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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B: United Front Agenda ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Adoption of Federal Priorities List Meeting Date: March 12, 2012 Agenda Item Number: B Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Brenda Wilson www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-8441 ISSUE STATEMENT This is an action item to adopt the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Committee’s recommended 2012 Federal Priorities List. These federal priorities will be presented to the congressional delegation as part of the federal priority process (United Front). The recommended 2012 City of Eugene Federal Priorities List includes: Policy and Programmatic Priorities:  Federal Transportation Reauthorization (Current Priority)  Medicare Reimbursement (Current Priority)  Metro Waterways General Investigative Study (Current Priority)  Community Development Block Grant Program (New)  HOME Program (New)  Internet Tax Freedom Act Continuation (New)  Cell Tax Moratorium (New)  Public Rights-of-Way Compensation Issues (New)  Community Access Preservation Act (New) Federal Fund Priorities:  Teen Court Expansion (Current Project)  Police Special Operations Facility (Current Project)  Franklin Boulevard – Walnut Street to Alder Street (Current Project)  Jessen Path – Beltline to Terry Street (Current Project)  Eugene Depot – Vehicular Loop (Current Project)  Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (New) BACKGROUND The United Front (UF) partnership of local governments in the Lane County region develops and maintains a concise and realistic federal agenda. Historically, annual federal priorities were based on local and regional needs. By assessing local federal priorities in conjunction with anticipated S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120312\S120312B.doc legislative funding opportunities (earmarks), prospects for success have been greatly increased. The Congressional delegation’s staff has come to depend on the reliability and accessibility of the UF’s federal agenda, and the local staff who produce it. Consequently, the process has helped build solid, ongoing relationships that extend far beyond the merits of any one set of Federal Agenda priorities. The City Council must adopt the Federal Priorities List each year. In light of the current ban on earmarks in Congress, the focus is on pursuing federal policy changes; but a project list has also been developed. While it is not likely that any of these projects will be earmarked at the present time under the current Congress, this list will be used to identify non-appropriation federal funding opportunities as they arise. The proposed 2012 Federal Priorities List was presented to the IGR Committee on March 6, 2012. The IGR Committee approved the recommended 2012 Federal Priorities List (Attachment A) and directed the list move forward to the full City Council for action. The final list will become part of the UF federal agenda which will be presented to the area’s congressional delegation, executive department staff, and other potential funding sources in Washington, D.C. in April 2012. RELATED CITY POLICIES Adoption of the federal priority recommendations is the making or affirming of the City of Eugene’s policy with respect to federal legislative issues or such other matters as may come to the council from the IGR committee. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may: 1.Adopt the recommended 2012 Federal Priorities List. 2.Modify the recommended 2012 Federal Priorities List. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends Option 1 - Adopt the recommended 2012 Federal Priorities List. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to adopt the recommended 2012 Federal Priorities List. ATTACHMENTS A.Recommended 2012 Federal Priorities List FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Brenda Wilson Telephone: 541-682-8441 Staff E-Mail: brenda.s.wilson@ci.eugene.or.us S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120312\S120312B.doc