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...

How Legislation and Current Events have Changed the Public Records Landscape CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. Managing requests for public records is hard. Staying organized, coordinating moving parts, and remaining compliant with evolving compliance mandates is no small task.  This presentation will discuss several rulings and pieces of legislation that have had a notable impact on those managing requests for public records: (1) How a single word like "Extraction"...

Local Authority, 2021 Legislative Sessions, and the Pandemic CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. This webinar will look at the status of local government authority post-2021 Legislative sessions with a focus on the preemption of emergency powers, police funding, punitive protest laws, and other policies. Speaker: Benjamin D. Winig, LiJia Gong and Lindsay Wiley

What is Trending in the Federal Circuit Courts? CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. This presentation will discuss the current trends in the federal circuit courts. Topics include issues related to homelessness, fines and fees, novel takings cases, and new social media cases.  This presentation will help put these emerging issues on your radar in case you find yourself facing one of these issues. Speaker: Amanda Karras

Back to Basics: Guide to Avoiding & Mitigating Construction Claims The construction industry has faced many unique challenges since the start of 2020. As the industry adjusts to the new “normal” way of working, it is important for construction project participants to maintain focus on the basic techniques that are effective in managing construction risks that are inherent to every construction project. This session will bring participants “back to basics” and provide simple techniques that can be applied every day...

Beyond Single-Family Residential: Addressing Diverse Community Housing Needs This session will present methods communities can use to address sprawl, affordability issues, and special housing needs of some community members. Topics will include non-standard housing types such as tiny homes and accessory dwelling units; addressing the needs of seniors; and group homes. Speaker: Roger Horner & Cathy Cunningham