and Program Service
  Sea levels are rising, but most tide gates were installed half a century or more ago. With increased development in waterfront towns, tide gates have struggled to meet environmental goals for salmon, while keeping the communities behind the tide gates dry. This panel will discuss the challenges and solutions for tide gate infrastructure.

5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.      Off-Site Networking Reception                                                                              

Wednesday, April 26

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.       Networking Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.    Breakout Sessions

• Behavioral Health and Access to Housing 
  Moderator:
     Andrew Over, Regional Market VP at Regence; Cambia Health Foundation Board of Directors
  Panelists:
     Leslie Foren, Director of Program Strategy & Evaluation, Cambia Health Foundation
     Kay Toran, President/CEO, Volunteers of America 
     Maeve McClellan/Leslie Foren/Steve Lesky, Representatives of the Cambia Health Foundation team 
  Limited access to behavioral health resources creates barriers for people in need, further hindering their ability to get and keep a job, and ultimately impacting accessibility to housing.  This session will highlight Regence/Cambia’s recent commitments to the Oregon market in the behavioral health space, including community investments to help provide the necessary behavioral health resources for those who otherwise would not have access. 
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  Breakout Sessions

• From Employee Speech to Public Comment and Protests: The First Amendment’s Impact on Cities
  Speakers:
     Harry Wilson, Shareholder, and Chair of the Government Practice Group, Markowitz Herbold PC 
     Hannah Hoffman, Associate, Markowitz Herbold PC
  This session will cover how city governments and employees can and cannot regulate speech under the First Amendment.  It will cover timely issues, such as: How cities can regulate employees’ speech on and off the clock; How city councils can regulate public comment sessions at city council meetings; and How to manage free speech issues when interacting with constituents on social media.  The session is also designed to help city officials make decisions about free speech issues as they arise, providing principles that can be applied in new and novel contexts and situations.
• Addressing the Workforce Housing Shortage
  Speakers:
     Thomas Fiorell, Housing Coordinator, Tillamook County
     Kevin Shluka, Co-Owner, Coyote Gardens
     Liane Welch, City Manager, Bay City
     Nate Palmer, Partner, City Center Development Partners, LLC
  The panelists will share a broad range of approaches and solutions to the workforce housing shortage in Oregon’s coastal communities. Discussions will explore solutions from the county, city, and developer perspective, including: What workforce housing is and is not; The current Pacific City King Fisher project; Future housing projects on the horizon; Bay City’s approach to creating workforce housing projects; The mechanics of planning, funding, and overseeing project development; and The developer’s experience of working alongside government. Finally, the Q&A segment will discuss how to ensure these types of projects are successful.

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.  Networking Break

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.    Lunch & General Session - Top 5 Things State Agencies Wish City Officials Knew About Them

Speakers:
Kim Travis, Rural Housing Integrator from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS);
Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon;
Kris Strickler, Director of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT);
Additional speakers TBD

Our panel will provide insights on how cities can realize the benefits of working collaboratively and effectively with their respective organizations. 

1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.      Networking Break

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.       Breakout Sessions

• Not Just for the Private Sector - How Local Governments are Sharing IT Services
  Speakers:
     Bill Hopkins, Information Technology, Keizer
     Byron Smith, City Manager, Hermiston
  Hear how two regions are utilizing shared technology resources to increase value and foster better stewardship of their citizens' tax dollars.
• Legislative Update

2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.       Networking Snack Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      General Session - Roundtable Discussions

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.      Happy Hour Reception

6:00 p.m.                           Dinner on Your Own: sign up onsite to join a reserved table at a local restaurant