Help! I'm a Newly Elected City Official!
The Texas Municipal League
and Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners
Present
Newly Elected City Officials' Orientation
Click the photo for a message from Joe Cordina, AMCC President.
As a new member of your city's governing body, you must quickly become familiar with a variety of important topics. This program will give you a better understanding of your role on the governing body team and increase your knowledge of the fundamental, critical issues you will face in the challenging months ahead. You will have the opportunity to:
- Interact with other newly elected officials.
- Choose from sessions that appeal to your specific interests.
- Participate in discussions that will make you a more confident policy-maker.
Due to previous overwhelming responses, this workshop will be offered twice. Choose the date and location that best fits your schedule!
In an effort to assist YOU as a first-time elected official, the Texas Municipal League and the Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners have developed an informative orientation program that will answer many of your questions, address issues you will face, and help you assume your new role with confidence!
TENTATIVE AGENDA
7:30 8:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:30 9:30 a.m.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
TML Past President Gary McCaleb, Executive Director of the Center for Building Community and Vice President, Abilene Christian University
9:45 10:45 a.m.
FORMS OF CITY GOVERNMENT: UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES
11:00 a.m. Noon
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES: BEING AWARE OF THE KEY RULES
Noon 1:00 p.m.
NETWORKING LUNCH
1:15 2:15 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- UNDERSTANDING YOUR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES
- GOVERNING ETHICALLY: UNDERSTANDING YOUR INFLUENCE
2:30 3:30 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- COUNCIL-STAFF RELATIONS: BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP
- MINIMIZING YOUR LIABILITY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT
3:45 4:45 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- INTERACTING WITH THE MEDIA CONSTRUCTIVELY
- HEALTH CARETRENDS AND STRATEGIES
7:30 8:00 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:00 9:00 a.m.
PLANNING FOR YOUR CITY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
9:15 10:15 a.m.
MEETING YOUR REVENUE CHALLENGES: WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES?
10:15 11:45 a.m.
GOVERNING OPENLY IN TEXAS: HOW THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AFFECTS TEXAS CITIES
Learn who is subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act, the proper procedures for compliance, and the
consequences of a violation. This session will cover the basic requirements of the Act, and it meets
the Act's mandatory training requirement. (Note: The Texas Public Information Act also requires
mandatory training. However, that Act allows city officials to designate a "public information
coordinator"—usually the city secretary—to take the training on their behalf. The mandatory training for
either Act may also be completed by watching videos prepared by the Texas attorney general's office. To
view the videos or to obtain more information, please visit www.oag.state.tx.us.)
GENERAL INFORMATION
August 13-14 -- Austin
This workshop will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Austin North, located at 6505 Interstate Highway-35 North in Austin. Self-parking is complimentary. The hotel has extended a room rate of $109 (single) and $129 (double). In order to receive this special rate, your reservation must be made by July 22. Call the DoubleTree Hotel Austin North at 512-454-3737 or 800-347-0330 and refer to the Texas Municipal League room block.
To make online room reservations:
- Visit www.austin.doubletree.com.
- In the "Check Availability" section on the right side of the page, enter your arrival and departure information and click "Go."
- Enter reservation details, and in the "Special Accounts" section, enter MLO in the "Group/Convention Code" box. Click "Continue."
- Click the link next to the desired room type. Click "Continue."
- Enter name, address, and credit card information. Click "Book Now" to confirm the reservation.
| Register Online | Register by Mail | |
| August 13-14 -- Austin | $220 |
The registration fee includes handouts, refreshments, Friday continental breakfast and lunch, and Saturday continental breakfast. A confirmation will be e-mailed if you provide an e-mail address. A workshop badge and confirmation will be mailed to each delegate registered up to one week before the workshop..
If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $45 registration cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received more than 14 days before the first day of the workshop for which you are registered.
Elected officials (mayors and councilmembers) can earn Texas Municipal League Institute (TMLI) credits for attending this workshop. Forms will be available on site.
The Texas Municipal League Institute (TMLI) offers a variety of educational programs to help elected city officials strengthen and enhance their leadership and policy-making skills. Throughout the TMLI year (January 1-December 31), elected officials can earn continuing education unit (CEU) credits by attending TML-sponsored educational programs.For further information on the TMLI program, including the Certified Municipal Official designation, click here or call us at 512-231-7400.
Let us know on the registration form if you need special accommodations of any kind. We want to help. In order to respond to any special requests, we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible.
Please call 512-231-7400, or e-mail newlyelected@tml.org.
- Register online for the Newly Elected Officials Workshop on August 13-14 now.
- Download a .pdf version of the registration form and mail to:
TML Administrative Services
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78754-5128
