CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: February 11, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: 2010 Federal Legislative Program
TARGET ISSUE: N/A
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
Federal legislative priorities are developed annually and presented to the City Commission for adoption in advance of the Congressional request deadline, which is in early March. This list will provide the City’s Federal lobbyists with the necessary direction to carry out appropriations and policy requests that are priorities to the City of Tallahassee. In January, members of City staff met with Rick Spees and his associates, Jane Sargent and Kyle Mulhall to discuss the city’s critical needs. Given this information, staff has worked with our lobbying team to develop a program that maximizes funding opportunities and protects our policy interests to the greatest extent possible.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Option 1: Adopt the recommended legislative program
FISCAL IMPACT
N/A
OPTIONS
1. Adopt the recommended legislative program
2. Do not adopt the recommended legislative program
3. Provide further direction
Carrie Blanchard, Senior Aide/Intergovernmental Relations
John R. Marks, III, Mayor
For information, please contact: Carrie Blanchard x8002
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
In addition to the FY 2010 requests, there are currently two appropriations earmarks from the FY 2009 cycle that have not been acted upon by Congress. These earmarks, which would have a positive impact if appropriated, are:
1. $600,000 for Innovative Energy Initiatives/Smart-Metering Program. This earmark is sponsored in the House by Representative Boyd and Representative Crenshaw, respectively.
2. $400,000 for the Leon County/City of Tallahassee Joint Dispatch Center. The County and City are both listed as joint recipients of the earmark, which was sponsored in the House by Representative Boyd.
City staff will work with our Federal lobbyists to continue to monitor these outstanding earmarks and keep you apprised of their movement.
Also of prime interest for the upcoming year is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as Federal Economic Stimulus Package. While we are awaiting the final legislation with further details of distribution and criteria to pass through Congress, the City has proactively compiled a list of infrastructure and other projects that may be eligible for funding under the terms of this Act. City leadership and staff have also worked collaboratively to highlight the potential Stimulus impact across the Big Bend Region. A working document containing both Tallahassee’s and the Regional projects list was provided to you during the City
Commission Retreat on February 2, 2009. City staff will continue to improve upon the projects list and position Tallahassee in a favorable posture as we receive more information pertaining to the distribution and criteria of each program area.
Attached for the Commission’s review is the recommended agenda of Federal priorities for the Federal fiscal year 2010.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES