Nat'l League Defense Fund ReqMEMORANDUM
January 30,2003
TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT:National League of Cities Defense Fund
The City has received a request from the National League of Cities for a $176.50
contribution to participate in the NLC Legal Defense Fund. Corporation Counsel Barry
Lindahl believes it is a good investment.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
CO:
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
January, 2003
To:Mayors and Managers of NLC Member Cities
From:Donald J. Borut, Executive Director
Subject:NLC Legal Defense Fund
At the NLC annual meeting in Salt Lake City last month, your board of
directors approved the creation ora legal defense fund. This new fund will
cover legal fees for carefully selected litigation on behalf of cities, towns,
and villages where the court decision or regulatory ruling--either favorable
or unfavorable could have a significant impact on a large number of
municipalities across the country. A committee of state league directors,
municipal attorneys, and elected officials will oversee the fund's operations
and select the cases on which NLC will intervene on behalf of all cities.
The impact of court decisions and federal administrative rules on local
governments is growing rapidly. So, too, is the cost of litigating and filing
comments on the many complex legal issues that affect municipalities. While
NLC routinely includes funds in its annual operating budget for litigation,
those funds have not proved to be sufficient to ensure adequate coverage on
the wide range of national legal issues that affect America's cities and
towns--issues such as the preemption of local authority, the imposition of
unfunded mandates, and other fundamental home rule issues.
Accordingly, the NLC Board directed that the legal defense fund be funded in
part through voluntary contributions from NLC members and provided an
additional $85,000 as seed money from NLC. The suggested contribution to
the fund is five percent of your community's annual dues to NLC. The
invoice for the next dues billing you receive from NLC will include a dues
check-offbox for your community to contribute to the legal defense fund.
While a five percent contribution is suggested, any amount is welcome. All
funds collected will accumulate in a separate interest-bearing NLC account,
and unexpended funds will carry over from year to year.
Legal advocacy on behalf of cities and towns is an increasingly critical part of
NLC's mission in Washington. I hope your community will be able to
support this initiative. If you have any questions, please visit the NLC
website at www.nlc.org or contact Jeff Fletcher of our staffat 202-626-3123
or fletcher(~_~nlc.0rg.
Purchase Order No. 88248;
Tax Exempt #: 42-6004596
Dept. Phone: (319) .~r ~ 41 ~ 3
DATE: 1/2~'/0-9
· BILL
I National League of Ci~.~:es AND
1301 P~nnsylvania Aver~ue ~N ~550 SHIP
TO ~Sh~gtO~, ~ 2L~0M1763 PREPAID
TO
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ORDERED BY: }(RVin Firnstahl
Membership ~r~l I, 200~- Marc,h
IMPORT~T: PURCHAEE DEPT. UDITED
Our PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER mu~ .~ . - - - . .
~ckag~ and shipping papem.
-tAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY a
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
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OTHER INSTRUCTIONS:
National League of Cities
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW#550
Washington, DC 20004-1763
202.626.3000 - 202.626.3043 fax
Membership Invoice
&
Current Membership Data
{Renewal Information}
Bill To:
[-
M~chael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
City of Dubuque
13th & Central
Dubuque, IA 52001
Order No: 2001532030
Order Date: 01/22/2002
Invoice: 20012059
Invoice Date: 01/22/2002
[] Payment Euclosed [] *Unable to Renew
{Provide Name & Title}
Please ve~y and update membership information and return with payment to:
National League of Cities, PO Box 85080, Richmond, VA 23285~4047
Membership Group
NLC/State League
Population Begin Date End Date
50001 TO 60000 April 1, 2002 March 31, 2003
{Membership Information}
Phone Fax
(319)589-4t00 (319)589-4149
Marl Name
Terrence M. Duggan
Dan Nicholson
Roy D. Buol
Joyce Cormors
Patricia Clme
John H. Markham
Michad C. Van Mitligen
Jeanne F. Schneider
Anlount
$3,530.00
Total: $3,530.00
Adjustments: $0.00
Payment: $0.00
Amount Due: $3,530.00
WebSite Primary Election General Election
October 14, 2003 November 4, 2003
Job Title Term Date Ward No Gender
Mayor 12/31/2005 Mayor M
CouncJlm e~nber 12/31/2005 At-] atge M
Councilmember 12/31/2003 2 M
Councilmember 12/31/2003 ^t-lar§e F
Councilmember 12/31/2005 3 M
Councilmember 12/31/2003 4 F
C omacflmember 12/31/2005 ]~ M
City Manager M
City Clerk F
National League of
Cities
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004-1763
202-626-3000
January 24, 2002
Dear Member:
Thank you for the support your community has given to the National League of
Cities as a member of the organization.
As you may know, your municipality's membership is du6 for renewal. Enclosed is
your invoice for membership in NLC for the period April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003.
Membership dues for NLC are scaled to population. Please note that in arcerdanee
with our letter dated March 2001, your NLC dues are now being based on
Census 2000 populations instead of 1990 data.
NLC is the oldest, largest, and most representative national organization serving local
governments. As your voice in the nation's capital, NLC depends on your support to
ensure the passage of national legislation and the adoption of federal policies
favorable to local governments. Membership in NLC also gives all of your
community's elected and top appointed officials the opportunity to tap the experience
and ability of municipal leaders nationwide and to get the information and answers
necessary for making sound decisions.
If you have any questions about renewing your community's NLC membership or
about how to become more involved in NLC, I invite you to contact our Membership
Department at (202) 626-3190 or visit our recently expanded website, www.nle.org.
We look forward to your continued support and the opportunity to serve you in the
months and years ahead.
Very truly yours,
Donald J. Borut
Executive Director
Enclosure