The Colorado Municipal League hosts their Annual Conference in June of each year, in a variety of different locations in Colorado.  The purpose of the CML is to assist Colorado communities to keep ‘local control local’ and provide tools for elected officials and city staff to better meet their goals. CML is the best forum to learn about municipal governance.  There are 271 municipalities in Colorado, and all but 6 are members of CML. Over 500 participants and staff were in attendance. This is an impressive percentage of Colorado that is invested in learning how to make a difference in their community! 

CML is part of the bigger organization, the National League of Cities, which meets also annually, in March, in Washington, DC.  The City of Golden supports our elected officials’ desire to participate in both of these Conferences.  This year, all seven of Golden’s City Councilors attended all or some of the CML Conference.

Before we attend these conferences, we have an agenda to study and a plan to make.  Some of the lectures are more appropriate than others for our issues, size, and goals.  We attend class, take notes, review sessions, network with other elected officials, visit exhibits, and even take a few moments to ‘smell the flowers’, which were plentiful in Breckenridge.  The commitment I have made, by attending any conference, is to make a difference here at home with what I learn.  Some small item will stick with me and surface at just the right time to help in local decision making!

There are many ways to be involved in CML, and Golden is well represented.  Mike Bester and Dan Hartman serve as League Section Chairs, Managers and Public Works Directors, respectively.  Jeff Hanson, Finance, and Dan Hartman, Public Works, both presented as lecturers.  I received a certificate for completing the first level of CML’s Municipal Elected Officials’ Leadership Training Program, and I also serve on the Policy Committee for CML.

So, how did I make use of my time at CML and what can I briefly share from the 18 lectures and events that I attended? 

Global Warming…….We can do little now to change the next 3 decades, but what we do now will affect change from 2030-2100.   And we do need to do something now!  75% of Colorado’s water is from snow pack, and that is adversely affected by global warming.  270 cities have passed resolutions supporting the Kyoto Protocol, even though our County has not.  We need to make energy a part of every major decision.

Extreme Leadership……The most important thought from this lecture was, ‘the only person who likes change is a wet baby’.  This is an important thing to remember as we try to change things in  Golden to what we think will sustain our lifestyle and economy!  Tread lightly?

Economic Development in Small Communities…… ‘ Quality of life begins with a good job.’  We need to decide what we want, understand reality, and learn what will work.  Community assessments are important.  A point was made during this class  that change will happen, with or without support of a majority.  Economic Developers need to ask questions of our local businesses:

1. What do you need?
2. How do you feel about your community?
3. Are their opportunities for growth of your business?
4. Are you at risk for shutting down or leaving your business?
5. How can I help?

Incentives are very important to attracting businesses……’no one wants to pay sticker price’.  Maybe Golden needs to revisit this issue once again!  Our Web site is also  important for attracting new businesses and families to golden.  Companies that chose to relocate look at Web sites and send out people to check out an area!

Play more……stop going bananas……follow the road to peace.

This was a Women in Government topic and had 10 ideas of merit.

1. Diminish no one.
2. Don’t judge others’choices.
3. No idea is without merit.
4. Would you rather be RIGHT or HAPPY?
5. Honor the unexpected for the results it brings.
6. It’s not about the money….it’s about the delivery of a service.
7. Trust should be a given.
8. Contribute…..sometimes it is JUST SHOWING UP!  (Like at lots of local functions, where we can be seen and approached?)
9. Say thank you.
10. Focus on the positive and make life playful.

I will close by paraphrasing some reflective thoughts.  Local politics is problem solving and practical solutions, not partisan dogma.  It is about trying to make a community better.  The best leaders think beyond their experience and plan beyond their tenure.  I would like to be one of those ‘best leaders’ by continuing to become more educated in municipal governance, and improving the relationships between Staff and Citizens and Council.

Karen Oxman
City Councilor, Golden, District 2