LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS

Transcription

1 City of Arlington LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS September 18, 2018

2 ARLINGTON, THE AMERICAN DREAM CITY Arlington, located in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth- Arlington metropolitan area, is the American Dream City. We are home to the Texas Rangers Globe Life Park, the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium, the General Motors Arlington Assembly Plant, D.R. Horton, Six Flags Over Texas, Texas Live!, the University of Texas at Arlington and the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus, as well as a host of global, domestic and family-owned businesses. The American pride in our more than 83,000 culturally diverse residents is undeniable.

3 LEGISLATIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES As a general policy, the City of Arlington seeks to maintain decision making in the hands of local elected leaders and preserve the wellbeing of its residents and economy. Arlington City Council acknowledges that Arlington residents have the right to influence decisions impacting their home through the election of council members, participating in public hearings and attending town halls among other things. In keeping in line with this orientation, the City will seek legislative solutions which: Maintain or enhance municipal decision-making authority in the areas of public health and safety, public property, conservation, revenues and economic development. Eliminate or reduce the impact of unfunded mandates.

4 HISTORY OF ARLINGTON S HOME RULE Arlington residents originally approved the City Charter during an election on January 17, 1920, under the Texas Constitution s Home Rule Amendment. The Charter outlines Arlington s municipal powers, including the City s ability to levy taxes and incur debt as well as establishes the power and duties of the City Manager and Council. Home Rule has allowed the City to grow and prosper, from the creation of Lake Arlington and the Entertainment District to policies that help attract major employers such as General Motors and support the growth of UT Arlington.

5 PARTNERSHIPS The City will form strategic partnerships with cities, political subdivisions and private sector entities that share common goals with Arlington. Additionally, the City will work in coordination with organizations such as the Texas Municipal League when these organizations adopted positions are in line with the legislative objectives and goals of the City. The formation of strategic partnerships and coordinated efforts is intended to provide the City with a stronger presence and influence in the legislative process.

6 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

7 TRANSPORTATION The City of Arlington actively seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its transportation system. From ground to air transportation, Arlington continues to enhance its regional mobility to support our economy and better the quality of life for our residents. To best provide transportation services to residents, businesses and visitors, the City Council supports legislation and regulations that maintain and grow Arlington s transportation funding as well as supports legislation that preserves the City Council s flexibility to create, implement and enforce policies related to Arlington s transportation needs. These pieces of legislation include topics like the Contract Tower program, Federal Aviation Administration regulations, roadway and airport infrastructure funding, and highway funding.

8 PUBLIC SAFETY As technology used by public safety officials is always evolving, Arlington must have the ability to adjust policies, practices and laws so that they best match the needs of Arlington residents. In order to provide the level of public safety deserved of its residents, the Arlington City Council will: Support Legislation assisting local governments with the many challenges related to implementing text to technology. Support legislation maintaining a city s ability to responsibly and efficiently finance long-range capital improvement projects to better deliver services to its residents.

9 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY The City of Arlington seeks to create an environment in which technology can be used as a public benefit both in residents quality of life and government efficiency. This leading-edge attitude taken by City Council is integrated in all that city staff does. City Council understands the complexity of implementing and regulating new technology and seeks to pioneer new technology in a safe environment. By the adoption of this attitude, the Arlington City Council will support legislation that not only maintains Arlington s autonomy in seeking and implementing innovative solutions to public issues but also maintains Arlington s ability to seek the best pubic benefit when working with technology-facing organizations.

10 SUPPORT CORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS Federal programs that help to fund essential Arlington services include the Urban Area Security Initiative Program (UASI), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Understanding that federal budgeting for these grants can be tough, the City Council supports fully funding these programs because investing in these areas provides essential resources to residents and supports the City s role in federal security goals.

11 STAFF AND LOBBYISTS Jay Warren Director Communication and Legislative Affairs Alexa Aragonez Senior Management Analyst Communication and Legislative Affairs CapitalEdge 1212 New York., Ave., NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC Phone:

12 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

13 OUR HOME OUR DECISIONS The elected officials who comprise the Arlington City Council believe they are in the best position to make decisions in their community related to the level and variety of services offered by Arlington, revenue sources needed to support those services and polices on land use and economic development. Arlington believes its residents, through their directly-elected city council members, should have the ability to make decisions that impact their home. Understanding onesize-fits-all legislation does not fit all, the Arlington City Council supports legislation that allows municipalities the flexibility in creating, implementing and regulating policy that best matches its unique community.

14 MENTAL HEALTH REFORM Municipal governments, specifically their public safety arms, often become the treatment of last resort for the mentally ill in our communities. Arlington Police Officers average 1,680 mental health calls per year. There is a need for a multi-pronged approach in delivering mental health services to those who need them before violent and dangerous encounters happen. The Arlington City Council supports increasing state resources to treat our mentally ill community members to better utilize the effectiveness of our police officers and fire fighters and to provide the equitable and effective services this population needs.

15 SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY The City of Arlington recognizes the need for municipalities to ensure they create an environment where its local economy thrives. For this reason, the City Council supports the proper use of HOT funds, the conservation and appropriate use of municipal economic development tools, as well as legislation that assists in regional mobility, like airport and roadway funding. The City Council opposes legislation that does not allow for public compensation for right-ofway usage and any discriminatory legislation which harms Arlington s tourism and business sectors. Maintaining a city s ability to use economic development tools helps to ensure growth in a municipality that makes sense for its residents and strategic vision.

16 FAKE GUNS An increasing number of crimes are being conducted with guns that do not fire bullets. Although the guns being used do not discharge bullets, they are being manufactured to look like guns that do. When a police officer in the field must make a split-second decision to discharge a weapon, he or she may end up injuring a person carrying a fake gun. The City Council supports legislation which will encourage safe use of these realistic replicas and legislation which clarifies the penal code surrounding the use of these types of guns when conducting a crime.

17 STAFF AND LOBBYISTS Jay Warren Director Communication and Legislative Affairs Alexa Aragonez Senior Management Analyst Communication and Legislative Affairs HillCo Partners 823 Congress Ave., Suite 900, Austin, TX McGuireWood Consulting 816 Congress Ave., Suite 940 Austin, TX

18 Questions?