ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Florida League of Cities


When local voices come together, great things happen. Our cities and issues may not be the same, but we're all united in making local choices. 


The FLC annual conference is an opportunity for municipal officials and senior staff to enhance leadership skills, learn from municipal experts, share ideas with peers, discuss strategies for Florida’s future and hear about the latest in products and services for municipal governments. 

The 2023 Annual Conference will be held August 10-12 at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek (14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, FL  32821). Register Now │View Announcement

Please Note: Exhibit hall space for the 2023 is SOLD OUT. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Heidi Hogarth to learn more. 

The 2022 annual conference was held August 11-13, at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Fla. Click here to read the conference minutes. Click here to view resolutions adopted at the conference.


2023 FLC Annual Conference Agenda


Wednesday, August 9

12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Registration Desk Open

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Florida League of Mayors Nominating Committee Meeting

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Florida League of Mayors Forum
Additional registration required through the Florida League of Mayors; contact Rachel Embleton for more details.

4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Florida League of Mayors Business Meeting

For more information, contact Rachel Embleton.


6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Florida League of Mayors Reception
Additional registration required through the Florida League of Mayors; contact Rachel Embleton for more details.


Thursday, August 10

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Registration Desk Open

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Florida League of Mayors Board of Directors Meeting

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Continuing Education in Ethics: Have You Completed Your Hours?
Florida’s municipal elected officers are required to take four hours of specific continuing education
in ethics per year. If you haven’t completed your hours yet, this is your opportunity! The four-hour session includes two hours on the Florida Ethics Law (Chapter 112, Florida Statutes), one hour of public meetings (Chapter 286, Florida Statutes) and one hour of public records (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes). If your hours are completed, this class is a good refresher.

NOTE: Registration is limited to the first 175 people and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Legislative Policy Committee Meetings
▸ Finance, Taxation and Personnel
▸  Land Use and Economic Development
▸  Municipal Administration
▸  Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations
▸  Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
“Cities 101” Workshop
If you are newly elected or newly appointed, this “crash course” is designed for you. Details about Florida municipalities, the services they provide and governing challenges will be discussed. This course is a prequel to the popular Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) but is not a substitute for the three-day IEMO class.

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Workshops

4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Resolutions Committee Meeting (if needed)

5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Speed Networking
Whether you’ve just arrived or spent the day in pre-conference workshops and committees: this
event will be an energetic ending to the day! Come join your colleagues to meet new friends in a fast- paced, fun environment just before the President’s Reception. League staff will also be available to answer your conference questions. Please wear your badge and come ready to smile, meet, greet and kick off the League’s biggest gathering of the year!

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
President’s Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall


Friday, August 11

7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Breakfast
Additional registration required through the Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; contact Caressa Andrews-Moye for more details.

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall

7:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration Desk Open

8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Federal Action Strike Team Meeting

9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Workshops


10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Opening General Session
Featuring the presentation of the E. Harris Drew Award and a keynote presentation by John Avlon and Margaret Hoover.

John Avlon is a senior political analyst and anchor at CNN. He is an award-winning columnist and the author of Independent Nation, Wingnuts, Washington’s Farewell, and Lincoln and the Fight for Peace. Margaret Hoover is the host of PBS’ “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover,” a public affairs, multi- platform program that engages in long- form interviews and a rigorous exchange of ideas with the guiding principle that civil discourse is a civic responsibility. A CNN contributor, she has served in the White House under President George W. Bush, in the Department of Homeland Security,
on Capitol Hill and on two presidential campaigns. John and Margaret live in New York City with their two children.

They will discuss topics that include John’s latest book, Lincoln and the Fight for Peace, Margaret’s work as host of “Firing Line” and Disagreeing Agreeably: Tackling Today’s Issues While Finding Common Ground. At a time when Americans feel more divided than ever before about politics, they will offer a much-needed example of how we can disagree agreeably.

12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Sidewalk Café in Exhibit Hall (Cash Sales)

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Workshops

2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Workshops

4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Workshops

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Membership Networking Event Evening Open

Saturday, August 12

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Various Local/Regional League Breakfast Meetings
Contact your local League for more information. Note that an RSVP is required by August 1 in order to guarantee a seat at a breakfast.

7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Registration Desk Open

8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Youth Council Program


9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Annual Business Meeting

10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Second General Session
Featuring recognition of the Years of Service Awards and an address by National League of Cities President Victoria Woodards.

Mayor Victoria Woodards of Tacoma, WA, serves as the President of the National League of Cities (NLC). She was elected Mayor in 2018. Woodards has called the “City of Destiny” her home for almost her entire life. She is a proud graduate of Tacoma’s Lincoln High School and has served as a soldier in the United States Army. Before becoming Mayor, she served for seven years as an at-large member of the City Council. During that time, she launched the city’s Equity and Empowerment initiative, which led to the establishment of its Office of Equity and Human Rights. She also brought partner organizations together for then- President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative and spearheaded the city’s Project PEACE initiative, which bridged community members with the Tacoma Police Department.

As Mayor, she continues to be a champion of these important issues while expanding her involvement in regional and national conversations on affordable housing, transportation, strengthening youth and families, public safety, growing local business and the creation of family wage jobs. She has also worked to more fully engage the city’s youth in community decisions that impact them every day by expanding Student Government Day and establishing the city’s first Youth Commission.

12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Past Presidents’ Luncheon and Installation of New President

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Workshop

6:15 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Inaugural Celebration
Pack your best cocktail attire and join us for a night On Broadway! During dinner, you’ll be treated to a sampling of hits from some of the Great White Way’s biggest shows, including “Hamilton,” “The Lion King” and “Wicked.” After the show, enjoy drinks and dancing late into the night.

2022 Workshop Presentations

Workshop presentations and a selection of recorded sessions are available below. (Please Note: Not all sessions/workshops had presentation materials and some presenters may choose not to share their presentations online.)

Thursday, August 11, 2022


“Cities 101” Workshop
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Broadband Update: Making the Connection
3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

First-Time Attendees’ Orientation
5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 13, 2022


Youth Council Program
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.


Future Conference Dates + Locations

  • August 10-12, 2023 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
  • August 15-17, 2024 at the Diplomat Beach Resort - Hollywood


Research Symposiums


The Center for Municipal Research hosts a research symposium in conjunction with the League's annual conference in August. Supplemental symposiums may be held in conjunction with the legislative conference in November.

These symposiums bring together public administrators, elected officials and the academic community. Each symposium focuses on specific local government issues, and how research, statistics and trends can be used in the local government setting.

The 2022 Research SymposiumDigital Infrastructure: Broadband and Cybersecurity, was held on Wednesday, August 10 at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood. Attendees heard from industry experts and key stakeholders as they explored the current landscape of broadband and cybersecurity in Florida, funding opportunities from various sources and best practices for municipal governments handling digital infrastructure. 

Presentations are available below. 

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Navigating History to Make Progress
Speakers: Chris Holley II, Manager, Research & Innovation, Florida League of Cities and Courtney Violette, Chief Operating Officer, Magellan Advisors

9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Municipal Broadband Applications
Speakers: Jason Mittler, FPUAnet Manager, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority and Hiep Nguyen, Smart City Officer/CIO, City of Winter Haven (PDF)

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Cybersecurity – Steps for Preparation and Reaction
Speakers: Bill Partington, Mayor, City of Ormond Beach, Claire Whitley, Assistant City Manager, City of Ormond Beach and Sandra Stevens, IT Director, City of Boca Raton

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Luncheon & Keynote Speakers
Jamie Grant, State Chief Information Officer, Florida Digital Service, Florida Department of Management Services
Katie Smith, Director, Office of Broadband, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Doug Kinkoph, Associate Administrator, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Click here to access presentations from previous symposiums.

2021 Workshop Presentations


The 2021 conference was held August 12-14 at the World Center Marriott in Orlando. Workshop presentations and a selection of recorded sessions are available below. Click here to view the conference minutes. 

Please Note: Some workshops did not have presentations and some speakers may choose not to share their presentations. 

Thursday, August 12, 2021


"Cities 101" Workshop
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Council Meetings that Build Trust
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

First-Time Attendees' Orientation
5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.