General Webinar
2022-02-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Legal Writing 101
Get valuable tips on writing — everything from an email to an appellate brief. Much of daily communication is the written word, and this seminar will teach you everything you need to know to make your communication clear and powerful.
Speaker: Blithe Bock

Telecommunications Webinar
2022-02-08 13:00 - 14:30
Key Legal Issues: From Plan Implementation Through Ongoing Operation and Regulatory Compliance
This presentation is the second of a two-part presentation. Lawyers from Keller and Heckman LLP will address the critical legal and regulatory issues that public broadband initiatives and partnerships typically encounter at each stage of a project from initial opportunity assessment to ongoing operation and regulatory compliance. It will focus on negotiation and implementation of project plans; startup activities; contract matters of many kinds; and federal and state regulatory compliance. This presentation will also discuss privacy and cybersecurity; and developments to watch. Part 1 is scheduled for January 6, 2022.
Speaker: Jim Baller, Sean Stokes, Casey Lide, Wes Wright & Tracy Marshall

Finance Webinar
2022-02-10 13:00 - 14:00
Fundamentals of Municipal Finance and Borrowing
Municipal attorneys are often asked, “Can we do this?”, when “this” relates to getting, spending, and borrowing money by their municipal clients. This session will consider the essential legal issues attendant to that question. We will discuss basic constitutional issues like public purpose, corporate purpose, and lending of the public credit; the theoretical distinction between taxes and fees; the legal ramifications of that distinction; and other limitations on the ways that municipalities can get and spend money. We will also briefly consider the role and types of municipal borrowing. Because the laws vary widely from state to state, the session will focus on issue spotting and general questions that the municipal attorney should consider when asked financial questions.
Speaker: Eric Shytle

Personnel Webinar
2022-02-17 13:00 - 14:00
The Americans with Disabilities Act Update: The Impact of COVID-19
In this webinar, Jonathan Mook will present an overview of significant ADA developments that occurred in 2021, particularly as they concern the COVID-19 pandemic. Issues such as whether COVID-19 (and, in particular, long COVID) is a “disability,” the applicability of the ADA’s direct threat defense to COVID-19, incentives an employer may offer employees to get a COVID-19 shot, and whether vaccination status and COVID-19 test results are protected medical information will be discussed. Jonathan also will offer a preview of emerging ADA issues that municipalities can expect to face in 2022, including assessing medical and religious exemptions to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements and the expansion of telework as a reasonable accommodation.
Speaker: Jonathan Mook & Robin Cross

Preemption Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-03-03 13:00 - 14:00
Preemption of Local Election Administration
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This session examines state preemption of local authority to administer elections on the impact that is having in key battleground states. Following the thoroughly discredited claims of election fraud in the 2020 election, several states have implemented policies to take authority away from local election boards, restrict ballot access, redraw district maps to favor candidates of a certain party, and potentially overturn local election results. All of these changes disempower voters, particularly from urban and marginalized communities. This session will discuss some of these trends at a national level and then engage with advocates on the ground in Texas and North Carolina to understand the real impact of this preemption.
Speaker: Richard Briffault, Deandrea Newsome, Luis Figueroa, and Marissa Roy

Construction Webinar
2022-03-08 13:00 - 14:00
Material Price Escalation: What This Means to Owners
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of construction labor and material prices have been soaring at record-breaking levels. Construction markets remain competitive as contractors struggle to overcome the challenges of the current market conditions and owners attempt to deal with the added risks from the economic threats. This session will provide an overview of the current market trends, changes to expect in project delivery and contracting methods, and how owners can be prepared to proactively address these issues head-on. After attending this presentation, attendees should be able to: (1) Identify current trends in the industry concerning construction starts, sector performance, labor availability, and supply chain impacts; (2) recognize today’s current market conditions and how they may impact your project; and (3) evaluate the industry’s response and identify measures you can take to be prepared to proactively address current conditions.
Speakers: Brian Goodreau & Bryan Payne

Telecommunications Webinar
2022-03-10 13:00 - 14:30
Cell Tower Leasing and Sales
This program provides municipalities (and all property owners) with the basics of leasing land for a cell tower or space on a building (or other structure) for cell antennas. It describes 5G service, why it is being rolled out slowly and why it has little impact on cell lease rental rates or the sales price for cell leases. It is presented by two attorneys with decades of experience representing municipalities and other property owners on cell leases. The program starts by covering key business issues in cell site leases, including lease rates, who gets the revenues from additional antennas or carriers being co-located at a site, and the major rent increases possible at renewals. It then shifts to avoiding lease terms which can prevent a landlord’s use or development of the property with the lease, and adding lease terms which help preserve these rights. After covering some more conventional lease terms the program addresses the sale of cell leases and future leasing rights. This includes typical sale prices (currently around 19 times annual revenues); when to sell and when it is not advisable to sell; how to get the best price and terms in a sale; and again avoiding provisions that restrict the development or use of the property. On both cell leases and the sale of leases the program addresses key items that are unique to municipalities. More generally, the program covers such topics as lease term and terminations, access requirements, radio frequency interference, design and camouflage, and radio frequency emissions safety.
Speakers: John Pestle & Jonathan Kramer

SLLC Supreme Court Midterm Webinar
2022-03-17 13:00 - 14:15
This is not an IMLA Webinar and will not offer CLE credits.
Since this summer, the Supreme Court has agreed to decide, and has decided, numerous cases involving states and local governments ranging from blockbusters to (more) bread and butter. Topics of cases discussed in this webinar include abortion, First Amendment, state intervention, qualified immunity, the Clean Power Plan, and liability for not reciting Miranda. Join Michael Dreeben, O’Melveny, who is writing the State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) amicus brief in a First Amendment public employment case, Harker Rhodes, Kirkland and Ellis, who is writing the SLLC brief in the Miranda case, and Morgan Ratner, Sullivan & Cromwell, in a discussion of the state and local Supreme Court docket at midterm.
Speakers: Michael Dreeben, Morgan Ratner, C. Harker Rhodes, IV & Lisa Soronen

Negotiations Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-05-05 13:00 - 14:00
Negotiations 101
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This presentation will outline the steps in preparing for a negotiation, discuss factors to consider in picking a strategy, and demonstrate both how to use and how to counter some of the most common negotiation tactics.
Speaker: DeWitt “Mac” McCarley

Construction Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-05-10 13:00 - 14:00
Secrets and Strategies to Successful Public Construction Projects
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Successful projects – meeting quality, time, budget requirements – can happen if the public owner and the municipal attorney take the proper steps to prepare for design and construction. Without the necessary planning and strategy, public works construction may experience unwanted delays, claims and cost overruns. This session will discuss the underlying causes that threaten successful project outcomes. Specific recommendations (“secrets”) will be presented regarding critical issues during the design phase including designer selection and professional services agreement, the public owner’s project management approach, and key construction contract provisions. Since unexpected issues are common in construction, a corresponding claims management strategy that focuses on avoidance, mitigation and resolution of claims and disputes will be presented.
Speaker: Joe Seibold & Christopher J. Petrini

General Webinar
2022-05-19 13:00 - 14:00
Robocall Me Maybe? Examining Automated Calls by Cities in Light of the FCC’s Broadnet Order on Reconsideration
As local governments seek to streamline processes and efficiently utilize funds in continually decreasing budgets, some are turning to automated phone calls and text messages (“robocalls” and “robotexts”) as a cost‐effective option to communicate with citizens. This session discusses the applicable federal laws and regulations that govern automated calls, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 as well as the associated FCC rules, orders, and rulings, with a focus on the FCC’s Broadnet Order on Reconsideration, released December 14, 2020, that formally applied these federal laws and regulations to local governments and their contractors. This session also discusses practical considerations and best practices for local governments when contacting citizens by automated calls and texts, including those related to telephone town halls, municipal court cases, water utility service, and COVID‐19 information.
Speakers: David Johnson

Police Webinar
2022-05-24 13:00 - 14:00
Creating a System of Police Oversight
The City of Austin has had some form of civilian police oversight for 20 years. This presentation will explore the legal issues the city has faced during that time, the changes in civilian oversight that have occurred, and different forms of oversight in other cities that have influenced the City of Austin’s approach. It will explore issues related to the confidentiality of police disciplinary records, anonymous civilian complaints, and labor relations with the Austin Police Association.
Speaker: Neal Falgoust

First Amendment Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-06-22 13:00 - 14:00
Regulating Signs & Billboards after Austin v. Reagan
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) has led to another U.S. Supreme Court case, Austin v. Reagan, a First Amendment decision which may affect the ability of your community to regulate on-premises and off-premises signs (billboards). Depending on the outcome of the case, thousands of local jurisdictions could have their sign ordinances completely upended, and have to start over when it comes to treating on-premises signs differently than billboards. Even if the Court affirms the traditional on/off distinction, Austin could still elaborate upon the concept of content-neutrality in sign regulations and further clarify the Reed decision.
This webinar includes a panel of experts who will describe the latest Reed developments and how the Court’s ruling in Austin may – or may not – change best practices for city attorneys. Communities interested in ensuring that they have constitutionally-compliant sign ordinances will want to attend.
Speaker: Susan L. Trevarthen, Mark White & David Hickey

Code Enforcement Webinar
2022-07-12 13:00 - 14:00
Administrative Warrants: Getting the Code Officer’s Foot in the Door
This webinar will discuss administrative warrants as a necessity for code enforcement inspections. We will discuss the differences between an administrative warrant as opposed to criminal warrants. Followed by a review of the case law requiring code enforcement officers to obtain one, the process, and scenarios.
Speaker: Savita Rai & Samuel Adams

Immigration Webinar
2022-07-14 13:00 - 14:00
Denver’s Municipal Response to Federal Immigration Pressures and Changes: 2017 to Today
The City and County of Denver has long been involved in immigrant and refugee integration from the community engagement level to policy development. In 2017, feeling tremendous pressure and responsibility to respond to the many significant changes to federal immigration policy and practice, Denver developed several transformational changes in legislation and support systems to reinforce our commitment to immigrant and refugee communities. This presentation will cover the changes and what has transpired since their development to ensure sustainability and relevance in an ever-changing national immigration landscape.
Speakers: Jamie Torres & Atim Otii

Preemption Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-07-21 13:00 - 14:00
Preemption of Prosecutorial Discretion
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This session examines state preemption of prosecutorial discretion. Increasingly, as prosecutors have begun to use their discretion to further criminal justice reform and shift from a punitive approach to a restorative one, states have begun to step in to constrain this use of prosecutorial discretion. States have preempted prosecutorial discretion by creating concurrent jurisdiction over certain offenses at the state level, by forcing prosecutors to pursue certain charges or limiting their ability to decline to prosecutor, and even by targeting certain specific prosecutors directly. These uses of preemption not only upsets the tradition of discretion – which has been a practical necessity as prosecutors must prioritize cases – but it also rejects the mandate of the local electorate calling for criminal justice reform.
Speaker: Jorge Camacho, Nicholas Goldrosen, Rick Su & Marissa Roy

First Amendment Webinar
2022-08-02 13:00 - 14:00
Protest and Demonstration Permits
A presentation discussing key considerations for governmental entities creating regulations that require permits for public protests and demonstrations. The webinar will cover the First Amendment standards for prior restraints – including strict scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, limiting the discretion of government officials, justifications supporting the regulation, narrowly tailoring the permit requirements, content neutrality, and permit conditions.
Speaker: Ian Williams

Personnel Webinar (Originally Scheduled For July 7th)
2022-08-23 13:00 - 14:00
Every Breath You Take, Every Move You Make: The Legal (and Practical) Aspects of Supervising Telework
This presentation will address some of the more common pitfalls associated with remote work. The legal aspects include Title VII, FLSA, Workers’ Comp, employee benefits, privacy rights and federal tax treatment. The presentation may also include practical solutions from savvy HR directors.
Speaker: Robin Cross

Homelessness Webinar
2022-08-25 13:00 - 14:00
Case Study: A Capital City’s Approach to Unsheltered Homelessness
In the wake of Martin v. City of Boise (9th. Cir. 2019), and the effects of the pandemic, Sacramento, California like many communities, experienced an overwhelming homelessness crisis that depleted public resources and overwhelmed business and neighborhood corridors. The recent Point in Time Count demonstrated that the Sacramento region experienced a 67% increase in its unhoused population since 2019. This webinar will explore the efforts employed by the City of Sacramento to mitigate the adverse effects of public encampments, address lawsuits brought by both homeless advocates and affected businesses, all while undertaking multiple efforts to shelter the unhoused. These efforts included actions by the Sacramento City Council to enact ordinances aimed to protect the city’s critical infrastructure, establish a new city department to provide a social-service-oriented response to noncriminal calls for services, and develop a comprehensive siting plan to shelter the unhoused in partnership with community organizations and individuals. The City Council has also placed a measure on the November ballot to accelerate increased shelter capacity and prescribe conditions subject to enforcement. The speakers will address each of these and other approaches and strategies taken not only to reduce the effects, but also to reduce and ultimately resolve unsheltered homelessness.
Speaker: Susana Alcala Wood, Aaron Israel, Gustavo Martinez & Beau Parkhurst

Animal Law Webinar
2022-08-30 13:00 - 14:00
Herding Cats: Legal Issues Involving Cats in Your Communities
The legal and practical management of cats has experienced significant development and advancement at the local level in recent years. City and county governments have the power to make important changes with respect to the treatment of cats in their communities – changes that will provide great benefit to both the human and animal populations, and lead to long-term solutions to current concerns. This session will describe the contemporary situations that local governments face with respect to cats, and provide scientific data and legal support for programs that represent the only real potential for success when dealing with these issues.
Speaker: Ledy VanKavage & Bruce Wagman

General Webinar
2022-09-06 13:00 - 14:00
New Municipal Attorney Essentials
Municipal attorneys need to handle a wide variety of legal responsibilities, some unique to local government. The number of issues and topics requiring legal proficiency can be overwhelming. This presentation will help city and county attorneys develop a plan for navigating their initiation into local government law. While this webinar is designed for attorneys who are new to local government, experienced municipal attorneys can also benefit from a review of the basics of municipal law.
Speaker: Roger Horner

Personnel Webinar
2022-09-13 13:00 - 14:00
Employment Law Workplace Investigations
This presentation will provide strategies and tips for workplace investigations, including: the investigative process; escalation and timing issues; retaliation and whistleblower protections; privilege issues; training; conducting interviews; and drafting and preparing reports.
Speaker: Trina Chernos

Preemption Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-09-15 13:00 - 14:00
Protecting Abortion at the Local Level
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This session examines the current patchwork of state laws governing of abortion following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This session will discuss what can be done at the local level to protect abortion access, both in states have restricted the right and those that have moved to enshrine it. Finally, this session will discuss how to integrate local communities into local efforts to further abortion justice.
Speaker: LiJia Gong, Jenny Dodson Mistry & Winnie Ye

Telecommunications Webinar
2022-09-20 13:00 - 14:30
Cell Tower Lease Rates and Sales Prices
In the world of telecommunications law, one question consistently rises to the top of the list: What is the going rate for lease or rent of a cell tower lease? This program will answer that question for cell leases, particularly for the tens of thousand of leases coming up for renewal.
It will also provide municipalities (and all property owners) with the basics of leasing land for a cell tower (or space on a building roof or other structure) for cell antennas, including why 5G has little impact on cell lease rents or the sales prices. It is presented by two attorneys with decades of experience representing municipalities and other property owners on cell leases.
The program covers key business issues in cell site leases, including lease rates, who gets the revenues from additional antennas or carriers being co-located at a site, and the major rent increases possible at renewals. It then shifts to avoiding lease terms which can prevent a landlord’s use or development of the property with the lease, and adding lease terms which help preserve these rights.
After covering some more conventional lease terms the program addresses the sale of cell leases and future leasing rights. This includes typical sale prices (often around 19 to 20 times annual revenues); when to sell and when it is not advisable to sell; how to get the best price and terms in a sale; and again avoiding provisions that restrict the development or use of the property. On both cell leases and the sale of leases the program addresses key items that are unique to municipalities. More generally, the program covers such topics as lease term and terminations, access requirements, radio frequency interference, design and camouflage, and radio frequency emissions safety.
Speaker: John Pestle & Jonathan Kramer

Land Use Webinar
2022-09-22 13:00 - 14:00
Equity in Property Assessments and Zoning
Real estate taxes are an important source of income for most local governments. Property assessments should be fair and equitable in order to ensure that all property owners pay their fair share, but no more. This program will include discussion of historic and current inequities in property assessments, and current thinking on ways to reduce these inequities.
Zoning codes and decisions by zoning boards have a significant impact on the lives and livelihoods of residents. Because of this widespread impact, it is important that a variety of stakeholders have access to the zoning process in order to provide input on issues in their communities. This presentation will first review the various stakeholders in zoning matters and how they are impacted, followed by a discussion of the challenges to equitable access and outcomes in zoning.
Faculty members are an attorney who counsels the Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment, in addition to defending assessment appeals; and an attorney who is counsel to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Speaker: Amy Galer & Hilary Emerson

Federal Webinar
2022-09-29 13:00 - 14:00
Seismic Shifts: SCOTUS, Religion & States and Local Governments
In the past few years, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued several significant decisions regarding its legal doctrines involving religion. Most notably, local governments lost two cases last term for applying incorrect legal tests! Last term SCOTUS embraced a narrow view of the Establishment Clause in a tuition assistance case and a public forum case and overturned Lemon in a public employment case. Recently, SCOTUS has embraced a broad view of the Free Exercise Clause in a series of COVID cases and a case involving the City of Philadelphia. And it may continue this trend in the upcoming term in a case involving a web designer who objects on religious grounds to making custom wedding websites for same-sex couples. The presentation will discuss these cases, trends, and practical guidance on SCOTUS and religion.
Speaker: Lisa Soronen, Erin Murphy & Joshua Matz

Technology Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-11-10 13:00 - 14:00
Biometrics and the Potential for Local Government Liability
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
New privacy laws about biometrics (fingerprints, retinal scan, facial recognition, voice recognition, the way a person walks, their keystrokes) require notification or protection for individuals, but do those laws affect local government? Are there liability issues for local government for use of biometric markers in regard to employment or other claims? This presentation explores those issues and maps out recommendations for best practices in this emerging area.
Speaker: Cathy Cunningham

Construction Webinar
2022-11-17 13:00 - 14:00
2022 Global Construction Disputes Report
Current events have introduced a high degree of anxiety and uncertainty to the construction industry across the globe. This webinar focuses on the top causes of disputes in 2021 and provides tangible actions to mitigate disputes on projects. After attending this presentation, participants should be able to describe the current events and challenges affecting the construction market; describe the top techniques for mitigating disputes; explain potential solutions for avoiding disputes; and discuss the top causes of disputes and methods for effectively avoiding them.
Speaker: Roy Cooper, Bryan Payne & Ben Eiss

Environment Webinar
2022-11-22 13:00 - 14:00
Citizens’ Suits & You: A basic understanding of the Private Enforcement mechanism under The Clean Water Act
This presentation will discuss how does a citizen suit work under 33 U.S.C. § 1365. The presentation will also discuss how to defend against a citizens’ suits and a survey of federal case law.
Speaker: Thomas E. Powers III

Land Use Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-11-29 13:00 - 14:00
Protecting Due Process in Your Pajamas: Administering Land Use Hearings in a Virtual World
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced local governments to shift to virtual hearings if they wanted to continue conducting business. Questions as to what impact such hearings may or may not have on the constitutional rights afforded parties in land use cases were generally set aside for the time being as Americans faced up to a significant health crisis. Heading into 2023, are virtual hearings the “new normal” and, if so, are the legislators and courts on board? Do existing state statutes and case law provide adequate protection for local government leaders to continue approving variances, conditional uses, special exceptions, site plans, subdivisions, and other land use applications from the comfort of their living room? What should local government attorneys consider when advising clients on whether virtual processes satisfy constitutional muster? This presentation will look at how different states are currently handling virtual hearings in the land use context and identify issues that attorneys should explore when advising local governments on best practices.
Speaker: David Warner
