Oregon Mayors Association - 2026 Summer Conference

Online conference registration is closed! Onsite registration will be available at the registration desk during the hours indicated below in the program. We look forward to seeing you in Ashland!

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Discount:

As an OMA Summer Conference attendee, you are eligible for an exclusive 20% discount on select Oregon Shakespeare Festival performances using the promo code below:

Promo Code: ORLEAGUE26

Discount Details:

20% off tickets in Zones A, B, or C
Valid for most performances (excluding opening nights)
Limit of 4 tickets per performance
Available while seats last

To help you take advantage of this offer, we’ve attached a step-by-step guide on how to apply the promo code when purchasing tickets online at www.osfashland.org.

Thursday, August 6

8:00 am - 1:00 pm	Golf Tournament Join mayors and guests from across the state to participate in the golf tournament. Bagged lunches will be available afterwards. Players are responsible for transporting themselves to and from the golf course. Carpooling with other players is encouraged. Please arrive no later than 7:45 a.m. Tee time is 8:00 a.m.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm	Registration Open Check in at registration and collect your name badge and welcome bag. Registration will be open the duration of the conference and staff will be available to answer questions.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Bear Creek Greenway Tour This session explores how local partnerships along the Bear Creek Riparian Corridor have evolved from pre-fire watershed restoration to coordinated fire recovery and long-term resilience efforts. Hosted at North Mountain Park, participants will engage in onsite discussion, visual exploration, and a short walk to observe restoration work and projects spanning Ashland to Central Point. The tour highlights collaborative approaches to habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and community engagement that strengthen regional resilience. This is a walking tour (30-45 minutes or estimated ¾ mile). Please dress appropriately. Please meet in the conference center lobby no later than 9:45 a.m. The tour will depart promptly at 10:00 a.m.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Shakespeare Tour The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland is a renowned repertory theatre founded in 1935 and now presents a mix of Shakespearean works, contemporary plays, and new productions each season. Running from spring through fall, OSF stages multiple productions in rotating repertory, offering visitors a variety of performances in one visit. This tour provides a vibrant blend of world‑class theatre and the charm of historic downtown Ashland. This is a walking tour (estimated .5 miles). Transportation will be provided. Please meet in the conference center lobby no later than 9:45 a.m. to begin loading the bus. The bus will depart promptly at 10:00 a.m.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	Lunch on Your Own
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm	Newcomer's Orientation Speakers: Tamie Kaufman, Mayor & OMA President, Gold Beach Cathy Clark, Mayor, Keizer Gain practical tools to become a more effective mayor. Learn strategies for running productive council meetings, managing conflict, communicating with the public and media, and building the relationships and networks that support successful local leadership. Whether you're new to the role or a seasoned mayor, you'll leave with actionable tips you can use right away.
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm	Coastal Mayors Caucus Meeting
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm	Annual Silent Auction (Schneider Museum of Art - 555 Indiana St, Ashland, OR 97520) Mayors, spouses, and guests are invited to a welcome reception and to participate in our annual fundraiser auction. The Silent Auction is sponsored by the City of Ashland and Lithia & Driveway. This reception will feature heavy appetizers and a no-host bar. 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. Please bring your auction items directly to the conference registration desk – LOC staff will ensure each auction item is properly displayed for bidding purposes. Please bring your auction items directly to the conference registration desk – LOC staff will ensure each auction item is properly displayed for bidding purposes. Attendees are responsible for transporting themselves to and from the event. There is ample parking reserved nearby. Please see the parking map for directions.

Friday, August 7

7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Registration Open

7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Sponsor Exhibits Open

Our sponsors/vendors will be available during session breaks and meals. Be sure to stop by for a visit.

7:30 am - 9:00 am

Networking Breakfast

9:00 am - 9:45 am

Opening Ceremonies

Presider: Tamie Kaufman, Mayor & OMA President, Gold Beach

Color Guard: 1-186th IN, 41st IBCT, Oregon Army National Guard

National Anthem: Ashland City Band

Welcome: Tonya Graham, Mayor, Ashland

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Welcome to Ashland and The Rogue Valley

Speakers:

Tonya Graham, Mayor, Ashland
Donna Bowen, Mayor, Jacksonville
Taneea Browning, Mayor, Central Point
Jesse Dugas, Mayor, Cave Junction
Pam VanArsdale, Mayor, Rogue River

Kick off the conference with a warm introduction to Ashland, our host city, and four smaller cities in the Rogue Valley. Ashland and neighboring communities are delighted to share local government initiatives designed to ensure reliable public services, economic vitality, natural resource conservation, wildfire risk reduction, and a distinctive experience for all who choose to live, work, visit, and play in the Rogue Valley.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

The Mayors Brand

Speakers:

Denyse McGriff, Mayor, Oregon City
Scott Keyser, Mayor, Molalla

What does it mean to be the “face of the city”? In this session we move beyond the big picture to the daily actions that define mayoral leadership – from delivering speeches to being the spokesperson during an emergency. Learn how to cultivate a consistent public image that builds community trust and projects stability to regional and state partners.

12:15 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch & Keynote: Leading with Purpose: Civility, Service, and the Work Ahead

Facilitator: Tamie Kaufman, Mayor & OMA President, Gold Beach

Speaker: John McArdle, Former OMA President

Drawing from decades of public service, John McArdle delivers an inspiring keynote on the enduring value of civility in leadership. Through reflection and practical wisdom, he challenges attendees to stay grounded, lead with integrity, and continue doing the good work that strengthens communities. This keynote is both a call to purpose and a reminder of why local leadership matters.

1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

2026 Session Recap & Forecasting for the 2027 Session

Speaker:

Nicole Stingh, Legislative Director, League of Oregon Cities

Nicole Stingh, LOC Legislative Director, will report out the outcomes of the 2026 session and what local leaders need to know about next year’s session. The session will include information on the LOC 2027-28 legislative priorities ballot expected to be released in mid-late June.

2:45 pm - 3:15 pm

Snack Break

3:15 pm - 5:15 pm

Lithia Park & Japanese Gardens Tour

Join a passionate and knowledgeable volunteer on a guided walk through Ashland’s crown jewel. Walks cover history, flora, and fauna of this great park. Volunteer led walks have been a part of Lithia Park since 1989. The walks last 1.5 hours and cover around 1 mile of trail throughout the park.

This is a walking tour (estimated 1-mile total). Please meet in the conference center lobby no later than 3:00 pm and depart promptly at 3:15 pm. Please dress appropriately for the weather and tour conditions.

3:15 pm - 5:15 pm

Ashland Downtown Tour

During a one-hour walking tour in downtown Ashland, we will explore the connections between Ashland history and evolving economic trends. You will hear stories and see photos from the 1850s to the 2020s, with special attention to maintaining the vibrancy of our historic downtown. Though an hour is short to cover 170 years (!), we plan to leave time for a couple of your questions during each of the four stops on our tour. Our hope is that you will find insights or inspiration to take home with you.

This is a walking tour (estimated 6-blocks total). Please meet in the conference center lobby no later than 3:00 pm and depart promptly at 3:15 pm. Please dress appropriately for the weather and tour conditions.

6:00 pm

Dinner on Your Own

Enjoy dinner on your own tonight, or take advantage of group dining options arranged by the conference team. We’ve reserved tables at a variety of local restaurants for attendees who’d like to dine together. Sign up at the registration desk to reserve a spot at one of the restaurants.

Saturday, August 8

7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Registration Open

7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Sponsor Exhibits Open

Our sponsors/vendors will be available during session breaks and meals. Be sure to stop by for a visit.

7:30 am - 9:00 am

Networking Breakfast

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Returning Civility to Governance: A Strategic Reframe

Speakers:

Michelle Martin, Field Coordinator, The Ford Family Foundation
Jenny Seward, Oregon Program Co-Director, Uniting for Action & Homeless in Southern Oregon, Urban Rural Action
Maree Beers, Oregon Program Co-Director, Uniting for Action & Homeless in Southern Oregon, Urban Rural Action

Civility is not just about being nice, it is a functional requirement for effective governance. This session offers a strategic reframe of council interactions, focusing on how to disagree on policy while maintaining the professional respect required to move a legislative agenda forward.

10:15 am - 11:30 am

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

Speaker:

Patty Mulvihill, Executive Director, League of Oregon Cities

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, they should also 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.

11:30 am - 12:45 pm

Lunch with Student Contest Winners Acknowledgement

Presider:

Tamie Kaufman, Mayor & OMA President, Gold Beach

Join OMA as we celebrate the statewide winners of the 2025/26 OMA "If I Were Mayor..." Student Contest!

12:45 pm - 1:00 pm

Ashland Green Bag Experience

Speaker:

Tonya Graham, Mayor, Ashland

Step into the donation journey with this quick, hands-on experience. Participants will grab an empty green bag, “shop” for groceries in the hallway, and carry their filled bags into the next session—where Ashland Food Pantry volunteers will collect and exchange them for a new empty bag. This interactive moment brings the community donation cycle to life, showing exactly how local generosity turns into food on the shelf.

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

The Participant-Driven Agenda

Facilitators:

Patty Mulvihill, Executive Director, League of Oregon Cities
Lisa Trevino, Member Engagement Director, League of Oregon Cities

Bring your biggest challenges to the front—this session starts fast with live topic pitches from participants. You’ll vote in real time to surface what matters most, then dive straight into high-energy roundtables built around those priorities. No canned content—just dynamic, right-now conversations driven by the people in the room.

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Bingo & Snack Break

Get to know your colleagues and have the chance to win prizes by participating in OMA's Bingo and Snack Break!

3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

OMA Board of Directors Meeting

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Awards Dinner & Awards Presentation

Presider:

Tamie Kaufman, Mayor & OMA President, Gold Beach

The winners of the 2026 Mayors Leadership Award will be announced during the festive dinner celebrations.

7:30 pm- 9:00 pm

President's Reception, Family Friendly

This reception is sponsored by President Kaufman. Desserts and drinks will be served. The winner of the 50-50 raffle will be announced during this reception.