I had the opportunity to attend the National League of Cities Annual City Summit Conference on November 19-22 in Salt Lake City. I hadn’t originally signed up to go, but another Council Member cancelled so I jumped at the chance to learn how to be a more effective representative and hear how other cities are solving issues that are similar to those in Akron.
Like any conference there were multiple workshops each day on a number of topics, and I along with the 4 other Akron Council Members and staff chose what peaked our interests. On Wednesday I attended putting AI to Work in Local Government, and Ward 6 councilman Brad McKitrick and I attended a Public Safety & Crime Prevention Advocacy committee meeting, led by one of the council members from Cleveland, Ohio. ( our planes got in midday so we could not attend the early sessions). We then walked the exhibit floor to talk to vendors who offer services that might streamline some processes internally here at Akron. We had some very interesting discussions with companies offering programs and solutions that could help Akron in a number of ways.
Thursday morning, I attended sessions on Unlocking Potential with AI; seeing how to use artificial intelligent intelligence to streamline housing code enforcement and more. Next was Discovering Potential in Transforming Public Assets into Community Value. A lot of talk about developing unused public property and land as catalyst for economic growth. Also attended a session on Public Comment “ The Good, the Bad and the Legal” learning how other cities are engaging residents while keeping meetings on track. That evening, Brad McKitrick and I met with a housing developer in Salt Lake who specializes in affordable rental apartment buildings. These folks are working across the US and as close by as Columbus to offer safe, clean, modern apartments filling gaps that are needed here in Akron.
Friday we attended workshops on Strategies for Civil Leadership; how to lead and build confidence and cohesiveness in public meetings. Supporting Afterschool Programs in Your Community; detailing the benefits to residents and families, key takeaway- it’s not just the school’s responsibility (and Akron does help). Last up was Bridging our Divides and Reimagining Public Engagement; offering innovative options for community engagement and meaningful dialogue.
There were also full conference lunches, opening/closing sessions with speakers on a number of national topics, and time to talk with Council Representatives from across the county, helping to set up a network to lean on for new ideas. This Conference was far more than I imagined and definitely a worthwhile trip. I gained new insights on a number of issues and came back with a host of ideas and I hope to put some of these into action in the coming years to make Ward 8 and Akron prosper.