2023 IMLA in Canada
2023-06-08 09:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
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, 2023-09-06 15:00 - 16:00

Homelessness Working Group Conference Call
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.

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

Employment Law Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2023-08-22 13:00 - 14:00
Proper Classification of Workers – Avoiding Potential Pitfalls in a Tight Labor Market
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
With the ongoing labor shortage, businesses may be tempted to explore alternative worker arrangements, such as engaging independent contractors. This session will cover the complex landscape of worker classification rules at the state, federal, and local levels. Gain valuable insights from recent litigation, specifically examining how these rules are affected during changes in administration.
Speaker: Trina Chernos

Signs and Free Speech Webinar
2023-08-24 13:00 - 14:00
Regulating Signs & Billboards after Austin v. Reagan
In 2022, Austin v. Reagan reaffirmed the ability of your community to regulate on-premises and off-premises signs (billboards), and to regulate commercial speech differently from non-commercial speech. While Austin moderates some of its impact, the 2015 Reed v. Town of Gilbert content neutrality framework remains largely in place. It constrains how communities deal with temporary signs, and continues to require a high degree of rigor in drafting.
This webinar includes a panel of experts who will describe the latest developments and how Austin and subsequent cases affect best practices for city sign regulations. Communities interested in ensuring that they have constitutionally-compliant sign ordinances will want to attend.
Speaker: Susan L. Trevarthen, Mark White & David Hickey

Annual Conference Regular Rates End
2023-08-25 00:00 - 23:30
IMLA’s 88th Annual Conference
September 27- October 1, 2023
La Quinta, California

Construction Webinar
2023-08-29 13:00 - 14:00
Alternative Project Delivery in Public Construction: Dissecting the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Contract and Best Practices
This program will introduce municipal counsel to key differences in procurement, contract drafting, contract and claims administration and liability for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery. CMAR contracts are emerging on the municipal construction landscape as valuable tools in the public owner’s toolbelt. As public owners turn to these project delivery models, municipal officials will turn to municipal counsel for answers. Learn both the subtle and gaping differences in the procurement and contract models, since this is not your grandparent’s low bid procurement. Program participants will learn effective two-step procurements for CMAR, best-value procurement and how to protect your municipality with tried and tested revisions to standard form industry contracts. The program wraps up with our signature “Traps for the Unwary.
Speaker: Steven “Tip” Torres

Environment Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2023-09-05 13:00 - 14:00
Municipalities and the Environment: New challenges and opportunities
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Join experienced environmental law practitioner Rich Glaze in this webinar as he explores new challenges and opportunities for municipalities in environmental regulation, including compliance under the Biden administration, EPA Brownfield Grants, and current legal issues surrounding PFAS and emerging contaminants in areas such as airports, wastewater treatment, and drinking water. Rich’s extensive experience in defending companies, municipalities, and individuals in environmental law matters makes this webinar a valuable resource for attorneys that practice municipal law.
Speaker: Rich Glaze
