Conference attendees and registered guests are invited to start your day visiting with exhibitors while enjoying breakfast. Our exhibitors are experts in the subject matter of municipal projects and services, and they are here to help you better serve your community.
8:00 AM
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This session is ideal for first-time conference attendees and CML veterans alike, offering insight into making the most of your CML conference experience. This session is also presented on Monday at 4:30 p.m.
8:30 AM
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Generously sponsored by CIRSA. Kick off the conference with a special keynote presentation featuring Justin Wren. Justin takes audiences through an exploration of the power of service, the profound difference we can make in the lives of others, and the ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can imagine – including the transformation that occurs within ourselves when we choose to live purposefully and serve selflessly. He also unravels the secrets of the Overcomer’s mindset, the unyielding spirit that separates the victors from the defeated. Audiences will learn how to transform pain into fuel, setbacks into comebacks, and doubts into unwavering belief in order to overcome obstacles and win this fight called life.
9:00 AM
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This workshop will provide attendees with ideas on how to strengthen civic health with a particular focus on leadership development. The National Civic League worked with CML and other organizations to produce a Colorado Action Guide for Improving Civic Health Guide and conduct regional workshops late last year and will present concepts from the guide and those workshops. In addition, the Boettcher Foundation has embarked on a multi-year initiative, The State of Leadership, an effort to better understand, strengthen, and connect the leadership fabric of Colorado. Through partnerships with many communities and organizations across the state, they are gathering insights from leaders spanning region, sector, industry, and background to help identify what is working in our communities, where the gaps are, and what opportunities exist. This initiative is about both building relationships, trust, and networks along with informing future funding and support, ensuring resources go where they will make the biggest difference.
10:45 AM
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(Presented by the municipal utilities section). A focused look at how the growth of data centers impact municipal utilities. This panel examines how public power utilities are weighing new load opportunities against grid capacity, long term investment needs, clean energy requirements, and the obligation to protect residential customers from rate increases. The discussion highlights the strategic choices utilities must make to ensure data center development supports the communities they serve.
10:45 AM
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Small towns across Colorado face rising costs, limited staff, and growing expectations from residents. Yet communities like Rico and New Castle are proving that size doesn’t determine success. Join leaders as they share how aligned councils and staff, community-driven projects, creative financing, and strong organizational culture are helping them build places people truly want to call home. From stacking grants and navigating rising construction costs to self-performing projects and empowering staff, this session highlights practical strategies any community can use to turn small budgets and small teams into big results. Come see how two small towns are making it happen, and yes, big cities might learn something too.
10:45 AM
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(Presented by Downtown Colorado, Inc.) Strong local economies don't happen by accident. This session explores the strategic tools Colorado communities use—tax increment finance, redevelopment partnerships, building revitalization, and placemaking to drive measurable economic outcomes. Hear practical examples and leave with actionable strategies to strengthen local fiscal resilience. Sometimes the next sales tax gain starts with one building, one block, or one decision.
10:45 AM
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Join some of Colorado’s most impactful homegrown creators to explore and ideate how municipalities can collaborate with creators to boost civic participation, strengthen trust, and tell more human stories about public service. We’ll discuss how creators are already talking about important local issues such as public safety, housing, water, transportation, elections, culture, and public health and how they can help educate on Colorado issues like local control.
10:45 AM
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Generously sponsored by Hillpointe. CML Executive Director, Kevin Bommer, talks with Governor Jared Polis. This highly anticipated luncheon brings together municipal leaders from across the state for timely insights, candid dialogue, and meaningful connection. You'll want to be in the room for one of the conference’s most engaging and well-attended events.
12:00 PM
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(Presented by the Fire Chiefs Section). Across the country, states and local governments are increasingly discussing how building and fire codes affect housing availability, affordability, and community safety. Many of these discussions involve nationally recognized codes and standards developed by organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC).This session examines how state legislation, local code adoption, and national standards interact within today's policy landscape, using examples from Colorado and other states to explore how life safety, housing needs, and innovation in building design are influenced by these initiatives. Following the presentation, a panel of municipal leaders and technical experts will discuss how communities can evaluate code-related legislation to ensure safety while fostering strong partnerships among policymakers, code officials, and the fire service.
1:30 PM
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(Presented by the Attorneys Section). The CML advocacy and legal teams will offer highlights from the 2026 session of the Colorado General Assembly, with a special focus on new legislation that may require immediate action by municipalities.
1:30 PM
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(Presented by the Public Works Section) When disaster strikes, who do you call? From wildfires, flooding, blizzards, and tornados, Colorado is known for its ready and resilient first responders which include public works professionals. Whether its removing debris from the roads, providing reliable water for firefighting, or maintaining our infrastructure, public works teams are often the first on scene and always the last to leave. In this session, you’ll hear from public works professionals, along with their colleagues in police and fire discuss how effective collaboration across departments is critical to life safety operations. You’ll also learn how to recognize public works as first responders in support of Presidential Policy Directive 8 issued in 2003 by President George W. Bush which officially recognized public works as first responders.
1:30 PM
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(Presented by the HR Directors Section) Hiring in the public sector in Colorado has been challenging. The Town of Parker is combatting this trend by focusing on the employee experience. By using a recognition program named the 'CLEAR Approach', which stands for Care, Listen, Empower, Appreciate and Reward, we want to be a premier employer of choice. This approach includes several initiatives that enhance benefits, remove obstacles, reimagine processes and build culture. We believe the bottom-line results of the CLEAR approach speaks for itself. Throughout the pandemic, the Town had a voluntary turnover rate of 14% or less. Turnover has subsequently dropped from that 14% peak in 2022 to 8% in 2024. Employees who feel cared for and invested in are more likely to stay with an organization and provide excellent customer service.
1:30 PM
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Head to the Exhibitor Showcase to grab a snack, discover something unexpected, and connect with our knowledgeable sponsors. These subject matter experts are here to support you in making a difference in your community. CML thanks our amazing sponsors for their continued support of our members!
2:30 PM
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Municipal attorneys will gather in the Lake House for focused, peer-led conversations to connect, exchange practical insights, and learn from each other's real-world experiences.
2:30 PM
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This workshop provides a unique chance to learn how community mediation services from three different cities effectively address a variety of community conflicts. Conflicts like neighbor disputes, landlord/tenant disagreements to complex HOA issues, police/citizen relations, and school and civil rights conflicts can drain valuable city time and resources if left unresolved. Attendees will hear directly from these communities about their experiences, successes, and challenges in implementing these crucial services, and gain knowledge about new conflict resolution resources available statewide.
3:15 PM
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(Presented by the Finance Directors Section). This session will highlight how Aurora’s Public Safety Capital Master Plan and Library Capital Master Plan was developed to guide long-term capital planning, support equitable service delivery, and align investment priorities with stakeholder and community feedback gathered through extensive outreach. Session attendees will gain insight into how the City of Aurora’s capital master planning efforts provide a structured, data-driven approach for maintaining existing assets, addressing service gaps, and strategically building the infrastructure needed to support Aurora’s future.
3:15 PM
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(Presented by the Attorneys Section). Colorado municipalities have been using AVIS (automated vehicle identification systems) for photo radar and red-light enforcement for decades. The technology has proliferated in recent years. This session will explain how AVIS functions, vendor considerations, statutory limits, court processes, and more.
3:15 PM
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Mayors, this is your opportunity to meet and connect with your fellow mayors in an informal setting with discussion facilitated by CML Executive Director, Kevin Bommer. For Mayors ONLY.
3:15 PM
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Learn how a collaborative activation model between the City of Westminster, The Westminster Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Westminster Business Association empowered local organizations, delivered high-impact events, and brought new vibrancy to Downtown Westminster, a 102-acre urban unfill development of an old mall site. There is no cost to attend, but you must pre-register to save a seat on the bus.
3:15 PM
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(Presented by the Planning Officials Section) Everyone blames zoning for something, but our time would be better spent fixing it! This session will review An Even Better Way to Zone: Achieving More Affordable, Equitable, and Sustainable Communities, a recently published book by Colorado lawyer/planner Don Elliott, which provides practical advice for small and medium-sized Colorado municipalities on how zoning can be reformed to make housing more affordable, development more sustainable, and local governance more equitable. The book was published by Island Press in December 2025.
3:15 PM
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(Presented by the Clerks Section) This session brings together municipal clerks representing small, medium, and large towns and cities, along with both statutory and home rule communities. It will explore how the work of administering elections differs across Colorado. Panelists will compare experiences with coordinated versus stand-alone elections, examine the varying voters’ names, addresses and numerical requirements for referendums and initiative petitions, and discuss how growth, development, zoning changes, and annexations significantly increase the volume and complexity of petition work handled by clerks’ offices. Learn the diversity of knowledge required to successfully run an election, including a practical, high-level walkthrough of the major legal, logistical, and operational steps involved in election administration. Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of how clerks must not only know election law—but also how to apply it effectively within the unique structure of their own communities.
3:15 PM
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(Presented by the Police Chiefs Section). This presentation emphasizes that effective response during a critical incident is not built in the moment; it is created through intentional, early investment in relationships and communication systems. Using a systems-based approach, it highlights the importance of identifying key partners, aligning shared goals, and establishing clear communication pathways before pressure exists. By leveraging tools such as an evaluation matrix and structured partner meetings, organizations can prioritize the right relationships and connect the right people across agencies. The presentation reinforces that trust, and coordination must be built during “quiet” periods, not during a crisis. Ultimately, it demonstrates that efficiency during critical incidents come from preparation, in which early communication, maintained contacts, and aligned systems enable organizations to act decisively rather than reactively when it matters most.
4:30 PM
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(Presented by the Attorneys Section) Court rulings and legislation in recent years have disrupted how law-enforcement agencies have implemented body-worn cameras since the Colorado General Assembly enacted a statewide mandate in 2020. The session will review court rulings regarding the release of video and what policy changes might be required. The session will also review Senate Bill 26-190 in depth and discuss how agencies must handle public discussions regarding critical incidents.
4:30 PM
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Data is the foundation of informed decision-making. In government, we are constantly asked to provide statistics and data to justify our work, yet often lack the resources and expertise to gather those critical metrics. To address this issue, the City of Fort Collins created a central data repository that consolidates and synthesizes data from multiple sources onto a single platform where it is stored, accessed and analyzed by staff across the organization. This “Data Library” is revolutionizing how staff reference and use data. During this session, we’ll discuss the process of creating the Data Library and how it provides accurate and consistent statistics and minimizes human error by automating data collection.
4:30 PM
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(Presented by the Communications & Engagement Section) Communicating effectively with your community and stakeholders is an increasingly complex process. There are multiple information channels, as well as individual preferences for how people want to receive information.
We'll explore how leaders can play a valuable role in the communications ecosystem, what your communications team needs from you, and how to champion and elevate effective communications and engagement in ways that strengthen, rather than complicate, the process.
4:30 PM
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There are an endless array of software solutions, providers, and services being sold to municipal governments. Getting a handle on what they really have to offer is critical, as well as understanding the scope of technology within your municipality. Learn how to navigate and evaluate the options in the marketplace. Learn to think creatively about the tools and software your municipality already has. This session will use the Town of Keystone's exploration of new software solutions as a case study to help participants walk away with a game-plan for enhancing their own processes.
4:30 PM
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Join fellow attendees, guests, and sponsors at our popular welcome reception - an engaging kickoff to our annual conference where ideas spark, connections flourish, and conversations set the tone for an unforgettable conference experience.
5:15 PM
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