2026 Summer Conference - Ashland Hills & Suites 

8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Golf Tournament

Join mayors and guests from across the state to participate in the golf tournament. Located in historic Baker City, this 18-hole public course provides pristine views of the Elkhorn mountains to the west and the Wallowa mountains to the east. Lunch will be served at Creston’s Restaurant following the tournament. Preregistration is required. 

Players are responsible for transporting themselves to and from the golf course. Carpooling with other players is encouraged.  Tee time is 8:00 a.m. 

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Shooting Range

Join fellow mayors for a special day at the Baker City Shooting Range. Enjoy camaraderie, marksmanship, and a chance to connect in a unique and fun setting. Don’t miss it! Lunch will be included. Preregistration is required. 

Participants are responsible for transporting themselves to and from the range. Carpooling with other participants is encouraged. Start time is 8:00 a.m.

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Registration Open

Check in at registration and collect your name badge, welcome bag, conference program, and other handouts. Registration will be open for the duration of the conference and staff will be available to answer questions.

10:00 am - 12:00 pm 

Tour Option #1 - Sumpter Train Tour

Join us for a guided Sumpter Valley Railroad tour, where you'll explore historic steam engines, a diesel narrow gauge engine, and learn about Baker County's railroad history. Transportation is provided. Beverages will be available, and please wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for the tour.

10:00 am - 12:00 pm 

Tour Option #2 - Baker Heritage Museum 

Join us for a fascinating walking tour of the Baker Heritage Museum, established in 1920, where you’ll explore the rich history of the area. Please dress comfortably and appropriately for the walk as we take you through this historic journey.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm 

Lunch on Your Own

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm 

Newcomer's Orientation 

Learn what OMA is all about and what it can do for you. You will hear about what the OMA is doing now and the new programs underway. This session is perfect for mayors new and old alike who want to know more about the OMA. 

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Downtown Historic Walking Tour 

Enjoy local vendors and all their goodies in the heart of downtown Baker City! Please be sure to dress for the weather and walking, as this is a self-guided event.

4:30 pm - 5:15 pm 

Coastal Mayors Caucus

6:00 pm - 9:30 pm 

Annual Silent Auction

Mayors, spouses, and guests are invited for a welcome reception and to participate in our annual fundraiser auction. The welcome reception will feature heavy appetizers and a no host bar. Please bring your auction items directly to the conference registration desk – LOC staff will ensure each auction item is properly displayed for bidding purposes. This silent auction will feature gift baskets brought by mayors from all over the state. One hundred percent of the funds raised go to the OMA scholarship fund.

7:30 am - 5:00 pm 

Registration Open

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Networking Breakfast

9:00 am - 9:45 am 

Opening Ceremonies

9:45 am - 10:00 am 

Break

10:00 am - 11:00 am 

An Introduction to Baker City

• Join us as we kick off the conference with an inspiring look at Baker City’s transformation story – a celebration of how vision, community, and creativity are breathing new life into downtown. This dynamic session focuses on the local economic development, city tourism, and downtown revitalization. Whether you’re from a small city or large city, you’ll walk away with ideas and inspiration to bring home to your own community. 

11:00 am - 11:15 am 

Break

11:15 am - 12:15 pm 

Breakout Sessions

1. How a Shrinking Federal Government is Impacting Our Communities and What We Are Doing About It
   • Join other mayors to talk through how significant changes in federal agencies and programs are affecting our communities and how they are responding. Participants will choose two 25-minute breakout group topics from the following: infrastructure, social services, regulatory issues, local economy, and housing production. Additional breakouts may form to address other topics in real time.  

1. How Positive Working Relationships Between Mayor's, Councilors, and the City Manager Benefit Every City
   • Enjoy the banter of two seasoned Oregon City Managers as they discuss forging a good working relationship between Mayors/Councilors and their City Manager/City Administrator. This session will provide specific understanding from the perspective of two individuals who have developed good working relationships with multiple Mayors and City Councils.   

12:15 pm - 12:30 pm 

Break

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm 

Lunch & Keynote Address 

• Sponsored by: Comcast
• Keynote Speaker: Steve Callaway, Former OMA President 

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm 

Break

1:45 pm - 2:45 pm 

Breakout Sessions

1. Maintaining Your Health and Sanity While Governing 

• Mayors led busy lives.  We are taking care of everyone and everything.  But, who is taking care of us?

   

  Come and learn techniques you can apply directly to your life as mayor to help maintain a healthy work-life balance of community service and life outside of City Hall. 

1. OMA Legislative Priority Setting
   • Join fellow mayors and the OMA Legislative Committee in developing legislative priorities for the next legislative session. 

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm 

Break

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm 

Voices of Oregon: Mayor-Led Roundtable on Local Solutions and Shared Challenges 

• Join fellow mayors from across Oregon for an open-format roundtable discussion designed to foster peer learning, regional collaboration, and solution sharing. This session will be organized into breakout tables based on key issue areas affecting cities of all sizes. Whether you're from a small coastal town or a growing metro area, this is an opportunity to connect with peers facing similar challenges and exchange practical strategies that work.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Snack Break

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm 

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Tour

• Come explore the past and journey along the Oregon Trail at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. A guide will take you through the museum and then you are free to explore the site and learn about the history of the area.  Transportation will be provided to and from the tour.

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Awards Dinner & Awards Presentation 

• The winners of the 2025 Mayors Leadership Award will be announced during the festive dinner celebrations. 

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm 

President's Reception, Family Friendly

• The reception is sponsored by the of Baker City and OMA President, Mayor Balensifer. Desserts and drinks will be served. The winner of the 50-50 raffle will be announced during this reception. 

7:30 am - 5:00 pm 

Registration Open

8:00 - 9:00 am

Networking Breakfast

9:00 - 10:00 am

Breakout Sessions

1. 2025 Legislative Session Update
   • Join Jenna Jones, LOC's Finance, Taxation, and Economic Development Lobbyist, for a 2025 Legislative Session Debrief. Come listen in on the highs and lows of this session and the work to be done. 

1. Women Mayors: Building Strength Through Shared Life Experiences
   • Come join women mayors from around Oregon to share and network regarding your tenure as a mayor of your city. 

10:00 am - 10:15 am 

Break

10:15 am - 11:30 am

Breakout Sessions

1. What's a Mayor to do? Leading with Grace When Disaster Strikes
   • Disasters are happening with greater frequency across Oregon in the form of wildfires, floods, heat waves, and extreme storms. When disaster strikes, Mayors have specific roles to play (and to not play), but too often get caught flat footed because they are not properly trained. Join this session to better understand the disaster response and recovery process and how best to lead your community when disaster strikes. 

1. Power in Partnership: Making Moves Beyond City Limits
   • In the age of complex policy and competitive funding, having the right connections isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. This fun, fast-paced session explores why relationship-building with county, state, and federal officials should be a core part of your leadership strategy. Whether you're navigating stormwater issues or championing bold housing reforms, intergovernmental relationships are key to scaling local impact.

11:30 am - 11:45 am 

Break

11:45 am - 1:00 pm 

Lunch and Student Contest Awards Presentation 

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm 

Regulating with Care: A Step-by-Step Approach to Crafting HB 3115 Ordinances 

• This 90-minute, hands-on training, will provide attendees with a step-by-step approach of the LOC’s recommended best practices for crafting HB 3115 ordinances. Attendees will gain a quick overview of the current status of federal and state law, and then quickly delve into an interactive format that will showcase how HB 3115 ordinances should be crafted – including information on who should be at the table when the ordinance is crafted, what factors should be considered and weighed as the ordinance is drafted, the language city officials should consider using, and ultimately how the ordinance itself can be crafted.

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Snack Break

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm 

How State & Federal Courts Have Impacted Oregon Cities in the Last Year

• Each year, the way cities operate and the services they provide are impacted by judicial decisions rendered by state and federal courts. Much like mayors must be aware of the impact the Oregon Legislature has on their communities, so too should they be aware of the impact the judicial system has on their constituents and city employees. This session will provide a high-level overview of how state and federal court decisions have impacted Oregon cities in the last year.

4:15 pm - 5:30 pm

OMA Board of Directors Meeting

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Dinner on Your Own

Baker City is hosting their annual Steak Feed and Car Show on this day. Attendees are encouraged to attend!