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CC - Item 4C - 2008 Annual Congressional City ConferenceE M 6 7 O l 9 4 ®v� ��ORaIED X959 0 ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT I r • � 111: : [ • ] . Is] :7_1: l 4:8 A d_vN ] : Ll ,1111211111111094161112 [ • 711 FROM: OLIVER CHI, CITY MANAGER l�CR---� DATE: JANUARY 22, 2008 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES 2008 ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL CITY CONFERENCE - MARCH 8-12,2008 :yn ITI hTuAI -WA Attached for your consideration is information regarding the National League of Cities 2008 Annual Congressional City Conference. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the attendance at City expense, any Council Member, the City Manager and staff designee. ANALYSIS Conference sessions will include: Transportation Financing & Reauthorization; Immigration Reform; Homeownership Finance; Municipal Water Issues; Community Development & Affordable Housing; Telecommunications and Education Reform. FINANCIAL REVIEW Expenses for this conference is included in the 2007 -08 Budget. PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Submitted by: Jan Saavedra Executive Assistant Attachment A: Conference Brochure APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: 0 ��yy T' Yr'..Lf National '. jeape of Cities e h ib N 2008 t : Q wll = I- r m l 1 N•`� a ,} �'!"' " w ?`*a_ r 11 .' j w - i t�i`K t t Yid$ { � 4, Igo '. v`'9r �, ,:.. ? e� } • '•�-+� v _ ; J Y , Ci_�onference 1,31M I LlOn Washington Hotel and Towers Washington; iju—* March 812;x2008" " Y a $ > - Y r An Opportunity You Will Not Want To Miss March 2008 marks the true beginning of the campaign for national offices - a campaign that has significant implications for America's cities and towns. With most of the major primaries over, both the Democratic and Republican front runners for President will emerge and the races for House and Senate seats will begin to heat up. The National League of Cities 2008 Congressional City Conference provides local elected officials and city staff an opportunity they will not want to miss. The opportunity to learn about federal issues that are important to America's cities and towns, to lobby Congress on short-term issues that will be on the Congressional agenda in 2008, and to make sure cities and towns have a clear, unified voice in the national campaign. Come to Washington, D.C., Much 8 -12, tojoin the voice of America's cities in launching our national campaign on behalf of the 225 million people we collectively represent. The program will include general sessions featuring national leaders, workshops to learn more about the issues and NLC's positions, and a chance to go to Capitol Hill to visit with your representatives on Wednesday, Much 12. The National League of Cities provides the resources, the connections, and the collective power to help city leaders have an impact on Capitol Hill. Information pertaining to Pre-Conference Leadership the pre- conference Leadership Training Institute Seminars being held Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, will be available on the NLC website at www.r lc.org in late December 2007 or early January 2008. Registered delegates will be notified by e -mail when registration for these seminars is available. Special Events Celebrate Diversity Breakfast Monday, March 10; 7:30 am. - 9:00 am; Fee: $35 The 22nd annual Celebrate Diversity Breakfast will feature a keynote speaker who will provide a perspective on "diversity" issues facing America's cities and towns. The breakfast is sponsored by five NLC constituency groups. Reception and The Capitol Steps Tuesday, March 11; 6:30 p.m - 8:00 p.m The Capitol Steps will perform on Tuesday as part of a conference wrap up to energize the delegates for City Lobby Day on Wednesday morning. This troupe of former Congressional employees provides bi- partisan fun for everyone. Preliminary Schedule The Conference will provide a range of education, networking, and strategy sessions to maximize the value of this event for city officials. This preliminary schedule provides an outline of major events during the conference to help delegates make travel plans. Saturday, March 8 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Leadership Training Seminars 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. City Futures Panel Meetings 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Orientation to the Conference for First Time Attendees 5:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Constituency and Special Group Meetings Sunday, March 9 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. NLC Board of Directors Meeting NLC Advisory Council Meeting Leadership Training Seminars Policy and Advocacy Committee Meetings 5:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Constituency and Special Group Meetings Monday, March 10 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m. 12:15p.m. -1:30 p.m. 1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. 8:45 a.m. —10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. —11:45 p.m. Noon —1:30 p.m. 1:45 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. 3:15 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. 5:15 p.m. — 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. Celebrate Diversity Breakfast Opening General Session Workshop Sessions Roundtable Networking Lunch Workshop Sessions General Session State League Caucuses and Receptions Constituency and Special Group Meetings /Events X11 Steering Committee Work Sessions General Session Workshop Sessions Roundtable Networking Lunch Workshop Sessions Closing General Session State League Caucuses and Receptions Reception and The Capitol Steps Wednesday, March 12- City Lobby Day 7:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Shuttle Service to Capitol Hill for Lobbying Be part of the national voice of America's cities and towns in 2008. 1008 c he 2008 Congressional City Confere4kill feature general sessions, on erence workshops, and strategy meetings built around NLC's advocacy priorities Tfor the second session of the 110th Congress and the 2008 presidential ISSUES campaign. Key issues likely to be on the federal agenda in 2008 include: •.� y , Transportation Financing and Reauthorization g The anticipated report from a special commission on the future of surface transportation will kick off a national debate on federal transportation programs as the deadline for reauthorization looms in 2009. Congress also will have to make decisions about how to address a projected shortfall in gas tax revenues for the Highway Trust Fund that funds transportation programs, how to repair and maintain the nation's aging infrastructure, and how to address concerns over the impact of transportation on the environment. Alternative Energy and Climate Change tt aw Energy and environmental issues of concern to local governments continue to be an important Congressional issue. Congress has �..,. := been working on an agreement and passage of a comprehensive energy package that would move this country toward greater energy independence. Renewable fuels standard, tax credits for renewable energy production, elimination of oil and gas tax incen- tives, energy and environmental block grants for local governments and issues related to climate change are on the forefront of y" Senate and House leaderslti . A Federal Response to the Surge in Violent Crime For the second year in a row, the FBI's Uniform Crime Report showed an increase in violent crime in America's cities and towns. Importantly, the report confirms that violent crime is not just a big city problem anymore with the largest increases occurring in communities with populations between 250,000 — 499,999 and 25,000 and 49,999. Congress is debating ways to attack the surge. Gang prevention measures, COPS reauthorization, ex- offender reentry programs, and comprehensive crime fighting strategies are all being considered at the federal level. Immigration Reform Uncertainty over federal immigration policy continues to impact cities and towns and to mean that communities face the chal- lenges of unmigration on their own. Despite the lack of federal action, city leaders recognize that local governments cannot wait for federal action and are developing new strategies to take constructive action locally to manage growing immigrant populations. Federal Funding for Local Activities The federal budget continues to be under intense pressure due to war spending, the federal deficit, the economy, mandatory spend- ing, and renewed emphasis on fiscal restraint. This means that federal programs important to cities and towns, including the Community Development Block Grant programs, public safety, and transportation, will continue to be vulnerable to attack. Homeownership Finance With the homeownership rate in America at a historic high of nearly 70 percent, mortgage foreclosures, predatory lending, inadequate financial literacy, and market volatility continue to threaten neighborhood stability and the national economy. Congress is taking several different approaches to preserving homeownership and neighborhoods, including stronger consumer education and protections, market intervention, and tax forgiveness. Municipal Water Issues Municipal water issues continue to be in the federal spotlight. The Clean Water Restoration,Act, to clarify the original intent of the Clean Water Act, has drawn much support and criticism from various groups. The Water Resources Development Act would authorize approximately $23.2 billion for more than 900 projects for navigation, environmental restoration, and hurri- cane, flood or storm damage reduction in 23 different states. Finally, Congress is looking at the issue of water infrastructure financing and ways to close the gap between needed and available funds. �, Community Development and Affordable Housing For the first time in years, a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) could become a reality. Is your city ready for id If enacted, the AHTF would provide federal funds to localities solely for the purpose of construction and preservation of affordable housing. Sessions will focus on the trust fund and other federal funding programs that cities can use to reinvigorate struggling neighborhoods. , Telecommunications Local government authority to offer municipal broadband services to citizens, to control rights of way, and to collect franchise fees and taxes continues to be under attack in federal regulatory and legislative arenas. Municipal officials must be knowledgeable about M emerging technologies and be prepared to refute industry arguments that local governments are an impediment to competition. Education Reform Discussions are underway in Congress regarding the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. An NLC Task Force has already developed a set of recommendations for reforming the Act to close the gap between its requirements and feasible implementation. Local government officials — many of whom have little control over schools but are often blamed when they fail — must be pre- pared to advocate for needed reforms and for the funding that will be required to meet the Act's requirements. Visit the NLC website at www.nlc.org for regular updates on key issues and advocacy vriorities.