NLC Policy Informer
To strengthen
and promote
cities as centers
of opportunity.
leadership, and
govemance.
~~,~
National League
of Cities
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC. 20004-1763
202-626-3000
Fax: 202-626-3043
Internet: wwwnlc.org
2000 Officers
President
Bob Knight
Mayor, Wichita, Kansas
First Vice President
Dennis W. Archer
Mayor, Detroit. Michigan
Second Vice President
Karen J. Anderson
Mayor, Minnetonka, Minnesota
Immediate Past President
Clarence E. Anthony
Mayor, South Bay, Florida
Executive Director
Donald J. Borut
Recycled Paper
October 19,2000
MEMORANDUM
~;-.l'/ !
'./':(~>/f/_/
To: Ci~~~ of Direct Member Cities
From:
Cameron Whitman, Director
Center for Policy & Federal Relations
Subject:
Policy Informer - October Edition
Enclosed is the October edition of the Policy Informer which summarizes the policy
recommendations that will be presented at the Congress of Cities in December. Also
enclosed are the procedures for adoption ofNLC's policy. Please share the three
copies that are enclosed with your primary voting delegate and two alternates
who will represent your city in Boston. If any of your Council Members
participate on one ofNLC's Policy or Steering Committee, they will receive a copy
of the Policy Informer directly.
Thank you for your help as we rapidly approach the Congress of Cities. Please let
me know if you have questions or need additional details on the upcoming
conference or about the policy process in general.
Thank you.
enclosures
Transmiualletters2000
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Denver, Colorado' /JiItcIan:
Kennalh A. Aide...., Executive Director. Illinois Municipal league . Larry A. Balik... Council Member. Golden Valley, Minnesota. Robert B.rtI... Mayor, Monr""a, Califomia ."... T. Bonham.
Councilman, Baton Rouge. Louisiana
. Josaph Brooks, Council Member, Richmond, Virginia' Joh. P. B..... Councilman, Pontiac, Michigan' Michaal Cathey, Alderman, Senatobia. Mississippi' A. E_ CI.... Mayor, Marion, North
Carolina' Gwyndolen Clarto-llatd.
CommiSSIOner, Oeertield Beach, florida' Joel Coge.. Execut~e Director, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities' Nail Dill.rd. Mayor. Carbondale, Illinois' Willi... G. Dmao~ Jr. Executive
Director, New Jersey State league of Muoicipalities
. Becky L Haskin, Council Member, Fort Worth, Texas. Rick Hernanclez, Councilmember, San Marcos, Texas. Mic....1 Keek. City Director, Little Rock, Arkansas. Conntl Lee. Councilmember,
Bellevue, Washington -Ingrid U.........
Councilmembef, Aurora, Colorado. Margaret Mahery, Mayor, Athens, Tennessee. Hlrriet Miller. Mayor, Santa Barbara, California. James f. Miller. Executive Director, league of Minnesota
Cities. Willi. A. Moyer. Executive Director
Ementus, Oklahoma Mumcipal League' Jim N.ugle, Mayor, fort lauderdale, flonda' Lou Ogden. Mayor, Tualatln, Oregon' BOY Pony, Mayor Pro Tem, Brea, Califomia . Willie J. Pill. Council
Member, Wilson, North Carolina' Lai.OIIi......
Council Member At large, Newark, New Jersey. RIIIICC8 J. Ravine. Council Member, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Kevin C. RitcJli., Executive Director, Alaska Municipal league . CMoII G. Robi....
Council Member at-Large, Houston, Texas
. Johnny Robi..... CounCilman, College Park, Georgia. Michael Siaig, Executive Director, florida League of Cities' Loon Sloith, Mayor, Oxford, Alabama. Bruce Tobey. Mayor, Gloucester,
Massachusetts. Evelyn Wrilh! T....'. Councilor,
Columbus, Georgia' Yvonne Vile. Executive OireClor, Soutf1 Dakota MuniCipal league . Jamlyn s. W.II. CounCil Member. Evanston, Wyoming' AndIony Willi..... Mayor, Washington, DC . Cody
Willia.... Councilmember. Phoemx, AnlOna
. Hlny Wilson, Mayor, Grandview, Missouri. MIl'll Won,II, Mayor Pro Tern, Monroe, Michigan
3
Resolutions Committee, Thursday, December 7,2000
NLC's Resolution's Committee will meet in the John B. Hynes Convention Center on
Thursday, December 7, starting at 1 :00 p.m. Reports from the seven Policy
Committees will be available at the Resolutions Committee meeting. The Resolutions
Committee will consider the following matters:
· policy amendments and resolutions submitted by each of the
seven Policy Committees;
· any appeals by sponsors of policy amendments or
resolutions which were received in NLC's offices by the
August 11 advance submission deadline and subsequently
rejected during Policy Committee debate (100 copies
needed);
· proposals by the NLC Board of Directors; and
· proposals made by members of the Resolutions Committee
(100 copies needed).
Only Resolutions Committee members or state league appointed alternates may
participate and vote during the meeting. The only individuals who will be recognized to
speak at the Resolutions Committee are: members of the Resolutions Committee,
Policy Committee chairpersons, and sponsors of advance policy recommendations
being appealed to the Resolutions Committee. Adoption of recommendations is by
majority vote of committee members present and voting. No proxies are allowed.
Resolutions Committee actions will be submitted to the Annual Business Meeting for
consideration and adoption by the delegates.
Annual Business Meeting, Saturday, December 9,2000
The Annual Business Meeting will be held on Saturday, December 9, beginning at 2: 15
p.m. in the Convention Center. The report of the Resolutions Committee will include
only policy language recommended for change and proposed resolutions. A copy of
the report may be picked up after 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 8, at the NLC Policy
Office and in the registration area of the Convention Center. Copies will be available at
the meeting for all voting delegates.
To cast a vote at the Annual Business Meeting, all voting (or alternate) delegates must
be registered with the Credentials Committee, must wear a badge bearing a "delegate"
or "alternate" sticker, and must have official voting materials. Only certified voting
delegates (or alternates) with official voting materials will be permitted on the floor
...
4
during the Annual Business Meeting.
A certified voting delegate from each direct member city is entitled to vote at the Annual
Business Meeting, with the number of votes depending upon population. Each state
municipal league is entitled to cast twenty votes by its certified delegate or delegates.
Voting delegates must be present to vote. No proxies are permitted.
The Presiding Officer will first call for adoption of NMP amendments and resolutions
proposed by the Resolutions Committee. Motions from the floor to amend the
Resolutions Committee's recommendations require a majority vote for passage. Final
adoption of amendments to the NMP requires a two-thirds vote of voting delegates.
Amendments to each chapter will be considered in the order in which those chapters
appear in the NMP.
-
Policy proposals not submitted by the Resolutions Committee or the Board of Dfrectors
may be presented by petition to the NLC Policy Office (Room 305 in the Convention
Center). Such petitions must be received by 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 9.
Petitions must carry the text of the proposal and printed names, titles, and signatures of
ten certified voting delegates with their respective cities and states. The petition must
receive a majority vote of the voting delegates to be accepted for floor consideration.
However, all proposals to amend or adopt the NMP and all separate resolutions require
a two-thirds vote for final approval.
,
For Further Information
Committee members or voting delegates needing further information should contact
policy staff of the Center for Policy and Federal Relations, at (202) 626-3020 prior to the
Congress of Cities. During the Congress of Cities, please contact NLC's policy staff at
the Policy Office, Room 305, in the Convention Center.
. Adapl2OOO.coc
National League of Cities
PROCEDURES FOR ADOPTION OF NLC POLICY
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
Annual Congress of Cities, Boston, Massachusetts
December 5-!J, 2000
The National Municipal Policy (NMP) is NLC's comprehensive statement of goals,
principles, policies, and program objectives on national issues directly affecting cities or
of concern to cities, and serves as the basis for NLC's advocacy efforts on behalf of the
nation's cities. The National Municipal Policy is subject to annual modification by
delegates from direct member cities and state leagues during the Congress of Cities,
and by action of the NLC Board of Directors.
Because the opportunity for the membership to amend the NMP occurs only once each
year, amendments to the NMP should not endorse or oppose specific Congressional
bills, current Presidential positions, or the technical aspects of federal regulations.
Positions on these matters -- which are subject to major changes during the annual
legislative and administrative processes -- are the subject of resolutions which stand for
one year. Resolutions allow NLC's membership to speak out on timely issues.
Prior to the Congress of Cities
During the past year, NLC's Steering Committees have developed recommendations
for revisions to NLC policy for consideration by delegates at the annual meeting. Last
summer, all NLC direct member cities and state municipal leagues were invited,
through correspondence and Nation's Cities Weekly, to submit recommendations for
revisions to the existing NMP and/or separate resolutions.
At least two weeks prior to the Congress of Cities, policy proposals prepared by NLC's
Steering Committees or received from NLC's members are sent to state municipal
leagues and Policy Committee members. Direct member cities and state leagues may
also submit proposed policy changes at the Policy Committee meeting.
2
Policy Committee Meetings, Wednesday, December 6,2000
NLC's seven Policy Committees will meet on Wednesday, December 6, 2000. At these
meetings, committee members will consider and act first on recommendations prepared
by their Steering Committees. Next, action will be taken on policy amendments
submitted to NLC by the August 11 advance submission deadline; sponsors (or their
representatives) are expected to appear before the Policy Committee on behalf of their
proposed recommendations. Following committee action on policy proposals submitted
in advance, the chairperson will call for additional proposals from committee members.
Individuals submitting resolutions or policy changes on-site must bring 200 copies to the
meeting and furnish them to the head table at the beginning of the meeting or the
copies can be brought to the Policy Office, Room 305, the day before the meeting. If
possible, a 3.5 inch disk that contains a Microsoft Word file of the proposal should also
be provided.
Policy Committee meetings are open to all conference participants; however, only
Policy and Steering Committee members may make formal motions and vote.
Committee members will receive the appropriate identification ribbon at the registration
booth. Adoption of recommendations is by a majority vote of committee members
present and voting. Proxies are not permitted. Every reasonable effort will be made to
assure that the views of all Committee members are heard. The Policy Committee
chair will report to the Resolutions Committee on policy changes adopted during the
meeting.
Listed below are the times of the seven Policy Committee meetings:
9 a.m.
Community and Economic Devlopment
Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations
Public Safety and Crime Prevention
Transportation Infrastructure and Services
1 :00 p.m.
Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources
Human Development
Information Technology and Communications
~ National league of Cities
This issue of the Policy Informer summarizes the work of the
steering committees for 2000 and their recommendations to
the policy committees. This is the last issue before the
Congress of Cities in Boston.
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-
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Finance,
Administration, &
Intergovernmental
Relations (FAIR)
Making commerce more equitable by requiring tax collection on
sales conducted by mail-order or Internet, shielding
municipalities from financial liability from federally-required
regulatory activities, and a series of proposals relating to
municipal bonds are some of the major recommendations from
the FAIR Steering Committee this year.
Making Commerce Fair: No changes to NLC's policy
advocating federal law authorizing state and local governments
to require remote vendors to collect use taxes are being
recommended. The committee is recommending renewal of a
resolution, due to expire at year-end, on this high priority
subject.
Municipal Liability for Takings Required by the Federal
Government: The FAIR Policy Committee in March
specifically asked the steering committee to look at situations in
which municipalities are required to more intensively regulate
private land uses in order to carry out federal requirements. For
example, if compliance with federal policy on endangered
migratory fish species requires cities to impose distant set-back
requirements from streams, then cities can expect to be sued by
private property owners for inverse condemnation. The Steering
Committee decided to recommend policy which would seek to
make the federal government responsible for all costs incurred
in such situations.
Municipal Bonds: Among the policy recommendations that
the Steering Committee will be presenting at the Congress of
Cities are the following: that municipal elected officials, in most
cases, should be shielded from liability if their bonds are
declared taxable after they have been issued; support for
alternative administrative remedies if a municipal bond is
judged to be taxable after issuance; and broadened liability for
compensated professionals involved in the issuance of tax-
exempt bonds.
National Municipal Policy
Other: No additional policy related to municipal revenue will
be recommended in view of extensive existing policy. The
committee does intend to continue work on this subject in
conjunction with other NLC efforts. Other recommendations
concern the U.S. Census and protecting the right of
municipalities to file lawsuits.
Five proposals from Member Cities and individual elected
officials will also be presented to the FAIR Policy Committee in
December. The subjects of these proposals are: employer
support of the National Guard, payments in lieu of taxes,
streamlined municipal contracting with the military, debt
forgiveness for the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, and pension
portability between municipal employers. The Steering
Committee took no position on any of these proposals but asked
that additional information be presented to the Policy
Committee on each of these issues.
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Information
Technology &
Communications
(ITC)
Protecting municipal rights-of-way, supporting federal programs
to promote universal service, opposition to further federal
government sales of spectrum, and policies related to
communication and broadcast tower location are among the
subjects on which the steering committee will be submitting
recommendations to the ITC Policy Committee in December.
Rights-of-Way: Policy recommendations on rights-of-way
reiterate the importance of the public rights-of-way for multiple
functions and the importance of government supervision,
management and permitting of private firms to perform work in
the rights-of-way in order to protect public safety and welfare.
The policy opposes any federal preemption of authority over
this property which would dictate identical treatment of service
providers, since different uses place different demands on this
public property.
Universal Access: Language acknowledging governmental,
private sector, and not-for-profit roles in assuring access of
residents to services is being proposed in this area. The policy
identifies the federal government as having specific
responsibility to assure affordable access. Among the services
specifically identified as meriting federal support are: high-
speed connection of all schools and libraries, capacity of all
residences to connect to the Internet and 911 services.
Converging Technologies: The committee spent considerable
time reviewing the existing policy on the term "telephone" to
ascertain if the term should be adjusted to reflect the multiple
providers and technologies, which can provide communications
services. This discussion opened up a whole variety of issues
about what the appropriate responsibilities and obligations of
various providers should be in regard to issues such as open
access, universal access, permits, and taxation.
Triggered by this discussion, the Committee will be
recommending language that says in part: "Although
convergence is a useful strategy for delivering competitive
services, it should not result in undermining government's
regulatory or management authority and activities."
Spectrum: The United States Government should stop the
practice of selling portions of the broadcast spectrum to private
parties according to a committee-approved recommendation.
The federal government should lease or rent space on the
spectrum so that the federal government has the authority to
reallocate this public resource as technologies and public needs
evolve. The lease or rental periods should be structured to allow
time to recover investments made by the renting or leasing
parties.
Other: More and earlier notification of potentially affected
jurisdictions when broadcast tower applications are filed with
the FCC and limiting the legal recourse of cell tower installers
against cities are other policy recommendations which the
Committee will be presenting at the Congress of Cities.
~
Public Safety &
Crime Prevention
(PSCP)
The PSCP Steering Committee will be recommending
resolutions and policy language on mental health services for
juveniles in the justice system, profiling, encryption,
transporting violent criminals, hate crimes, and domestic
violence.
Profiling: "Racial profiling can never be justified as a
legitimate tool or practice in law enforcement," states Joseph
Brann, former Director of the Community Oriented Policing
Office with the Dept. of Justice, now senior vice president of
PSCom, a technology-consulting firm. This echoes the
sentiment of the steering committee. Based on the information
presented by the speakers at the spring and fall meetings, the
steering committee wants to ensure that NLC policy makes a
distinction between criminal and biased profiling.
Policy ltiformer
October 2000
Page 2
Profiling is used in many contexts. For example, profiling is
widely used by retail and marketing companies to identify
potential customers. However, the committee concentrated on
criminal and biased profiling. The committee agreed that
criminal profiling, an investigative method in which an officer,
through observation of activities and environment, identifies
suspicious people and develops a legal basis to stop them for
questioning, is a legitimate tool in the fight against crime.
Biased profiling, which refers to a decision by a police officer to
randomly stop and question people when their personal bias is
used as the primary indicator of suspicious activity, is not
acceptable.
The resolution being recommended condemns the practice of
biased profiling by law enforcement officers while seeking
financial support from the federal government to state, county
and local law enforcement agencies for training programs,
equipment, data collection, and research as a measure to prevent
further incidents and allegations of bias profiling.
Encryption: The use of strong encryption products and
services is extremely beneficial when used legitimately to
protect sensitive information and communications. However,
the use of strong encryption products by criminals and terrorists
to conceal their criminal communications and information from
law enforcement poses a serious threat to public safety. The
steering committee supports the development of a balanced
encryption policy that addresses the public safety concerns
while at the same time satisfies the commercial needs of the
industry .
Transporting Violent Criminals: Transporting violent
criminals by private companies was not a priority identified by
the Policy Committee; however, several steering committee
members had incidents in their communities involving private
transport companies. Increasingly, states depend on private
prisoner transport companies as an alternative to their own
personnel or the United States Marshals Service to transport
prisoners. There are no current federal standards or regulations
governing private prisoner transport companies. The
transporting of violent prisoners affects public safety and
interstate commerce, and existing federal controls over such
traffic do not adequately enable state and local governments to
control this traffic. Therefore, the steering committee is looking
to the U.S. Attorney General to establish standards for the
private companies transporting prisoners. Some of the standards
the committee would like to see established include:
background checks of employees, type of employee training,
markings on the conveyance vehicles, the type of restraints used
when transporting prisoners, notification to appropriate law
enforcement officials when stops are made, and the safety of the
pnsoners.
Resolutions: Seven of the twelve resolutions passed last year
are being recommended for policy, four to be renewed, and the
resolution on Lawsuits Against the Firearm Industry (#2000-38)
will be discontinued, since the FAIR Committee will be
introducing policy language on the issue.
#00-34
Renew
Loopholes in Federal Firearms Law
#OO-~6
Renew
Mental Health Treatment for
Juveniles
Energy,
Environment, &
Natural
Resources
(EENR)
At the Congress of Cities in Boston, the EENR Policy
Committee will be presented with policy amendments on
current water policy, electric deregulation, and endangered
species.
Water: Based on discussions at the spring EENR Steering
Committee meeting documenting the $23 billion annual funding
gap in municipal drinking and wastewater infrastructure needs,
the major water policy agenda item was adoption of a resolution
targeting this issue. The committee calls on the federal
government to provide adequate and reliable long-term funding
for municipal water infrastructure to close the gap between
needs and expenditures.
To be consistent with current infrastructure needs, the
committee made editorial revisions to existing policy to reflect
more accurately the new municipal water infrastructure
information. EENR also updated other water policy issues,
including current language on TMDLs.
Electric Deregulation: At its Fall meeting, speakers addressed
the committee on regional transmission organizations and
general transmission issues. Also discussed was the recent
California deregulation experience, particularly that in San
Diego where rates more than doubled in early August.
The committee's proposed policy broadens NLC's position in
the market power section, stating that the federal government
must have the authority to assess the impact on competition of
any mergers and acquisitions and to take action to protect the
interests of all rate payers. The committee is also replacing the
title of the Independent System Operators (ISOs) section with
the broader heading of Regional Transmission Organizations;
however, the policy still supports the formation of ISOs to
assure fair compliance with transmission, efficient and reliable
grid utilization, and enforcement of reliability standards.
proposed amendments to the policy call for rational, scientific,
and streamlined ESA decision-making; enhanced consideration
of human health and safety; adequate consideration of vital
municipal functions; and clearer methods for delisting recovered
species. The new language is also supportive of safe harbor
agreements, where landowners protect and/or improve habitats
without compromising the use of their land.
Sprawl: On the issue of sprawl, Mayor Bruce Tobey of
Gloucester, Ma., Board Representative to EENR, reported on
the activities of NLC's SMART Team, which was established
last year to guide NLC's work on the sprawl issue. The
Committee requested that staff review whether there are policies
in the EENR chapter that need rethinking based on the SMART
team's decisions. No changes to policy are anticipated, as the
issue was extensively addressed last year by the Community and
Economic Development Committee, which has primary
jurisdiction.
Other Issues: The committee reviewed several policy proposals
submitted by NLC direct member cities. This review included
policy language creating a new section, "Natural Resources," in
the EENR policy. While the committee was generally
supportive of the concept, they designated a subcommittee to
review and revise the proposed language. The revised language
will be presented in Boston.
In addition, the subcommittee was asked to review proposed
policy language on the management of federal lands and mineral
rights by the Wyoming Association of Municipalities to
determine whether it too can be revised and incorporated into a
new "Natural Resources" section. This, too, will be addressed
in Boston.
The Committee is also recommending adoption of policy
submitted by the city of Richfield, Minn., calling for the Federal
Aviation Administration to expand its noise abatement program
to include standards for the mitigation of low frequency noise
impacts.
Resolutions: EENR will also recommend re-adoption of
existing resolutions on Pipeline Safety, Full Funding for the
Land and Water Conservation Fund (if not re-authorized by
Congress), and Abandoned Mine Lands. However, the
committee took no action on a resolution supporting the
Education Land Grant Act, which allows municipalities to
acquire certain public lands or national forest lands for
recreational, educational, or other public purposes.
Renew EENR #00-2
FullFunciipg for~heLaridand~~ter
Conservation Fund .
Supporting the Abandoned Mine
Lands Program
PipelineSafet)tlmproveOlellts
Adequate and Reliable Long Term
Federal Funding for Municipal Water
Infrastructure
Supporting H.R. .150, Edgcation
Land Grant Act
Renew EENR #00-3
Renew EENR #00-5
New
Endangered Species Act (ESA): The committee is
recommending new policy on the endangered species. The
Policy Informer
October 2000
Page 3
Transportation
Infrastructure and
Services (TIS)
At the Congress of Cities in Boston, the TIS Policy Committee
will be presented with policy amendments on intelligent
transportation systems, transit equity, rail issues, and seaport
[mance.
Seaport Finance: At its Spring meeting in Rochester, Minn.,
the committee began to address the funding issues facing port
projects. While this issue was presented in the context of the
Harbor Maintenance Tax, and the need for a funding alternative,
the Committee focused on the land-side issues ports present to
the municipalities in which they are located.
The committee will propose expanding current language
describing the impact that ports can have on their local
communities and calling on the federal government to provide
the needed [mancial resources to support the infrastructure
required to operate an efficient inter-modal transportation
system.
Rail Issues: The committee is recommending new policy
language that addresses (I) the need for inter-modal connections
with passenger rail systems; (2) the environmental impacts of
railroads, including pollution, air quality, and noise; and (3)
flexible funding for interstate passenger rail. The committee also
will propose adopting policy to limit the length of trains to no
more than one mile.
The committee also approved recommending a resolution be
sent to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on its
proposed rule on whistle bans. The committee believes the
issue is a matter that is best left to local authorities and not
dictated by the FRA as an unfunded mandate.
Transit Equity: Current transit policy was reviewed, and the
committee is recommending policy amendments that address (I)
transit as a comprehensive alternative to increasing traffic
congestion and (2) transit-related social justice issues.
The amended policy calls for an increase in funds designated for
public transportation. The committee identified public
transportation as a vital component to providing a multi-modal
transportation system. The committee will also recommend
policy stating that transit benefits should not be measured
exclusively in terms of revenue generated. Furthermore, the
committee will suggest policy recommending that a federal
commitment should be made to new funding, not shifting
resources from existing transportation programs.
Intelligent Transportation Systems: The committee reviewed
its recommended changes to current policy on intelligent
covering trade agreement impacts on local government
economic development programs be developed for the
,
transportation systems. The revised language broadens the
projects that should be given funding priority to include bus
lanes and pedestrian projects.
Other Issues: At the request ofNLC President Bob Knight and
the Board of Directors, the committee examined airline service
issues to determine what role, if any, NLC should play in the
debate. Last year a number of proposals in Congress were
introduced to direct the airline industry to adopt specific
customer service measures. With the threat of pending
legislation, members of the airline industry agreed to develop a
voluntary plan to improve customer satisfaction in the airline
industry. Because of the December 2000 deadline imposed for
airlines to have their plans in place, and a commitment from
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to take action if those plans go
unmet, the committee chose to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
Resolutions: The committee considered a resolution submitted
by Kansas City, Mo., to prohibit "wreck chasing" by tow trucks.
The City believes that federal law severely restricts the authority
of municipalities to regulate tow trucks. The committee took no
action on the resolution.
Finally, the TIS Steering Committee reviewed its nine current
resolutions. The committee recommended the renewal of its
resolution addressing federal preemption of local authority
related to railroads. Six of the resolutions, ranging from airport
safety and security, motor carrier safety, and railroad issues,
were voted into policy. The committee voted to discontinue the
two remaining resolutions, one on the reauthorization of the
Federal Aviation Administration (now moot) and the other on
pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Prohibiting "Wreck Chasing" by
Tow Trucks
Community and
Economic
Development
(CED)
The CED Steering Committee completed its work on
international trade agreement impacts on local economic
development programs, elimination of the "digital divide", and
federal insurance requirements for disaster assistance.
International Trade and Local Economic Development:
Committee members unanimously agreed NLC leadership should
devote more attention to this issue, and requested a workshop
Congressional City Conference this coming March. Members
approved a resolution requesting that the office of the U.S.
Policy Informer
October 2000
Page 4
comprehensive reform and restructuring. The proposed
language states that: (I) Medicare reform has to be a major
priority of both the Administration and the Congress; (2) both
branches of the federal government must seek innovative and
creative ways to control the program's ever-increasing costs;
and (3) such actions are necessary to secure Medicare's long-
term solvency, and to make sure that other national priorities are
adequately funded.
Committee members approved new language emphasizing that
adding a prescription drug benefit without providing for
comprehensive reform would intensify and aggravate
Medicare's financial and administrative problems. They agreed
that even though prescription drug coverage for Medicare
beneficiaries is vitally needed, adding this benefit must be done
in the context of overall reform and modernization.
The committee accepted new language underscoring that
Medicare costs could be controlled by: (I) dedicating a portion
of the General Fund to Medicare; (2) creating an off-budget
"lock box" for Medicare, so that when surpluses do occur, they
cannot be "raided" and directed to other areas in the federal
budget, but automatically go toward strengthening Medicare;
and (3) establishing a unified trust fund, financed by payroll
taxes, general revenues, and premiums, as a more accurate
measure of the solvency of Medicare.
Mental Health Care: Committee members proposed new
language urging the federal government to work with state and
local governments to develop a national plan for preventing,
diagnosing, and treating mental illness. They also proposed that
state governments, in consultation with local authorities,
develop state-based plans for the prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment of mental illness.
The new language outlines many of the actions that states
should take in developing their state-based plans for dealing
with mental illness. These include providing: (I) viable
alternatives to what the committee viewed as "the current
system of neglect or inadequate treatment of the mentally ill";
(2) proper licensing and oversight of group homes to ensure
accountability concerning the care and treatment of group home
residents; and (3) funding for adequate security in and around
mental health facilities.
The committee also supported the creation of pilot mental health
courts where appropriate decisions about the care and treatment
of mentally ill people arrested for committing minor crimes are
made by mental health professionals. New language calls for
states to assist local governments and community organizations
to provide a continuum of care for people with mental illness,
ranging from community-based counseling and out-patient
treatment to long-term in-patient care.
families in this country; (3) require states to be held' more
accountable for how they apportion and use their T ANF funds;.
(4) place more emphasis on job training and education; and (5)
include cities and towns as key players in the T ANF
reauthorization process. Committee members believe these
proposed changes will enable local governments to do a better
job obtaining state and federal funds and serving more low-
income families in need of vital support services.
Renew
Proposed Medical Records Privacy
Regulations
'1IIev NelS
Steering Committees
Steering Committee applications are due on November 10,
2000. If you are thinking of applying for a seat on any of
NLC's Steering Committess, you must hurry!
You can download application forms from NLC's website,
www.nlc.o~ or call Lesley-Ann Rennie, (202) 626-3176.
Fax your completed applications to (202) 626-3043.
Policy Committees
To continue to serve on a Policy Committee in 2001, please
let your state league director know of your plans. State
leagues make appointments to the Policy Committees.
Policy Committee Meeting Schedule
at the Congress of Cities
9:00 a.m.
CED, FAIR, PSCP, & TIS
TANF Reauthorization: The Committee approved a resolution
urging Congress to: (I) increase the level of T ANF block grant
funding in order to provide better assistance and support to low-
income families; (2) change the central focus of T ANF to
poverty reduction from welfare caseload reduction, since there
has been little progress in reducing poverty for the poorest
Policy lriformer
October 2000
Page 6
1:00 p.m.
EENR, HD, & ITC
~
Trade Representative, among other things: (1) keep NLC
members and staff informed on agreements under negotiation;
(2) provide NLC with opportunities to respond on the effects of
proposed agreements on local economic deVelopment programs;
and (3) consult, during trade negotiations, with NLC members
and staff on protections to ensure state sovereignty and local
government prerogatives.
Bridging the Digital Divide: Committee members will
propose a new subsection on enhancing affordable access to
computers and to the Internet as an essential local economic
development tool. The new language recognizes that more
people are using the Internet to purchase goods and services at
lower prices, to work from home, or to start their own
businesses. The proposal acknowledges, however, that others,
primarily low-income individuals living in rural areas and in
inner cities, do not have regular access to computers and the
Internet because the areas in which they live are not connected.
The proposed policy language would support federal incentives
for private sector initiatives to bring computers, affordable
Internet access, and appropriate training to economically
disadvantaged urban and rural areas and Native American
reservations. Believing Internet access would have a positive
affect on the economic vitality of these communities, committee
members proposed encouraging the use of Community
Development Block Grant funding for computer placement and
training in housing developments.
The proposed policy also calls for federal, state, and local
government partnerships with the private sector, schools,
libraries, and faith-based organizations.
Disaster Assistance: The committee approved policy
recommendations urging the federal government to assist cities
and towns impacted by natural disasters by: (I) reducing the
high economic and financial cost of natural disasters at all levels
of government and (2) minimizing the economic disruptions and
loss from natural disasters. Members agreed that a critical goal
for local governments is to reduce the time it takes to recover
economically and financially from damage inflicted on public
buildings.
CED members approved a League of California Cities
resolution urging the federal government to ensure that, prior to
any rulemaking or insurance requirement for public buildings, a
comprehensive and detailed cost-benefit analysis be conducted
as to whether insurance against catastrophic events is affordable
and available. The committee urged the federal government to
take account of local government concerns when any proposed
insurance rule, which would make significant changes to federal
insurance requirements, is considered.
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Maximize Effi~i~Il~y. }IlCities.. ...........
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Renew #00-9 Rethinking Federally-Assisted
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Renew #00-11 .. ..... ....Supporting Full funding ofCDBG in
2001
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Initiative
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Federal Insurance Requirements for
Disaster-Damaged Buildings
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Human
Development
(HD)
The lID Steering Committee focused on medical records
privacy, Medicare refonn, mental health issues, and
reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(T ANF) block grant program.
Medical Records Privacy: Steering Committee members
approved new policy recommendations in the health section that
create a new subsection on medical records privacy. The
committee voted to recommend language that calls for
municipal governments to have the flexibility to formulate or
develop privacy policies for medical records and individually-
identifiable health information that address the needs and
circumstances unique to their respective jurisdictions. They
agreed that a "one size fits all" privacy policy was not in the
best interests of their constituents. lID members also approved
language stating that local governments must have the ability
and authority to be more proactive in developing and
implementing privacy standards for information records that
they store and maintain, both electronically and in paper files.
Committee members also voted to recommend renewal of a
resolution, adopted at its Spring meeting and subsequently
adopted at the Summer NLC Board of Directors meeting, urging
the current Administration to put the necessary funding and
resources in its budget request to Congress to help local
governments comply with any federal requirements on medical
records privacy. The resolution also requests that municipal
governments have representation on federally-created privacy
commissions.
Medicare Reform: The Steering Committee approved
revisions to existing language on Medicare that call for its
Policy Informer
October 2000
Page 5