42nd MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show
January 21 & 22, 2021

A central feature of the MMA Annual Meeting is the wide selection of workshops covering the latest developments affecting local government. Workshop decisions have not yet been finalized for 2021. The information here is for reference.

The following were the workshops for 2020:

Friday First Session, 2-3:30 p.m.
Full workshop descriptions and panelists
• Control Your Destiny: Top Tips for Economic Development
• Cybersecurity: What Municipalities Need to Know Now
• Developments and Initiatives in Municipal Finance
• Labor Law Update: New Laws, Recent Cases and Agency Decisions
• Marijuana: New Regulations and Updated Best Practices
• Preparing Your Community for a Changing Climate
• Sharing Services: Solutions for Small Towns
• Social Media: Policies, Ethics and the Law
• Strategies for Recruiting Awesome Employees
• Using Mindfulness to Increase Workplace Engagement and Effectiveness

Friday Second Session, 3:45-5 p.m.
Full workshop descriptions and panelists
• Alcohol and Entertainment: Keys to Local Control via Licensing
• Collaboration: How Three Communities Managed a Gas Crisis
• Countdown to the Census: Steps to a Successful Count
• Municipal Law Update
• Municipal Transportation Finance 101
• New Perspectives on School Finance and Budgeting
• Transform Your Wellness Program: Create a Great Place to Work
• Use Your Voice: Public Speaking and Civility in Local Government

Saturday First Session, 2-2:40 p.m.
Full workshop descriptions and panelists
• Civil Service: Behind the Curtain
• Housing Production Plans: A Vision for Your Community’s Future
• Newest FCC Preemption: Cable Franchising Fees
• Opioid Use Disorder: Managing and Supporting Employees
• Re-evaluating Your Employee Evaluations
• Renewing the Municipal Energy Landscape
• Riding Into the Future: Innovations in Municipal Transit
• Transparency Basics: Open Meetings and Public Records

Saturday Second Session, 3-3:40 p.m.
Full workshop descriptions and panelists
• All Aboard! Your Guide to Welcoming New Employees and Officials
• Costing the Contract: Knowing Your Negotiation Numbers
• Effective Financing of Parks and Recreation Departments
• Financing Affordable Housing Solutions
• Fostering Connection Between Community and Town Hall
• Municipal Responses to Human Trafficking
• New Strategies to Stabilize and Strengthen Vulnerable Neighborhoods
• Property Sustainability: Protecting Municipal Assets

The Learning Lab sessions, to be held on Saturday, Jan. 25, on the Trade Show floor, are in the early planning stages.
See the full list of Learning Lab descriptions.

Learning Lab #1 and #2: Behind the 200 Aisle

10:30-11 a.m.
Learning Lab #1: Strategies for Addressing Long-Term Pension and OPEB Obligations
Learning Lab #2: The Value of Integration

11:10-11:40 a.m.
Learning Lab #1: Dangers of Assessing “Illegal” Occupancy and “Use” – A Municipality’s Potential Liability
Learning Lab #2: Understand Your Liability: Conduct an HR Compliance Self-Evaluation

11:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Learning Lab #1: Ready, Set, Placemake!
Learning Lab #2: Update on Implementation of Safety and Health Standards for Public Sector Workplaces

12:30-1 p.m.
Learning Lab #1: Recycling is Still Broken: Industry Update
Learning Lab #2: Using a Low-Cost, High-Tech Way to Manage Your Roads

1:10-1:40 p.m.
Learning Lab #1: PFAS Found! Now What?
Learning Lab #2: Become a Better Borrower: Municipal Bond Basics

The MMA welcomes suggestions from members about the topics you would like to see covered during workshops at future Annual Meetings. Please use this form to share your ideas with us!

+
+