By Tom McClimon
June 23, 2003

In addition to passing a number of resolutions ranging from hunger and the arts, to encouraging bicycling communities, to urban parks funding, the Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee heard from a variety of speakers. Chaired by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, the Committee explored new ways to promote the arts and parks in communities.

Mayor Oleksandr Mazurchak of Kamianets Podilsky of the Ukraine told the mayors of his city's efforts to preserve historical properties, with going back to being over 600 years old. He also talked of his efforts to form partnerships with cities to promote historic preservation.

Ms. Beth de Bruyne, Vice President for Business Strategy for Discovery Networks, and Kathleen Cromely, an executive producer for the Travel Channel talked about two new programs the Travel Channel has launched, "Secrets of" which explore unknown facts and places in localities, and "Made in America" which takes a look a things that are made in America. Both expressed their interest in working with mayors' offices to promote their cities on the cable channel.

Dan Glickman, Director of the Institute of Politics and former Secretary of Agriculture, talked about the need to do more in this country to feed American citizens. He mentioned that over 95 billion of tons of food are thrown away each year in the United States. Syd Mendlebaum, executive director of Rock and Wrap It Up discussed his organization's efforts to salvage edible food left over from concerts, sports events, and film productions. He encouraged the mayors to work with his organization to use their communities' resources to feed the hungry.

Arts, Parks, Entertainment, and Sports Resolutions

Promoting the Preservation and Creation Of Urban Forests calls on the Administration and Congress to include funding for urban and community forestry programs, urban forest research; and to work closer with United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service and American Forests to promote the need for an urban forestry programs.

Hunger and the Arts calls for the support of initiatives, both public and private that promote feeding the hungry and homeless using safely recovered edible food leftover after rock concerts, film productions, and other artistic events.

Preserve America calls for local governments to join with the federal government in protecting our nation's historic areas and sites of cultural significance; and that designations will be given to those communities who show a long-term commitment to preserving our nations heritage and encourage increased awareness of those resources.

Take Pride In America calls for the mayors support of a Department of Interior initiative to restore and repair national parks, local playgrounds and other natural areas throughout the United States.

Tax Incentives To Promote Film Production In The United States urges Congress to adopt H.R. 715, the United States Independent Film and Television Production Incentive Act of 2003; and to support similar legislation for enactment during the 108th Congress.

Conservation Trust Fund calls for the support of the Conservation Trust Fund, which encourages and promotes healthy lifestyles, by providing Americans with outdoor places to hike, bike, swim, fish, and walk; and urges that Congress support the full and dedicated funding level of the Conservation Trust Fund, specifically with at least $50 million dedicated to the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR).

Local Arts Agencies calls for The U.S. Conference of Mayors to continue to support the positive economic, educational and societal contributions and roles that local arts agencies serve in communities across the country.

Arts Education calls on Congress to appropriate $53 million for the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education; and urges local school districts and administrators to maximize the use of federal education funds available through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, as well as state funds, to deliver high-quality arts instruction and to integrate the arts into other core subjects.

National Arts and Humanities Month urges mayors to build partnerships with their local arts agencies and other members of the arts and humanities community in their cities to proclaim, to participate in, and to celebrate the month of October as National Arts and Humanities Month.

Public Art calls for the United States Conference of Mayors to support the valuable contribution of local and state public art programs across the country in making our cities more livable, beautiful, and unique.

Bicycle Friendly Communities calls for communities to establish programs and policies that promote the use of bicycling as both a means of transportation and recreation.