TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file report on attendance at the National League of Cities 2007 Congress of Cities Conference from November 14 - 17, 2007, in New Orleans, LA.
DISCUSSION
On November 14-17, 2007, I attended the National League of Cities (NLC) 2007 Annual Congress of Cities Conference in New Orleans, LA.
NLC is a non-profit association that works to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC advocates on behalf of cities in Washington DC, provides programs and services to local municipalities, and keep members informed of critical issues affecting municipalities. Through its advocacy, programs, research and resources, NLC has helped cities stay informed, share solutions, and better serve communities.
The NLC 2007 Congress of Cities Conference was an outstanding opportunity to learn about how to make communities better for residents, develop and strengthen relationships with other local elected officials, and see first hand how a city dealt with a monumental catastrophe can make a strong comeback. The conference's workshops, training seminars, policy meetings, expositions and events offered participants the opportunity to gain insight and tools to address city problems, discover new approaches to governance, and gain access to a broad network of information and resources.
Pertinent topics to the City of Long Beach were discussed at the conference, such as: Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Advocacy, Performance Budgeting in Government, Public-Private Partnerships for Affordable Housing, The Community Housing Challenge, Breathing New Life into Downtown, Transportation and Land Use Connections That Create Better Cities, Developing Your Community's Workforce, Sustainability: the Case for Local Action, and much more.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
BONNIE LOWENTHAL, VICE MAYOR