By Ed Somers
January 31, 2011

To help define the best messaging and advocacy strategy for pushing forward the 2011 Metro Agenda for America, Conference President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz led a special mayors- only session on the first afternoon of the Winter Meeting.

During roundtable and then a general discussion, the mayors focused on:

• Full funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) — which was established when President Nixon was in office;

• A second round of funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) — established when President George W. Bush was in office;

• Reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act — with more money going locally for priorities such as transit, buses, local roads, and high-speed rail; and

• Reducing unfunded federal mandates and preemptions — especially the billions in existing and proposed new mandates from EPA.

The session also provided the many new mayors and first-time attendees with an opportunity to network and meet their colleagues.