The City’s membership in the League of Arizona Cities and Towns is a critical component of Flagstaff’s advocacy strategy.  The City Council will participate in the League’s annual priority-setting process.  The League established a Policy Committee framework to give elected officials and staff the opportunity to provide expertise and direction on proposed policy issues that come to the League.  The purpose of this agenda item is to receive direction from Council on policy resolutions to submit to the League for consideration.  
 
League Resolution Process
Each year, members of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns may recommend items for the League’s legislative program by submitting policy issues/resolutions for consideration.  The policy issues submitted by cities through this process are vetted by the relevant League Policy Committee and may become a formal League Resolution, or may go on for further discussion with a non-legislative solution. 

Proposed resolutions are then advanced to the Resolutions Committee for a formal recommendation.  If the Committee proposes resolutions, those resolutions will be provided to all cities and towns prior to the League Annual Conference in August. This is so that individual city and town councils may take positions on those resolutions prior to the Resolutions Committee Meeting.   

The resolutions that are passed by the committee are then formally adopted at the League’s Annual Business Meeting, also held during the Annual Conference.  The adopted resolutions then become that year’s Municipal Policy Statement.
 
Guidance on Submitting Policy Issues/Proposed Resolutions
There are two types of resolutions accepted for consideration by the League: 1) Statements requesting a specific action, such as requesting that the Legislature enact a statute relating to a zoning issue; and 2) Statements of general policy direction, such as supporting increases for transportation funding.
 
Resolutions should be broadly applicable and advance our municipal goals.  The resolutions process is designed for issues that impact a broad cross section of cities and towns.  Single city/town issues are not generally part of the League’s overall agenda.

It is helpful to consider resolutions by answering the following questions:

1. What is the problem or issue the City Council is trying to address?
2. What is the solution the City Council is promoting with the proposed resolution?

Key dates – Annual League Resolution Process

• May 17: Initial discussion from Council on what policy issues should be submitted on the City of Flagstaff’s behalf for consideration through the 2017 League Resolutions process.
• May 31: Final Council direction on the City’s proposed League resolutions.
• June 1: City of Flagstaff submissions due to League.
• June: League Policy Committees to review all submissions received by cities and towns and determine resolutions to be considered by Resolutions Committee at Annual League Conference.
• August 16: Council direction on City position on resolutions prior to the Resolutions Committee Meeting.
• August 23 – 26: Annual League of Arizona Cities and Towns Conference

Possible Policy Statements for Council Consideration

• Uphold and restore the principle of local government and reinforce the authority of local governments to respect and protect the priorities of its citizenry and respond to local challenges.
• Protect existing funding and authorities that bring revenue to cities and towns, which support the quality of life for its residents.  Areas may include the protection of state-shared revenues, and opposition to the imposition of new fees and unfunded mandates by any level of government that would increase costs to cities and towns.
• Advocate for investing in forest health treatments on state-owned land in and around cities and towns.
• Advocate against firearm legislation that will allow guns in public facilities
• Advocate for flexible financing authority for commercial entities for upfront investment capital in energy efficiency improvement projects
• Advocate for removing the $2.5 million cap that allows the State’s Housing Trust Fund to be fully funded through unclaimed property proceeds received by the State annually.

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) Explore and adopt policies to lower the costs associated with housing to the end user
5) Develop and implement guiding principles that address public safety service levels through appropriate staffing levels
6) Relieve traffic congestion throughout Flagstaff
7) Address key issues and processes related to the implementation of the Regional Plan
8) Improve effectiveness of notification, communication, and engagement with residents, neighborhoods and businesses and about City services, programs, policies, projects and developments
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