From the Director: AWC’s Legislative Committee and Tri-Association Meetings Underway
By Stan Finkelstein, AWC Executive Director

AWC’S legislative process begins in earnest with the work of AWC’s Legislative Committee and the joint city/county Tri-Association.

AWC’s Legislative Committee will meet for the first time on October 7 when they will review the member-adopted Resolutions, develop legislative proposals within those Resolutions, and recommend to the Board specific proposals for AWC staff to pursue in 2005. The Resolutions provide us an outline of the issues but not specifics. The Legislative Committee is charged with pulling specific proposals from the Resolutions.

In order to assist the Committee, AWC President Mary Place solicited specific ideas from city officials earlier this month. City officials were asked, by September 24, to define the problem, outline a proposal to address the problem, and indicate which Resolution addresses the issue. A number of city officials provided us ideas – thank you. The Legislative Committee will now meet over the next two-to-three months to review these ideas and advance specific legislative objectives for 2005 to the AWC Board. The Board will adopt a final Legislative package on December 17.

The Tri-Association will also begin to meet on September 29. This committee of city and county association officers will develop a joint city/county legislative agenda. The Tri-Association has historically focused on local government finance and operating efficiency issues. This year’s agenda is expected to include those issues as well as those impacted by state action. Tight state budgets often result in negative local impacts. Some members of the Tri-Association have indicated a desire to work even closer with the state and on the state budget process in an attempt to avoid negative local impacts.

Please watch for updates on our policy process and information regarding specific proposals in future Bulletins and other communications. We will strive to provide you information in a timely manner. Please also take the time over the next few months to remind your legislators of local challenges. Although we have more than three months until the 2005 legislative session begins and we are in the midst of an election, early and continued contact is imperative.

Thanks for your efforts. Please contact us if you have any questions.

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