by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
For the next few days about 1,500 elected officials from all over the state will be calling Jacksonville home.
Jacksonville is the host city for the 80th Annual Florida League of Cities Conference Thursday-Saturday at the Hyatt.
“It is an educational conference that provides the opportunity for elected officials to not only network but receive information on different topics that help the cities and their government,” said Sharon Berrian, spokesperson for the Florida League of Cities. “There are workshops that help cities solve problems or issues they may come across. Anything from technology to legislation.”
The Florida League of Cities is the association of cities, towns and villages for the state, she said. Founded in 1922, the association provides a number of resources to the state’s
400-plus municipalities. Some of the services include lobbying, financial and insurance services.
The last time the Florida League of Cities held their annual conference in Jacksonville was in 1989 or 1990, said Berrian.
“It has been several years since we have been to Jacksonville,” she said. “We have been warmly received by the city and the Chamber of Commerce. We are very excited about coming to Jacksonville.”
Because of the size of the organization, the conferences are held in Florida’s larger cities, she said. As the conference has grown, the association has to make sure the city is able to accommodate a large number of people.
“We have a tremendous amount of interest in our conferences,” she said.
There may not be a representative from each city, Berrian said, but some cities will send more than one official or they will send all of their officials. She added that some representatives will bring their families, too.
Aside from the meetings and conferences there are also a number of exhibitors and vendors that will be set up throughout the hotel.
A candidate forum featuring U.S. Senate and gubernatorial candidates is Friday from 3:15-6 p.m. The final roster isn’t set, but U.S. Reps. Jim Davis and Katherine Harris, State Sen. Rod Smith and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher have committed to the forum.
The policy committee meeting is set for Thursday, during which the legislative platform is set for the year, said Berrian. The Florida League of Mayors Association that was formed in January will hold a series of meetings on Thursday, too. Friday and Saturday are full of sessions and events. Some of the sessions include topics about “Planning for Florida’s Water Future,” “Transportation Concurrency,” “K-12 Public Education: A Role for Cities,” and “Disasters: How to be Ready.” On Friday there will be a walking tour of Downtown Jacksonville from 9:30-11:30 a.m. sponsored by Downtown Vision, Inc., the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Redevelopment Association.
Keynote speakers include Jim Hunt, president of the National League of Cities; Joe Scarborough of MSNBC and former Florida U.S. Representative; and James Lee Witt, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
City Council member Elaine Brown will be attending and speaking at some of the sessions.