City, County Join Efforts For Legislative Summit
Date:
10/13/2009Summary:
It's not a secret the state of Arizona has been in difficult financial straits this year, and with cities and counties generating less sales revenue this year, the problem is likely to get worse before it gets better.Contact:
Will Discuss Issues, Solicit Support Of Local Delegation
Yuma, Arizona - It's not a secret the state of Arizona has been in difficult financial straits this year, and with cities and counties generating less sales revenue this year, the problem is likely to get worse before it gets better. In that landscape, the City of Yuma and Yuma County are presenting a united front to state legislators to let them know their desires for the 2010 session of the Arizona Legislature.
The City of Yuma and Yuma County will host their 2009 Legislative Summit at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at City Hall, in rooms 141 and 142. The elected representatives of the City of Yuma and Yuma County will meet to discuss issues and solicit support of state legislators who represent the area.
Yuma County and City of Yuma staff members will present several issues to the legislators, who in turn can respond. It's also an opportunity for legislators to brief the city and county on the state's budget and any other issues they're willing to share.
This informal discussion is an opportunity to present issues of common interest to both the City and County for their 2010 legislative session. Likewise, members of the legislative delegation can talk to the City and County about what to expect from the state in the upcoming year.
"We have found this annual conversation very informative and extremely beneficial," said Yuma City Administrator Mark Watson. We have a great history of working together with our Yuma-area legislators to promote Yuma's interest on the state and federal levels."
"It's vital for the lines of communication to remain open and constant between the local legislative delegation and the municipalities that they represent. This format provides that opportunity and allows the City of Yuma and Yuma County to exchange ideas and proposals between themselves and to explore areas of common interest," said Yuma County Administrator Robert Pickels.
Representatives from the City and County met earlier to discuss 2010 legislative priorities and have drafted an agenda that reflects the proposals and resolutions that those representatives jointly agreed to recommend for discussion. The agenda is posted at City Hall, One City Plaza, and online in the Meetings and Agendas section of the City's web site, http://www.yumaaz.gov/.
Members of the public may attend the meeting but will not participate in the dialogue.
Most of the agenda items, not surprisingly, relate to funding and economic development. City and County officials:
- Will solicit support for federal funding of Arizona ports of entry.
- Will seek protection from the Legislature "sweeping" of funds for dedicated community and local purposes.
- Will ask to be allowed to save costs by publishing certain legal documents on the Internet instead of being required to have them published in print form.
- Will ask state and federal governments to continue policies that strengthen the mission viability of Arizona's military installations, such as Yuma Proving Ground and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
For More Information
For further information, please contact Greg Hyland, CPM, the City of Yuma's Director of Communications & Public Affairs at (928) 373-5023 or by e-mail or Dave Nash, City of Yuma Public Affairs Coordinator at (928) 373-5015 or by e-mail.
Media Contacts
Members of the media may contact Director of Communications and Public Affairs Greg Hyland, CPM at (928) 373-5023 or (928) 580-4751, or Public Affairs Coordinator Dave Nash at (928) 373-5015, or (928) 941-0199.
