By Tom McClimon
February 9, 2004

Under the leadership of Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz, the Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee discussed a number of arts related issues; and voted to make the fitness level issue of Americans, especially young people, to be one of the Committee's priorities for the coming year.

Diaz discussed with the Committee his concept to hold a forum in Miami to discuss the economic importance of the arts to cities and the national economy. The Mayor shared his vision on the importance of the arts to Miami and the need to raise the visibility level of the arts to a new Cabinet-level department. The Committee members voiced their approval for such a meeting which will be held at a later date to be announced.

Diaz also brought to the Committee's attention, two programs that he is involved in that he believes other cities could benefit by. The first, the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, conducts an annual Arts Recognition and Talent Search to identify the nation's 125 most talented high school students in the performing, visual and literary arts and makes available scholarships and awards to the artists. The second program, Latino Arts Beat, is program that awards scholarships to high school students in arts competitions. At the meeting the Mayor unveiled their 2004 poster calendar which contains award-winning arts work from young artists.

Obesity and the general lack of physical fitness was raised by Mayor Diaz as an issue for the Committee to focus on in the coming year. The Mayor cited a number of alarming statistics including that Americans spend over $115 billion each year, treating obesity-related illnesses; and that the percentage of children and adolescents that are overweight has tripled in the last thirty years. Responding to Diaz's challenge, the Committee members discussed doing a "Best Practices" of youth fitness programs underway in cities; and the possibility of holding a national summit to bring together and coordinate the different initiatives underway to address this problem.

Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, Jr., gave the mayors an update on the Mayors Institute on City Design program and encouraged mayors to participate in the national and regional seminars. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin gave the Committee a status report on the Mayors 10-Point Action Plan on Travel and Tourism. Chuck Merin of the Travel Business Roundtable and Michael Gehrisch, President and CEO of the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus gave reports on the state of the travel and tourism industries and travel related legislation.

Marti Albright, Executive Director of Take Pride in America discussed a new program that the Department of Interior was launching to recognize cities' efforts to promote volunteerism in local parks. Cities can become designated as "Take Pride in America Cities. Further information on this program can be obtained at: www.TakePride.gov.

John Porter, from Washington Council Ernst & Young brought the mayors up-to-date on the runaway production issue, (films being made outside the United States). Legislation is moving through Congress that would provide some tax incentives to keep film production in the United States.