Discussion and Possible Action:  Proposed 2016 State Legislative Resolutions to be submitted to the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.

With the introduction by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns of a year-round Resolutions process last year (see attached), the discussion before the City Council is to determine if any Resolutions are to be submitted at this time.  If accepted by the League at the annual conference, it would become the basis for lobbying efforts in the 2016 Legislative Session.

Based off the April 28, 2015 Work  Session discussion, action will need to be taken this evening in order to provide any resolutions to the League by the May 15 deadline.  Any resolutions that are of interest to a majority of Councilmembers will be continued forward in our 2016 State Legislative Agenda that will be formally presented to the City Council later this fall.

Depending on the resolutions that will move forward to the League, there may or may not be known financial implications at this time.  However, all of our State legislative agendas are guided by the principles of:

(1)  Preserving local control: "Decentralized government at the local level represents a fundamental principles of American democracy, recognizing that when it comes to community governance, one size does not fit all.
 
The League calls upon the Legislature to respect the authority of cities and towns to govern their communities in the best interests of their residents.  The League will endorse legislation that supports and sustains the principle of local control and reject legislation that conflicts with the autonomy of cities and towns.protecting State Shared Revenues that come to the City

(2) Protecting State Shared Revenues:  "The League is determined to safeguard the economic resources that cities and towns require to ensure safety and provide high-quality services for their residents.  To that end, the League calls upon the Legislature to enact a budget that maintains existing historical formulas for the distribution of state-collected shared revenue to local governments." 

COUNCIL GOALS:
1) Invest in our employees and implement retention and attraction strategies  (i.e., pensions)
2) Ensure Flagstaff has a long-term water supply for current and future needs
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
4) Explore and adopt policies to lower the costs associated with housing to the end user
6) Relieve traffic congestion throughout Flagstaff
9) Foster relationships and maintain economic development commitment to partners
10) Decrease the number of working poor
11) Ensure that we are as prepared as possible for extreme weather events (i.e., wildland fire prevention and planning)

April 28, 2015 Work Session

If no City of Flagstaff resolutions move forward in the League process, we can support others in their legislative issues whether by resolution or lobbying within the principles of our State Legislative agenda the Council will adopt. 

Inform