7:30–8:45 a.m.
TML Risk Pool Breakfast (separate ticketed event, no charge)
7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Attendee Registration
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Exhibitor Registration
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open
8:30–9:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:30–9:00 a.m.
🟩 Greenhouse Session • Presented by Power Temp Systems
Electrical Safety Updates: What Every City Should Know About NFPA 70B, OSHA 70E, and NEC 70
In this session, Kent McLemore will explain changes to NFPA 70B, NFPA 70E, OSHA requirements and the National Electrical Code and what they mean for municipal facilities and operations. Focusing on critical municipal facilities, Kent will connect these requirements with NFPA 110 and NEC 700.3(F) while examining generator maintenance, load bank testing and temporary connections. He will explain how maintenance programs, equipment condition assessments, safe testing procedures and documentation can help municipalities avoid safety and liability concerns. Municipal leaders will leave with practical guidance for addressing compliance gaps and protecting essential services, employees and public assets.
9:15–9:45 a.m.
🟩 Greenhouse Session • Presented by Aqualia – Municipal District Services
Every Drop Counts: Turning Water Reuse into a Strategic Advantage
How innovation is helping utilities do more with less. What if wastewater became your most reliable source of water? This session explores how breakthrough technologies are redefining water reuse, turning treatment plants into resource recovery hubs and transforming every drop into a strategic asset. Through pioneering examples in circular economy, advanced treatment, and water regeneration, attendees will discover how innovation is helping utilities and industries unlock new water sources, boost resilience, reduce environmental impact, and create value from what was once considered waste. A forward-looking discussion on how technology is reshaping the future of water security.
9:15–10:30 a.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Navigating Capitol Hill and the Impact of Federal Policy Changes on Cities
Session courtesy of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members
In a candid conversation led by Congressman Marc Veasey (D–Fort Worth), participants will gain insight into recent and proposed changes affecting Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding, HUD funding, and the personal and economic impacts of tariffs. This session emphasizes the importance of collective action and local leadership in advocating for city-driven policy solutions, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring cities remain at the forefront of shaping decisions that directly affect their communities.
G – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for governance.
Marc Veasey, United States Representative, District 33
How Doing the Math Can Make the Case for a More Productive City
In the battle for community growth, we all come up against some common counterarguments: “But people like driving.” “Residents don’t want to have to park two blocks away from their destination.” “The suburbs exist because everyone prefers to live that way.” How do you deal with those arguments? With math. Joe Minicozzi will walk through the math behind endless highways, subdivisions, and big-box stores —and why it doesn’t pencil out. Then he’ll talk through how to use that math in your discussions with local leaders to advocate for more resilient decisions.
F – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for finance.
Joe Minicozzi, Principal, Urban3
Every Coach Needs a Quarterback
Session courtesy of the Texas City Management Association
This session explores how effective mayor–council and city manager teams turn policy and vision into real-world results, highlighting the enduring strengths of the council–manager form of government while addressing today’s challenges, including polarization, limited resources, and rising public expectations. In celebration of TCMA’s 2026 Centennial, paired mayors and city managers will share real-world experiences and lessons learned, offering practical insights into defining roles, building trust, and strengthening the path from decision to implementation – all to enhance quality of life in their communities.
G – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for governance.
Claire Powell, City Manager, and T.J. Gilmore, Mayor, City of Lewisville; and Gina Nash, City Manager, and Jeff Bickerstaff, Mayor, City of Sachse
Nuisance Abatement and Code Enforcement for Small Cities
Session courtesy of the Small Cities Advisory Council
Nuisance abatement and code enforcement play a vital role in enhancing neighborhoods, supporting economic development, and reducing public safety risks. Through real-world before-and-after examples, this session will showcase practical approaches to encouraging voluntary compliance and outline the legal tools available when further action is necessary.
Art Rodriguez, Attorney, Messer Fort, PLLC
The AI Augmented Workforce: Upskilling Municipal Staff for the 2027 Landscape
Session courtesy of the Texas Association of Governmental Information Technology Managers
As AI moves from pilot projects to daily operations, how can your city stay competitive without losing the human touch that residents expect? This forward-looking session shows how an “AI-augmented workforce” can boost efficiency, preserve institutional knowledge, and strengthen service delivery. Hear how Texas cities are upskilling staff, improving retention, and using AI as a force multiplier – not a replacement. You’ll leave with practical strategies to plan for 2027, communicate AI investments, and lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Chris Lee, CIO, City of Lewisville; Melissa Kraft, CIO, City of Frisco; William Pham, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, The Woodlands Township; Scott Joyce, Director of IT, City of Euless; and Omar Rodriguez, CIO, City of McKinney
Customer Care and Citizen Service: Know Yourself to Serve the Customer
Session courtesy of the Texas Municipal Utilities Association
Our mood and emotions shape how we interact with residents and deliver customer service. By understanding what drives us as public servants—and what residents need in the moment—we can communicate more effectively and respond with professionalism. This fun and interactive talk will explore practical ways to manage our own heightened emotions, de-escalate tense situations, and meet customers where they are.
Lance McAvoy, Director of Water Resources, City of Fort Smith
10:00–10:30 a.m.
🟩 Greenhouse Session • Presented by Asphalt Zipper, Inc.
Longer Lasting Road/Pothole Repairs for Less Than Half the Cost – Easier and More Affordable Than You Think
Learn how proven road repair processes and techniques are saving municipalities up to 70 percent or more. Explore proven cost and time-saving benefits of Full-Depth Reclamation, compare basic, mechanical, and chemical road base stabilization methods, and discover how you too can easily achieve more durable, longer-lasting road repairs. This will be a quick-paced event where audience participation is not only allowed but encouraged. We hope you’ll join us.
10:15–10:45 a.m.
Refreshment Break • Sponsored by Hilltop Securities Inc.
10:45–11:15 a.m.
🟩 Greenhouse Session • Presented by HdL Companies
Sales Tax Trends and Emerging Issues
Texas sales tax is one of the most nuanced and fastest-changing revenue sources cities rely on. This session breaks down how local sales tax is actually sourced and allocated and previews the emerging issues reshaping the landscape: data center exemptions, the rise of residence-based sales tax, and legislative developments cities should be watching. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for understanding, analyzing, and forecasting their city’s sales tax revenue.
10:45–11:55 a.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Making Texas Count: Texas Demographic Trends and the Road to 2030
After the 2020 Decennial Census, the Census Bureau reported that Texas was one of six states in the United States that had an undercount of its population. Inaccurate population data could result in a loss of billions of dollars in federal funding to local governments throughout the decade. This session will highlight the most recent demographic trends in Texas and inform local leaders about how to enhance local data and ensure the most accurate population count for the 2030 Decennial Census.
F – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for finance.
Helen You, PhD, Interim Director, and Monica Cruz, PhD, State Data Center Lead, Texas Demographic Center
Hotels and Your Community: Attracting Great Hotel Operators, Addressing Bad Hotel Operators, and the Realities About Extended Stay Hotels
From the largest to the smallest cities, it is vital to have lodging options that effectively and appropriately accommodate short-term and long-term guests in your community. This session will cover key strategies for attracting great hotel operators to your city, how to address substandard hotel facilities, and the realities about the fastest growing lodging sector, Extended Stay Hotels.
Scott Joslove, President and CEO, Texas Hotel and Lodging Association; and Greg Juceam, President and CEO, Extended Stay America
Facing a Disaster Head On: Taking Control, Managing Media, and Navigating the Aftermath and Recovery
Session courtesy of the Texas City Management Association
Join Kerrville’s team as they share firsthand leadership experiences and lessons learned one year after the July 4th Flood in Kerrville. This session will explore the realities of crisis management, communicating under pressure, working with the media, leading through uncertainty, and guiding a community through recovery and resilience. Attendees will gain practical insight into emergency leadership, public communication, and the long-term impact disasters have on organizations and communities.
Dalton Rice, City Manager, and Michael Hornes, Assistant City Manager City of Kerrville
Hiring Your First City Manager: Eight Years Later
Session courtesy of the Small Cities Advisory Council
In this session, learn how the City of Hallsville’s experience hiring its first city manager has evolved over eight years, and take away practical lessons to support effective leadership and long-term success.
Jesse Casey, Mayor; Guy Walker, Mayor Pro Tem; and Charlie Hunt, Councilmember, City of Hallsville
Development in the ETJ: Challenges and Opportunities
Session courtesy of the Association of Hispanic Municipal Officials
This session will explore the issues that arise with development in a municipality’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and discuss the tools available to cities to work collaboratively with developers, especially in the context of 2023 legislation allowing for a unilateral right for property owners to withdraw from the ETJ.
Rob Killen, Attorney, Killen, Griffin & Farrimond, PLLC
Texas Law Enforcement Accreditation: Achieving the Gold Standard
Session courtesy of the Texas Police Chiefs Association
Want to elevate your police department to the “Gold Standard” in Texas? This session breaks down the Texas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program and shows city officials how achieving accreditation can strengthen operations, reduce risk, and build public trust. You’ll get practical insights into the proven Best Practices developed by Texas law enforcement professionals, learn why more than 230 agencies have already earned accreditation, and see how the program is tailored specifically for Texas—making it more accessible and cost-effective than national models.
Kevin Lunsford, Chief (Ret), Director of Accreditation and Training, and Scott Rubin, Chief (Ret), Assistant Director, Texas Police Chiefs Association
Noon–1:30 p.m.
Lunch and Keynote Speaker (separate ticketed event)
Perfectly You: Leveraging the Power Within
Mariana Atencio, Peabody Award-Winning Journalist
Everywhere we look, the world pressures us to perform, conform, and be perfect – often at the expense of being true to ourselves. But the truth is, when we show up authentically, we become magnetic and unlock greater resilience, confidence, and purpose. Authenticity not only helps us navigate change and uncertainty. It attracts opportunities and relationships that align with who we really are.
Mariana Atencio’s unique energy and interactive dynamics give people permission to drop the masks and discover the bold power of being “Perfectly You.” Through inspiring stories and practical takeaways, you will learn how to embrace what makes you irreplaceable and tap into authenticity as a source of strength and well-being to give your best at work and in life. You will leave energized, empowered, and ready to stand out – not by trying to be perfect, but by having the courage to be real.
Read Mariana Atencio’s biography here.
1:30–2:00 p.m.
🟩 Greenhouse Session Presented by Freese & Nichols
Better Plans, Smarter Investments: The Power of Integrated Planning
Cities are being asked to do more with less while navigating rapid growth, aging infrastructure, funding constraints, and competing priorities. Yet too often, land use, transportation, utilities, parks, stormwater, and capital investments are still planned separately. What if your plans worked together instead? Hear how Freese and Nichols, alongside a case study by the City of Georgetown City Manager, David Morgan, is putting Integrated Planning into practice—connecting priorities, breaking down silos, and uncovering opportunities across the city. Discover how this approach can reduce duplication, strengthen collaboration, maximize limited resources, and help leaders make smarter investments today while building toward a shared vision for tomorrow.
1:45–3:00 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
From Texas to the National Stage: Local Leadership in Action
National conversations shape decisions in Texas communities every day. Join the National League of Cities (NLC) CEO and NLC’s Texas leadership for an update on the issues facing cities, towns, and villages across the country. Hear directly from Texas colleagues about how their engagement and leadership at NLC have helped them bring ideas, connections, and value back to their residents. You’ll leave with practical ways to get involved and make your community’s voice heard.
Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director, National League of Cities
Labor and Employment Law Update: Ensure Your City Is in Compliance
In the rapidly shifting world of labor and employment law, staying compliant is one of the most critical challenges facing cities today. This interactive session provides a comprehensive update on recent changes in federal and state laws and rules—including vital updates to the ADA, FMLA, and FLSA—that directly impact cities as employers. Through real-world scenarios and practical insights, you will leave equipped to audit your current practices, mitigate legal risks, and confidently maintain compliance across your organization.
Amber McKeon-Mueller, Director of Legal Services, and Stephanie Huser, Legal Counsel, Texas Municipal League
After the Deluge: Building Flood Resilience in Central Texas Communities
Session courtesy of the Texas Chapter of American Public Works Association
In the summer of 2025 and 2026, Central Texas faced a series of devastating flood events that tested the limits of local infrastructure and emergency response systems. This panel brings together public works leaders from the cities of Austin, San Antonio, and Georgetown, Texas—moderated by the City of Killeen—to share how their communities prepared for, responded to, and are now rebuilding from these extreme weather events.
Jorge Morales, P.E., CFM, Director, Watershed Protection Department, City of Austin; Erin Cavazos, Manager, Engineering, San Antonio River Authority; and Chelsea Solomon, Water Utilities Director, City of Georgetown
Facilitator: Kristina Ramirez, APWA Regional Director and Executive Director of Public Works, City of Killeen
Tools to Address Vacant Downtown Buildings: Strategies for Activation and Revitalization
Session courtesy of the Small Cities Advisory Council
Vacant downtown buildings are a common challenge for many communities, but there are practical, proven tools to help address them, including TIRZ, Chapter 380 agreements, Main Street resources, EDC partnerships, and creative funding strategies. This session will highlight real-world successes from the City of Borger, including innovative initiatives like the “Behind the Doors” video series that has helped spark interest, attract investment, and build momentum for downtown revitalization.
Garrett Spradling, City Manager; Nicole Chavez, Dome Civic and Convention Center and Main Street Coordinator; and Deidra Thomas, Public Engagement Coordinator, City of Borger
Why It Is Important to Set and Enforce Financial Policies
Session courtesy of the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas
Strong financial policies don’t just happen in the Finance Department—they’re a core leadership responsibility. This session highlights how elected officials and city leadership can work together to develop, adopt, and enforce sound financial policies that promote transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public funds.
F – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for finance.
Blu Kostelich, CFO and Assistant City Manager, City of Waco; Cayce Lay Lamas, CPA, Director of Finance, Town of Westlake; and Martie Simpson, CPA, CGFO, Executive Director, Government Finance Officers Association of Texas
The Candidate Versus the Hiring Manager: A Look at Varying Perspectives
Session courtesy of the Texas Recreation and Park Society
The job interview process can vary widely depending on the organization vision, company culture, and role level—but there are several perspectives that shape how it’s experienced and evaluated. Join us as we take a glimpse into our experiences with the recruitment process through the lens of a candidate and a hiring manager.
Willette Middleton Ph.D., Recreation Operations Supervisor, City of West University Place; and Stacie Anaya, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Lewisville
3:00–3:30 p.m.
Refreshment Break • Sponsored by Oncor
3:00 p.m.–Conclusion
TML Business Meeting
3:30–4:45 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Avoiding Impropriety: The Ethics Gameshow
This gameshow-style presentation will cover conflicts of interest, nepotism, and incompatible offices in a light-hearted, high-energy format with audience participation.
E – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for ethics.
Thomas Gwosdz, City Attorney, The Gwosdz Law Firm
Your “Worst” Resident: Navigating People in a Politicized World
If it feels like your “worst” resident is suddenly everywhere, you’re not imagining it. In today’s increasingly politicized environment, routine questions can quickly become contentious and emotions often run high. Through real-world examples, practical strategies, and a touch of humor, this session explores why public interactions have become more challenging and how city officials can respond with professionalism, clarity, and confidence. Attendees will gain useful tools for de-escalation, setting boundaries, and communicating effectively under pressure while learning they’re not alone in facing these increasingly common challenges.
Chris Astrella, MPA, President and Founder, Government Guru Speaking and Consulting
Breaking the Cycle: A Coordinated Approach to Crisis Response
Cities across Texas are working to better respond to individuals whose needs intersect with homelessness, mental health, substance use, and public safety. Learn how Austin’s No Wrong Door initiative brings together law enforcement, emergency response, housing, health care, and behavioral health partners to connect high-need individuals with appropriate services and reduce repeated arrests, emergency room visits, and homelessness. Speakers will share lessons from developing the coordinated response, challenges created by gaps in services and treatment capacity, and efforts underway at the state and local levels to address those gaps. Whether your city is building a coordinated response or looking for ways to strengthen existing partnerships, you’ll take away ideas for improving collaboration and connecting residents in crisis with the right resources.
Maris Herold, Chief of Strategic Initiatives, Austin Police Department; and Carrie Rogers, Chief Government Relations Officer, City of Austin
AI in Action: Practical Applications for Small Cities
Artificial intelligence is transforming local government, but where should small cities begin? Designed for elected officials and city staff in the early stages of AI adoption, this session focuses on practical, real-world applications that can improve efficiency, enhance citizen services, and support day-to-day operations. Through examples, common use cases, and implementation tips, attendees will learn how small cities are using AI today, how to identify opportunities that fit limited budgets and staffing, and the key considerations for getting started with confidence.
Kevin Benson, Director of Application Development, VC3
How to Speed Up the Audit Process
The audit process doesn’t begin when the fiscal year ends – it starts with the systems and habits you put in place all year long. Join us for practical tips and proven strategies to stay audit-ready year-round, reduce last-minute stress, and help your city move through the audit process faster and more efficiently.
F – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for finance.
Martie Simpson, Assistant Director, Financial Services, Texas Municipal League; and Keith Dagen, Wrangler, Texas Municipal League
Keeping Your Police Department TCOLE Compliant: What Every Elected Official Should Know
Session courtesy of the TML Risk Pool
Recent legislative changes have expanded TCOLE’s oversight of Texas law enforcement agencies, making compliance a shared responsibility for local governments. This session provides elected officials and administrators with a practical overview of agency standards, the inspection process, key requirements under the Uvalde Strong Act, and the governing body’s role in supporting compliance. Learn how proactive leadership and oversight can help your community maintain a professional, accountable, and fully compliant law enforcement agency.
Gregory Stevens, Executive Director; and T.J. Vineyard, Deputy Chief, Compliance and Standards Division, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement