January 31, 2026

How cities are charting the next chapter—and what it means for Dumfries

By Mayor Derrick Wood

I recently returned from the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., where mayors from across the country gathered to talk about the issues cities are facing right now—and how we’re preparing for what’s next.

Whenever I travel for meetings like this, I carry one guiding question with me:

How does this help Dumfries win?

The Winter Meeting isn’t just a conference. It’s one of the few spaces where city leaders can step outside their own communities, compare notes with peers, and bring practical insight back home. And while our cities may differ in size and geography, the conversations were remarkably similar.

What Cities Across America Are Talking About

Several themes came up again and again throughout the meeting.

Affordability and housing were front and center. Mayors everywhere are seeing how rising housing costs and everyday expenses are affecting families and local economies. The focus was on expanding housing options while protecting the character and identity of our communities.

Public safety was another major topic. Mayors talked openly about the importance of maintaining progress while continuing to build trust, accountability, and confidence between residents and local government.

We also spent time discussing technology and artificial intelligence, not as a distant concept, but as a practical tool cities are beginning to explore. The emphasis wasn’t on hype—it was on how technology can help improve service delivery, streamline operations, and respond more effectively to residents’ needs.

These weren’t abstract conversations. They were grounded in real challenges and real decisions being made in cities right now.

Dumfries Had a Seat at the Table

During the conference, I shared updates about Dumfries—where we’ve been, where we’re headed, and how we’re planning for growth in a way that reflects who we are as a community.

Being part of these national discussions helps Dumfries stay informed about emerging trends, funding opportunities, and partnership models that can support our local priorities. Several sessions focused on public-private partnerships, which are one of the ways cities responsibly deliver projects while protecting the public interest.

Listening to how other communities approach these partnerships helps us better understand what may work here—and what may not.

One Idea I’m Bringing Back Home

One takeaway I’m especially excited about came from a breakfast conversation with a fellow mayor during the conference.

We talked about ways to make progress easier for residents to see and understand. One approach they’ve used is aligning council agenda items directly to their comprehensive plan—so when residents look at an agenda, they can clearly see how each item connects back to the community’s long-term vision.

It’s a simple idea, but a powerful one. It shows that decisions aren’t happening in isolation—they’re part of a plan the community helped shape. It’s an approach I want us to explore in Dumfries as we continue focusing on transparency and accountability.

Business, Innovation, and Partnerships

Another valuable part of the Winter Meeting was engaging with business councils and industry partners who work closely with cities across the country.

Those conversations help mayors better understand emerging tools, financing models, and partnership opportunities—and how to apply them responsibly at the local level. That perspective is important as we continue working with our own business community to support growth, innovation, and long-term economic opportunity in Dumfries.

Looking Ahead

For me, the value of being in the room is always about what comes back home.

The insights, conversations, and connections from the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting will help inform future decisions, partnerships, and planning efforts here in Dumfries. And I’ll continue sharing the “why” behind these meetings—so residents can see how national conversations translate into local action.

Thank you for staying engaged and for continuing to help us build a Dumfries that’s prepared for what’s next.

That’s the value of being in the room.