By Ed Somers and Conference Staff
March 6, 2006

During the Fall Leadership Meeting in Key West February 23-25, the mayors defined priority issues for the coming year and discussed messaging and legislative strategies.

While the mayors discussed a wide array of issues impacted by proposed federal budget cuts and other legislative proposals, it was agreed that the primary focus would be:

• Defending The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from a proposed $1 billion (25 percent) cut;

• Protecting municipal revenue and management under any telecommunications legislation rewrite;

• Opposing drastic federal limitations on the use of eminent domain for economic development;

• Working with the Administration and Congress to improve the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, and opposing continued first responder funding cuts;

• Helping achieve President Bush’s call for energy independence by promoting and leveraging mayoral leadership on energy conservation and innovation; and

• Addressing poverty and providing opportunity, which will receive more detailed discussion during a March 30 meeting in Los Angeles.

The mayors used the Winter Leadership meeting to also discuss important issues related to avian flu, brownfields, Amtrak, and other items.

The Conference has once again joined with a national coalition to fight the proposed $1 billion CDBG cut and seek $4.5 billion in funding for FY 2007.

The mayors discussed this issue with Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi, as well as other issues related to housing, homeownership, and economic development.

Bernardi promoted new performance measurements that HUD is implementing to demonstrate to the White House Office of Management and Budget – which has scored CDBG as ineffective – that the program does result in significant progress for cities, counties and states.

And, the Administration is proposing a new $200 million competitive grant program that would come out of funding for formula grants.

Bernardi also confirmed that the Administration is pushing for a formula change in CDBG to adjust for new factors, and take funding from what they consider to be “wealthier communities” and give it to more needy communities.

However, the mayors expressed serious concern that this could weaken long-term Congressional support for the program, and when coupled with continued budget restraints, result in the eventual elimination of the program.

In the wake of continued efforts by Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and state legislatures to preempt local government’s oversight of video/cable communications, the mayors reaffirmed their priorities and advocacy strategies in the rewrite to the Federal Communications Act.

With special focus on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees, the mayors agreed that they would urge their members to close the digital divide, avoid fiscal harm to local governments, preserve local government’s management of the rights-of-way, maintain local government’s franchise agreement authority, maintain social obligations and public safety obligations of the providers, and support municipal broadband.

In particular, the mayors said that the outcome of the rewrite should ensure that broadband services, including those provided over a teleco-cable system, are made available to all residential subscribers in a reasonable period of time. In addition, they expressed concern regarding proposals that claim to retain the full 5 percent franchise fee, but exclude traditional revenues such as advertising and other non'subscriber revenues.

More information on the Conference’s rewrite policy is available at usmayors.org.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Chair of the Urban Economic Policy Committee, told mayors that there is a good chance the Senate may consider a new eminent domain bill this year. Although legislation was enacted last November as part of an appropriations bill, it did not impose the stiffer restrictions some members of Congress wanted on local use of eminent domain.

Instead, the compromise required the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a nation-wide study of state and local use of eminent domain; and prohibits state and local governments from using federal funds in connection with the use of eminent domain for economic development that “primarily benefits private entities.”

While state and local groups had hoped the compromise would quell the push for stiffer restrictions, it has not happened. The House passed much more draconian legislation on eminent domain last year.

And, Cornett told mayors that, “While the Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled any action on eminent domain, it has not ruled out the possibility.” He added, “We are urging mayors to talk to their Senators and remind them of the popular economic development projects in your area, particularly the public-private projects that would not have been possible without the use of eminent domain.”

He also said Senators should be urged to delay any further action on eminent domain reform until after the GAO completes its study and provides members of Congress the information they need to make informed decisions.

The mayors discussed proposed changes to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA with DHS Acting Director of State and Local Coordination Chet Lunner and Tim Berres, Director of Preparedness Programs.

The White House had just released a report on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina which supports a number of changes recommended by the Conference, including more use of regional logistics centers, establishment of permanent regional principal federal officials, and more support for mutual aid.

The mayors urged DHS and the White House to work directly with mayors in implementing the 125 specific recommendations contained in the report.

In a separate conference call with the White House, Meridian (MS) Mayor John Robert Smith got a commitment for the Conference’s request for direct city-to-city mutual aid agreements with reimbursement guarantees and liability protection. This is not specifically mentioned in the White House report, but is a top priority in the Conference’s 2005 National Action Plan.

In his State of the Union Address, President Bush challenged the nation to reduce dependence on foreign oil by 75 percent by 2020.

In response to this call to action, the Conference will hold a special summit on Energy/Environment in Chicago May 10-12, hosted by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. As Daley and the other mayors discussed in Key West, mayors across the country are leading the way on energy conservation, alternative fuels, fleet energy savings, green buildings, and public transportation.

At the same time, mayors are increasingly being approached by companies and interests promoting competing technologies for energy savings and environmental protection.

The Chicago Summit will be an opportunity for mayors to promote the innovations taking place in cities, learn from each other, hear from private'sector innovators, and discuss policies needed to support local actions.

There was extensive discussion at the meeting regarding the proposed transaction to allow Dubai Ports World, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, to run significant operations at ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami.

A letter signed by 17 leadership mayors was sent to President Bush and Congress calling for a suspension of the deal, and a 45-day review (see usmayors.org for full letter).

The letter stated, “…we continue to hear serious security concerns regarding this transaction and on port security in general from our mayoral members, and we urge that the Administration suspend the transaction until the security of America’s ports can be assured.”

Prior to approving the letter, the mayors discussed port security with Toby Burke from the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Chet Lunner, and Customs and Border Protection Assistant Commissioner Jayson Ahern – who participated by conference call.

Dr. Richard Cambre, Director of the Animal Import Centers in Miami, told the mayors that the Agriculture department has detailed plans in place to monitor and address an outbreak of avian flu that may come to American via either migratory birds or birds smuggled into the country.

He urged the mayors to focus on live bird markets in their cities, and educate city personnel and the public on what to do if a dead bird is found.