All sessions will be held at the Lake Granbury Conference Center.
Session topics and speakers are subject to change.
Thursday, May 2
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| 7:30-8:10 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast |
| 8:10 a.m. | Welcome and Overview
Allison Heyward, TML President Elect and City of Schertz Councilmember; and |
| 8:20-9:15 a.m. | For the Love of Small Towns The connection between residents and their cities is one of the most powerful influences in their lives. Discover how small towns can create more engaged citizens with limited resources, how culture impacts our feelings about places, how we fall in love with our cities, and why the little things matter. As residents become more connected, we open new possibilities in community, social, and economic development. Peter Kageyama, Author and Urbanist |
| 9:20-10:20 a.m. | Economic Development for Small Towns In this session, you will hear about the basic legal requirements relating to the economic development tools available to Texas cities and learn how to spend money to make money. Dan Santee, Partner, Denton Navarro Rodriguez Bernal Santee & Zech, P.C. |
| 10:20-10:30 a.m. | Stretch Break |
| 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | The Link Between Land Use and Fiscal Sustainability Small and rural towns often find themselves in quite the predicament – lots of demands for services, infrastructure, and economic opportunity, but insufficient resources to accomplish it all. An often-overlooked tool that can directly impact the fiscal sustainability of any community is land use planning. By understanding how development patterns impact long-term fiscal health, these towns can become better equipped for making budgeting, policy, and economic development decisions. The strategy doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective – and it can be calibrated to fit the unique characteristics of your town. In this session, examples from other communities and tips for effective planning will be shared to illustrate how a streamlined and focused approach can achieve a community’s vision while preserving its assets. AJ Fawver, Community Consulting Program Leader, Verdunity |
| 11:30-12:30 p.m. | Networking Lunch |
| 12:30-1:40 p.m. | How Your Town Can Prepare for Disasters In this session, Assistant Chief Kevin Starbuck of the Texas Division of Emergency Management will discuss what local emergency managers and city officials need to know and have ready before, during, and after disaster strikes. We will discuss state resources for local leaders and answer your questions about emergency preparedness. Kevin Starbuck, Assistant Chief, Texas Division of Emergency Management |
| 1:45-3:00 p.m. | Retail Recruitment Strategies Join The Retail Coach and local developers as they discuss the ins and outs of retail recruitment for small cities. This panel will touch on strategies necessary to build a stronger retail base in your community, as well as real world examples small city leaders will be able to take back and implement in their communities. Aaron Farmer, President, The Retail Coach; Tony Aaron, City Administrator, Early; Miesha Adames, Economic Development Director, Sweetwater |
| 3:00-3:10 p.m. | Stretch Break |
| 3:10-4:15 p.m. | 2024 Legislative Update In this informative session, TML legislative staff will discuss the implementation of bills from the 2023 Texas legislative session, the small city-related issues that may be priorities in the 89th legislative session, and how you can serve your community through grassroots involvement. Monty Wynn, Director, Grassroots and Legislative Services, and JJ Rocha, Grassroots and Legislative Services Manager, Texas Municipal League |
Friday, May 3
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| 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Breakfast Discussion – What’s Working in Your Community? Moderator: Bennett Sandlin, Executive Director, Texas Municipal League |
| 9:35-10:30 a.m. | Creating Organizational Success Through Leadership Healthy and effective organizations are not developed solely by hiring competent and capable individuals. It is equally important to create a culture and climate that supports and rewards good leadership practices. This presentation will discuss the role of high performance leadership in the development of a quality organization. Mike Gentry, Director of Training, Texas Police Chiefs Association |
| 10:30-10:40 a.m. | Stretch Break |
| 10:40-11:50 a.m. | Not for Profit: Navigating the “Business” of Running a City The common adage suggests that government should be “run like a business.” This session examines that notion, exploring how the intricacies of state budgeting, finance, procurement, and open meetings laws introduce levels of deliberation and transparency unparalleled in the private sector. Working through the hypothetical major city purchase, TML legal staff will explore why it is so difficult – and arguably unwise – to run a city “like a business.” Tad Cleaves and Stephanie Huser, Legal Counsel, Texas Municipal League |