WHEREAS, cities nationwide are seeking to restore and reconnect with their waterfronts, which have often been neglected, degraded, and underutilized; and

WHEREAS, local waterfront revitalization projects have the potential to create significant public benefits, including environmental cleanup, job creation, increased tourism, and recreation; and

WHEREAS, cities recognize that there is environmental, economic and other value in revitalizing waterfronts, and cities need the federal government as a partner in their revitalization efforts;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the American Waterfront Revitalization Coalition's goals of increasing federal brownfields funding, restoring funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund's stateside program including the inland lake and waterway restoration programs, improving federal investment in infrastructure development, enhancing the role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in waterfront revitalization, and encouraging enactment of Water Resources Development Act legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors calls upon the federal government to collaborate with cities to pursue these important waterfront revitalization initiatives.