IMLA

First Amendment Webinar
2020-02-20 13:00 (America/New_York)
February 20 – First Amendment
Tips and Defenses to Litigating the First Amendment
This presentation will discuss a broad range of First Amendment matters as examples of how to litigate and defend your city when you receive First Amendment challenges. Additional topics may be added.
Speakers: Deborah Fox & Meg Rosequist

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Preemption Webinar
2020-02-26 13:00
February 26 – Preemption
Home Rule for the 21st Century
*FREE LIVE FOR IMLA MEMBERS! CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
In January, the National League of Cities is publishing Principles of Home Rule for the Twenty-First Century, a new vision for local government legal authority and relationship to states. This legal framework, which include a model constitutional home rule article and commentary, is the first comprehensive effort since 1953 to re-image home rule, and is intended to serve as the foundation for meaningful law reform within the states. This webinar will describe the origins of this model constitutional article in light of the history of home rule reform; explain the substance and details of the new approach to home rule; and explore possibilities for change moving forward.
Speaker: Nestor Davidson

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Telecommunications Webinar
2020-02-27 13:00
February 27 – Telecommunications
Development and Deployment of Municipal Broadband: Securing Funding and Other Considerations
*FREE LIVE FOR IMLA MEMBERS! CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Given the increase in the importance of broadband access, some municipalities have considered developing their own broadband networks. These municipal broadband networks are a public utility available to residents, especially in rural areas where high speed connectivity is scarce. Building and managing a broadband network is often an expensive endeavor. This webinar will discuss the fundamentals of developing and deploying municipal broadband as well as how to secure funding. Additional topics may be presented.
Speakers: Al Catalano & Wes Wright

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Telecommunications Webinar
2020-03-03 13:00
March 3 – Telecommunications
New FCC Proceeding Exempting Cell Tower/Radio Tower Expansions from Local Approval
*90 Minutes*
A current FCC proceeding may exempt many more changes to cell tower/radio tower sites from complying with state and local laws, including weakening/preempting compliance with health and safety-related codes and requirements. This would significantly expand the preemption set forth in the FCC’s 2014 Wireless Siting Order. The program will cover the 2014 Order (briefly), the expanded preemption being considered and significant municipal concerns and objections to such expansion.
Speakers: John Pestle & Jonathan Kramer

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Personnel Webinar
2020-03-05 13:00 - 14:00
March 5 – Personnel
ADA and Animals in the Workplace
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires reasonable accommodations for the disabled, but how far does that extend when it comes to service animals in the workplace? This webinar will cover topics including the distinction between service animals, therapy animals, emotional support animals, and pets; which animals must be allowed; what the requirements are for the different categories of animals; courses of action that are recommended versus mandatory; and how to mitigate between the ADA’s requirements and the concerns for other individuals in the office (e.g. allergies, distractions, phobias). Other topics may be included in addition to those provided in the description.
Speaker: Robin Cross
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Technology Webinar
2020-03-11 13:00
March 11 – Technology
Ransomware and Local Governments: Do Not be Held Hostage!
*70 Minutes*
Municipalities are often the target of hackers seeking financial gain from extortion. These unforeseen incidents wreak havoc on governmental operations and bring functionality to a standstill. The aim of this webinar is to assist local government attorneys and officials in anticipating and defending against future intrusions. Additional topics may be included.
Speakers: Lawrence Lee & Christopher Johnson
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Construction Contracts Webinar
2020-03-17 13:00 - 14:00
How Design Documents Can Cause or Prevent Claims
This session will discuss the types of design documents and stages of design development along with the common problems that can cause design claims. Participants will learn the legal considerations in assessing design liability, the allocation of design risk and the ways to minimize the risk and cost of resolving construction claims arising from design issues.
Speakers: Roy Cooper & Greg Holness

Fair Housing Webinar
2020-03-24 13:00 - 14:00
Tips and Defenses to FHA Violations when Adhering to State Zoning/Building Laws
This presentation will address how to defend and litigate Fair Housing Act Violations against your municipality. This presentation will provide a focus on such a defense while adhering to state building codes and other similar state requirements. Additional topics may be covered.
Speaker: Brian Connolly

Land Use & Code Enforcement Webinar
2020-03-25 13:00 - 14:00
Mobile Homes
This presentation will address unique issues with code enforcement and land use involving mobile homes. Additional topics may be presented.
Speaker: Julian Grant

Code Enforcement Webinar
2020-03-31 13:00 - 14:00
Enforcing Quality of Life Laws After Martin v. City of Boise
Camping ordinances, sit and lie laws, and other quality of life laws were greatly impacted by the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Martin v. City of Boise. As a result of this decision, there are many questions around enforcement of these quality of life laws. This presentation will discuss not only the decision in Martin v. City of Boise, but also address its impact on other quality of life laws. Additional topics may be presented.
Speakers: Theane Evangelis & Joseph Tartakovsky

Personnel Webinar
2020-04-02 13:00 - 14:00
Medical Exams Under the ADA
This presentation will cover medical exams under the Americans with Disabilities Act and best practices and policies. Additional topics may be included.
Speakers: Lindsay Rose & Robin Cross

Disaster Relief Webinar
2020-04-15 13:00 - 14:00
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What Municipal Attorneys Need to Know
FREE LIVE FOR IMLA MEMBERS! CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc throughout the country, creating significant hardships on employees and employers alike. To provide some relief, Congress recently passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), which creates two new types of paid leave for employees: (1) Expanded Family and Medical Leave and (2) Emergency Paid Sick Leave. This webinar, presented by DiMuroGinsberg, P.C. attorney, Jonathan R. Mook, is designed to assist you in understanding the new paid leave requirements and to answer such questions as: (1) What municipalities are covered by the FFCRA? (2) Who is eligible for leave? (3) What are the qualifying reasons for leave? (4) What are the new paid leave entitlements? (5) How will the FFCRA be enforced? And (6) What notice must you provide your workforce? Please join us for this timely and informative webinar.
Speaker: Jonathan Mook

Code Enforcement Webinar
2020-05-05 13:00 - 14:00
Tiny Homes
With the rising cost of rent and homeownership and housing shortages, some have turned to living in tiny homes as their solution. For many, tiny houses represent a cheaper, eco-friendly option. For local governments, the growing popularity of tiny homes presents challenges from inspections to ensuring compliance with building and zoning regulations. This webinar is intended to aid local government attorneys navigate the complex array of issues tiny homes generate. Additional topics may be included.
Speakers: James McKechnie & Terry Floyd

Disaster Relief Webinar
2020-05-07 13:00 - 14:15
Legal Implications of COVID-19: What Local Governments Need to Know
(Non CLE Event – 2020 IMLA Mid-Year Virtual Seminar Registrants DO NOT register – information will be forwarded)
Shareholders from international law firm Greenberg Traurig return for a continuation of their IMLA Mid-Year Seminar presentation, Legal Implications of COVID-19: What Local Governments Need to Know, this time to discuss Price Gouging, Consumer Protection, Labor & Employment, and other issues facing state and local governments amid the Coronavirus pandemic. The presenters are members of the GT Health Emergency Preparedness Task Force.
Speakers: Greg Casas & Shira Yoshor

Construction Contracts Webinar
2020-05-12 13:00 - 14:00
Construction Impacts and Disputes: Preparing to Resolve Claims and Resume Work after COVID-19
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are incalculable and continuing. This webinar discusses the possible consequences to affected construction projects and what owners and contractors may face when work can finally resume. We’ll explore the issues and approaches to enable project participants to resolve the construction impacts as effectively as possible — including steps you can take now to prepare.
Speakers: Joseph Seibold & Bryan Payne

Telecommunications Webinar
2020-05-18 13:00 - 14:30
Cell Tower Leasing for Units of Government: Getting the Benefits, Avoiding the Pitfalls
Once your local government leases property for a cell tower or cell antenna, you will routinely receive offers to buy the cell tower lease for a lump sum payment (often plus a percentage of future revenues), coupled with a long term (or perpetual) easement. The most common question is whether these are good deals for governments. This program, taught by John Pestle, Esq. and Dr. Jonathan Kramer, Esq., both highly experienced local government telecommunications attorneys, covers (1) how to determine whether a sale of a cell lease and future leasing rights is in a municipality’s best interest, (2) descriptions of the non-binding bid process which will commonly lead to the best price and terms, (3) the significant legal issues, business issues and potential pitfalls involved in selling the lease, and (4) some of the traps hidden in the lengthy “Communications Easement” you will be asked to execute. This program will help you spot the major issues in the very one-sided documents typically offered by buyers. Key points to be addressed include (a) making sure the municipality is not hindered in using its property for its primary public use; (b) ensuring that future sums and duties promised by the purchaser in fact are performed; (c) unique insurance and bankruptcy issues; (d) special questions of municipal authority; (e) compliance with bond obligations and IRS tax-exempt bond regulations; (f) municipal finance/procurement statutes; and (g) prohibitions on waste. Extensive handouts in PDF format will be provided to participants, which commonly include local government attorneys, city managers and the real estate property managers working for local governments. A lively and interactive Question and Answer session will follow the presentation.
Speakers: John Pestle & Jonathan Kramer

Code Enforcement Webinar
2020-05-20 13:00 - 14:00
Constitutional Risks in Inspections and Best Practices
This presentation will cover constitutional requirements, legal risks, and ways to minimize risk during and after an inspection. Additional topics may be included.
Speaker: Patricia “Trish” Link

Disaster Relief
2020-05-27 13:00 - 14:00
We Are Not Here To Make Friends; We Are Here To Save Lives In A COVID-19 World: Enforcement Of State And Local Stay-At-Home And Public Health Orders Against Faith-Based Groups And Institutions
The Riverside County Counsel’s Office will provide a summary of its enforcement efforts to move Faith-Based Groups to streaming or other technology to reach its congregants in lieu of in-person services and the constitutional issues attendant to responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Speaker: Kelly Moran & Ronak Patel

Telecommunications Webinar
2020-05-28 13:00 - 14:00
Update: FCC Cable Franchising Proceeding
In 2019, the FCC sought to further strip local governments of their authority over use of their rights of way as related to cable franchising. Last year, the FCC published a report and order entitled “Implementation of Section 621(a)(1) of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 as amended by the Cable TV Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992”. This Order, among other things, significantly restricts a local government’s ability to impose franchise fees, and prohibits local government from regulating most non-cable services which includes broadband Internet services provided over a cable system. This webinar will cover the changes to local authority in cable franchising as a result of the Order as well as provide information as to litigation efforts. Additional topics may be covered.
Speaker: Gerard Lederer & Gail Karish

Construction Contracts Webinar
2020-06-03 13:00 - 14:00
Construction Contract Drafting & Litigation Strategies
This presentation will address construction contract drafting issues and how provisions of various contracts can mitigate your risk of liability in the event that your municipality faces suit. This presentation will also address when construction contracts go wrong and different litigation strategies. Additional topics may be included.
Speakers: Mary DeVuono Englund & Karl F. Oles

Personnel Webinar
2020-06-09 13:00 - 14:00
The Fourth Amendment and Drug Policies in the Workplace
It has often been said that one of the largest components of a local government’s budget is for personnel costs. While there are many similarities between guiding employers between the public and private sectors, public employers have some additional concerns not faced by their private employment counterparts. The goal of this presentation is to provide public sector employers, particularly local governments, guidance and roadmaps to navigate through the complex issue of drug policies in the workplace and related issues. Additional topics may be presented.
Speakers: Deidra Sullivan

Preemption Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2020-06-11 13:00 - 14:00
Local Financing
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This presentation will discuss preemption of local financing such as taxation, fee generation, and other revenue raising functions. Additional topics may be presented.
Speaker: Erin Scharff

Transportation Webinar
2020-06-17 13:00 - 14:00
Transportation 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

Construction Contracts Webinar
2020-06-23 13:00 - 14:00
Change Order Management
Construction project change orders are common and can have the effect of slowing down your project as well as increasing project price from the original amount the construction contractor bid. This webinar will cover how to manage change orders to avoid unnecessary delays and cost increases. Additional topics may be covered.
Speakers: Mark Guevara & Brian Goodreau

Municipal Governance Webinar
2020-07-07 13:00 - 14:00
Public Information Acts and Their Application to Electronic Documents
Attorneys must interpret public records laws to determine if certain electronic documents must be disclosed. However, there is no consensus among the varying jurisdictions about which documents are subject to disclosure. Although we have some federal guidance, this guidance is not comprehensive as it does not address all aspects of electronic records. This presentation will discuss electronic records and provide guidance to local government attorneys for how to handle electronic documents.
Speaker: Hilary Ruley

Ethics Webinar
2020-07-14 13:00 - 14:00
Attorney-Client Privilege
The bounds of the attorney-client relationship can be complicated for those who represent government entities, including local governments. This webinar will focus on the parameters of the attorney-client relationship when the organization is the client and on the attorney-client privilege in the government context. ABA Model Rule 1.6 and ABA Model Rule 1.13 will be covered during this webinar.
Speaker: Henry Bernstein

Transportation Webinar
2020-07-16 13:00 - 14:00
Planning for Autonomous Vehicles
This presentation will discuss how to prepare your locality for the eventual launch of autonomous vehicles. It will also cover the current legal landscape and prospective changes on the horizon. Additional topics may be presented.
Speaker: Crista Cuccaro

Land Use Webinar
2020-07-22 13:00 - 14:00
Penn Central Regulatory Takings and Inverse Condemnation Part 1
This presentation will provide an overview of property law and of takings law discussing the differences between a Lucas taking, a Penn Central taking; and the exaction cases Nolan and Dolan and the elements of an inverse condemnation claim. This presentation is the first of a two-part series on takings and condemnation.
Speaker: Jefferson L. Blomquist

Telecommunications Webinar
2020-07-23 13:00 - 14:30
New FCC Order Mandating Approval of Cell Tower Changes
The program will cover a new FCC order that expands the types of changes to radio, TV and cell towers that municipalities must approve. Important provisions include the continued need for code compliance, changes in shot clocks and height increases, and narrowing local authority regarding concealed or “stealth” towers. A related rule-making considers mandating local approval of expansions outside the current tower site. The program will cover these points, their practical effect and municipal responses.
Speakers: John Pestle & Jonathan Kramer

Technology Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2020-08-04 13:00 - 14:00
Social Media Policy
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This webinar will cover IMLA’s Social Media Policy in depth to provide guidance on how a local government should handle a wide range of scenarios involving social media use. Additional topics may be covered.
Speaker: Chuck Thompson
