IMLA

Annual Conference Early Bird Rates End
2023-05-26 00:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York)
IMLA’s 88th Annual Conference
September 27- October 1, 2023
La Quinta, California

Construction Webinar
2023-06-01 13:00 - 14:00
Sunshine Laws and the Vulnerability of Consultant Work Product in Public Works Construction Disputes
The United States Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and similar state-level open records statutes are intended to promote transparent government operations. However, when public agency owners encounter construction disputes, such “sunshine laws” may become an obstacle to resolving them. This presentation will explore the vulnerability of consultant work product to public records act demands against the intersection of attorney-client and work product privilege.
Speaker: Bryan Payne & Charles Montgomery

Homelessness Working Group Conference Call
2023-06-01 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-07-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-03 14:00 - 15:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email cstorer@imla.org.

Virtual Employment Law Program
2023-06-02 12:00 - 15:15
12:00PM to 12:55PM
Informal Networking Lunch
1:00PM to 2:00PM
Great Expectations: The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (the PUMP Act)
2:15PM to 3:15PM
Navigating the Legal Complexities of Employees with Substance Abuse Issues

Virtual Employment Law Program
2023-06-05 13:00 - 15:15
1:00PM to 2:00PM
How to Personally Combat Implicit Bias

2:15PM to 3:15PM
Defending Your Municipality Against Harassment and Sexual Harassment Claims

Virtual Employment Law Program
2023-06-06 13:00 - 15:15
1:00PM to 2:00PM
The EEOC’s 2023-2027 Strategic Enforcement Plan: Implications for Your Municipality
2:15PM to 3:15PM
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as Fundamental Principles

2023 IMLA in Canada
2023-06-08 09:00 - 19:00
2023 IMLA in Canada
Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
June 8, 2023
David Braley Vaughan Metropolitan Centre of Community
200 Apple Mill Road, 3rd floor in Vaughan, Ontario

Elected Attorney Meeting
2023-06-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-07-10 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-14 14:00 - 15:00
If you care to take part in this call or working group, please email cstorer@imla.org.

Award Intent to Nominate Forms are Due
2023-06-16 00:00 - 23:30
Intent to Nominate Forms for the below awards are due.

Marvin J. Glink Private Practice Local Government Attorney Award
Daniel J. Curtin Young Public Lawyer Award
Brown, Mulligan, Rocha Distinguished Public Service Award
Bruce A. Noble Distinguished Canadian Municipal Lawyer Award
William I. Thornton, Jr. IMLA Faculty Award
Outstanding State League Counsel Award
Brad D. Bailey Assistant City/County Attorney Award
Burk E. (Buck) Delventhal Legal Advocacy Award
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

Finance Webinar
2023-06-20 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

Preemption Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2023-06-22 13:00 - 14:00
Post-COVID Equitable Housing Preemption
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 protect tenants and expand access to affordable housing, particularly following the implementation and expiration of emergency measures passed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many state legislatures, in both “red” and “blue” states, preempt local governments from increasing housing supply, crafting inclusionary zoning, or implementing rent regulations to alleviate housing unaffordability. This dynamic often came to a head during the COVID-19 pandemic as local governments sought to impose eviction moratoriums and extend other support to burdened renters. The sunset of these provisions during a time of high inflation and projected recession has demonstrated the need for continued local government leadership on equitable housing policies, and even where state preemption exists. Local governments may still be able advance housing equity despite preemption and there are ways that municipal attorneys can help local leaders navigate this complex landscape.
Speaker: Nestor Davidson, Berbeth Foster & Marissa Roy

Religion Webinar
2023-06-27 13:00 - 14:00
Practical Implications of the Supreme Court’s Recent Free Exercise and Establishment Decisions
This webinar will address the practical implications of recent Supreme Court decisions about the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Led by a practicing First Amendment lawyer and a First Amendment specialist at UVA Law School, it will cover religious exemptions from civil rights law, prayer in public schools, school funding decisions, and ways in which rhetoric about religious freedom can affect case outcomes. Both of the speakers have substantial expertise working with (and representing) local governments, and will aim to provide useful guidance to lawyers seeking to navigate the Supreme Court’s rapid transformation of the First Amendment
Speaker: Joshua Matz & Richard Schragger

Code Enforcement Webinar
2023-06-29 13:00 - 14:00
Regulating Short-Term Rentals
Where we’ve been and where we can go. This presentation will discuss lessons learned and recent trends related to regulating short-term rentals (STRs). This includes the application of the dormant commerce clause, due process, equal protection, and takings provisions of the Constitution; and the role of zoning tools, regulating platforms, and business regulations in improving compliance. Lastly, this presentation will consider what success looks like.
Speaker: Patricia “Trish” Link & Ashley J. Becnel

Counties Meeting
2023-07-05 15:00 - 16:00

New Lawyers Meeting
2023-07-10 14:00 - 15:00

Local Government Legal Center Supreme Court Review Webinar - This is not an IMLA Webinar
2023-07-11 13:00 - 14:00
Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2022-2023 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 Supreme Court’s important decisions of the term impacting local governments. The Supreme Court will rule on several monumental cases this term, including on issues related to:

Whether the First Amendment allows for exceptions to anti- discrimination ordinances,
The Independent State Legislature Theory,
A new test for Waters of the United States,
An important Title VII / employment law case,
And more.

The LGLC is a coalition of national local government organizations formed in 2023 by the National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC) and International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) to provide education to local governments regarding the Supreme Court and its impact on local governments and local officials and to advocate for local government positions at the Supreme Court in appropriate cases. Learn more.
Speakers: Aileen McGrath & John Korzen
Moderator: Erich Eiselt, IMLA’s Assistant General Counsel

Small/Rural Communities Working Group Call
2023-07-17 14:00 - 15:00

Historic Preservation Webinar
2023-07-20 13:00 - 14:00
Trends in Local and Federal Historic Preservation Law
This seminar will delve into municipalities’ powers to regulate and protect historic properties. Highlighting new research covering the 11% of municipalities with local preservation ordinances, the seminar will outline the scope of this expanding regulatory sphere. Then the presenters will explain how municipalities may become federally-recognized “certified local governments” and play a role in federal historic preservation review processes, with a focus on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Finally, they will discuss recent federal guidance influencing local policymaking.
Speaker: Sara Bronin & Kelly Fanizzo

Award Nomination Forms are Due
2023-07-21 00:00 - 23:30
Nomination Forms for the below awards are due.

Charles S. Rhyne Lifetime Achievement Award
James H. Epps III Award for Longevity of Service to a Community Award
Marvin J. Glink Private Practice Local Government Attorney Award
Daniel J. Curtin Young Public Lawyer Award
Brown, Mulligan, Rocha Distinguished Public Service Award
Bruce A. Noble Distinguished Canadian Municipal Lawyer Award
William I. Thornton, Jr. IMLA Faculty Award
Outstanding State League Counsel Award
Brad D. Bailey Assistant City/County Attorney Award
Burk E. (Buck) Delventhal Legal Advocacy Award
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

Virtual Section 1983 Program
2023-07-27 12:00 - 15:15
12:00PM to 12:55PM
Informal Networking Lunch

1:00PM to 2:00PM
Fourth Amendment Case Law Update
2:15PM to 3:15PM
Protest Litigation

Virtual Section 1983 Program
2023-07-28 12:00 - 15:30
12:00PM to 1:00PM
Trial Practice Skills
1:15PM to 2:15PM
Your Municipality Has Been Served With a Section 1983 Complaint. What now?
2:30PM to 3:30PM
TBA

Legal Writing Webinar
2023-08-01 13:00 - 14:00
The Optimal Amount of Advocacy
Figuring out the optimal level of advocacy can be tricky, especially when you write. You don’t want to oversell your case. But you don’t want to undersell it either. This workshop will give you a number of tips and techniques you can use to find your own sweet spot of persuasion.
Speaker: Patrick Barry

Mental Health Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2023-08-03 13:00 - 14:00
Mental Health: Maintaining Wellbeing While Negotiating Conflicting Interests
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
How do municipal lawyers manage their mental health and maintain their wellbeing, while balancing their responsibilities? This program will discuss the challenges of managing mental wellbeing while maintaining ethical responsibilities in the unique position that many municipal attorneys need to navigate on a daily basis. We will explore practical techniques for setting boundaries without compromising career growth, mindfulness practices to reduce stress, enhancing decision-making and communication for improved inclusion, and leveraging benefits to enhance overall wellbeing.
Speaker: Diane O’Connell

Police Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2023-08-08 13:00 - 14:00
Why Didn’t They Just Shoot The Gun Out of His Hand? Defending Police Uses of Force in The Era of BWC & Cell Phone Videos
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
In popular culture, fictionalized versions of police encounters often depict officers flawlessly shooting a gun out of a suspect’s hand. However, it is crucial to address the unrealistic nature of such scenarios in real-life law enforcement. This webinar aims to shed light on key topics, including the impact of life-and-death situational stress, the training officers receive, and the limitations of video evidence captured by body-worn cameras (BWC) and cell phones. By understanding these critical aspects, municipal attorneys can effectively convey accurate and informed messages to jurors, judges, insurance adjusters, and the general public.
Speaker: Beth Mohr

Animal Law Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2023-08-15 13:00 - 14:00
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 dangerous dog determinations, aggressive animals, ownership, leash laws, and tethering. Several of the examples in the presentation will be related to Texas, however the presentation generally applies across all jurisdictions, based upon specific case law respective to each.
Speaker: Robyn Katz

Code Enforcement Webinar
2023-08-17 13:00 - 14:00
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 of form-based code such as Miami 21 to illustrate the effectiveness of form-based codes along with other topics to be discussed.
Speaker: Chad Friedman
