The Post-Election Preemption Landscape  CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. The results from the November 2020 elections will have consequences for state-local government relationships across the nation. The balance of power and ability for the federal, state, and local governments to work together is critical to respond to the demands of the pandemic, strengthen the systems upholding our democracy, and address the calls for justice for Black, Indigenous, and People...

Coming Attractions: Open Issues in Civil Rights Litigation Ripe for Supreme Court Review CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. A discussion of the surprising number of significant legal issues in section 1983 litigation that the Supreme Court has yet to resolve, including the nature and extent of constitutional claims for malicious prosecution or wrongful death, what authority, other than Supreme Court decisions can "clearly establish" the law for qualified immunity,...

Overview of Municipal Water and Wastewater This presentation will address the operation of municipal water and wastewater utilities. Topics will include the application of the Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge System (NPDES) permitting, the sourcing and treatment of potable water, the operation of water towers and distribution lines, the treatment and discharge of wastewater, and common liability issues. Speaker: Ian Williams

Update on FCC Rules on Cell Tower Zoning Major topics will be (1) - - The September 2020 Ninth Circuit decision upholding major portions of the FCC’s 2018 Order about 5G and small cell towers in the rights of way, but restoring municipalities’ traditional discretion on aesthetic matters, and (2) - - Two FCC Orders that expand the types of changes to cell towers (notably expansions up to 30 feet outside the current cell site) which municipalities must approve.  In...

What Every Municipal Lawyer Should Know About Recovering Damages for Legacy Environmental Contamination of Municipal Resources Municipalities have long shouldered the burden of managing PCBs, PFAS, MBTE, TCP, Chromium and other contaminants in their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems, often spending millions of dollars per year.  This webinar provides an affirmative litigation  framework for local governments to recover damages from the manufacturers, distributors and dischargers of the contaminants, shifting the financial burden away from taxpayers and ratepayers and onto...

Overcoming Legal Hurdles to Changing the Use of Obsolete Municipal Real Estate Facilities:  A Case Study CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. Over time, municipal facilities may become obsolete.  Municipalities often face legal obstacles to implementing new uses for those facilities.  A municipal lawyer must find legal routes to help clients enact innovative proposals that transform a facility’s use.  Where real estate assets are involved, the lawyer often must find...

Hot Issues in Technology Contracts A panel of in-house municipal attorneys  from NYC to LA who specialize in technology purchases will share tips for negotiating technology contracts on behalf of a municipality. The panel will discuss topics that are current and relevant now, sharing their experiences negotiating software and technology contracts, with an emphasis on data security and cloud services.  For any municipal attorney who seeks guidance on what to look out for in technology contracts, this presentation is for...

Transit Oriented Development This will be a comparative presentation on how Atlanta has handled transportation-oriented development in their communities. This presentation will explore legal issues associated with this type of development and highlight the benefits of thoughtful planning as it can support economic development. Additional topics may be included. Speaker: Jonathan Hunt

A Look Into the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program A new emergency Federal program providing Internet service discounts of $50/$75 a month for low-income households will start before the end of April. It addresses the need these households have for distance learning, telecommuting and telemedicine during the pandemic.  The program was created by Congress in December and implemented by an FCC Order on February 26.  It should interest municipalities, schools, churches, social service agencies and others dealing with households affected...

Women in Law: Where Equality and Equity Exist in Local Government As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.  It shouldn’t be that women are the exception."  This three-women-panel of local government attorneys will discuss the transformation of what women in the male-dominated legal field looked like in the past to what women in the field look like now on a structural and policy level.  The presentation will discuss the shift...