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Local Government Spring Conference

Registration Now Open!

April 25-26 in Seaside

This two-day event will be a great opportunity for public officials from around the state to network and learn about issues impacting all cities. For more information about Seaside, go to Visit Seaside.

Registration Types:

  • Member Registration - $250 ($275 after April 3)
  • Non-Member Government Registration - $300 ($325 after April 3)
  • Business Partner Registration - $350 ($375 after April 3)
  • Non-Member Corporate Registration - $450 ($475 after April 3)

Questions?  View the conference FAQs and cancellation information, or contact us at loc@orcities.org or 503-588-6550.

Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are available for the Spring Conference.  For more information, please email LOC Communications & Business Development Director Kevin Toon: ktoon@orcities.org.

Register for the Local Government Spring Conference

Don't miss out on this two-day event - register by April 3 for the best rate.

To view the step-by-step registration process, see How to Register for LOC Training and Events.

Register Now

Hotel Information

  • Best Western Plus Ocean View Resort
    414 N Prom, Seaside, OR 97138
    Booking Link
    1-800-234-8439 and press “0”
    Rates: $131-$210
  • Kathryn Riverfront Inn
    545 Broadway Ave, Seaside, OR​​​​​​​
    Booking Link
    To Book, call: 503-738-3011, reference “League of Oregon Cities”
    Rates: $131
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seaside Convention Center
    34 N Holladay Dr, Seaside, OR
    To Book, call: 503-717-8000, reference “League of Oregon Cities”
    Rates: $131 ​​​​​​​
  • Rivertide Suites
    102 Holladay Dr, Seaside, OR
    To Book, call: 503-717-1100, reference “League of Oregon Cities”
    Rates: $135-$195
  • Inn at Seaside
    441 2nd Ave, Seaside, OR
    503-738-9581
    www.innatseaside.com
    Group code: b850904
  • River Inn at Seaside  
    531 Avenue A, Seaside, OR
    503-717-5744​​​​​​​
    www.riverinnatseaside.com
    ​​​​​​​Group code: b297853

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)

HI_Bell_Andrea_web.jpgMs. 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
    SpeakerSherri 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

Previous Spring Conferences

2022 Spring Conference (Hermiston)