IMLA

Annual Conference Super Saver Rates End
2023-04-07 00:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York)
IMLA’s 88th Annual Conference
September 27- October 1, 2023
La Quinta, California

Homelessness Working Group Conference Call
2023-04-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-03-02 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-02-02 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-01-05 14:00 - 15:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email cstorer@imla.org.

Mid-Year Seminar Regular Rates End
2023-03-31 00:00 - 23:30
2023 Mid-Year Seminar
April 21-24, 2023
Washington, D.C.

Telecommunications Webinar
2023-03-23 13:00 - 14:00
Square PEG in a Round Hole: Limits on Municipal Use of Public, Education, and Government Fees
This presentation will discuss the federal restrictions on local governments’ use of public, education, and government (“PEG”) fees paid by cable operators to support local government PEG channels, pursuant to the federal Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. Unlike some types of municipal revenue and funding sources, which carry no restrictions regarding how they may be spent and which are designated for the general fund to be used anywhere needed, the use of PEG fees is limited. Although trying to fit PEG fees into a local government’s budget may be challenging at times, Federal Communications Commission orders and court cases provide guidance on the purposes for which local governments may and may not use PEG fees. This presentation will also cover a series of PEG “FAQs” to assist municipal lawyers in advising local government clients, relative to the limited purposes for the use of PEG fees.
Speaker: David Johnson

Small/Rural Communities Working Group Call
2023-03-20 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-01-17 14:00 - 15:00

Preemption Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2023-03-02 13:00 - 14:00
Curricular Preemption
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This session examines state preemption of local school boards with regard to the content of curricula and educational materials. Divisive concepts in schools have been raised targeting the 1619 Project (a New York Times Magazine series reframing American history in the context of slavery and structural racism) and Critical Race Theory. This curricular preemption swept the nation and now the strategy has been expanded to preempt discussion of LGBTQ+ issues as well. This session will examine the trend of curricular preemption, from its origins to current iterations.
Speaker: Steven Nelson, Corinne Green & Marissa Roy

Counties Working Group Call
2023-03-01 15:00 - 16:00

Mid-Year Seminar Early Bird Rates End
2023-02-24 00:00 - 23:30

Diversity / Equity / Inclusion Book Club Meeting
2023-02-23 15:00 - 16:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email dshahnami@imla.org.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones. This is a book that speaks directly to our current moment, contextualizing the systems of race and caste within which we operate today. It reveals long-glossed-over truths around our nation’s founding and construction—and the way that the legacy of slavery did not end with emancipation, but continues to shape contemporary American life.

Police Alternatives Call
2023-02-21 14:00 - 15:00

Telecommunications Webinar
2023-02-21 13:00 - 15:00
Cell Tower Lease Rates and Sales
In the world of telecommunications law, one question rises to the top of the list: What is the going rent for a cell tower lease? This program will address that question, with industry statistics, which should be helpful for the thousands of landlords whose leases come up for renewal each year.
The program 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. It is presented by two attorneys with decades of experience representing municipalities and other property owners on cell leases.
In general, 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

New Lawyers Working Group Call
2023-02-13 14:00 - 15:00

Personnel Webinar
2023-02-09 13:00 - 14:00
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once – Employment Law Overview
This presentation captures the essential elements of municipal employment law – without getting tangled up during the process. It will provide some road maps and guideposts to help navigate through the maze of federal and state statutory employment requirements along with discussion of some common issues that arise in public sector employment. Additional topics may be discussed.
Speaker: Roberta “Robin” Cross

Affordable Housing Webinar
2023-02-07 13:00 - 14:00
Creating Affordable Housing: Madison’s Experience
Creating affordable housing is a major challenge for municipalities everywhere. In addition to the politics, financing affordable housing deals requires combinations of lending programs and creative solutions to fill financing gaps. This presentation will discuss the problems in creating and financing affordable housing for families and students, and methods the City of Madison, Wisconsin has been using to solve these issues including tax incremental financing, the creation of an affordable housing fund, and permitting density in exchange for affordability.
Speaker: Kevin Ramakrishna

Diversity Webinar
2023-02-02 13:00 - 14:00
Inclusive Language: An Ethical Guide
This presentation will cover language issues in legal writing pertaining to racial and ethnic terms, gender identity, and other forms of diversity. Attendees will participate in interactive activities designed to leave them better equipped to provide competent representation (Rule 1.1) and manage client communications (Rule 1.4) without disturbing the decorum of the tribunal (Rule 3.5). Presenters have created an Inclusive Language Guide for Legal Writing that will be available to all attendees.
Speaker: Zach Strassburger & Meghan Byrnes

Homelessness Webinar
2023-01-26 13:00 - 14:00
Strategies for Addressing Homelessness: the Colorado Springs Case Study
This presentation is a case study focusing on the intersection of legal and services-based efforts to address issues of homelessness. It will also discuss the unique impacts on this topic related to a city that has grown rapidly, lacks affordable housing, has a re-emerging downtown, and is home to a variety of different military installations, including a service academy. While the current legal landscape will be discussed, strategies beyond legislation that communities of all sizes can utilize will be presented as well.
Speaker: Marc Smith

Code Enforcement Webinar
2023-01-24 13:00 - 14:00
Public Rights-of-Way: Outdoor Dining and Management of Competing Uses
The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to an explosion in the use of public space for private commercial use. Consequently, cities are tasked with balancing the interests of myriad nonexclusive licenses to use the public right-of-way. The program illustrates the complexities of managing diverse commercial and governmental interests, public safety, and maintaining a system of public roads, while considering the future of “Streeteries” in the City.
Speaker: James Kellet & Maggy White

Construction Webinar
2023-01-12 13:00 - 14:00
Alternative Project Delivery: What Went Wrong
Construction owners are seeking to find better methods of procuring construction projects than the traditional Design-Bid-Build method. Do you know what the advantages and disadvantages are of alternative project delivery methods such as Design-Build and CM At Risk? This presentation will explain the differences between these alternatives, and share best practices for how to make each method successful. Additionally, how disputes are handled will be discussed.
After attending this presentation, participants should be able to: (1) Describe reasons, expectations and results of increased use of Alternative Project Delivery; (2) Compare the Design-Build and CM@Risk methods based on the following: Advantages and disadvantages, Best Practices, How the Spearin Doctrine applies, and Potential areas of dispute; and (3) Explain unique dispute resolution aspects of Alternative Project Delivery.
Speaker: Bryan Payne & Lisa Jones

Diversity Working Group Call
2023-01-11 15:00 - 16:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email cstorer@imla.org.
Welcome back to everyone for the 2023 year! This meeting will be an open discussion on what DEI topics you would like to see in webinars, zoom meetings, and book clubs for the 2023 year. We are open to suggestions that either directly impact your local government, current issues, and/or programs and solutions you would like to spotlight.

Personnel Webinar
2023-01-10 13:00 - 14:00
Employment Law Challenges in the New Normal
Municipal employers are facing a variety of challenges in the post-pandemic, new normal workplace. This especially is the case with the advent of what is termed “long COVID,” which has been defined as “new, recurring or ongoing health problems” experienced at least four months after infection with the COVID-19 virus.
This program, presented by Jonathan R. Mook, will address the extent of long COVID among working age Americans and its economic impact as well as the legal ramifications for municipal employers. Whether long COVID is a disability and the right of COVID-19 long haulers to reasonable accommodations, including telework, under the Americans with Disabilities Act will be discussed.
Jonathan also will discuss the new composition of the EEOC and its initiatives in the areas of artificial intelligence, caregiver discrimination and LGBT rights. Special attention will be given to the Commission’s focus on mental health and substance abuse disorders and the ADA protections for employees who are taking prescription medication to address addiction.
Speaker: Jonathan Mook & Robin Cross

Police Alternatives Working Group Call
2023-01-09 14:00 - 15:00

Construction Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2022-12-21 13:00 - 14:00
Fundamentals of Alternative Project Delivery in Public Construction: CMAR and Design-build Mechanics
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This program will introduce municipal practitioners to the basic procurement and contracting distinctions between traditional public construction through “low bid” and alternative project delivery models including design-build and construction manager at risk (CMAR). As more states permit local government to use these progressive project delivery models, municipal counsel are increasingly called upon to structure procurements and contract documents that protect owners. This program will teach these mechanics through comparative instruction and reference to modified low-bid documents. As always, our popular “traps for the unwary” will be covered.
Speaker: Steven Torres

Ethics Webinar
2022-12-15 13:00 - 14:00
Questions to an Ethics Hotline
This presentation will cover questions regularly raised by local government lawyers about the Rules of Professional Conduct and discuss how and which Rules answer such questions. The presentation will generally cover several of the ABA Model Rules having particular applicability to local government lawyers, including the Preamble and Scope and Rules 1.0 through 1.11, 1.13, 1.16, 1.18, Rules 3.1 through 3.5 and Rules 3.8 and 3.9, Rules 5.1 through 5.4 and Rules 8.3 and 8.4 to the extent time allows. The program anticipates that lawyers attending the program will have a better appreciation of how the Ruled of Professional Conduct apply in various situations that can regularly arise in the course of representing a local government client, how best to address their conduct in responding to those situations and what their duties and responsibilities are to the court and the bar.
Speaker: Charles W. Thompson, Jr.

Prosecution Webinar
2022-12-13 13:00 - 14:00
Prosecuting Code Cases
This presentation will discuss pros and cons for taking the civil/administrative and criminal routes in prosecuting code cases. The presentation will discuss initial intake issues and concerns and the common errors and problems that come with them. The presentation will also discuss training and advising investigators and ethical dilemmas which may arise for Prosecutors.
Speaker: Samuel Adams & Felix Ramirez

Federal Webinar
2022-12-07 13:00 - 14:00
Federal Circuit Court Trends
This presentation will examine trends in the federal circuit courts involving important constitutional issues for local governments. Topics covered will include social media cases and the First Amendment, homelessness case trends, Taking trends, novel Fourteenth Amendment arguments stemming from COVID-19 shutdowns, and the dormant commerce clause as it relates to short-term rentals.
Speaker: Amanda Karras

Disaster Relief Webinar
2022-12-06 13:00 - 14:00
Emergency Pandemic Hotel Shelters: Legal Challenges and Lessons Learned
In the earliest days of COVID-19, jurisdictions across the country quickly stood up emergency pandemic shelters for those experiencing homelessness, often in hotels. These pandemic shelters operated far longer than expected and, in some cases, drew legal challenges. This presentation will address tips for defending against legal challenges to these emergency, life-saving efforts, as well as lessons learned and legal pitfalls to avoid.
Speaker: Devona Wells & Rebecca Holschuh
