PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEETING CONGRESSIONAL CITY CONFERENCE WASHINGTON, D.C.

Meeting Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Lincoln Room 5 Sunday, March 8, 2015 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presiding The Honorable Tony Anderson Vice Chair

The Honorable Karen Freeman Wilson Chair

The Honorable Martha Sue Hall Vice Chair

Deputy Mayor SeaTac, Washington

Mayor Gary, Indiana

Council Member Albermarle, North Carolina

NLC Staff Yucel Ors Program Director, Federal Advocacy (202) 626-3124 [email protected]

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AGENDA 1:00 PM

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS •

The Honorable Karen Freeman-Wilson, Chair Mayor, Gary, Indiana

•

The Honorable Tony Anderson, Vice Chair Deputy Mayor, SeaTac, Washington

•

The Honorable Mary Sue Hall, Vice Chair Councilmember, Albermarle, North Carolina

1:05 PM 1:40 PM (35 min)

FEDERAL ADVOCACY BRIEFING • Yucel Ors Program Director Federal Advocacy, National League of Cities, Washington, DC

In addition to receiving an update on NLC’s 2015 legislative priorities, Congressional staff members from the U.S. House and Senate Judiciary Subcommittees on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations and the U.S. House and Senate Homeland Security Committees have been invited to provide the PSCP Committee a briefing on their 2015 legislative priorities. These committees have primary jurisdiction over issues involving crime prevention, corrections, substance abuse, municipal fire policy, juvenile justice, disaster preparedness and relief, homeland security, domestic terrorism, court systems and gun control. PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE LEARNING SESSION 1:40 PM 2:00 PM (20 min)

Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) •

Invited: Sandra Webb, Principal Deputy Director, COPS Office Attendees will receive an update from the COPS Office on the President’s 21St Century Policing Task Force initiative, COPS 2015 Grant and Funding Programs, and the Smart on Crime Initiative.

2:00 PM 2:20 PM (25 min)

Increasing Public Safety and Improving Outcomes for Youth through Juvenile Justice Reform •

Laura Furr, Senior Associate for Juvenile Justice Reform, NLC Institute for Youth, Education and Families

2

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AGENDA Attendees will learn about efforts to increase public safety and improve outcomes for young residents by changing how cities respond to young people implicated in delinquent acts or accused of crimes. When city policies end up channeling large numbers of youth into a juvenile justice system that emphasizes arrests and detention, these policies inadvertently jeopardize rather than enhance public safety and security, particularly in high-crime neighborhoods. At the same time, when young people who come to the attention of law enforcement for low-level offenses (e.g., school truancy, drug use or petty theft) are treated as more serious criminals, these decisions reduce the likelihood that these youth can regain their footing and greatly diminish their future prospects. 2:20 PM 2:40 PM (20 min)

Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Campaign to Stop Bad Apple Gun Dealers  Sean Kirkendall, Senior Manager, Organizing Division, Law Enforcement, Public Safety & First Responder Outreach, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Attendees will learn about Brady Center’s campaign hold accountable the small and dangerous group of “bad apple” gun dealers that are responsible for gun crimes that victimize 1,300 Americans each and every day. “Bad apple” gun dealers supply guns to criminals by selling them to straw purchasers (people buying guns for others), gun traffickers (people buying guns to illegally resell), and other dangerous people. These bad apples skirt Brady background checks required by law, turn off video surveillance equipment, falsify sales records to cover their tracks, or many other illegal activities that make it much easier for criminals to get guns.

2:40 PM 3:00 PM (20 min)

America's PrepareAthon! 

Art von Lehe FEMA | Individual and Community Preparedness Division Attendees will learn about the America's PrepareAthon! Program that provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and communities to prepare for specific hazards through drills, group discussions, and exercises. National PrepareAthon! Day is April 30, 2015 and will revolve around taking the actions to prepare for these six specific hazards: Earthquake, Flood, Hurricane, Tornado, Wildfire, Winter Storm. The goal of this campaign is to increase the number of individuals who understand which disasters could happen in their community, know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage, take action to increase their preparedness, and participate in community resilience planning.

3:00 PM

POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE ADJOURNS

3

NLC POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY PROCESS As a resource and advocate for more than 19,000 cities, towns and villages, the National League of Cities (NLC) brings municipal officials together to influence federal policy affecting local governments. NLC adopts positions on federal actions, programs and proposals that directly impact municipalities and formalizes those positions in the National Municipal Policy (NMP), which guides NLC’s federal advocacy efforts. NLC divides its policy and advocacy efforts into seven subject areas: • Community and Economic Development • Energy, Environment and Natural Resources • Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations • Human Development • Information Technology and Communications • Public Safety and Crime Prevention • Transportation Infrastructure and Services For each of the seven issue areas, a policy and advocacy committee and a steering committee develop and advocate in support of NLC’s federal policy positions. Members of each committee serve for one calendar year. Policy and Advocacy Committees Policy and advocacy committee members are responsible for advocating on legislative priorities, providing input on legislative priorities, and reviewing and approving policy proposals and resolutions. Additionally, committee members engage in networking and sharing of best practices. Policy and advocacy committees are comprised of both member and non-member cities, and consist of both a full and steering committee. Representatives from NLC member cities apply for membership on the steering committees. The NLC president makes the appointments, taking into account state league endorsements. State municipal leagues appoint members to the full policy and advocacy committees. At the Congressional City Conference, policy and advocacy committee members are called upon to advocate for NLC’s legislative priorities on Capitol Hill, as well as develop the committee’s agenda and work plan for the year. Committee members meet throughout the year to further the plan, hear from guest presenters, discuss advocacy strategies and develop specific policy amendments and resolutions. At the Congress of Cities, committee members review and approve policy proposals and resolutions. These action items are then forwarded to NLC’s Resolutions Committee and are considered at the Annual Business Meeting, also held during the Congress of Cities. Advocacy Throughout the year, committee members participate in advocacy efforts to influence the federal decisionmaking process, focusing on actions concerning local governments and communities. During the Congressional City Conference, committee members have an opportunity, and are encouraged, to meet with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. When NLC members are involved in the legislative process and share their expertise and experiences with Congress, municipalities have a stronger national voice, affecting the outcomes of federal policy debates that impact cities and towns.

4

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION (PSCP) POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE 2015 WORK PLAN DEVELOPMENT The main purpose of the PSCP Policy and Advocacy Committee meeting at the Congressional City Conference is to provide input that guides the development of the 2015 PSCP work plan. Below are several suggestions for possible PSCP priority issues for 2015, based on last year’s work and legislative projections for the year ahead. This memo should be used to jump-start the deliberations of the Committee. As a Committee member, you will have the opportunity to comment on these issues and you are also encouraged to bring any additional policy topics to the floor that you would like the Committee to consider this year. Summary of Last Year’s Activities Last year, the PSCP Committee The Committee also worked on crafting resolutions to support the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act, legislation to reauthorize the Second Chance Act, local law enforcement access to the Department of Defense’s Excess Property Program (1003 Program), and urge the Federal government to clarify the de-Obligation process of previously approved disaster-relief funds. These resolutions were adopted by the membership at the Congress of Cities Conference in Austin, Texas. 2015 Policy Objective • Streamline NLC’s National Municipal Policy Section on Public Safety and Crime Prevention 2015 NLC Advocacy Priorities The NLC leadership is recommending that the Committee continue take an active role advocating the following issue areas. •

•

•

Close the Online Sales Tax Loophole For public safety and crime prevention, passing legislation that would close the online sales tax loophole would provide local governments needed funding to pay for additional police, fire and EMS personnel, and enhance the ability to maintain and upgrade public safety services. Invest in Local Transportation Priorities For public safety and crime prevention, a long-term surface transportation program focused on metropolitan and regional economies could provide additional resources to local government that could improve public transit services, reduce congestion, integrate speed cameras and invest in other technologies that will reduce accidents and improve overall transportation safety. Protect Municipal Bonds Municipal bonds play a critical role in a local government’s ability to build and upgrade their public safety infrastructure. Local governments need access to tax free municipal bonds to build new police and fire stations, purchase fire trucks, build state of the art 91-1 answering points, and upgrade their public safety communications systems to include wireless broadband technologies.

5

Cities' Top Federal Action Priorities in 2015 Close the Online Sales Tax Loophole NLC calls on Congress to close the online sales tax loophole and pass e-fairness legislation to place brick-and-mortar community businesses on a level playing field with online retailers and afford consumers more choice through fair competition. Allowing local governments the flexibility to collect the taxes already owed to them on remote online purchases removes an unfair disadvantage for local businesses, while helping cities close budget gaps. Collecting owed sales taxes means more money for basic services, such as roads and police officers, without increasing the overall federal deficit. Invest in Local Transportation Priorities NLC urges Congress to authorize a new, long-term federal surface transportation program that recognizes the central role of transportation to metropolitan and regional economies and includes local voices in planning and project selection. With a strong federal partnership, cities can continue transportation and infrastructure investments that ensure everyone in our communities has access to education, training and employment. The program must provide cities a greater role in decisionmaking for transportation projects to meet community goals and recognize the role of metropolitan economies to the nation's economic wellbeing and competitiveness. The overall transportation system must be made more efficient, including upgrades to older systems and the addition of new modes like light rail and bus rapid transit. Protect Municipal Bonds NLC opposes any attempt to eliminate or limit the traditional tax exemption for municipal bonds, whether as a part of a deficit reduction plan, a push for comprehensive tax reform or as an offset for new spending. As the Administration and Congress look for revenue to reduce the deficit and still fund programs, the federal income tax exemption provided to interest paid on state and municipal bonds (debt) is under threat. In addition to increasing taxes, the federal government can raise revenue by expanding what is subject to being taxed (broadening the base); as an alternative to raising taxes, interest paid on bonds issued by local governments currently not taxed could lose their exemption from taxation.

Go Local: Close the Online Sales Tax Loophole NLC calls on Congress to close the online sales tax loophole. E-fairness legislation will:

• Level the playing field between online and brick-and-mortar retailers.

• Not introduce any new taxes. • Provide local governments with the resources they need to invest in communities, build infrastructure and provide important services like emergency response. $23 billion dollars in owed sales tax go uncollected from online transactions every year. The brick-and-mortar businesses in our cities strengthen our local economies, provide needed jobs, and give our streets character. Despite their necessity to our cities, they currently compete at a five to ten percent disadvantage to online sellers by collecting legally required sales tax at the time of purchase - something online retailers are not compelled to do. This imbalance hurts local businesses and our cities. As more Americans shop online, more and more economic activity is diverted away from our communities. In 1992, the Supreme Court told Congress in its Quill decision to resolve the issue of sales tax collection by remote sellers. In the intervening years, Congress has failed to act, and the dollar value of sales conducted online has increased exponentially. If main street retailers cannot keep up as a result of this growing disadvantage, the ripple effect in lost jobs and revenue will threaten our communities’ sustainability.

Congress can fix this unfairness. E-fairness legislation would close the online sales tax loophole. This legislation would modernize the sales tax by authorizing states and local governments to collect already-owed sales taxes for online sales. This path will not harm small businesses, impose any new taxes, or affect federal revenues or expenditures. By passing e-fairness legislation, Congress will level the playing field for all sellers and will provide fiscal relief for state and local governments without a penny coming from the federal Treasury. Allowing local governments to collect an estimated $23 billion in sales tax revenue every year that is already owed provides cities with more funding for basic services, such as roads and police officers, and fair competition for all businesses.

For more information, visit www.nlc.org/efairness or contact Priya Ghosh Ahola, Esq. at 202.626.3015 or [email protected].

Go Local: Invest in Local Transportation Priorities NLC calls on Congress to authorize a new, long-term federal surface transportation bill that:

• Authorizes at least six years of transportation programs and funding,



• Enables more local control,



• Supports innovative programs and finance and



• Helps fix the Highway Trust Fund.

Local governments own and operate 78 percent of the nation’s road miles, 43 percent of the nation’s federalaid highway miles, and 50 percent of the nation’s bridge inventory. Local elected officials should have the authority to direct available transportation resources to projects serving their communities and regions.

Percentage of US Road Miles Owned by Local Governments

78%

Cities and towns are embracing innovation to create new opportunities for struggling commercial districts and neighborhoods in distress. Programs like the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) financing are tools that enable innovation.

A new transportation bill must be longHowever, local governments and their term. Crisis-driven legislation and shortmetropolitan and regional planning term extensions create insurmountable Source: U.S. Department of Transportation organizations directly receive less obstacles for transportation and than 15 percent of current federal infrastructure projects. The next bill transportation funding. The last major transportation should authorize transportation programs and funding bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century for at least six years to restore certainty and stability to the Act (MAP-21), consolidated programs important to local transportation planning process at the local and regional level. governments, reduced funding available for locally owned Finally, the next transportation bill should be built on a highways and bridges by 30 percent, and eliminated almost stable foundation. The Highway Trust Fund, which finances all discretionary programs for transit. the majority of transportation programs, has been unable Congress can fix this imbalance. A new transportation to maintain sufficient revenue to support the nation’s bill should directly allocate greater funding to cities and transportation needs. It is time for Congress to find a longmetropolitan organizations and provide more flexibility to term solution that may, among other means, include an choose the best mix of transportation options to fit regional increase in the federal gasoline tax. needs. For more information, visit www.nlc.org/transportation or contact Mike Wallace at 202.626.3025 or [email protected].

Go Local: Protect Municipal Bonds NLC calls on Congress and the Administration to preserve the municipal bond federal income tax exemption for the following reasons:

• The exemption is not a special interest loophole and should not be treated as such.



• Municipal bonds are the primary way local and state governments finance infrastructure, and have been for over a century.



• Over two-thirds of all public infrastructure projects in the United States are financed by municipal bonds.

Percentage of public infrastructure financed by tax-exempt bonds: Utilities:

87%

Environment: 54%

Education:

65%

Health Care: 40%

Municipal bonds are the primary way state and local governments finance the public infrastructure that supports everyday life. Bonds finance construction of schools, hospitals, bridges, water treatment facilities, libraries, and many other public projects. Voters and governmental bodies approve issuance of these bonds, which are then purchased by private individuals, mutual funds and financial institutions. The interest gained by these investors is exempt from the federal income tax, and has been since the tax was instituted in 1913. As the Administration and Congress look for ways to reduce the federal deficit and still fund programs, the federal income tax exemption provided to municipal bond interest is under threat. If the federal income tax exemption is eliminated or limited, states and localities will be forced to pay more to finance projects. That will mean less infrastructure

Transportation: 35%

investment, fewer jobs, and a greater burden on local residents forced to pay higher taxes and fees. Local governments save an average of 25 to 30 percent on interest costs with tax-exempt municipal bonds (as compared to taxable bonds), thanks to investors who are willing to accept a lower interest rate on tax-exempt bonds. The exemption is similar to the exemption for federal Treasury bonds – another stable investment vehicle – from state and local taxes. Municipal-bond-funded projects create jobs, provide a stable investment vehicle for investors, and help reduce local tax and utility rates for community residents. Congress must protect this critical tool for local governments to rebuild and improve America’s infrastructure, and maintain the federal tax exemption for municipal bonds.

For more information, visit www.nlc.org/munibonds or contact Priya Ghosh Ahola, Esq. at 202.626.3015 or [email protected].

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE ROSTERS (2015)

Vice Chair

Chair

Vice Chair

Anthony Anderson

Karen Freeman Wilson

Martha Sue Hall

Deputy Mayor SeaTac, Washington

Mayor Gary, Indiana

Council Member Albemarle, North Carolina

Steering Committee Members Alabama Terry Adams, Councilor, City of Midfield Arizona Sammy Chavira, Council Member, City of Glendale Alex Finter, Mayor, City of Mesa Joel Navarro, Councilmember, City of Tempe Jerry Weiers, Mayor, City of Glendale California Jim Davis, Vice Mayor, City of Sunnyvale Mitchell Englander, Council Member, City of Los Angeles Joel Price, Councilmember, City of Thousand Oaks Martin Simonoff, Council Member, City of Brea Alan Wapner, Mayor pro Tem, City of Ontario Colorado Barbara Cleland, Council Member At Large, City of Aurora Joyce Downing, Mayor, City of Northglenn Eric Tade, Council Member, City of Thornton Connecticut AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia, Councilwoman, 134th District, City of Bridgeport 6

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE ROSTERS (2015) Florida Judy Davis, Council Member, City of Riviera Beach Lee Feldman, City Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale Isaac Robinson, District 2 Commissioner, City of West Palm Beach Donald Rosen, Assistant Deputy Mayor, City of Sunrise Gil Ziffer, Commissioner, City of Tallahassee Scott Maddox, Commissioner, City of Tallahassee Georgia John Hall, Council Member, City of Savannah Indiana Mary Moriarty Adams, Councillor, City of Indianapolis Karen Wilson, Mayor, City of Gary Kentucky David James, Council Member, Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government Maryland Silke Pope, Council Member, City of Greenbelt Edward Putens, Council Member, City of Greenbelt Michigan Ken Massey, Council Member, City of Farmington Hills North Carolina Erich Hackney, Councilman, City of Lumberton Nebraska Ron Murtaugh, Chief Of Police, Ralston Ohio Barbara Staggs, Vice Mayor, City of Trotwood Oklahoma Mike Lester, Council Member, City of Broken Arrow Tennesee Kay Senter, Council Member, City of Morristown Texas Wilbert Austin, Council Member, City of Waco Robert Rivera, Council Member, City of Arlington Terrilyn Tarlton, Mayor, City of Galveston Wyoming Randy Adams, Mayor Pro-tem, City of Torrington

7

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE ROSTERS (2015)

Policy and Advocacy Committee Members: Georgia Alex Heath, Councilman, City of Fairburn Illinois George Dunham, Trustee, Village of Schaumburg Indiana Benjamin Hunter, Councillor, City of Indianapolis Gilda Orange, Council Member, City of East Chicago Kentucky Erin Hinson, Legislative Assistant, Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government Maryland Michael Bennett, Mayor, City of Aberdeen Stewart Cumbo, Councilman, Town of Chesapeake Beach Willie Calhoun, Commissioner, City of District Heights Reveral Yeargin, Council Member, City of Seat Pleasant Michigan Gary Brown, Council Member, City of Detroit Minnesota Erick Boder, City Council Member, City of Mayer Mark Bilderback, Council Member, City of Rochester Eric Lammle, Council Member, City of New Hope Jamie Verbrugge, City Manager, City of Brooklyn Park Michael Schultz, Council Member, City of Red Wing Missouri Louvenia Mathison, Councilwoman Ward 4, City of Berkeley Mississippi Margaret Barrett-Simon, Council Member, City of Jackson Tim Waldrup, Mayor, City Of Ellisville North Caroina Victor Taylor, Alderman, City of New Bern Kandie Smith, Council Member, City of Greenville Arthur Barber, Commissioner, Town of Carthage Nebraska Jim Brenneman, Council President, City of Norfolk New Mexico Steve Lee, Judge, City of Alamogordo Charles Ring, Councilor, Town of Edgewood 8

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE ROSTERS (2015) Dan Darnell, Council Member, City of Farmington Nevada Sharon Zadra, Council Member, City of Reno Ohio Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher, Council Member, City of Dublin Robert Buckman, Council Member, City of Blue Ash Jeffrey Lansky, Mayor, City of Maple Heights Oregon Rod Hardin, Councilor, City of Hermiston Pennsylvania Vaughn Spencer, Council President, City of Reading Tennessee Walter Hunt, Council Member, City of Nashville-Davidson Texas C. Wilbanks, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Grapevine Wyoming David Angiolillo, Council Member, City of Douglas Kenyne Schlager, Council Member, City of Casper

9