2022 Annual Conference

Use the links below to learn more:

Resources & Materials | Agendas | Keynote Speakers

About the Conference | Exhibitors List and Layout | Sponsors

Resources & Materials

Note – The links below will take you to the session page where you will find the Resources & Materials.

Mayors Institute: Facebook Best Practices and Instagram Information for Local Officials

Presenter: Ashley Aniton – Politics, Government, and Elections Outreach – META/Facebook
Date: Sunday, October 2
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Opening Session: National League of Cities – Get Involved, Get Engaged

Presenter: Clarence E. Anthony – CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities
Date: Sunday, October 2
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Town Section Meeting: Understanding Virginia’s Substantial Risk Orders Law

Presenter: Lori Haas – Advocacy Manager, Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Urban Section: Planning and Housing Density in Arlington, VA

Speaker: Kellie Brown – Comprehensive Planning Supervisor, Arlington County
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Understanding the State of the Economy: Economic conditions – Virginia Localities

Speaker: Bob Lauterberg – Managing Director, VML/VACo Finance
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Understanding the State of the Economy: Economic Conditions

Speaker: Renee Haltom – Vice President and Regional Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

FOIA Training: Virginia Freedom of Information Act

Speaker: Eric Gregory – Partner, Hefty, Wiley, and Gore
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Marijuana and HR Legislation: Virginia Cannabis Control Authority contact information

Speaker: Jeremy Preiss – Acting Head, Chief Officer – Regulatory, Policy, and External Affairs, Virginia Cannabis Control Authority
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

ARPA and Federal Legislation Affecting Localities: The American Rescue Plan (APRA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF)

Speaker: Michael Wallace – Legislative Director, Housing, Community, and Economic Development Federal Advocacy, National League of Cities
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Fiscal Challenges to Transportation: Virginia’s Regional Transportation Entities

Speaker: Jason Powell – Special Projects Deputy and Legislative Fiscal Analyst for the areas of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Resources, and Transportation, Virginia Senate Finance Committee
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Supreme Court Review/Preview for Local Governments: SCOTUS Update for Virginia Cities

Speaker: Lisa Soronen – Executive Director, State and Local Legal Center
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Broadband Affordability and Mapping: HB445/SB446 Stakeholder Advisory Group

Speaker: Mike Lockaby – Partner, Guynn, Waddell, Carroll & Lockaby, P.C.
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Broadband Affordability and Mapping: What Is the Future of Virginia Broadband?

Speaker: Ray LaMura – President, Broadband Association of Virginia
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

ADA Compliance Strategies: ADA Requirements Relevant To Local Governments

Speaker: Steven E. Gordon – Assistant United States Attorney Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator, USAO Eastern District of Virginia
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Social Media of Small Towns: Saltville – Small Town Social Media

Speaker: Brian Martin – Town Manager, Town of Saltville
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Social Media of Small Towns: Luray – Social Media for Small Towns

Speaker: Steve Burke – Town Manager, Town of Luray
Date: Monday, October 3
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Overview of Opioid Settlement Funds Coming to your Locality: Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority

Speaker: Tony McDowell – Executive Director, Opioid Abatement Authority
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Recycling that Works: Recycling & Waste Management in Chesapeake

Speaker: Robert Geis – Deputy City Manager, City of Chesapeake
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

COIA Training: Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council materials

Speaker: Rebekah Stefanski – Attorney, Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Attorney General Decisions for Local Government: Opinions of the Virginia Attorney General: Do I want one?

Speaker: Stephanie Hamlett – University Counsel at Virginia Commonwealth University/Senior Attorney General
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Connecting State and Local Human Services: Department of Social Services VML Update

Speaker: Dr. Danny TK Avula – Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Connecting State and Local Human Services: DBHDS Update

Speaker: Nelson Smith – Commissioner, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

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Agendas

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Keynote Speakers

Matt Lehrman: “From Conflict to Conversation”

Over the course of nearly four decades, Matt Lehrman turned a career that started as an advocate for big business into a mission for all voices to be meaningfully heard. Most recently, in partnership with long-time friend and former Scottsdale City Manager John Little, he founded Social Prosperity Partners to facilitate courageous conversations that inspire companies, causes, and communities towards resilience, innovation, and collaborative action.

“Matt presented ‘From Conflict to Conversation’ at our 100th annual conference. The feedback from our members was nothing short of outstanding. Many said it was their favorite session of the conference.”

-Karen Rosen, Colorado Municipal League

Richard Schragger: “The Past and Future of Home Rule in Virginia”

Richard Schragger joined the University of Virginia faculty in 2001 and was named the Perre Bowen Professor in 2013. His scholarship focuses on the intersection of constitutional law and local government law, federalism, urban policy, and the constitutional and economic status of cities. He also writes about law and religion. He has authored articles on the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses, the role of cities in a federal system, local recognition of same-sex marriage, takings law and economic development, and the history of the anti-chain store movement. He teaches property, local government law, urban law and policy, and church and state.

At the VML conference, Richard will outline the long history of failures to devolve local power in the Commonwealth, with special emphasis on the lack of a home rule provision in the 1971 constitutional revision, and why a new reform push for local autonomy is necessary today.

His first book City Power: Urban Governance in a Global Age was published in 2016. His forthcoming book The City in the Future of Federalism will be published in the fall of 2022.

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About the VML Annual Conference

Each fall hundreds of local government officials, speakers and member organization representatives attend the VML Annual Conference. The conference includes:

General sessions featuring political leaders, nationally-known speakers and local government experts.
Workshop sessions on a variety of local government issues.
Business meeting focusing on the adoption of the annual VML legislative program and the election of officers for the upcoming year.
The presentation of the annual Innovation Awards recognizing excellence in local government programs.
The opportunity for networking with colleagues from across the state.

Exhibitors / Sponsors

Please be aware that all exhibit tables for the 2022 Annual Conference have been reserved. If you would like be put on the list for any that might become available, please send your request to Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org.

If you are interested in sponsoring the conference, please contact Rob Bullington at rbullington@vml.org.

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