CC - Item 3C - National League of Cities Summer Policy Forum September 13th-15th - North Little Rock, ARROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER,
DATE: AUGUST 14, 2012
SUBJECT: NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES SUMMER POLICY FORUM —
SEPTEMBER 13 —15 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
SUMMARY
The City Council will consider authorizing the attendance of Council Member Margaret
Clark to the National League of Cities Summer EENR Steering Committee meeting,
which will take place in North Little Rock, AR.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the attendance of Council Member
Margaret Clark, at City expense, to attend the EENR Steering Committee meeting in
North Little Rock, AR.
ANALYSIS
The Expense and Use of Public Resources Policy, adopted by City Council Resolution
No. 2005 -47, requires prior City Council approval for out -of -state travel beyond an
adjacent state. Information regarding the conference or meetings for which Council
approval is requested is attached: Funding for this purpose is contained in the City's
annual budget.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Submitted by:
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GLORIA MOLLEDA
CITY CLERK
Attachment A: Conference Information
ITEM NUMBER: 1
North Little Rock Meeting Goals: Discuss the priority policy topics as identified by the EENR
Policy and Advocacy Committee during the 2012 Congressional City Conference (water
infrastructure financing, community resilience, hydraulic fracturing and energy efficiency).
Review and vote on policy changes and resolutions.
EENR topic — water infrastructure financing
Policy Development — The committee recommended amending the existing water infrastructure
resolution to reemphasize NLC's support the SRF programs and offer general support alternative
proposals for financing water infrastructure projects, including the trust fund and WIFIA
concepts, as well as supporting removing water and wastewater projects from the state volume
cap for private activity bonds. The committee also recommended reemphasizing opposing
additional requirements on the SRF program, such as Davis -Bacon requirements.
EENR topic — hydraulic fracturing
Policy Development — While the committee did not formally recommend policy changes, there is
interest in potentially recommending that EPA take interim actions /put in place interim
protections should the interim report reveal findings that show hydraulic fracturing could
endanger drinking water resources. Additionally, there is potential interest in strengthening the
current policy language to recommend chemical disclosure "in advance" of use. Finally, a
resolution was offered to support the repeal of the Safe Drinking Water Act exemption for
hydraulic fracturing except in cases where diesel fuel is used. The resolution will be discussed at
the Fall meeting.
EENR topic — energy efficiency
Policy Development — A task force of Committee members (Appelbaum, Higgins, Horak, Lerner,
Malin, Pratt) will examine the current NLC Resolution #2012 -10: Calling on the Federal
Government to Address Issues of Sustainability and Support Local "Green" Efforts to determine
the key messages and concepts and will discuss options for streamlining the resolution and /or
incorporating into policy. Recommendations will be presented at the Fall meeting.