Here are some events planned for the 2025 ICMA Annual Conference that might be of interest to you:

Developing a Local Government Research Agenda, October 25

The National Academy of Public Administration's Local Government Working Group discussion of its work developing a local government research agenda. The working group has been facilitating a discussion of academics, practitioners, and staff from local government professional associations during 2025 on an agenda for research that provides practical data to practitioners in the areas of fiscal health and sustainability, the citizen-governance disconnect, emerging technology in local government, preemption/state and federal impacts, and recruitment and retention of employees. This meeting will provide an update on this work and seek feedback as the agenda is finalized by the academy.

Academic symposiums, October 26

Topics that will be covered:

Symposium Introduction and Management Strategies to Reduce Turnover: Training, Professional Development, Compensation and Benefits

A Model to Encourage Citizens to Re-engage in the Act of Governance in Cities

Reframing Access: How Policy Feedback and Administrative Burden Shape Local Government Service Delivery

Residency Retention and the Impact on Recruitment and Retention of City Managers

The Relevance of Benchmarking to Performance Improvement Strategies in Local Government

Exploring the Impact of Youth Involvement in Public Programs on Public Service Career Paths

Peril of Flood, Vulnerability Assessments, and Human Adjustment to a More Rapidly Changing Climate

Intergovernmental Collaboration: What Does the Public Want?