2023 OCCMA Summer Conference

8am-1pm

Golf Tournament at Golf Course at Birch Creek

Join fellow OCCMA members and guests from across the state to participate in the golf tournament. Golfers will enjoy a beautifultree-lined golf course, especially appreciating the greens average a speed of 10-11 on the stimpmeter. The golf course is fun and playable yet still challenging to golfers of all abilities. Lunch will be provided to the golfers after the tournament. 

1pm -

5:30pm

Registration & Exhibitor Hall Opens

2pm -

4pm

Legislative Update

2023 Legislative Session Debrief. Come listen in on the highs and lows of this session and the work to be done. 

4pm-

5:30pm

Welcome Reception & New Attendee Mingle

Check-in, visit with your peers, and get to know new OCCMA members while enjoying appetizers and a no-host bar prior to dinner.

Dinner on Own

Registration

7:30am-

6:30pm

Sponsor Exhibits Open

Our sponsors/vendors will be available during session breaks and meals. 

7:30am-

9am

Senior Advisor Panel & Continental Breakfast

The Senior Advisor Program is a joint activity of ICMA and OCCMA, established by the ICMA Executive Board in 1974 to make the counsel, experience, and support of respected, retired managers of the profession available to members. Join the Oregon advisors to learn more about the program and the resources they have to offer to both new and seasoned city managers. The advisors would also like to hear feedback from city managers on how the LOC Small Cities Program is working for them. This session will begin at 7:45 am, so please grab your food and take a seat.

9am-

10:15am

Bridging the Gap to a High-Performing Organization

We know that communities are better served when the demographics of the local government workforce reflects the community it serves. Abundant research has demonstrated that more diversity on workplace teams yields greater creativity, efficiency, and performance. Yet women still make up only 20% of City/County Managers, despite being 50% of the population. It takes commitment from all of us to break down barriers and improve our workforces and our communities. Join the Northwest Women’s Leadership Academy to hear what works and where there are still challenges to advancing women in the workplace. Come ready to identify one thing you will do to do your part to strengthen your organization and community!

10:30am-

11:45am

DEI Session 

Welcome Address

Lunch & Keynote

Leading Change: The Opportunities in Uncertainty

Dr. Gisela Wendling is The Grove's vice-president for global learning and senior consultant. She is the co-author of Visual Consulting: Designing & Leading Change and the soon to be released Liminal Pathways Study researching the efficacy of the Wendling Liminal Pathways Change Framework (LPF). She developed this system to support practitioners and leaders to embrace challenges as transformational opportunities. In her work she focuses on designing outer support structures so that people can do the inner work of changing and to fully integrate these changes into their lives and their organizations. Dr. Wendling draws from a wide range of fields of study and cross-cultural experiences in her organizational and social change work. Her appreciative colleagues refer to her as a visionary anthropological theorist. 

Dr. Wendling's keynote session/workshop will be an opportunity for you to become familiar with the LPF, to apply the framework to a current change challenge and to consider your pathway forward. There will be time for personal reflection and rich interaction with other participants to explore the kinds of challenges you are dealing with. Gisela will also share with us insights she gained from her recent study regarding the dynamics of change that are particularly challenging right now. As we are all emerging from the pervasive impact of the pandemic and related crises understanding and learning how to work with the liminal, in-between spaces is critical.

Creating a Culture of Curiosity and Innovation

The changing needs and expectations of our communities require that we think differently and innovate.  During this interactive session, we’ll discuss and explore tools to implement an innovation mindset, as well as talk about the important ways that leadership can help build and support a culture of innovation.  

Snack Break

Pendleton Tours

Pick between four tour options provided by the city of Pendleton and the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation.

6pm

Presidents Reception & Dinner

Join OCCMA President Scott Derickson for a western themed BBQ! Plan to wear your western gear and enjoy dinner with your peers.

Registration

7:30am-

5pm

Sponsor Exhibits Open

Our sponsors/vendors will be available during session breaks and meals. 

Continental Breakfast

8am-9:15am

Energy Issues Facing the State

The supply of energy is changing dramatically. Northwest grid decarbonization laws will retire all natural gas and coal-fueled power plants in the region by 2045. These sources represent 1/3 of the region’s existing generation. Alternatives like increased reliance on wind, solar and battery storage are being pursued as potential replacements for traditional energy sources, but what does that future look like? This session will give attendees a glimpse into the future challenges they see facing the northwest in meeting the growing energy needs of Oregon communities.

Emerging Issues in Environmental Law for Oregon Municipalities 

Christine Hein and Mark Strandberg of Ring Bender LLP will discuss emerging issues in environmental and natural resources law that are likely to impact Oregon municipal entities. Topics will include the challenges posed by emerging contaminants such as PFAS, the risks posed by climate change, new federal regulations defining “Waters of the United States”, recent Oregon caselaw affecting municipal water rights, as well as opportunities provided by newly approved federal infrastructure funding.

Break

Ethics 

ICMA and OCCMA Updates with Lunch

Join ICMA President Jeff Towery and OCCMA President Scott Derickson to hear about the benefits of joining ICMA and OCCMA. Also, learn more about OCCMA’s two newest affiliates, the OLLG and the Veteran’s Affiliate Organization. 

The City Manager – Police Chief Relationship: Lessons Learned

The City Manager – Police Chief relationship is a crucial component in ensuring community safety is transparent, effective, and fully supported. The symbiotic nature of the Manager – Chief relationship has a direct impact on the safety and well-being of the community.   This presentation will focus on a ‘lessons learned’ viewpoint from presenters who have held the titles of both police chief and city manager. Topics will include: Ensuring effective law enforcement in your community, enhancing public trust, allocating resources, developing policies, responding to crises, and the importance of performance management.     

Pendleton Tours

Pick between four tour options provided by the city of Pendleton and the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation.

How Economic Development Works in Oregon

Join Jill Miles to learn why economic development is important to local government, how the system of economic development works in Oregon and hear success stories working with Business Oregon.  

Dinner on Your Own or Checkout the Pendleton Bike Run

Breakfast and Networking

Round Robin with Peers

The Round Robin session is an interactive, energetic idea exchange designed to inspire and engage attendees. Participating in the Round Robin session will be a number of seasoned city managers with expertise in the nuts-and-bolts issues of particular interest to managers. The Round Robin is a forum for the exchange of information and the fostering of local government innovation. 

OCCMA Board of Directors Meeting