By Ed Somers
January 17, 2011

Led by Conference of Mayors President Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz, the nation’s mayors will convene in Washington (DC) January 19-21 for the 79th Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Over 225 mayors (including many new mayors and first-time attendees), top CEOs, and other public and private sector leaders will focus on issues related to job creation and economic recovery. As contained in the 2011 Metro Agenda for America that Kautz is championing, top on the agenda will be:

• Preserving full funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) at $4 billion, which is likely to be threatened with serious cuts.

• A second round of funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

• Increasing local transportation funding through the appropriations process and reauthorization of the surface transportation law.

• Reducing unfunded federal mandates and preemptions.

• Maintaining other key federal priorities, including Build America Bonds and reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act.

The mayors will begin the Opening Plenary Session on Wednesday morning with a moment of silence for the recent tragedy that took place in Tucson. Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup will address his colleagues at this session, and there will be an important discussion on civility in America.

President Barack Obama will host the mayors attending the Winter Meeting in the White House on Friday morning. Because of this wonderful opportunity, the agenda for Friday has been adjusted as follows:

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Meeting with President Obama in the White House

12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Mayors and Business Leaders Plenary Lunch

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Committee of the Whole:

(Community Development and Housing Standing Committee)

(Criminal and Social Justice Standing Committee)

(Environment Standing Committee)

(Metro Economies Standing Committee)

With the start of the 112th Congress and much of the discussion in Washington focused on spending reductions, numerous other top officials will be participating in the Winter Meeting including, but not limited to:

• House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA)

• Senator Mark Begich (AK)

• Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan

• Energy Secretary Steven Chu

• Education Secretary Arne Duncan

• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

• U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk

• U.S. Representative David N. Cicilline (RI)

• U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah (PA)

• NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman

• And many more….

The Conference of Mayors has also invited and continues to seek top members of the Republican leadership to speak at the meeting.

These discussions will take place in plenary sessions, as well as standing committee meetings over the course of the three-day conference.

On Wednesday afternoon, Kautz will convene a special session to provide mayors an opportunity to help define tactics and strategies for moving forward key Conference of Mayors priorities with both the Administration and the new 112th Congress.

The session will also provide new mayors and first-time attendees with a networking opportunity through small table discussions, followed by a moderated discussion among all the mayors.

Kautz will lead a special plenary discussion on Thursday afternoon entitled: “Mayors and CEOs – Building a New Strategy to Retain and Create Jobs in America.”

Kautz has said that, “The discussion we begin on January 20th will empower our organization to build a stronger consensus for a national job creation agenda, and help Washington bridge the partisan divide.”

Participating in this interactive panel discussion will be:

• Zia Eftekhar, Chief Executive Officer, Philips Lighting

• Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman of the Board, Carlson Companies

• Eric A. Spiegel, President and CEO, Siemens

• Thomas C. Leppert, Mayor of Dallas

• Scott Smith, Mayor of Mesa

Caroline Kennedy will join the mayors on Thursday morning to discuss the “JFK 50th: Mayors Ask What Youth Can Do” campaign. This is a joint effort between the Conference of Mayors and the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University commemorating the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of President Kennedy and promoting youth civic engagement.

The mayors will also go to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for a special performance on Thursday evening.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley will be presented the Conference of Mayors’ Highest honor – the Award for Distinguished Public Service – at the opening plenary session on Wednesday, January 19.

Other important awards to be presented during the Annual Conference include:

• Water Conservation Awards (Sponsored by Siemens) - Wednesday

• Leadership in the Arts Awards (Sponsored by Americans for the Arts and USCM) - Thursday

• The Mayors National DollarWise Campaign 2011 Innovation Awards (Sponsored by Bank of America) - Thursday

• USCM Excellence in Public/Private Partnership Awards - Friday

• Cans for Cash (Sponsored by Novelis) - Friday

• Workforce Development Council - Tuesday and Wednesday

• Mayors Water Council - Wednesday

• Council for Investment in the New American City - Wednesday

• Jobs Workshop -Wednesday

• Women Mayors - Wednesday

• Standing Committees - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

• Executive Committee (Closed) - Thursday

• Mayors and Business Council Plenary Lunch - Friday