Nation's Mayors to Convene in Oklahoma City
By Ed Somers
June 7, 2010
Led by Conference of Mayors President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz, the nations mayors will convene in Oklahoma City June 11-14 to focus on the key policy issues facing the nation.
Top on the agenda will be:
Passing the Local Jobs for America Act, which would provide cities and urban counties $75 billion in direct funding to save and create jobs.
Funding the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant through both the FY 2011 appropriations and longer-term energy/climate legislation.
Other key discussions will cover the need for comprehensive immigration reform, response to the gulf oil spill crisis, transportation reauthorization, the ongoing foreclosure crisis, improving public schools, and much more.
The Annual Conference is a business meeting where policy resolutions are debated and adopted. Standing Committees will consider resolutions June 11 and 12, and the resolutions will then be debated by the entire body on Monday, June 14.
The proposed resolutions package is posted on usmayors.org, and summaries are provided in this paper.
Obama Administration
Numerous top officials from the Obama Administration will be participating in the Annual Conference including, but not limited to:
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke (Invited)
White House Office National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske
Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Ron Sims
Transportation Undersecretary for Policy Roy Kienitz
Census Director Dr. Robert Groves
Economic Development Administrator John Fernandez
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Barbara Poppe
Energy Department Assistant Secretary Cathy Zoi
Department of Justice COPS Office Director Bernard Melekian
Office of Violence Against Women Director Judge Susan Carbon
Energy Department Program Manager Tobias Russell
Department of Labor Region 4 Director for Employment and Training Nicholas Lalpuis
And more….
Lets Move Campaign
On Friday at the climate protection luncheon, HHS Secretary Sebelius will announce the Administration’s new "Let’s Move Cities and Towns" campaign.
Congress
Congressional Urban Caucus Committee Chairman Chaka Fattah will be representing the House Leadership in Oklahoma City on Friday. Fattah has been fighting for both the Local Jobs for America Act and the Energy Block Grant.
Alaska Senator Mark Begich will address the mayors on Saturday. Begich has been fighting to shift jobs and infrastructure assistance directly to cities.
Special Forums
A number of special forums are being held during the meeting to highlight best practices and mayoral leadership:
Disposition of Distressed, Vacant and Abandoned Property in Local Communities – Friday Afternoon
New Mayors Forum – Friday Afternoon
Lighting the Way to a More Energy Efficient City Using EECBG Funds – Saturday Afternoon
Mayoral School Leadership and the High School Dropout Crisis: Using Data to Change Outcomes for Our Nation’s Youth – Saturday Afternoon
Immigration Reform
There will be a plenary discussion on the need for comprehensive immigration reform on Sunday, June 13. The discussion will feature:
Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza - Facilitator
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Chair of the USCM Immigration Reform Task Force
BP Gulf Oil Disaster
On Sunday afternoon from 2:00-3:30 pm, there will be an emergency meeting on the BP Gulf oil disaster open to all meeting participants.
Mayor Palmer/Awards
Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer will be presented the Conference of Mayors’ Highest Award in Oklahoma City. The Award for Distinguished Public Service will be presented at the City Livability Luncheon on Saturday, June 12.
Other important awards to be presented during the Annual Conference include:
The Mayors Climate Protection Awards (Sponsored by Wal-Mart) - Friday
The USCM/Wal-Mart Foundation Green Jobs Training Grant Awards – Friday
The City Livability Awards (Sponsored by Waste Management, Inc.) – Saturday
The Cities United for Science Progress Lead'safe for Kids Sake Grant Awards (Sponsored by DuPont) – Sunday
Reports/Surveys
Major surveys and reports will be released during the Annual Conference including:
High'speed Rail
Bottled Water
Brownfield Redevelopment
Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis/Vacant and Abandoned Properties in Cities
Other Important Meeting
Mayors Water Council – Friday
Council for Investment in the New American City – Friday
Women Mayors – Friday
Workforce Development Council – Friday and Saturday
Mayors and Business Council Plenary Breakfast – Saturday
Executive Committee (Closed) – Sunday
Nominating Committee (Closed) - Sunday
Host City Events
Host Mayor Mick Cornett has arranged a series of evening events to highlight Oklahoma City:
Friday
A Taste of Bricktown
After Party at The Skirvin Hilton Hotel with Honorary Hosts the Mayors Council of Oklahoma
Saturday
An Oklahoma Hoe Down!
After Party at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art with Honorary Hosts Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner
Sunday
The Flaming Lips with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic – With a Special Recognition of USCM President Elizabeth B. Kautz
After Party at Nonna’s Purple Bar with Honorary Host Barry Switzer
Monday
A Broadway Review with Kelli O’Hara
On Sunday morning, there will be a special Memorial Service at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.
Cornett will also host a special session on Monday afternoon entitled “Oklahoma City: A Win-Win” that will discuss how Oklahoma City passed three transformative tax initiatives in difficult economic times.
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