Special district leaders and stakeholders from across the South gathered in New Orleans for a first-of-its-kind regional conference geared toward special purpose local governments of all stripes together for networking, governance education and resources, and advocacy.
The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) hosted the Southern Special Districts Governance Summit April 3-4 at the Louisiana State Museum’s historic Cabildo. The event brought together special district board members, managers, and service providers to discuss common issues districts face, to hear professional perspectives on how to enhance local governance, and to continue elevating a platform for special districts to advocate together.
Leaders of the region’s most common form of local government received fresh perspectives on a range of topics that altogether bind districts together. Presentations included the importance of hardening infrastructure through hazard mitigation, strategic planning and connecting with intergovernmental leaders, the essentials of management and ethics, grants, and municipal finance.
“For too long, far too many of America’s district leaders have gone without a platform for networking and to receive perspectives and resources covering their local governance and policy issues. We are excited to begin changing the narrative,” said Cole Arreola-Karr, AASD Executive Director. “The American Association of Special Districts is working to bridge the divide among America’s special districts, bringing them together for education, networking, and advocacy in their states. We are working to unite, strengthen, and advance America’s special districts through regional events and online forums, and we are looking forward to investing further into coalition building in the South. We are grateful for our presenters and attendees who took time away from home and the office to make this Summit a success.”
AASD Professional Network Members and regional partners led the way to provide resources and perspectives for special districts leaders.
Special Districts Addressing Hazard Mitigation
Special districts play a critical role in ensuring infrastructure is protected and continues during and after a disaster. Hazard mitigation, access to capital, and intergovernmental planning are all key. Chris Rippetoe, Project Manager with the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute at Louisiana State University, provided an overview of the FEMA-recognized multijurisdictional hazard mitigation process. This presentation stressed the importance of engagement with fellow county/parish and municipal governments to be a stakeholder in this five-year process; otherwise, special districts are unable to access federally-funded hazard mitigation resources.
District leaders also heard from Richard Seline, Executive Director of Future Proofing America (Founding Professional Network Member) and ROAR Partners on the innovative approaches to funding major mitigation projects through collaboration with public-private partnerships to develop models for resilient utility districts and smart watersheds.
Grants, Municipal Finance & the Importance of Intergovernmental Connections
Special districts were walked through the complexities of planning and navigating the grant and finance process with Ed Ober, Grant Management Associates’ Chief Operations Officer. This presentation conveyed an understanding of the many timelines and considerations associated with the grants process. Ober also highlighted the need to prioritize projects and approaches to executing awards and alternative funding options, such as through private and foundation funding options.
Oppenheimer & Company’s David Moffett, Southeast Managing Director of Public Finance, and Frank Reed, Southwest Managing Director of Public Finance, provided a dive into municipal bonds and differences among tax-exempt and commercial financing. The Oppenheimer team hammered home the different elements that factor into bond transactions, providing district case studies for context.
Cole Arreola-Karr, AASD Executive Director, offered stakeholders a set of best practices on approaching fellow government stakeholders – including local county or parish commissions, state representatives, and Congress. The presentation also featured a call to action on the forthcoming introduction of the “Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act,” which would federally define “Special District” and begin breaking down barriers to engage on federally-sourced programs. AASD supported this effort in the 118th Congress.
Special Districts Governance & Administration
District leaders also heard fresh perspectives on how to save time and taxpayer dollars while maintaining procurement compliance for their operations with cooperative purchasing from Crosby Grindle, Cooperative Services, LLC (Founding Member) President and associate with Sourcewell (Founding Vanguard Professional Network Member). Cooperative purchasing may also be referred to as “piggybacking,” and regulations vary by state.
Desmond LeBlanc, AASD Treasurer and Board Member representing America’s Districts providing Housing, Community Development & Broadband and owner of Special Districts Management Solutions, provided insights on the importance of telling the special districts’ story, engaging with the community, and understanding the differences in relationships and responsibilities between the board of directors and district management.
Jonathan Roach, AASD Board Member representing the Gulf South and Roach & Associates Founding Partner, provided an engaging overview of real-life ethics laws for attendees and the dos and don’ts of how to navigate the real ethical questions and impasses. The audience, primarily providing services to communities in Louisiana and Texas, were updated on ethics and reporting laws that impact their governance.
Cybersecurity is also on the minds of many special district leaders – especially those operating critical infrastructure as America’s adversaries are looking to undermine their operations through cyberattacks. Thousands of special districts are on the frontlines of this ever-evolving issue. Paul Williams of Clarity Consulting gave a peek into the cybersecurity landscape and looming threats that special districts should be aware of in their daily operations.
Attendees also heard perspectives on the importance of strategic planning for special districts’ multi-faceted success. Arianna Mace, Owner of Propel Consulting, LLC, walked districts through the importance of having attainable goals, a roadmap to accomplish them, being flexible, and having situational awareness of both internal and external factors impacting district services.
The Southern Special Districts Governance Summit brought an opportunity to spotlight the importance of mosquito, vector, and pest (MVP) control districts to maintain and improve public health.
Thanks to the New Orleans Mosquito, Rodent & Termite Board, special district stakeholders recieved a firsthand look at the work the District is doing to mitigate the spread of vector-borne illness with a French Quarter Vector Tour. This was an interesting, eye-opening, and creepy experience on the complicated work that goes into rodent control.
Organizing Special Districts in the South
The Southern Summit’s conclusion marked the beginning of next steps for capacity building in the region. Putting into practice the capacity-building element of AASD’s mission, the Summit celebrated the recent formation of the Texas Special Districts Coalition and laid the foundation to build up an organization serving the needs of all special districts in Louisiana.
AASD thanks event sponsors Roach & Associates, PLLC; Special Districts Management Solutions; and Special District Strategies, L.L.C. – all of which are Founding AASD Professional Network Members.
The Southern Summit was the first of six AASD is planning in 2025. Learn more about a Regional Special Districts Governance Summit coming to a town near you here: https://americasdistricts.org/regional-governance-summits/
Email contact@americasdistricts.org for more information.
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