Storm water and flooding comprise major and growing risks to cities, transportation systems, people, and the environment. Flooding has long been the major cause of property damage, and recent catastrophes such as hurricanes Matthew, Sandy and Katrina have exacerbated the total losses and created chain effects in the economy. While storm water control was considered a drainage issue in the past, it has expanded to include regulation under the C...

Learn everything you need to know about the Americans with Disabilities Act and how it affects each stage of employment, from recruiting and hiring through termination. Complaints about violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are at an all-time high. Verdict and settlement amounts are on the rise. Without expert guidance about how to navigate the tricky waters of disability law, employers face enormous liability risks. This top...

Learn types of records that must be maintained, time frames for retention, and best practices for implementing an effective records retention policy. Obtaining a government contract or grant can be a lucrative and beneficial endeavor. However, deals between private industry and governments are intensely regulated and as such create a myriad of issues that are unique to public contract law. One of the many compliance issues faced by contractors...

Understand Federal mitigation regulations and the process for addressing mitigation as part of the permitting of development projects. Most impacts to wetlands, streams and other waters (i.e., aquatic resources) occurring from development activities, like a road crossing or construction of a utility corridor, require permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with the oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Ty...

Understand how to utilize social media to connect with your community and increase responsiveness and community involvement. It's more important than ever for government agencies to have a robust social media presence that can create and strengthen real connections with their communities. However, these connections - and the benefits that result from them - don't just happen without careful planning and execution. Does your government agency h...

Understand how to navigate the minefields of procurement code and public contracting in Florida with ease. If you perform public work in Florida you know that almost all public work in Florida is competitively bid. But did you know that different state and local public entities in Florida have unique procurement codes and requirements, different methods for competitive bidding, and strict time frames for protesting a bid or solicitation? This...

Understand public records and open meetings law in Texas so you can stay compliant and use them to your advantage. As a governmental entity, you are required to comply with the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) and the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA). However, many governmental entities do not understand the requirements of the TPIA and TOMA and are likely at risk for noncompliance. This topic provides a broad overview of the TPIA and helps t...

Learn about the updates on eminent domain and understand how it affects your clients and your practice. This topic will provide updates and analysis on eminent domain topics relevant to business owners, property owners, public agencies and their attorneys. We will discuss legislation at the Federal and state levels -- such as the use of alternative project delivery methods -- that has impacted the acquisition of private property for public use...

Get up to speed on the most significant Wisconsin employment law and labor issues. Steadily increasing is the number of EEOC charges being filed against employers where the employee claims retaliation because of engaging in protected activities. For the EEOC's 2015 fiscal year, out of the 89,385 claims filed with the agency, 44.5% of the claims were for retaliation. And that number is more than any other single category of claims. Even the cou...

Learn how to identify and handle the more difficult aspects of storm water permitting and SWPPP development. In 1972, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act, which prohibits industries and other "point sources" from discharging pollutants into surface waters unless they obtain NPDES permits and comply with their provisions. Although in 1972 storm water was not regulated-it was considered the quintessential nonpoint source-by 1990 the act had bee...