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Joint Task Force Session Focuses on Smart Growth, Brownfields
By Kevin McCarty and Kimberly
Peterson
The Brownfields Task Force, Mayors and Bankers Task Force, Regionalism and Smart Growth Task Force and Mayors and Agricultural Leaders Task Force combined efforts June 9 at The U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Conference in Seattle to tackle the interrelated issues surrounding smart growth, brownfields redevelopment and urban sprawl. Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth L. Barr, who serves as Co-Chair of the Conference’s Regionalism and Smart Growth Task Force, led the discussion where participating mayors heard from Conference leaders and outside speakers. In his introductory comments Barr said, "The momentum is in the cities and the challenge for us today is to give substance to these issues." Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles, the Conference’s Vice President, said, "Every time we talk about these issues, the room is overflowing. We know that prosperity has created growth, sprawl and congestion." Coles emphasized the importance of these topics for his tenure as Conference President. Lucie Audette, representing U.S. EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, relayed what EPA is doing on Smart Growth. She touted the agency’s Land Use SIP guidance, a new policy that encourage states to give credit for local initiatives that improve air quality, as a major initiative from EPA and a victory for cities. Audette also highlighted several Administration efforts, like the Better America Bonds proposal, efforts in Atlanta to give "air credits" for the mixed use, transit-oriented development on a former steel site and the creation of a smart growth index tool using GIS planning to project growth impacts in 20 communities. She also noted the joint project with the Conference where clean air pilots in Baltimore, Dallas and Chicago are testing out the air quality benefits of brownfield/in-fill development. Metro Economies Sara Johnson, North American Research Director and Chief Regional Economist for Standard & Poor’s DRI, discussed the recent release of the 1999 gross metropolitan product (GMP) figures for the nation’s 319 city/county metropolitan areas. She also discussed the companion report, U.S. Metro Economies: Leading America’s New Economy, that documents the high-tech output of these metro areas. She noted that these figures challenge public officials to think about how policies help and hinder these areas, with smart growth among the challenges for governmental leaders. In commenting on the reports, Barr discussed how he has used this data to talk to state legislators and to Governor George W. Bush. "These GMP numbers help drive home the fact that where we need transportation money is in the metro areas," he said. Jackson (MS) Mayor Harvey Johnson reviewed the findings of Recycling America’s Land – Volume III, the Conference’s annual brownfields report. Johnson, a Co-Chair of the Brownfields Task Force, emphasized how the many benefits, such as tax base growth, job creation, neighborhood revitalization and environmental protection, that can be realized through the redevelopment of these sites. Urban/Rural Coalition Briefing mayors on the Conference’s efforts to build an urban/rural coalition on development, Cedar Rapids Mayor Lee R. Clancey, Co-Chair of the Mayors and Agricultural Leaders Task Force, described how revitalizing brownfields could take development pressures off greenfields and farmland. She also talked about the Conference’s partnership with the American Farmland Trust and announced that the first farm-city forum will be held July 18th in Cedar Rapids. Lincoln Mayor Don Wesely briefed the mayors on the Conference’s continuing work with the Federal Home Loan Banking System (FHLB). It was noted that the FHLB gives ten percent of its profits each year to affordable housing – almost $1 billion this year. The partnership between the Conference and FHLB has helped to educate the presidents and community investment officers of the twelve district banks about the need for financial investments for brownfield redevelopment projects. Judy Dailey, Community Investment Officer with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, discussed efforts in her regions to promote local economic development. The mayors also heard from Cardell Cooper, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who discussed the Administration’s budget request for FY 2001 for HUD’s programs. Hillary Levitt Altman of the Public Buildings Service of the U.S. General Services Administration explained GSA’s various initiatives to promote smarter growth and help cities in their redevelopment efforts. During the session, Barr reviewed some of the Conference’s efforts related to smart growth, including legislative efforts to secure brownfields legislation, transportation investment particularly for rail projects, and tax law changes such as tax credits for commercial revitalization. He also indicated that there would be some follow-up with the Office of Management and Budget on potential changes in metropolitan area designations.     
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