In opening the 69th Winter Meeting, Conference President Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles unveiled a new 10-point document which encapsulates the legislative and administrative priorities of the Conference of Mayors.

In discussing the Priorities for The New American City, Mayor Coles said, "The New American City is a place where entrepreneurial mayors have forged partnerships with business and non-profits and other governmental entities to improve the quality of life for everyone living in their city."

"Mayors recognize the value of the federal government as a partner and will continue to seek new ways to assure that federal programs offer the flexibility to meet the needs of individual cities without cumbersome restrictions and expensive regulatory requirements," Coles added.

Coles emphasized, "President-elect George W. Bush addressed The U.S. Conference of Mayors on June 12 of last year and released an urban agenda that reflected many of the mayors' priorities. He expressed a willingness to listen to the nation's mayors and build a strong and meaningful partnership with us."

Mayor Coles said, "as I laid out in my inaugural address in Seattle, I believe we can strengthen and maintain the growth of the New American City by focusing our attention on four areas: 1) The well being of the family; 2) The livability of the communities and neighborhoods in which we live and work; 3) Educating the workforce of the new millennium; and 4) Building infrastructure to connect metro economies.

More than 50 mayors - Republicans, Democrats and Independents, from larger cities to smaller suburbs - met in teams throughout the summer and fall of 2000 to define and refine priorities in 10 areas:

• Drug Control/Public Safety

• Rail System Restoration

• Smart Growth, (Housing, Brownfields, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Environment)

• Smart Cities/Technology Infrastructure/Digital Divide

• Human Dignity/Diversity

• Youth, Education and Families in America's Cities

• Technology in Schools

• Workforce Technology Training

• Parks, Open Space and Arts

• Airport Enhancements

"This is an agenda which encompasses the full scope and potential of the New American City," Mayor Coles said.

"The nation's mayors have already begun an important dialogue with President-elect George W. Bush on these issues, and will be working closely with his Cabinet and White House staff on moving these priorities forward. We will also continue our work with Congress, corporate leaders, and faith- based, community and charitable organizations across the nation in our combined effort to build stronger communities and maintain the momentum of this nation's economic prosperity and growth," Coles concluded.