7.
City Council Combined Special Meeting/Work Session - AMENDED
- Meeting Date:
- 03/08/2016
- From:
- Stephanie Smith, Assistant to City Manager
- Department:
Co-Submitter:
TITLE:
Report on Annual Lobbying Trip to Washington, D.C.
DESIRED OUTCOME:
Information Only
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Each year a delegation of the Flagstaff City Council travels to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and federal agencies to discuss the City’s interests. Meetings scheduled during the trip are guided by City Council’s adopted goals and legislative priorities. This year Mayor Nabours, Councilmember Evans and Assistant to the City Manager joined the City’s contract federal lobbyist, Bob Holmes, February 24 – 26 for this annual lobbying trip.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Flagstaff Intergovernmental Relations Program addresses legislative initiatives at the county, state, and federal levels, which follow annual legislative calendars. Each year the program mission is to develop and advocate for the Flagstaff community by fostering and maintaining relationships with individuals and entities that affect the City’s interests.
The 2016 Legislative Priorities provide a framework for the City’s annual lobbying trip. Adopted annually, the City’s Intergovernmental Guiding Principles and Legislative Priorities are the foundation of a focused advocacy strategy and serves as a reference guide for legislative positions and objectives that provide direction for the City Council and staff throughout the year.
The City Council and City Manager's Office work closely with our legislative advocates in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, as well as with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to influence policy decisions that affect cities local control and local funding. The City contracts lobbyist services to advocate and monitor specific legislation impacting to the City's interest and established priorities. The City contracts with Nexxus Consulting, LLC for federal lobbying services.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Flagstaff Intergovernmental Relations Program addresses legislative initiatives at the county, state, and federal levels, which follow annual legislative calendars. Each year the program mission is to develop and advocate for the Flagstaff community by fostering and maintaining relationships with individuals and entities that affect the City’s interests.
The 2016 Legislative Priorities provide a framework for the City’s annual lobbying trip. Adopted annually, the City’s Intergovernmental Guiding Principles and Legislative Priorities are the foundation of a focused advocacy strategy and serves as a reference guide for legislative positions and objectives that provide direction for the City Council and staff throughout the year.
The City Council and City Manager's Office work closely with our legislative advocates in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, as well as with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to influence policy decisions that affect cities local control and local funding. The City contracts lobbyist services to advocate and monitor specific legislation impacting to the City's interest and established priorities. The City contracts with Nexxus Consulting, LLC for federal lobbying services.
INFORMATION:
COUNCIL GOALS:
1) Invest in our employees and implement retention and attraction strategies
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) Develop and implement guiding principles that address public safety service levels through appropriate staff levels
5) Explore and adopt policies to lower the costs associated with housing to the end user
6) Provide a well-managed transportation system
7) Continue to implement the Flagstaff Regional Plan and focus efforts on specific plans
8) Improve effectiveness of notification, communication, and engagement with residents, neighborhoods and businesses and about City services, programs, policies, projects and developments
9) Improve the economic quality of life for Flagstaff through economic diversification, and by fostering jobs and programs that grow wages and revenues
10) Support and assist the most vulnerable
11) Ensure that we are as prepared as possible for extreme weather events
1) Invest in our employees and implement retention and attraction strategies
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) Develop and implement guiding principles that address public safety service levels through appropriate staff levels
5) Explore and adopt policies to lower the costs associated with housing to the end user
6) Provide a well-managed transportation system
7) Continue to implement the Flagstaff Regional Plan and focus efforts on specific plans
8) Improve effectiveness of notification, communication, and engagement with residents, neighborhoods and businesses and about City services, programs, policies, projects and developments
9) Improve the economic quality of life for Flagstaff through economic diversification, and by fostering jobs and programs that grow wages and revenues
10) Support and assist the most vulnerable
11) Ensure that we are as prepared as possible for extreme weather events