III. Conference Connections

Housing Reminder

 
October 15 is the deadline to book housing online. October 8 was the deadline to use the Universal Housing Form. 
 
After October 15, call A.C. Central Reservations at 866-643-0044 to book housing for the Annual League Conference. Please specify that you are a League Conference delegate and they will assist you.

Session Spotlight

 
The League Conference, Sustainable Jersey, and League Affiliates are concerned about environmental impacts on municipalities ranging from infrastructure to plastic bags. The sessions listed below will provide you with insights into environmental issues facing local government and the myriad resources available to your community to help address these concerns.
 
These sessions include:

Tuesday, Nov. 16

 
1:30 p.m. Room 405/406 New Jersey Climate Change Initiatives & Impacts on Local Governments. An overview of the key elements of New Jersey's climate objectives and what tools and resources are available to municipal governments to implement these goals at the local level. (LGLP)
 
1:30 p.m. Room 420 Stormwater: Tools to Help Municipalities Weather the Storm. Learn about strategies that municipalities are using to better manage stormwater from high-intensity rains. Information on funding and technical assistance will be shared as well as how all these actions fit within Sustainable Jersey's new Gold Star in Water.

3:30 p.m. Room 421 Bringing the Clean Energy Revolution to Your Community. Strategically engaging your community to achieve the priorities set forth in New Jersey's Energy Master Plan can benefit everyone in your community while helping the state reach its energy goals. Bringing the clean energy revolution to your community can help residents and businesses reduce energy costs while improving the local quality of life for all. 
 
3:30 p.m. Room 401 New Jersey Clean Communities: Exploring the Implementation of the Plastic Bag Law. New Jersey Clean Communities will be taking an in-depth look at the Plastic Bag Ban legislation. 

Wednesday Nov. 17

 
9 a.m. Room 421 Resources to Support Local Sustainability Initiatives. New Jersey Clean Communities will be taking an in-depth look at the Plastic Bag Ban legislation. 
 
1:30 p.m. Room 417 New Jersey's Transition to an Equitable Green Economy. NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy, Jane Cohen, and NJEDA Chief Executive Tim Sullivan will discuss New Jersey's plans to be a leader in environmental justice and the transition to an equitable clean energy economy.
 
1:30 p.m. Room 421 Making the Most of Solar in New Jersey. Municipalities play a key role in ensuring the benefits of renewable energy reach all members of the community, from community solar projects to policies that support adoption of solar on residential and commercial properties. Opportunities to promote solar adoption throughout the community as well as case studies of community solar projects demonstrating multiple community benefits, from reuse of brownfields to workforce development.

Thursday, Nov. 18

 
10:45 a.m. Room 405/406 Technical Assistance Programs for Climate Resilience. While there is much debate regarding how much and when sea-level rise and climate change will impact New Jersey, one thing is certain: it will come and it will affect all of New Jersey in both coastal and inland communities. We need to start addressing the issue now in order to manage what happens in the not-too-distant future. Come hear about technical assistance programs that the Office of Planning Advocacy within the Business Action Center in the Department of State can offer communities to assist in identifying vulnerabilities and how to address them.
 
10:45 a.m. Room 421 Municipal Fleet Electrification. Best practices, procurement strategies, and case studies of municipal fleet electrification initiatives, as well as funding opportunities for fleet electrification from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
 
1:30 p.m. Room 401 Farmland & Solar, Coexisting in Harmony. What power do municipalities have, or not have, to regulate solar under MLUL? Prior laws declared solar development an “inherently beneficial use” and the recent Dual Use law designates projects approved on working farms to be “permitted uses” under municipal zoning. What can municipalities do to prepare for and properly regulate solar development.
 
All sessions will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center

For more information on these and other sessions, visit the League’s website at www.njlm.org or 106th Annual Conference Homepage. The latest listing of sessions offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs) is also posted at the conference webpage. The Annual Conference App is now available for download and be sure to read more about these sessions and the Conference in the October and November editions of our magazine, New Jersey Municipalities.