Understanding Federal Policy Critical for Local Leaders

The reasons that cities choose to send representatives to the Congressional City Conference March 13-17 can be as individual as the cities themselves. The conference is the place to be, delegates explain, for elected officials and staff members who want to learn how federal policy can support or obstruct their cities’ particular economic, infrastructure and community objectives.

Whether a first-time attendee or a multiple-year delegate, legislative conference attendees say that attending the conference fills a critical need for the city and completes the loop of government partnership between local, state and federal governments.

“I believe it is imperative to have a comprehensive understanding of federal policy,” explains Nicole Dailey, assistant to the city manager in Maricopa, Ariz. The first-time attendee this year continues, “Events and policies occurring on the federal level filter down to municipalities in many different ways. Staying ahead of the game by understanding the federal realm as it filters down to the states, counties, and ultimately cities are critical for modern day municipalities.”

Dailey explains that the City of Maricopa has several significant regional projects that may be affected by federal decisions. She is attending the conference not only to enhance her own knowledge about federal policy, but also to provide support for her council members at the conference, as they visit federal representatives and their staff, and later at home as they address the factors impacting Maricopa.

“Maricopa has faced hyper-growth over the last five to seven years, she said. “The current economic situation has brought about abrupt change for our city, and we are faced with a population that has grown significantly. We are without some of the standard infrastructure seen in communities that have developed more slowly.”

Managing growth and spurring economic development are also key motivators for Dennis Arriaga’s interest in the conference. Arriaga, another first-time attendee, is the city attorney and 4-B economic development corporation president for the City of Somerset, Texas.

Somerset is also experiencing fast growth. Located on the outskirts of the City of San Antonio, Somerset is impacted by the expansion and development of its large neighbor. Arriaga said the city is glad to experience both development and growth, but city leaders also want to take the initiative and direct the growth happening within their own city limits.

The need to familiarize himself with federal policy played a crucial role in his decision to attend the conference, Arriaga says. “It would be lazy on my part to fail to understand federal policy, when it is federal policy that will greatly allow the City of Somerset to take the lead on its growth and development.”

Carroll Watson, mayor of Lincoln, Ala., has attended the legislative conference before and explains that it is viewed by his city’s participants as an opportunity to gather information that can improve their service to Lincoln.

“First off,” he says, “attending the conference provides a learning opportunity in several ways. You have the opportunity to hear about programs that will benefit your city, and second, the opportunity to have an input on federal legislation affecting our cities.”

Watson also counts the ability to hear about innovative or new practices in cities as an important learning opportunity.

Workshops and general sessions at the 2010 Congressional City Conference are designed to bring directly to delegates information about federal policies and programs that will impact the work of their cities and the lives of their constituents over the next year. Attending provides a proactive way to get ahead of critical issues and plan successful solutions, according to conference planners.

The different city representatives have their own measures of success for attending the conference.

“For me personally,” said Dailey, “I want to walk away from the (legislative) conference with an increased, more in-depth understanding of the federal political playing field and how actions at that broad level may affect my municipality specifically.”

She also explained that the ability of Maricopa attendees to broaden the understanding of their federal contacts as to the impact of their policies on local governments would be a clear success for the city.

A successful conference for Somerset, says Arriaga, would be one at which knowledge was gathered that assisted the city in its development objectives. That knowledge would include gathering information about who to contact at the federal level and how to initiate programs that assist the residents of Somerset.

“Distinguishing ourselves from San Antonio and explaining that assistance and programs in San Antonio do not necessarily assist the surrounding cities and towns is crucial,” he says.

Members of the Lincoln city council have attended the conference for years because they believe it has provided them with the opportunity to improve their ability to manage the city, Watson said.

Watson plans to come away from the conference with information that will help him both do a better job of delivering service at home and guide his city in the coming years.

The conference, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.,  includes a pre-conference set of leadership seminars and governance meetings on March 13-14, and a main conference featuring workshops and general sessions on critical issues and policy changes on March 15-16. March 17 is set aside for lobbying on Capitol Hill.

Elected and appointed officials and city staff throughout an NLC member city are all eligible for conference discounts to the 2010 Congressional City Conference. Registering by February 15 can save attendees an additional $150 off the onsite rate (3/13-3/17) and $90 off the regular rate (2/16-3/12). To register, visit www.nlccongressionalcityconference.org.