Annual Conference

Additional registration is required through the Florida League of Mayors.

Florida’s municipal elected officers are required to take four specific hours of continuing education in ethics per year. If you haven’t completed your hours yet, this is your opportunity. The four hours include two hours on the Florida Ethics Law, one hour of public meetings, and one hour of public records.

Speaker: Randy D. Mora, Partner, Trask Daigneault, LLP

Note: Space is limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Florida cities are on the front lines before, during, and after natural disasters. This workshop will provide municipal officials with a practical disaster-readiness and recovery playbook, focusing on the decisions that matter most before a storm, during an emergency, and throughout long-term recovery. Panelists will discuss resident communications, emergency coordination, debris planning, post-storm permitting, public assistance documentation, floodplain and rebuilding considerations, and the evolving state and federal emergency management landscape. Attendees will leave with practical questions to ask in their own cities and lessons learned from Florida communities that have navigated recent disasters.

Moderator: Deric C. Feacher, City Manager, City of Daytona Beach
Speakers: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager, Town of Cutler Bay; Lesly St. Fleur, Emergency Manager and Assistant Fire Chief, City of Fort Lauderdale; and Carla A. Taylor-Bennett, Recovery Manager, Office of Emergency Management, Broward County

New to municipal government? Whether you’re a newly elected official or recently appointed, this introductory workshop is designed just for you. We’ll provide a high-level overview of Florida’s municipalities, the essential services they deliver, and the key challenges local governments face.

Speakers: Emily Colon, Partner, The Southern Group and Former Deputy City Manager, City of Lakeland; and Chris Holley, II, Director of Member Services and Training, Florida League of Cities

Artificial intelligence and cloud computing are driving unprecedented demand for large-scale data centers across Florida and the country. While these projects can bring significant investment, new tax base, and economic development opportunities, they also raise important questions regarding electric demand, water use, land-use compatibility, infrastructure capacity, and community impacts. This session will examine Florida’s new data center legislation, SB 484, and provide municipal officials with practical guidance for evaluating proposed projects. Panelists representing industry, utilities, and local government will discuss both the opportunities and challenges associated with data center development and share lessons learned from real-world experiences.

Moderator: Dan Janson, Vice Mayor, City of Jacksonville Beach
Speakers: Aaron Bilyeu, Chief Development Officer, Cloverleaf Infrastructure; Tiffany Cohen, Vice President, Large Load and Rate Strategy, Florida Power & Light; and Byron Flagg, Of Counsel, GrayRobinson, P.A.

For over a century, municipalities across Florida have recognized the Florida League of Cities as the united voice for Florida’s 411 cities, towns, and villages. Discover how FLC’s programs, uniquely crafted for cities, are tailored to address the specific needs of your municipality. Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock the full potential of your municipality’s membership.

Speakers: Clay Austin, Director of Insurance Member Services, Florida League of Cities; Jeff Branch, Director of Field Advocacy and Emergency Management, Florida League of Cities; Chris Holley, II, Director of Member Services and Training, Florida League of Cities; and Paul Shamoun, Director of Financial Services, Florida League of Cities

The applicant’s request seems reasonable enough. Then objections pour in: “No more development!” At the public hearing, the room is packed with an angry citizenry. You know it’s going to be a long night. All around Florida, this scenario plays out regularly. Everyone agrees the system is broken, but what can be done by local government, the state, and applicants? This expert panel will explore what is working, what is not, and what might be done about it.

Moderator: Rebecca O’Hara, Deputy General Counsel, Florida League of Cities
Speakers: Elizabeth Abernethy, Planner in Residence, University of Florida; Mark P. Barnebey, City Attorney, City of Palmetto; The Honorable Stan McClain, Florida Senate, District 9; and The Honorable Kaylee Tuck, Florida House of Representatives, District 83

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how local governments operate, communicate, and serve their communities. Join experienced practitioners for a discussion on the responsible use of AI, including real-world applications, potential risks, and strategies for maintaining public trust while embracing innovation.

Moderator: Janette M. Smith, Of Counsel, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, PL
Speakers: Ryan Cohn, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer, Sachs Media; and Frank Martz, II, City Manager, City of Altamonte Springs

Chair: Michael C. Blake, Mayor, City of Cocoa

Chair: BJ Bishop, Commissioner, Town of Longboat Key

Get ready for a dynamic networking experience. Fuel up with coffee, soda, and snacks as you engage in fun, fast-paced conversations and make meaningful connections with fellow leaders in local government. Don’t forget your business cards.

Facilitators: Eryn Alcorn, Member Services Administrator, Florida League of Cities; and Mary Edenfield, Legislative Administrative Supervisor, Florida League of Cities

Additional registration is required through the Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.

Small cities often face big expectations with limited resources. Hear from a panel of experienced city managers, elected officials, and finance professionals as they discuss how they have stretched budgets, prioritized community needs, and found creative solutions to deliver quality services. This interactive discussion will provide practical takeaways, innovative ideas, and real-life examples that participants can adapt to their own communities.

Moderator: Olivia Minshew, City Manager, City of Wauchula
Speakers: Leondrae D. Camel, City Manager, City of South Bay; Tammie Pernas, Finance Administrator, City of Everglades City; Steve B. Wilson, Mayor, City of Belle Glade; and Latricia Wright, City Clerk, City of Williston

Public conversations about growth, housing, infrastructure, and quality of life are evolving in communities across Florida. This session will share key findings from recent public opinion research and explore communications strategies for discussing growth-related issues with residents and community stakeholders. Attendees will gain insight into how residents view growth, development, infrastructure, and local government decision-making, as well as practical messaging approaches for a variety of scenarios. The session will focus on fostering productive conversations, addressing common concerns, and communicating complex issues in a clear and relatable way.

Speaker: Steven J. Vancore, President, VancoreJones Communications

Featuring the presentation of the E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award and a keynote presentation by presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin.

This November, Florida voters will decide on a proposed constitutional amendment that would change how property taxes are assessed and collected in Florida. If passed, it will affect how local governments budget, plan capital projects, and prioritize spending—decisions that directly impact the companies that sell to, contract with, and partner with them. This briefing will help vendors understand what is on the ballot and the range of ways it could affect local government purchasing and planning cycles. It is recommended for anyone whose business depends on Florida’s local government market.

Speaker: Steven J. Vancore, President, VancoreJones Communications

Speaker: Jeff Brandes, President and CEO, Florida Policy Project

Chair: Dylan Rumrell, Commissioner, City of St. Augustine Beach

Every successful city depends on a strong partnership between elected officials and the city manager, with each serving distinct but complementary roles. This workshop helps participants understand where policy ends and administration begins, explore common role-boundary challenges, and learn strategies to build trust, improve communication, and strengthen governance. Through real-world scenarios and discussion, attendees will gain practical tools for fostering an effective council-manager relationship that benefits the entire city.

Moderator: Chris Holley, II, Director of Member Services and Training, Florida League of Cities
Speakers: Patricia J. Bates, Mayor, City of Altamonte Springs; Sarah Campbell, City Manager, City of Fernandina Beach; James R. Clinch, City Manager, City of Venice; and Joyce L. Davis, Mayor, City of Dania Beach

Step behind the screen and into the strategy, content, and day-to-day decisions that bring a city’s social media presence to life. From crafting the perfect post to navigating tough calls, this session delivers a real-world look at what it takes to build a bold, engaging online voice. You’ll also get a practical overview of the legal side, including public records and First Amendment considerations, comment moderation, official versus personal accounts, and policies that help keep your city protected.

Speakers: Lynne Martzall, Executive Director of Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs, City of Coral Springs; Randy D. Mora, Partner, Trask Daigneault, LLP; and Paula Rubiano, Digital Media Manager, City of Coral Springs

Florida cities are operating under HB 1329—now law—with new posting timelines, downloadable format standards, salary disclosure requirements, and a mandatory 10% spending reduction exercise phasing in ahead of the January 1, 2027, effective date. But compliance is only part of the picture. With Amendment 3 headed to the November ballot and its potential fiscal impact already shaping resident conversations, budget season has never carried more scrutiny—or more opportunity to build trust.

This session is a working conversation among elected officials and senior staff who have turned budget communication from a defensive exercise into a trust-building one, using plain language, visual storytelling, and proactive outreach to get ahead of the narrative. Whether a city has 5,000 residents or 500,000, the fundamentals are the same: a budget people can understand is a budget they are more likely to trust.

Moderator: Charles Chapman, Legislative Consultant, Florida League of Cities
Speakers: John Dowless, Mayor, City of Edgewood; Katrina Hill, Director of Public Affairs and Communication, City of Winter Haven; and Darrel L. Thomas, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant City Manager, City of Weston

RSVPs were required with your local league to guarantee a seat. Breakfast meetings are not included in conference registration.

Alachua County/Northeast Florida Leagues of Cities – Room 307, Third Floor, North Tower
Gold Coast League of Cities – Regency Ballroom 1
Suncoast/Tri-County/Volusia Leagues of Cities – Atlantic Ballroom 2-3
Ridge League of Cities – Atlantic Ballroom 1

To properly conduct the business of the League, delegates will be separated into voting and non-voting sections. If necessary, time will be allocated for caucus by individual city delegates.

Presiding: Holly D. Smith, President, Florida League of Cities and Councilwoman, City of Sanibel
Parliamentarian: Eric Hartwell, General Counsel, Florida League of Cities

Featuring an NLC presentation, the President’s End of the Year Video, and a keynote presentation by Jefferson Fisher.

Jefferson Fisher is the New York Times bestselling author of The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More, host of the Jefferson Fisher Podcast, and founder of the Jefferson Fisher School of Communication. As a trial lawyer, writer, and speaker, his purpose is to improve people’s lives by improving their conversations.

Presiding: Woody Brown, Mayor, City of Largo
Invocation: Scott Black, Mayor, City of Dade City
Introduction and Installation of Incoming President: The Honorable Patt Maney, Florida House of Representatives, District 4

In this session, you will gain practical tips for how to lead even when you are uncertain about what challenges may be coming next.

Speaker: Ricki Braswell, CAE, President and CEO, Beyond Coaching

Join us for FLASHBACK Americana, a journey through the decades featuring some of America’s greatest music.

Everyone attending must have a name badge or ticket.