Best Practices for City Ordinances Related to Animals CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. The presentation will provide sound and up-to-date guidance on ensuring that animal-related ordinances are in line with current case law. The presentation will assist cities and counties in preparing their respective animal-related ordinances before legal action occurs. The presentation will provide basic ordinance guidelines and tips, as well as more specific guidance on ordinances related to...

Creating More Livable Communities with Form-Based Codes Understanding form-based codes is important for lawyers involved in land development as they offer a tool for achieving urban planning goals and creating more livable communities. This presentation will discuss the use of form-based codes in regulating land development to achieve a specific urban form. The webinar will also discuss how these codes prioritize physical form over land use, promoting predictable built results and a high-quality public realm through municipal regulations using examples...

Proper Classification of Workers – Avoiding Potential Pitfalls in a Tight Labor Market CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. With the ongoing labor shortage, businesses may be tempted to explore alternative worker arrangements, such as engaging independent contractors. This session will cover the complex landscape of worker classification rules at the state, federal, and local levels. Gain valuable insights from recent litigation, specifically examining how these rules are affected during...

Regulating Signs & Billboards after Austin v. Reagan In 2022, Austin v. Reagan reaffirmed the ability of your community to regulate on-premises and off-premises signs (billboards), and to regulate commercial speech differently from non-commercial speech.  While Austin moderates some of its impact, the 2015 Reed v. Town of Gilbert content neutrality framework remains largely in place. It constrains how communities deal with temporary signs, and continues to require a high degree of rigor in drafting. This webinar includes a panel...

Alternative Project Delivery in Public Construction: Dissecting the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Contract and Best Practices This program will introduce municipal counsel to key differences in procurement, contract drafting, contract and claims administration and liability for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery.  CMAR contracts are emerging on the municipal construction landscape as valuable tools in the public owner’s toolbelt.  As public owners turn to these project delivery models, municipal officials will turn to municipal counsel for answers.   Learn both...

Municipalities and the Environment: New challenges and opportunities   CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. Join experienced environmental law practitioner Rich Glaze in this webinar as he explores new challenges and opportunities for municipalities in environmental regulation, including compliance under the Biden administration, EPA Brownfield Grants, and current legal issues surrounding PFAS and emerging contaminants in areas such as airports, wastewater treatment, and drinking water. Rich's extensive experience in defending companies,...

Supreme Court Preview for Local Governments: 2023-2024 Term This is NOT an IMLA webinar and CLE will not be offered by IMLA. Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch.  The Supreme Court will rule on several major cases this term, including on issues related to: A possible new standard for employment liability under Title VII; Whether a public official’s social...

Drafting Short-Term Rental Regulations  Regulating short-term rentals has become a significant issue for municipalities throughout the United States. In Texas, traditional ordinances governing land use and zoning do not always provide adequate regulations to preserve the character of residential neighborhoods amid an influx of short-term rental uses. When trying to regulate these uses, the priorities of local governments and residents have clashed with certain rights and interests of property owners and rental occupants. In the absence of definitive legislative or...

Artificial Intelligence with Real Consequences: A Government Lawyer’s Survival Guide of Navigating the Brave New World Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way in which governments work. AI-powered tools are already being used to review documents, conduct legal research, and write descriptions for webinars. However, the adoption of AI also comes with many risks, such as misinformation, bias, and discrimination. This webinar will explore the legal, ethical, and practical risks of AI...

The Climate Change Litigation and Municipalities as Plaintiffs Municipalities are often defendants in court, but increasingly they have become plaintiffs, suing a variety of industries and seeking remedies for city-wide injuries that also further public-policy goals. The climate-change litigation provides a prism for understanding how state law can provide some of the tools for this type of litigation and the types of roadblocks defendants throw up to reliance on state law through removal to federal court and the use of...