City Focus

Latest Episodes:

EP 31: Franchise Fees - Steady or in Decline? Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

Charges for the use of a city's right of way take many forms and are often dependent on a city's size, location, and history. In general, larger cities and those in the Metro region tend to have the most complex franchise agreements, as well as the most unique sources of franchise revenue. Universally, however, franchises represent an essential revenue source for all Oregon cities. In this episode of City Focus LOC IGR Director Jim McCauley joins Paul Aljets from Aljets Consulting for a discussion on utility franchise agreements.

Show Notes:

Franchise Fee Survey

LOC Data Sets

Email City Focus

Email Paul Aljets

Email Jim McCauley

EP 30: Data: Why it's Integral to Cities' Decision-Making Process Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of City Focus LOC Executive Director Mike Cully joins Paul Aljets from Aljets Consulting for a discussion on City Financial Data from CAFRs (or Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports) as well as the upcoming Census in 2020. Mike and Paul breakdown the numbers and drill down into some specific data points to get to the story behind the numbers.

Show Notes:

City Financial Data from CAFRs Now on LOC-Data

Census 2020

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Email Paul Aljets

Email Mike Cully

EP 29: LOC Footprint in D.C. Expands Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

For three days in late October, LOC staff accompanied and supported board members in Washington, D.C as they advocated for city priorities at the federal level. These issues included: comprehensive infrastructure investment, FAST Act reauthorization, affordable housing, and broadband investment and policy. LOC Legislative Director Jim McCauley and Legislative Analyst Jenna Jones were among the team that visited our nation's capital and they give us a review and some highlights of this very fruitful trip.

EP 28: Harassment, Equal Employment, and Other Laws that Matter to You, the Elected Official Nov 07, 2019

Show notes

On this episode, I'm joined in the studio by Katie Kammer, Pre-loss Attorney and host of Kammersations the Podcast for CIS for a fascinating conversation about the laws that protect employees against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Katie is an engaging speaker on this topic and our conversation focuses on encouraging elected officials to think about what is appropriate versus inappropriate in the workplace. We look at what the current laws are and also what is expected in the modern workplace.

Show notes:

Email Katie

Prepared, Not Scared - Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Encore Sep 19, 2019

Show notes

In honor of National Preparedness Month, we are rereleasing Episode 16 of City Focus, featuring Emergency Manager for the City of Salem, Greg Walsh and Salem CERT Senior Trainer and Logistics Officer, Terry Pickett.

National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year.

We discuss how the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains volunteers to assist communities when a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community's professional response.

Show notes:

National Preparedness Month

Email Greg Walsh

Emergency Preparedness PowerPoint Presentation

What is Moulage training?

https://www.facebook.com/SalemCERT/

https://www.cityofsalem.net/Pages/sign-up-for-cert-training.aspx

https://www.fema.gov/

https://www.publicalerts.org/community-emergency-response-teams-cert-neighborhood-emergency-teams-net

https://www.co.marion.or.us/PW/EmergencyManagement/CCC/Pages/cert.aspx

https://www.ready.gov/community-emergency-response-team

EP 27: Political Polarization: It's a Trend we Must Reverse Sep 05, 2019

Show notes

Named in honor of the wise words of President Abraham Lincoln, Better Angels is a national citizens' movement to reduce political polarization in the U.S by bringing conservatives and liberals together to understand each other beyond stereotypes, forming red/blue community alliances, teaching practical skills for communicating across political differences, and making a strong public argument for depolarization. Rather than asking people to change their minds about key issues, Better Angels provides people with a chance to better understand each other, to absorb the values and experiences that inform our political philosophies, and to ultimately recognize our common humanity.

On this episode of City Focus, Cynthia O'Brien from the Portland chapter of Better Angels joins me for a great conversation about the organization and what attendees can expect from the Better Angels closing keynote presentation from John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor on Saturday at our annual conference in Bend.

Show notes:

Better Angels PDX

ABC Nightline video

Make America Dinner Again

EP 26: Breaking Down the Data: Making sense of LOC's recent SDC Survey results Aug 22, 2019

Show notes

LOC recently administered a study on Systems Development Charges, or SDCs and found striking differences in city SDC implementation.

On this episode Paul Aljets, from Aljets Consulting and Erin Doyle, former LOC Lobbyist talk about the survey and they breakdown the results for us in a relatable and useful way that will help to make sense of the data and how it can be used to help cities.

Show notes:

LOC research reference

Aljets Research

EP 25: How Tourism Impacts Our Local Economies Aug 08, 2019

Show notes

On this episode, I'm joined in the studio by Angie Onyewuchi, CEO of Travel Salem for a fascinating conversation about tourism in Oregon. Angie is passionate about Oregon and our conversation focuses on how tourism drives economic impact in communities across the state. She shares examples of emerging trends in Oregon's tourism industry and how Oregon cities benefit yet also face unique challenges with increased travel to our state.

Show notes:

Travel Salem

Travel Oregon

IAAF World Championships Oregon21

Email Angie

EP 24: 94th LOC Annual Conference Preview Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

On this episode, I'm joined in the studio by Kevin Toon, LOC Communications Director and Lisa Trevino, Project Coordinator. Together we give you a preview of to expect at the 94th Annual LOC Conference. We have an exciting line up of speakers this year, interesting tours and plenty of opportunities to network with your fellow LOC members.

Show notes:

94th Annual LOC Conference

Kevin's email

Lisa's email

EP 23: A Conversation with Jake Boone, 2020 LOC Board President Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

Jake Boone, Cottage Grove City Councilor and Incoming 2020 LOC Board of Directors President, joins me for a great conversation about his goals for the upcoming year, how and why he sought political office, and his perspective he has how being a gamer relates to the world of politics.

Jake's Blog

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