COVID-19 Conference Call
2020-05-05 15:15 - 16:15, 2020-05-12 15:15 - 16:15, 2020-05-19 15:15 - 16:15, 2020-05-26 15:15 - 16:15, 2020-06-02 15:15 - 16:15, 2020-06-09 15:15 - 16:15, 2020-06-16 15:15 - 16:15 (America/New_York)
If you care to take part in this call, please email cstorer@imla.org.

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

Employment Law Program
2020-06-04 12:00 - 14:15
12:00 PM EDT
Informal Networking Lunch
1:15 PM EDT
Implicit Bias
This presentation will discuss:

How to advise your client on implicit bias: This would cover advice on how to avoid
implicit bias and how and why to train your employees on implicit bias.
Use of implicit bias in court: This would cover how plaintiffs are attempting to use
implicit bias evidence to support employment discrimination claims, potential defenses
to the use of implicit bias evidence, and how the courts are currently negotiating the
use of implicit bias evidence in cases

Speaker: Tara Kelly

Employment Law Program
2020-06-05 15:45 - 18:00
3:45 PM EDT
Responding to EEOC Complaints
This session will discuss the steps that a municipal attorney should take upon receipt of an EEOC Charge, and will offer suggestions as to how to make a municipality’s response to that Charge persuasive, effective, and, ultimately, more successful.
Speaker: Douglas Haney
Moderator: Beth Anne Childs
5:00 PM EDT
Networking Reception

Employment Law Program
2020-06-08 13:15 - 14:45
FMLA & the ADA including new EFMLA and FFCRA Considerations
This session will explore the complicated layer of laws and other considerations that apply when handling a public employee’s medical issue, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This session will also provide an overview of the recently passed FFCRA, including EPSLA and the expansion of FMLA.
Speakers: Jana Sullivan & Daniel White
Moderator: Susana Alcala Wood

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

Employment Law Program
2020-06-09 13:00 - 14:00
1:00 PM EDT
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

Employment Law Program
2020-06-10 13:15 - 14:15
Breaking Blue; Considerations in Advising and Defending in Police Disciplinary Actions
The presenters will provide insights on how to defend police disciplinary actions, particularly where pending litigation and Court Approved Settlement Agreement with the Department of Justice intersect.
Speakers: Melissa Kountz & Lindsay Van Meter

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

Employment Law Program
2020-06-22 13:00 - 14:00
1:00 PM EDT
Indoor Ethics Award: What Happens When Your Advocacy Goes Viral
Speaker: Roberta ‘Robin’ Cross

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

Employment Law Program
2020-06-24 13:00 - 18:00
1:00-2:00 PM EDT
Employment & Labor Law Issues in the Era of COVID 19
Speaker: Heather Poole & Heidi Brown
5:00 -6:00PM EDT
Networking Reception

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
