MML Review: July/August 2020

REVIEW

A U N I T E D V O I C E F O R M I S S O U R I M U N I C I PA L L E A G U E C O M M U N I T I E S

THE MISSOURI MUNICIPAL

July/August 2020

Join Us In September!

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theReview July/August 2020

THE MISSOURI MUNICIPAL

July/August 2020; Volume 86, No. 4

CONTENTS Features 6 Want To Run Government More

10

Like Business?: Start By Developing Your People (Especially NOW!)

by Ron Holifield

10 Educating Voters Without

Violating Ethics Laws

by Drew Douglas

16

16

MML Virtual Annual Conference

• Overview

• Agenda

• Special Events

25 Good Information, Frequent

Community: Key To Water/

Wastewater Management

by Mike Adair

29 Get Creative To Take Care Of Your Community's Needs

by Peter Hinkle

Departments 5 President's Review

31

31 Local Government Review:

MML Regional Meeting: Why Should I Go?

by Ramona Huckstep

37 Member News 38 MML Calendar Of Events

MISSOURI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Debra Hickey, Mayor, Battlefield: Vice President: Chuck Caverly, Council Member, Maryland Heights; Damien Boley, Mayor, Smithville; Paul Campo, Attorney, Williams and Campo, PC; Bryant Delong, Council Member, North Kansas City; Michele DeShay, Mayor, Moline Acres; Joe Garritano, Council Member, Wildwood; DJ Gehrt, City Administrator, Platte City; Barry Glantz, Mayor, Creve Coeur; Dwaine Hahs, Mayor, Jackson; Heather Hall, Councilwoman, Kansas City; *Chris Lievsay, Council Member, Blue Springs; *Norman McCourt, Mayor, Black Jack; Marcella McCoy, Finance Director, Harrisonville; Len Pagano, Mayor, St. Peters; Cindy Pool, Council Member, Ellisville; *Kathy Rose, Mayor, Riverside; *Carson Ross, Mayor, Blue Springs; Samuel Snider, Alderman, Willard; *Gerry Welch, Mayor, Webster Groves; Jeanie Woerner, City Clerk, Raymore; Jeana Woods, City Administrator, Osage Beach *Past President AFFILIATE GROUPS Missouri City Management Association; City Clerks and Finance Officers Association; Government Finance Officers Association of Missouri; Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association; Missouri Park and Recreation Association; Missouri Chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors; Missouri Chapter of the American Public Works Association; Missouri Association of Fire Chiefs EDITORIAL Laura Holloway / Editor Lholloway@mocities.com Dan Ross, Richard Sheets, Lori Noe Contributing Editors GRAPHIC DESIGN Rhonda Miller The Review July/August 2020; Volume 86, No. 4 The Missouri Municipal Review (ISSN 00266647) is the official publication of the Missouri Municipal League state association of cities, towns and villages, and other municipal corporations of Missouri.

Publication office is maintained at 1727 Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.

Subscriptions: $30 per year. Single copies: $5 prepaid. Advertising rates on request.

Published bi-monthly. Periodicals postage paid at Jefferson City, Missouri.

Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 1727 Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.

To contact the League Office call 573-635-9134, fax 573-635-9009 or email the League at info@mocities.com.

Website: www.mocities.com.

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theReview July/August 2020

President's Review

by Debra Hickey, Mayor of Battlefield, and MML President

The Importance of Training for Effective Leadership and Governance As you know, it has been a very usual year.

In a normal year, I understand how overwhelmed new officials can be with all of the information that needs to be absorbed and understood in order to make the most effective decisions as they serve the people in their communities.

With the additional considerations related to COVID-19, both for the community and the city employees serving, as well as the protests happening around the country, your dedication and service is even more critical.

Unfortunately, during this time, cities have been hit hard financially. A recent survey conducted by the National League of Cities finds 74% of U.S. municipalities have already started making unavoidable cuts and adjustments in response to the projected $360 billion revenue loss for cities over the next 3 years (Learn more details from that survey on page 9 of this issue.) Providing critical community services has become even more challenging.

"

The issues we

face each day change continually, and we all need the tools to make the best decisions for our communities. Make time to prioritize training, and use MML as a resource.

"

Often, when an organization needs to make cuts, money for training is one of the first items to go. However, during a time like this, training should move even higher on the spending priority list. Local leaders need to be fully versed on budgets, leadership and working with all facets of city governance to make critical decisions for a community’s health, safety and well-being.

MML has consistently offered these resources annually for many years, through multiple conferences, regional meetings, webinars, publications and more.

In the wake of COVID-19, the League is working harder than ever to reach members with the resources you need.

Two particularly timely and vital training sessions are coming up. The annual Elected Officials Training (EOT) will be held Aug. 6-7, shortly after this magazine is in print. This event brings in experts to share how to handle the most critical questions a newly elected official will face and also provide updates for seasoned officials in the ever-changing environment of local government.

While the Elected Officials Training will be held live in Columbia, Missouri, MML is also offering a virtual option for those unable to travel. This means more opportunities to learn about the basics of effectively leading your communities – topics include leadership, Sunshine Law, budgeting basics, conducting city business, and much more. We do hope you will be a part of this great training.

The largest event for MML each year is the Annual Conference. This year, the event will be offered virtually. Make plans to join us Sept. 14-16, 2020, to learn strategies for your city’s resilience, recovery, cybersecurity, open and closed meeting considerations and more!

When I first began serving in local government 15 years ago, I attended an MML Annual Conference. The information I learned made me feel so much better prepared to meet the questions and challenges I would face as an official, and the networking contacts were invaluable. I quickly realized there was a group of people I would always be able to turn to for guidance, assistance, and answers to my questions. The contacts I made through MML have been very helpful as I have continued to serve in my city.

The issues we face each day change continually, and we all need the tools to make the best decisions for our communities. Make time to prioritize training, and use MML as a resource.

I know you want your city to be one that avoids mistakes or the violation of the city codes or state law. This is why training is so important for your elected officials and staff. Do not become a victim of “failure to train.” This is the time to increase training, not reduce it.

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming MML event – whether in person or virtually! Thank you for your continued dedication during these unprecedented times -- your community is blessed to have you, and I consider you to be a hero when you take the time to train.

www.mocities.com

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FEATURE Review

by Ron Holifield, CEO, Strategic Government Resources

Want To Run Government More Like Business?

Start By Developing Your People (Especially NOW!)

One of the most startling contrasts between public and private sector responses to COVID-19 is in how each respond to employee training and development in times of upheaval and crisis. Local governments start looking for politically painless ways to cut the budget, which typically means that training and development are the first to go. The private sector is quicker to do layoffs but puts a far higher emphasis on upskilling the competencies of employees that are retained. In other words, developing our people in local government is all too often viewed as a luxury to be abandoned in tough times, while the private sector is more likely to view crisis as heightening the critical importance and the urgency of training and developing their people to thrive in whatever the next normal may hold.

If you want to run your local government more like a business, now is exactly the time to invest in your people. You cannot ignore fiscal limitations, but there are lots of options to enhance employee development while cutting costs. To achieve both, you must reimagine how you develop your people. In other words, now is the time to invest in developing your people ‌ but also to rethink how you are developing them. Simply repeating what you have done in the past may not be the best way to do it.

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theReview July/August 2020

"Withdrawing from engagement will reduce your ability to lead and manage effectively both through the crisis and in the recovery period."

How To Do A Better Job Of Training And Development While Lowering Costs Embrace Online Training. One of the most cost-effective ways to improve employee development while reducing costs is to embrace online training. A recent study of universities during the pandemic found test scores actually have been higher with their transition to online classes. SGR has recently modified many of our traditional live classes to be offered live, but in an online context and have had a very positive experience consistent with the universities. Certainly, some types of training are most effective in a live setting. But many types (think compliance in particular) can be just as effective and far less expensive by conducting them online. It is also important to note that online classes can be accessed through an online learning management system, but increasingly they are available to any employee who as access to a computer, even without an LMS.

Move From Developing Curriculum to Content Curation.

One city in Ohio developed a city university model with the pandemic in mind. They identified a wide array of content on an approved list of free sources ranging from online classes, to YouTube videos, executive book briefings, Vimeo videos, free webinars on private sites, business articles and more.

Each item is assigned a certain point value depending upon the depth of engagement involved. To “graduate� and get the certificate, employees must accumulate 100 points per year.

The key to success is that the HR department has vetted the content before allowing it to be added to the approved list and determined how many points are given. The Graziadio Business Review Blog at Pepperdine University lists a number of free training resources at https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/ blog/2020/03/25/19778/.

Take Advantage of Free Webinars.

Each week, SGR hosts a free Wednesday webinar at 11 a.m. CST with authors, thought leaders and nationally known practitioners.

But, so do many other organizations such as National Research Center/ Polco. Develop a list of all the free webinars being conducted and develop a rhythm for making your organization aware of these free learning opportunities each week.

 �� �

WWW.SGRJOBS.COM

These free webinars are even more impactful if you have team members lead online discussions about the webinars and their applicability to your organization.

Learn From the Private Sector.

True learning stretches our context and boundaries. All too often we think that content from the private sector is not relevant to local government. But most topics like ARCHITECTS

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change management, leadership, employee engagement, and so on are overwhelmingly relevant.

Global consulting firm McKinsey produces some of the very best leadership and management articles anywhere, and it is free to subscribe.

Numerous other business blogs also provide free articles each week with great and relevant leadership thinking that will challenge you to get better. SGR’s 10 in 10 on Servant Leadership is free and provides links to 10 top articles each week that local government leaders would want to spend 10 minutes reviewing.

Read and Discuss Business Books. Warren Buffet, arguably the greatest (and busiest) investor of all times reports that he reads one book a week! One city manager I know leads a book club discussion group. She lets everyone at all levels of the organization know what the business book for the coming month is going to be and any employee can sign up and she leads the online discussion. There are also a wide variety of business book synopses services who “read the book so you don’t have to� that still provides the opportunity for meaningful discussion with your team. Some of these even include discussion guides to make it easy for your team to get

the most out of the book synopsis by leading a team discussion of it.

Take Advantage of Low-Cost Online Learning Resources. www.

MasterClass.com offers a wide array of content from premier presenters that a single employee can access for an entire year . The SGR Servant Leader’s Resource Library includes almost 200 authors, thought leaders, facilitators and trainers who contributed content to help SGR build a very low-cost resource library for people who aspire to be authentic servant leaders.

Actively Participate in Online User Groups Hosted by Your Local Government Associations.

These are great ways to both stay connected with and learn from your colleagues, and especially to seek out wisdom on very specific issues you may be confronting.

Remain Active in Your Association. Continuing to participate in MML’s annual conference and other learning events is critical to your ongoing professional growth. During uncertain times, some events may be offered virtually instead of live, but regardless it is still critical for your own personal growth and professional development to participate. Withdrawing from engagement will reduce your ability to lead and manage effectively both through the crisis and in the recovery period.

We are truly living in a world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), and we have to own that many of the old ways of doing business simply will not work anymore. But after owning that we have to do business in new ways, we must act upon that knowledge by doubling down on our commitment to constantly learn personally and to create learning organizations.

Now is not the time to stop learning!

RonHolifieldis CEO of Strategic Government Resources, that helps local governments Recruit, Assess and Develop leaders. You can reach him at Ron@GovernmentResource.com. www.mocities.com

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theReview July/August 2020

CITIES ESSENTIAL Our national economic recovery is at risk.

Cities across the nation are forced to make cuts that drastically impact not only the people who live and work in these communities, but also the infrastructure and essential services critical to the national economic recovery.

A NEW SURVEY OF 1,100 MUNICIPALITIES from across America shows that our nation’s economic recovery is at risk of stalling if Congress fails to provide direct federal aid to cities, towns, and villages.

24 states

Nearly 70% of cities have not received funding through the CARES Act

have yet to announce if they plan to distribute Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to local governments*

74% of municipalities

in the United States have already started making unavoidable cuts and adjustments in response to the projected $360 billion revenue loss for cities over the next 3 years.

20% said those cuts are happening across the board

54% said they are more targeted 65% of cities are being forced to delay or completely cancel capital expenditures and infrastructure projects

Other cities, towns and villages say it is simply too soon to know what spending adjustments will be needed because budgets are still being assessed.

61% of cities are delaying or canceling equipment purchases, which will stunt local commercial activity among businesses that supply equipment for municipal projects.

24% of cities are making significant cuts to community and economic development programs, which further hinders local businesses from bouncing back from the current recession.

13% are making necessary cuts to code

inspection, planning, and permitting, delaying reopening and the growth of local businesses.

THESE CUTS WILL IMPACT AMERICAN WORKERS.

Without congressional action now, the forced delay or cancellation of infrastructure projects will create an economic ripple effect throughout the nation not felt in decades.

cities indicate they will have to 32% of furlough or lay off employees NO VACANCY

already or will institute a 41% have hiring freeze to respond to these fiscal pressures – making it even harder for these workers to get their jobs back.

70% of cities say one of their most significant unexpected expenditures is on personal protective equipment (PPE) and contracting disinfecting services to keep their communities safe and healthy as public buildings begin to re-open.

The pandemic is not over, and cities, towns and villages are still paying the price to keep their residents safe. * https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Census-Data-and-Methodology-Final.pdf Methodology: This survey was conducted between June 8-June 16, 2020. A total of 1,117 cities, towns and villages from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico provided information to NLC.

www.mocities.com

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FEATURE Review

by Drew Douglas, Public Information Officer, City of Nixa

Educating Voters Without Violating Ethics Laws It may seem intimidating when you first set out to explain a complex or what many voters may perceive as a boring ballot issue to your community.

The city of Nixa has been fortunate in achieving some success in educating its voters about ballot issues without crossing the line into advocacy. In 2017, we educated our voters about the out-of-state vehicle sales tax and it was passed. In 2018, we educated our voters about the local use tax and it was passed. In 2020, we educated our voters about four proposed updates to our Home Rule Charter, and each was passed.

What I have learned, in my role in public relations and government communications, is that in order to educate voters effectively without crossing ethical boundaries, you must find creative ways to explain clearly without using language that can be interpreted as an opinion.

Everyone has an opinion about what may be “good” or “bad” for their community. Government communicators should be respectful of this variety of opinions. We should not tell people how to feel about an issue, but we should explain the choices they face and the impacts their decisions will have.

Why Opinions Can Get Your City Into Trouble You probably already know that your city’s official communications should not advocate for or against any issue by saying “Vote Yes” 10

theReview July/August 2020

or “Vote No.” This is a violation of Missouri ethics laws. But, did you know that your city’s official communications also should not say, “This ballot issue is good for our community,” because the word “good” attributes an opinion and value judgement that crosses the line into advocacy?

A woman called my office recently asking me to explain the “pros and cons” of a ballot issue. I told her kindly that I could not do that because what in my opinion is a “pro,” may be a “con” in her opinion. I instead offered to explain what would happen if the issue were passed and what would happen if it were rejected.

I also recently had a discussion with our city attorney about whether or not we should use the word “efficient” in voter education materials. This was regarding the intent of our Home Rule Charter Review Commission as they drafted recommended updates to our city charter. We decided that saying “the Commission recommended these updates with the intent to improve the efficiency of the city’s operations” could arguably cross the line into advocacy. I could also argue that “efficiency” is not “good” or “bad.” Some people may value “efficiency,” while others may prefer “thoroughness” or “doublechecking” or “taking your time.”

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Ultimately, since the use of the word “efficiency” could be argued to be a subjective opinion, we decided to avoid it.

Instead, we communicated that “the Home Rule Charter Commission was made up of volunteers selected

by City Council who were asked to look over the entire charter and to make recommendations they deemed advisable.” See what we did there? We explained that the commission’s job was to make “advisable” recommendations.

What they were commissioned to do is a fact, not an opinion. We did not speculate about the commissioners’ state of mind when they drafted their recommendations.

As our attorney pointed out, the commissioners have the freedom to communicate their state of mind and intent, as well as the freedom to advocate for or against the ballot issues. It was therefore left up to the commissioners to decide if they

The educational piece above was used to tell voters about four proposed updates to the City's Home Rule Charter.

wanted to go out in the community to tell people they believed the updates would help the City be more efficient.

(I highly recommend running your communications past your city attorney before publishing.)

How To Explain Well I try to approach ballot issue explanations as if I were speaking with my grandmother. I also know I have to be careful not to come across as condescending. Start from the beginning, and walk your

www.mocities.com

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audience carefully through each step towards understanding. Some may already have an understanding of the issue, but you need to write for those in your audience who have no background on the topic. Let us practice using the use tax as an example.

Explain where the money comes from and where it goes. When you order something online you do not currently pay any use tax to the city of Nixa, but the delivery van uses city streets to deliver the item to your home and local police investigate if the package were to be stolen, even though the online transaction allowed you to avoid paying any tax to the local government to help pay for police or maintain the streets. Imagine if all transactions were online and free of use tax – how would our community afford to pay police officers and street maintenance without any tax revenue? You might say, “Well, you have other funding sources,” but in Nixa’s case, our municipal government receives relatively little revenue from property taxes, we do not have any personal property tax; and our police and municipal court do not use our ticket writing to fund the city evidenced by the fact that 83% of traffic stops end

M I S S O U R I

D E P A R T M E N T

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in warnings, not tickets. Our city is primarily funded by sales tax collected at local brick and mortar businesses. Across the country, more and more shopping is moving from local brick and mortar retail to online retail, meaning local sales tax returns are leveling off or declining.

If our funding declines, we would have to cut back on spending for police and street maintenance even though we have the fastest-growing population in southwest Missouri.

A use tax would ensure you pay the

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theReview July/August 2020

same amount of tax when you buy an item online as you would pay for the same item at a brick and mortar store. The money generated by the use tax would help pay for police services and street maintenance.

Explain the difference between a “yes” vote and a “no” vote. When you purchase an item from a local store, the local business does collect a 1.5% local sales tax to pay for police and streets. The local store therefore has to charge more tax than the online vendor, because local stores are collecting the state’s 4.225% sales tax plus the local 1.5% sales tax. In contrast, the online vendor is only collecting the state’s 4.225% use tax but no local use tax. Use tax and sales tax are always collected at the same rate. If the use tax is passed, online retailers would begin to collect the same tax rate (5.725%) as our local businesses already have to collect.

If the use tax is not passed, online retailers would continue to collect the state’s use tax but would not collect any local tax to help pay for Nixa’s police and streets.

Leave opinion statements to the campaigners. In our official city communications, we did not say that we believed the local sales tax would “level the playing field” (opinion) by ensuring online out-of-state vendors charge the same amount of tax as our local brick and mortar stores.

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The chamber of commerce, however, did use the words “level the playing field for local businesses” frequently, as they advocated for the issue.

Lay it out so the audience can draw their own conclusion. A solid factual explanation should be like showing the audience an equation such as “2 + 2 = ___” and asking them to solve it. Unfortunately, like any teacher would tell you, some students may arrive at a conclusion of 3, 5, or any other number but 4.

But if you have done your job well, most people will get it.

Find creative ways to communicate your message simply.

A wall of text on a boring topic is hard to read. An animated video, a well-designed infographic and other visual aids help the message to be understood and remembered.

When we were communicating about the use tax, I developed an animated video to try to make a boring topic a little more digestible.

It is easier for most people to learn about something via video than by reading. We do not have any way to measure the impact of the video, but anecdotally, some citizens told us that after watching the video, they decided to support the issue.

If you are hoping a ballot issue will pass, there must be an organized advocacy effort in addition to your neutral education efforts. Some people will draw the conclusion you are hoping they will draw once they understand the simple facts surrounding your ballot issue. However, it is vital that elected officials, the chamber of commerce, and other citizens advocate for the issue. For a variety of reasons, many people do not pay attention to local politics. Your citizens will look to elected officials and other trusted community leaders to see how they intend to vote. If trusted community leaders are united in support for an issue, then it appears to be noncontroversial, and others will find it easy to get on board.

Do not forget your “paid for by” statement on printed materials, social media graphics, and videos.

The statement needs to have the name of your organization, the name of the principle officer (city administrator), their title, and the

address of your organization. We also include the generic email address for City Hall and our main phone number for good measure.

Lastly And Most Importantly …

Correct the misconceptions.

Some people thought that a “no” vote for the use tax would prevent them from paying any use tax on internet purchases from companies such as Amazon. That is why it was important to explain that the xtate of Missouri already collects their portion of the use tax on those transactions, and would continue to do so regardless of the local use tax being approved or rejected.

Your citizens may develop several misconceptions about your ballot issue. Keep an eye on social media and ask the people at your front desk to tell you what kinds of questions people have. Anticipate the arguments people may have against your ballot issue and have good answers for those arguments.

Sometimes, people get mad because they have misunderstood the issue, and they would be supportive if they understood the facts. Proactively and kindly set the record straight when you come across people who are confused.

In closing, I believe it is better to try to explain a ballot issue and fail, than to not try at all. You will have to answer lots of follow-up questions, and long discussions may be required to create clear understanding, but I believe it is our responsibility to be transparent and accountable to citizens by explaining the choices we put before them on a ballot. Your citizens will respect that, even if they vote “no.”

Drew Douglas has served as the public information officer for the city of Nixa since 2017. His prior 8 years of experience in television journalism was foundational to his approach to public relations, strategic communications, and civic engagement.

View examples of Nixa's education pieces on the Missouri Municipal League's website at www.mocities.com/currentissue www.mocities.com

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theReview July/August 2020

Thank you for the tremendous service you have provided to your citizens throughout the pandemic!

Advocacy • • • • • •

Letters to Governor Parson Letters to Federal and State Legislators regarding recovery funds Continued advocacy for Wayfair legislation as a means of economic recovery for cities Legislative alerts for state and federal legislation Partner meetings to craft strategy for communication, advocacy and recovery Ongoing semi-weekly meetings with panel of state partners on COVID-19 funds and recovery

Communication • Daily membership emails highlighting the latest resources on COVID-19 website • Daily updates to COVID-19 website pages on www.mocities.com • Collection of member information on COVID-19 impact for national surveys and Missouri distribution • Social media posts sharing funding deadlines, upcoming webinars, and member highlights • Six COVID-19 webinars specific to Missouri cities featuring experts on FCCRA, online meetings, stay at home orders, Sunshine Law, balancing a budget; and coping with COVID-19 stress • Coordination of press messages and interviews with statewide media regarding COVID-19’s fiscal impact to members

member inquiries

6 COVID-19 webinars 386 watched live 1,351 watched recorded versions

8,000+

Partnership MML participates in multiple calls each week with partners, state and federal agencies to share municipal interests, obtain the latest resources that benefit cities, and outline topics that most need member attention. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

600+

Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies Association of Missouri Cleanwater Agencies Missouri Department of Economic Development Missouri Association of Counties Missouri Public Utility Alliance National League of Cities Missouri Attorney General’s Office Missouri Department of Natural Resources Missouri Chamber of Commerce Regional Planning Commissions International City/County Management Association University of Missouri Extension Missouri Department of Agriculture Missouri Local Leaders Partnership U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National and Missouri Rural Water Associations Missouri Development Finance Board Wichita State University Society of Government Meeting Planners *This data covers the time period of March 17 - May 1, 2020

website visits

34 emails to members with the latest COVID-19 resources

50

+

advocacy & partner calls/emails www.mocities.com

15

MML Virtual Annual Conference

MML Virtual Annual Conference September 14-16, 2020 Now more than ever, it is so important for local officials to share ideas, support each other and learn from experts on how to best move our communities forward!

There are dynamic sessions for this Conference on a variety of topics including: • Recovery and Resilience • Sunshine Law Compliance • Cybersecurity, and much more!

Pricing $99 per attendee (Member) $149 per attendee (Non-Member) This includes:

The MML Annual Conference

• Live Keynote Presentations

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Missouri Municipal League has decided to run the 86th MML Annual Conference entirely as a virtual event. There are three reasons that led to this decision:

• Live MGI Sessions

1) MML wants to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and staff; 2) We understand current budget concerns, with many members already facing significant drops in revenue.

3) The need for quality training is even more important in our current atmosphere. A virtual event offers the opportunity to include more local leaders at a reduced cost, bringing you critical education and support to move your community forward.

This was not an easy decision. MML staff will miss seeing all of you in person! However, the event remains an important venue for Missouri local leaders to connect, support each other, learn from experts and work together towards resilience and recovery for Missouri communities.

In this section are some FAQs as you consider joining us in September.

As always, contact us with any questions you have. In the meantime, we look forward to creating a meaningful experience for members in an exciting new way!

• Access to MML Virtual Exhibit Hall • Access to pre-recorded sessions • Opportunity to network with all attendees • Opportunity to access handout materials from all sessions • Access to the materials 60 days after the event

MML Virtual Annual Conference Hashtag:

#MML20

"In my many years of attending the MML Annual Conference I have always appreciated the networking opportunities, as well as the insight and knowledge provided by the training sessions. I encourage newly appointed local government officials as well as elected officials to take advantage of this invaluable conference and connect with their counterparts from around the state."

Kevin Bookout City Administrator, City of Bridgeton 16

theReview July/August 2020

FAQs

MML Annual Conference

MML Virtual Annual Conference FAQs When will the Conference take place?

While we will no longer be able to meet in person in Kansas City (and will miss you!), the dates of the event remain the same. Join us Sept. 14-16, 2020, for this new experience!

I have already registered and paid to attend in person. Will you switch my registration to the virtual registration?

No. MML will reimburse each current attendee in full. We will notify all members when the new virtual registration process is open and ask each attendee to register at that time.

Can I share a virtual registration with a fellow official or city employee?

We encourage each conference participant to register as an individual attendee and have significantly lowered registration costs to help make that attainable. It is an advantage to you as an attendee to have your own registration so that you may engage in conversations with attendees, ask questions of presenters, participate in exhibit hall games and have your own presence at the event. Also, each attendee who wishes to receive MGI credit will need to be registered.

I still have questions. Who should I call?

What will it cost to attend virtually?

We lowered tge registration cost to just $99 per person for members to virtually attend the entire conference!

The non-member price is $149. Typically, registration is $400 for members, and $500 for non-members, so this is a substantial savings. This includes sessions, the virtual exhibit hall, and access to all materials for 60 days.

This is a new adventure for League staff as well! We expect questions, and we know that changes will occur as this new virtual event takes shape. We will communicate all new information as we have it available via email, our newsletter, the MML Review magazine, our website and through social media. Do not hesitate to contact us with your questions at (573) 635-9134 or info@mocities.com.

What happens to my hotel reservation?

Any member who has already secured a hotel reservation will need to cancel that registration.

We look forward to creating a meaningful experience for members, sponsors and exhibitors in a new way!

How will a virtual conference work?

League staff is securing a new virtual platform that will allow you to learn and engage in a variety of ways. You will have the opportunity to stream live sessions, watch recorded sessions, visit a virtual exhibit hall, ask questions of expert speakers, visit with other attendees and more!

I am working towards my Municipal Governance Institute Certification.

Will the virtual event affect this?

No. MGI sessions will still be available, either streamed live or recorded. You can still apply your virtual conference attendance to your MGI certification.

Want to learn more about MGI? Visit www.mocities.com to learn how to become a Certified Municipal Official!

EXPAND YOUR HORIZON ADVANCED CERTIFICATION

Building on the foundation of the popular Certified Municipal Official program, MML’s Municipal Governance Institute has created an entirely new advanced curriculum. The advanced program offers increased challenges and rewards, requiring the completion of study in 14 core areas. Each custom-crafted module is tailored to assist Missouri local officials in their mission to better serve their communities.

For full details and enrollment form visit:

www.mocities.com

www.mocities.com

17

Tentative Agenda

MML Annual Conference Monday, September 14

11:00 a.m.

CONCURRENT (4)

• Local Economic Development Incentive Tools - 2020 Trends and Updates (MGI)

7:30 a.m.

CCFOA Hangout

MCMA Hangout

Coffee & Conversation

9:00 a.m.

Welcome

KEYNOTE: Navigating Life in a World of New Normals - Dr. Bertice Berry

10:00 a.m.

Exhibitor Showcase

12:00 p.m.

Lunch Break

1:00 p.m.

CONCURRENT (4)

• Building Financial Resiliency (AMGI)

• How Kansas City, Missouri is Improving Customer Service in the Era of COVID-19 Through Evidence and Low-Cost Evaluations

• Owner's Role in the Design and Construction Process

• Helping Build Sustainable Communities Through Capacity Development, Source Water Protection, and Energy Efficiency

3:30 p.m.

Outgoing President Address and Entertainment

2:00 p.m.

Break

2:15 p.m.

CONCURRENT (4)

Wednesday, September 16

• Let the Sunshine In (MGI)

8:30 a.m.

Rob Dixon, Director, DED

• Cybersecurity: It's Bigger than a Technology Problem (MCMA session)

9:30 a.m.

Break

9:45 a.m.

CONCURRENT (4)

• Implementing a Compresentive Plan (CCFOA session)

• Personnel Law Updates for Missouri Municipal Employers (MGI)

• SEMA/FEMA Response to COVID-19

• Facebook Best Practices for Local Government

3:30 p.m.

MML Game Winner Prizes

• CCFOA Session

• Strategies to Balance the Budget During the COVID-19 Crisis (GFOA session)

10:45 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m.

FLASH SESSIONS (2)

• 10 Keys to Starting, Executing, and Completing a Successful Design-Bid-Build Public Construction Project

• Digital Transformation and Why It’s Important to Your Business

11:30 a.m.

FLASH SESSIONS (2)

Tuesday, September 15 8:30 a.m.

Bacon & Business Meeting

9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Showcase

9:45 a.m.

CONCURRENT (4)

• Municipal Liability and Claims (MGI)

• Avoiding Potholes on the Road to Efficient Procurement

• Street Infrastructure Asset Management & Maintenance Programs

• Problem-Solver Panel: Experiences with DED that have Moved Communities Forward in Development

10:45 a.m.

Break

18

theReview July/August 2020

• Building a Narrative to Build Your Community

• Homelessness Prevention Strategies and Resources

• Health Crisis Management

12:15 p.m.

Awards Luncheon

2:00 p.m.

CONCURRENT (4)

• Lobbying 101 (AMGI)

• Findings from the ADA Research of Missouri Cities and Local Governments

• Recognizing Human Trafficking in Your Community

• Placemaking: Activating Your Historic Places Post COVID-19

3:00 p.m.

Happy Hour and Door Prizes

• A Collaborate Design Process: How to

Engage Owners and the Community to

Create a Successful Municipal Building Project

• Reporting that Gives You the Full Story

12:00 p.m.

Adjourn

MML Annual Conference

Special Events

Don't Miss These Special Conference Events!

Monday, September 14

9:00 a.m. Conference Keynote Address Navigating Life In a World of New Normals

Wednesday, September 16 8:00 a.m. Wednesday Keynote Recovery & Resilience for Missouri's Economy

Dr. Bertice Berry

Rob Dixon

Award-winning storyteller, educator and sociologist

Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development

Bertice Berry, PhD., a bestselling author and awardwinning lecturer, has been named Comedian of The Year, Lecturer of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. She has published 11 bestselling books in both fiction and non-fiction and has won numerous awards and accolades for both her writing and presentations.

Berry has had her own nationally syndicated television show and has hosted, interviewed and made numerous television, documentary and radio appearances on a variety of diverse venues including: The Tonight Show, Oprah Winfrey, Between The Lions, Crossfire, 20-20, NPR, PBS and Comedy Central and CBN. Berry has used her unique gifts and talents as a writer and ghost writer for others on a wide range of topics including race and gender issues, sociological studies, stratification, healthcare reform, humor, spirituality, sexuality, slavery and the abolitionist movement, weight loss and wellness, relationships, servant leadership, transformational leadership, diversity and love.

Berry has led parades, had classrooms named after her and has been awarded more than10 honorary doctorates.

She earned her own doctoral degree from Kent State University at the age of 26 and still sees her most fulfilling achievement and role in life as that of mother to her five adopted children.

“If you ain’t dead, you ain’t done,” a character in one of Berry’s novels says.

Berry believes that every one of us has been given a unique purpose and it is our obligation to find it and use it to improve first our own self and then for those we live and work with.

#MML20

Rob Dixon is the director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Before becoming director, Rob served as the president/ CEO of the Missouri Community College Association. He also served in a variety of roles at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. His overall responsibilities included leadership and management of staff and programs in economic and workforce development, public affairs, local government policy, communications, community development, and strategic planning. Dixon also served as the executive director of the Hollister Area of Chamber of Commerce.

Rob joined the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, where he served as an intelligence analyst in Afghanistan and Pakistan immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was recognized for leadership and performance as a U.S. Marine.

Rob has a Master of Public Administration degree from Missouri State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, and an Associate of Arts in Political Science from St. Charles Community College.

Rob is a native Missourian. He is married to Melanie Dixon, and they have one son, Eddie.

“What I enjoy most about attending MML Conferences is listening to, and participating in, lively discussions that inspire new ideas, help refine existing concepts, or rethink current processes. After a conference, I return to my community recharged with fresh motivation and inspiration.”

Kim Nakahodo Assistant City Administrator North Kansas City

www.mocities.com

19

MML Annual Conference Entertainment

Ian Varella, Ventriloquist For more than two decades, Ian has appeared at comedy clubs, resorts, colleges and conventions for America’s top Fortune 500 companies. He has recently completed engagements at several of the top showrooms in Las Vegas and has made nearly a dozen network television appearances including Last Comic Standing and America’s Got Talent. He has toured the world numerous times aboard NCL, Holland American, Princess and Renaissance Cruise Lines.

His opening act credits read like a “who’s who” in country music. Ian has shared the stage with the Statler Brothers, Crystal Gayle, Aaron Tippon, Randy Travis, Gary Allen, Marty Stuart and George Strait just to name a few!

Special Events Watch for information on how attendees can connect and participate virtually in the following traditional Annual Conference events!

• Virtual Exhibit Hall • MML Annual Business Meeting • MML Awards Luncheon and Innovation Awards Showcase • Entertainment

"Attending the annual MML Conference is always a priority in my training budget each year for not only my staff, but also our elected officials and myself. The work that our MML staff does in collaboration with the other member organizations throughout the state (MCMA, MOCCFOA, MO GFOA, etc.) to put together this diversified training opportunity for our local governments is of such value as we maneuver our day-to-day operations in our organizations. While it remains very important to attend training that is specific to our roles, whether it be elected or appointed, the versatility that the annual MML Conference provides, assists us in seeing the bigger picture on how all facets of our City are interconnected. There is much value to be had for both elected and appointed public servants to be sitting in a room together hearing the same message on many of the issues we face continually.

During the Annual Conference, beyond training, the networking opportunities can be of the largest benefit. The old saying, “it’s not always what you know, but who you know," rings so true. There is no way to know everything in our ever-changing roles, but by growing your circle, it makes you a strong leader that you know who to reach out to when you don’t always have the answers or when you don’t want to “reinvent the wheel," which can be costly in both time and money.

The MML staff and the host cities provide both outstanding training and networking opportunities with individuals from across all components of municipal government that help provide a clearer outlook on how we can make the biggest impact in our communities that we serve in a professional and ethical manner."

Nici Wilson City Administrator, Odessa

"As the Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. All of our cities, regardless of size or location, will likely face many of the same issues, problems and concerns. Often, we may find our cities at different phases of the process so I love visiting and sometimes commiserating with other cities to help get my head around challenges and issues we all may be facing.

There are a couple “can’t miss” events in my annual calendar, and most share a connection to MML. The MML Annual Conference is invaluable since it includes both elected and appointed officials, all trying to do right by the cities we serve.

There are a lot of great cities in Missouri and tons of great public servants. The MML conference provides us all an opportunity to learn from great presenters and more importantly, our colleagues. It is a way to better understand what works and what hasn’t and steal the occasional great idea.

Brent Buerck City Administrator, Perryville 20

theReview July/August 2020

Thank You To The 2020 MML Business Advantage Program Sponsors Platinum Sponsors Burns & McDonnell NLC Service Line Warranty Program Missouri American Water

Gold Sponsors Stifel Curtis, Heinz, Garrett & O'Keefe, P.C. PFM Asset Management, LLC Lauber Municipal Law, LLC Baker Tilly Cochran PeopleService, Inc. Raymond James

Silver Sponsors Gilmore & Bell, P.C. Municode Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors MIRMA MoDNR Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program General Code CTS Group

Trane U.S. Inc. American Fidelity Piper Sandler & Co. Strategic Government Resources Schneider Electric Missouri Department of Conservation IMS Technology Group University of Missouri Extension www.mocities.com

21

MML Annual Conference

Testimonials

More Testimonials From Past MML Annual Conference Attendees. . .

"Training is always extremely important as the laws are always changing and learning from others experiences in what works and what doesn’t work is an excellent source of knowledge.

With MML- I have been a speaker on financial topics and I have been an attendee. Each time I have learned and been able to network with other peers from my own state. They learn from our experiences and we learn from theirs. We always make it a practice to bring the knowledge back to our department and discuss ways that we can improve.

We as cities either grow and improve or we decline … there is no in between. It is vitally important that we have the proper training to assist us with the knowledge needed to make the proper decisions for our citizens.

A new local official definitely needs proper training in an effort to make the best informed decisions for citizens. One needs training on how government works. the laws and day-to-day practices in order to make the best informed decisions for the city as a whole.

Training shouldn’t stop in challenging times. In fact, it should increase as we are all going through the times and we can learn from the changes and successes of others."

Jamie Rouch Director of Finance, Branson

"I have found the MML Conference and other MML sources to be of great value in continuing to serve the community that I call home. It is a true source for gaining additional knowledge and guidance in a timely fashion on ever evolving challenges facing local governments, let alone the value of building peer networks and friendships. I consider the MML as one of the top drawers of my who, what, when, where and how toolbox; it should be one of yours too. Just a few notables: coronavirus response, medical marijuana, Senate Bill 5, Sunshine Law, and MSRB / bond financial reporting and disclosure."

Roger Haynes Deputy City Manager, Mexico

“Whether you are a “seasoned pro” or brand new to public service, MML will be a resource you can always count on to be there for you and your city.

No investment of time or energy is too great for the timely, relevant training topics offered at MML conferences, webinars and on their website.

Legislation and regulations affecting your city change frequently. You will need a resource to keep you up to date on them and how they affect you. The Missouri Municipal League is my go-to resource.”

Judy Bowman Mayor

City of Harrisonville

22

theReview July/August 2020

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Everything you need all in one place Powerful tools that work together Minutes & Agendas Organize With Ease

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Our goal is to make our client’s websites truly beautiful. We have a cabinet full of awards that stand as a testament to our mastery of design. But functionality and navigability are also important components of a beautiful user experience.

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As technology continues to evolve, governments must adapt and change the way they reach out to the individuals and

inn Our innovative web design, cutting edge web content management system, and an ingenious suite of web apps go a long way toward allowing our municipal clients to be different by making a difference in people’s lives.

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theReview July/August 2020

FEATURE Review

by Mike Adair, Director of Operational Programs, PeopleService

Good Information, Frequent Community

Key To Water/Wastewater Management

I was struck by the words written by MML President Debra Hickey in the March/April issue of The Missouri Municipal Review. In her column, she reinforced that in your job as city administrator, council person, leader, “from research to public meetings to promotion, citizens depend on your insight and prep to use limited resources wisely while providing innovative services.” She is absolutely right. And, you really cannot do any of that without clear, concise and contributing reports.

By contributing, I mean reports that tell you what happened, where you are today, and importantly, how this data informs what to do and where to go in the future.

During any emergency, and the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear example of this – monthly reports are vital for community leaders to stay informed; be confident that the water is still safe for consumption; and, critically, have the information to communicate to citizens.

President Hickey also talked of innovation in serving all citizens – making our pavilions, parks and other public spaces accessible for community gatherings. When written, she could not have anticipated the quarantines and shelters-in-place we are just beginning to emerge from.

I am in the water/wastewater management business. That means my company works with client communities to assure that the water their citizens drink and use in their households and businesses is safe and clean, and that the wastewater from those households and businesses is safe and “clean” when it is returned to the environment. It is the people in this industry who work 24/7 to assure citizens have the water they need when sheltering in place and as President Hickey envisions, gather together in public spaces that are safe, green and full of life.

Just like all the other services you are responsible for managing, you may always request reports that tell you the full story about how your water and wastewater are being treated. Our headquarters is in Omaha, Nebraska, upstream on the Missouri. Our public water utility is the Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD). In March, MUD aired public service announcements on TV assuring Omaha residents that the water was perfectly safe to drink and that COVID-19 was not in the water supply. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services provided a link to the CDC website about COVID-19 in the water. It stated: “Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.” That is not a full report, but we will assume it is based on data.

www.mocities.com

25

"Too often elected officials are at arm's length from the people who are boots on the ground in this industry. The distance/lack of communication is not intentional, but when it is intentional to form relationships and open lines of communication, the community wins."

Your citizens may have asked you about this, and they may ask you if their drinking water is safe, if land and lakes are safe to enjoy when the news covers lead in the water and algae blooms in the water. How would you know how to answer – and be sure of the answer – without clear, concise reports from those you entrust to treat your community’s water?

Water and wastewater operations and management is complicated.

Here is what I know about water and wastewater management reporting: This has got to be one of the most underappreciated jobs in the world. I always say clean drinking water is what separates us from third-world countries. To manage, operate and maintain water and wastewater systems – and to stay up on state regulatory requirements, including staffing by certain-level certified operators – you need people who know chemistry, biology, math, IT, mechanics and safety protocols. Only by having

this knowledge can the job be done right. Only by knowing all this can full-story reports be produced. The last thing you need is a report produced by someone who does not know what data to pull or what results to measure,­­let alone derive future needs from analysis of the data over time.

Feel free to ask for full-story water/wastewater reports.

For those who oversee the water and wastewater contract, clear and concise data, communicated in an accessible manner, can give high-level assurance that this precious resource is managed as intended.

For leaders to make educated decisions for budgets and planning for the future of the community, you need the right information. Monthly reports can and should provide that information. Today’s “dashboards,” graphs, charts and infographics make the information much easier to understand.

Experts in Municipal Bond Financing

Clayton Allison

Associate allisonc@stifel.com (816) 203-8731

Jon Benson

Assistant Vice President bensonj@stifel.com (816) 203-8736

Becky Esrock

Martin Ghafoori

Vice President Director esrockb@stifel.com ghafoorim@stifel.com (314) 342-2923 (314) 342-8467

Michael Short

Managing Director shortm@stifel.com (816) 203-8739

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

26

theReview July/August 2020

Dan Smith

Vice President dan.smith@stifel.com (314) 609-4126

Unless you are planning to go back to school for refresher courses on chemistry, math, IT and the like, you need reports that inform, in easily understandable terms, about the health of your water and wastewater plants; the quality of the water; and how the budget is spent toward these outcomes. Afterall, you are responsible to your citizens who have a right to this information in a form they can understand. In the end, they just want to know everything is all right and they rely on you to make it so.

At the very least, you may want to review a monthly, high-level report that summarizes plant performance, production, flows, major projects or accomplishments, and preventive and corrective maintenance activities.

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Here are a few of the topline items you can request in a water/wastewater report that will help you see where things are and be able to communicate that to others: • A description of all activities for the month regarding your water and wastewater infrastructure.

• Graphs, charts and infographics showing flows and analysis of the water production and wastewater discharge.

• Financial breakdown of spending.

While data is great. Nothing beats personal, one-on-one communication.

In my role as operations director, (and employee, teammate, spouse, dad, friend) I have found that all the data in the world, presented as artfully as possible, cannot replace the conversations that add richness and depth of understanding to what is behind those reports. So, when I encourage you to request reports, let me add to that encouragement the notion to ask for those reports in person (social distancing honored, of course) or with a phone call. Too often elected officials are at arm’s length from the people who are boots on the ground in this industry. The distance/lack of communication is not intentional, but when it is intentional to form relationship and open lines of communication the community wins.

Water and wastewater are those precious resources that no one thinks about until there is a problem. That is because they are usually managed so effectively. The trouble is, when there is trouble with either, it is usually pretty significant in terms of public health and expense. Should this happen, it will be far better to have more people already in the know about daily processes, regular outcomes of ongoing maintenance, and the implications of the issue. Being able to consult on

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the issue with someone you know and respect moves the conversation forward faster toward solutions.

Get to know who you have managing, maintaining and operating your water and wastewater plants. Ask for the most relevant and meaningful reports. Ask to discuss them oneon-one. And, ask for them in a way that makes them turnkey to share with your citizens. Afterall, while we are glad most people do not think about water and wastewater very often, the fact that they do not have to, is testament to the work you have sanctioned for that to happen. Thanks for all you do.

Mike Adair is the director of Operational Programs for PeopleService, a water/wastewater management, operations and maintenance company that has been serving the Midwest for more than 30 years. He developed PeopleService University where all employees take courses to prepare for certification exams and attend mandatory safety courses.

He says his favorite thing about teaching at the University is “seeing the light go on” when students understand the intense subject matter.

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www.mocities.com

27

28

theReview July/August 2020

FEATURE Review

by Peter Hinkle, Sales Associate, Schneider Electric

Get Creative To Take Care Of Your Community's Needs Despite these uncertain times, cities and towns across Missouri have critical infrastructure needs that cannot be postponed or ignored. Providing for these essential needs may prove to be a challenge as we juggle the escalating costs of maintaining key services and uncertain future revenues.

Often it is not the first cost of a building or a treatment plant that is the most expensive, it is the ongoing expense to operate, maintain and ensure the investment is protected.

For example, a $10 million building requires $40 million to pay for the cost of maintenance and utilities over its

lifecycle. These simple economics make it critical for municipalities to make the most of their initial building investments by maintaining infrastructure – even when your general fund is stretched.

In an effort to proactively avoid costly and embarrassing infrastructure issues that can impact community

WE KEEP ECONOMIES FLOWING Our affordable, high-quality water and wastewater services have helped Missouri communities grow since 1879.

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29

Utilizing the Coronavirus Relief Fund

We can help you set up processes to identify and track: Allowable COVID-19-related expenditures Salary and benefits dedicated to COVID-19 response Lost revenues (taxes, fees & fines) Compliance requirements

Ron Steinkamp Public Sector Industry Group Leader Headline: Get Creative to Take Care of your Community’s Needs rsteinkamp@bswllc.com | 314.983.1238 Despite these uncertain times, cities and towns across Missouri have critical infrastructure needs that cannot be postponed or ignored. Providing for these essential needs may prove to be a challenge brownsmithwallace.com as we juggle the escalating costs of maintaining key services and uncertain future revenues.

Often it is not the first cost of a building or a treatment plant that is the most expensive, it is the ongoing

resilienceameasures andbuilding adopting smart servicesexpense – watertometers, contractor is held toisa protected. guarantee For of example, operate,wastewater maintain andthe ensure the investment $10 million technologies (think water plants, public safety streettolightingperformance and contractually requires $40via million pay for theongoing cost of maintenance utilities over its lifecycle. These simple and wastewater buildings, economics make make the most their initial plants, building city investments by smart water many municipalities areit critical turningfortomunicipalities responsibletofor savings to be of achieved. maintaining infrastructure – even when your General Fund is stretched. metering). This type of strategy allows alternative funding mechanisms that Even in communities that have a stable you to provide for current critical create new opportunities to turn economic foundation, it may be prudent In an effort to proactively avoid costly and embarrassing infrastructure issues that can impact community needs without sacrificing the financial deferred maintenance into innovative to consider the approaches in the services water meters, wastewater plants, public safety via street lightingmany municipalities are

health of your community. improvements. graphic below to bridge the likely gaps in turning to alternative funding mechanisms that create new opportunities to turn deferred maintenance into Peter Hinkle is a sales associate with Schneider Unique funding improvements. models designed to revenue. innovative Electric. He can be reached at peter.hinkle@se.com. tackle Unique criticalfunding needsmodels present an revenue uncertainties are designed to Though tackle critical needs present an opportunity to prepare for your Schneider Electric, an MML Participating opportunity to prepare community’s prioritiesfor nowyour and in not the months ahead. the Governments areisusing a form of public-private comfortable, good news Affiliate, has again been rated #1 ESCO Globally community’s priorities and in the that operational savings likely partnerships to now leverage untapped potential within current budgets for capital infrastructure investment. exist today

by Guidehouse (formerly Navigant). months This ahead.

Governments arewith using is being conducted limited risk to the municipality as the contractor is held to a guarantee of We act, think in your municipality, that can finance and live locally, while providing world-class services a form of public-private partnerships ongoing performance and contractually responsible for savings to be achieved. infrastructure upgrades. Operational to leverage untapped potential within changes that result in savings can in Missouri. As a global Fortune 500 company, we Even infor communities that have a stable economic foundation, it may be prudent to access to resources and vast experience current budgets capital infrastructure include process improvements, the also have consider approaches to bridge the likely gaps in revenue: implementing mission critical infrastructure investment.

Thisthe is following being conducted redesign of critical services, improving projects under expedited timelines. with limited risk to the municipality as

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theReview July/August Though revenue2020 uncertainties are not comfortable, the good news is that operational savings likely exist

today in your municipality, which can finance infrastructure upgrades. Operational changes that result in

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Review

by Ramona Huckstep, Policy and Membership Associate, Missouri Municipal League

Missouri Municipal League Regional Meetings: Why Should I Attend?

MML West Gate Regional Meeting in Sugar Creek, January 2020.

Over the past few years, the Missouri Municipal League has put a stonger focus on regional meetings with its members.

While regional meetings were once quite popular, they had declined due to new technology like the internet and webinars. Well, just like the saying goes, “Everything old is new again.” The League is once again seeing a renewed interest in regional meetings. Most regional meetings take place in one of seven regions around the state. (see map on page 32)

What Is A MML Regional Meeting?

The way I like to describe a Missouri Municipal League regional meeting is one simple phrase, “dinner and a show.”

MML regional meetings tend to take place in the evening for the convenience of the elected officials and municipal employees who might not have time during the day or who may have other jobs, where it is not easy to leave during the day. Regional meetings also include dinner and networking time. As a wise mayor once pointed out, it is also easier to talk to people and get to know them when you are breaking bread together.

The “show” part of the meeting is an educational component where a relevant topic and a knowledgeable speaker or panel presents information to the audience.

Oftentimes, municipal leaders and staff add to the discussion and share their experiences, thereby increasing everyone’s understanding of the topic.

Why should I attend one of these meetings?

There are a number of good reasons elected officials and municipal staff should attend a MML regional meeting.

First, it is a great networking opportunity. Before and after the presentations, participants are encouraged to meet each other and talk. You may wind up meeting people from a neighboring town or someone from the farthest reaches of the region. Either way you meet elected officials and city staff who may have similar challenges you are facing, or who have solved a predicament in their municipality and can share their story.

Second, it is an opportunity to learn about a new issue or topic that may be impacting your municipality. MML works www.mocities.com

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theReview July/August 2020

For more information and to register visit:

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with many great partners to bring expert presenters and the most pressing issues to various parts of the state. As staff we work with attorneys; municipal-related businesses; state and federal agencies; and municipal staff working on the front lines. These professionals have extensive experience and knowledge as it relates to what municipalities face and how best to address challenges.

Third, this is a great opportunity to meet and chat with MML Participating Affiliates and Associate Members.

Participating Affiliates are companies or professional firms who have an interest in municipal government and whose product or service is geared toward local government entities. Associate Members are political subdivisions or governmental entities, whose interests are compatible with those of the League and its member municipalities.

Examples of Associate Members include state and federal agencies; and nonfor-profit organizations who work with

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What Are Some Of The Topics That Have Been Presented?

One of most popular topics last year was medical marijuana and its impact on the municipalities, especially the employees. Another popular topic is derelict properties and how to legally work through the process of taking care of dilapidated structures that are found in most municipalities. Other topics recently include cybersecurity; Sunshine Law and ethics; and social media pros and cons. If there is a topic of interest to a host city or that would be useful to a particular region or is an issue of statewide concern, we will work with MU Extension faculty are finding new ways to the host city to find a speaker to present engage with businesses and communities as we on that topic. navigate the rapidly evolving impacts of COVID-19.

In some situations, the host city has a speaker to recommend, or it may be extension.missouri.edu #ShowMeResilience extension.missouri.edu an expert from that city. We also take time at almost every meeting to update members on what is going on with the Missouri Municipal League. We want to keep all members informed on upcoming trainings, local governments. These agencies and companies may important legislative issues, and ways to stay connected and have products you are looking for, a funding you need for a involved with the League. project, or any number of other services that may help your municipality.

Lastly, it is a very short time commitment with a great Who should attend? reward. Most regions meet only two to four times a year, and Anyone who works for a municipality in Missouri is most meetings last about two to three hours. In that short welcome. Elected officials; administrative staff including city span of time, you get an opportunity to network, hear an clerks, city managers and city administrators; police; water educational presentation, learn what is going on with your treatment professionals; public information officers; the city League, perhaps learn about new products or opportunities, attorney and all those other hard-working employees who and enjoy a wonderful meal. keep the city running. We encourage all to attend.

MML Central Regional Meeting, Jan. 2019

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theReview July/August 2020

MML West Gate Regional Meeting, Sugar Creek, Jan. 2020

MML West Gate Regional Meeting, Jan. 2019.

In 2019, staff organized 14 regional meetings that hosted more than 800 attendees, representing 198 cities, towns and villages. This year we were off to a great start when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a break in conducting the regional meetings. We hope to pick the meetings back up this fall, since we have so many municipalities yet to see and so many wonderful people to meet and visit.

So next time you receive an email from the Missouri Municipal League inviting you to a regional meeting or your city clerk puts the invite in your board packet, please consider attending and joining us for the MML “dinner and a show.” We know that you will leave with a better understanding of a particular local government issue and a full belly.

For more information about regional meetings in your area, or if you have a topic or presenter to suggest, please reach out to Ramona Huckstep at rhuckstep@mocities.com or call the MML office at 573-635-9134.

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First Virtual Regional Meeting The MML West Gate Region held the first-ever MML regional meeting May 28, 2020. Hosted by North Kansas City, the event featured Missouri Senator Lauren Anderson and Representative Wes Rogers who shared legislative issues and events from this year, including discussing Wayfair, small business aid and economic development reforms. Thank you to North Kansas City Council Member Bryant DeLong for organizing this event!

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theReview July/August 2020

MEMBERS' News Higginsville Mayor Retires Longtime Higginsville Mayor Bill Kolas is retiring in June after 31 years as mayor. Mayor Kolas is also a longtime MML Board Member and served as president in 2015. He has been active with the MML Natural Resource and Policy Committee (now the Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development Committee), the MML Budget Committee, MML’s Innovation Awards Committee and was a founding member of the MML Central region, serving as regional president in 2004. Congratulations Mayor Kolas!

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MEMBERS' Notes MML Calendar of Events August 2020 6-7 ����� MML Elected Officials Training Conference, Columbia, Missouri (rescheduled from June 2020) 26-28 ����� Governor's Conference on Economic Development (Virtual)

September 2020 14-16 ����� MML Virtual Annual Conference 15 ����� Financial Disclosure Ordinance Deadline 23-26 ����� ICMA Annual Conference (Virtual) 30-Oct. 2 ��� MPUA Annual Conference, St. Charles, Missouri

October 2020 1-2 ����� Missouri Water/Wastewater Annual Conference, Jefferson City, Missouri 2-4 ����� Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association, Osage Beach, Missouri (rescheduled from July 2020) 21 ����� MML Central Region Meeting 22 ����� MML West Gate Region Civic Leadership Awards Banquet

November 2020 3 ����� Election Day Find more events and details on www.mocities.com and in the MML monthly e-newsletter.

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