HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.c. Approval of Council Travel
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council Regular Meeting: March 17, 2015
AGENDA ITEM: Approval of City Council Travel AGENDA SECTION:
Consent
PREPARED BY: Clarissa Hadler, City Clerk AGENDA NO. 6.c.
ATTACHMENTS: Council Travel Estimates APPROVED BY: ddj
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve travel for Council members to the following
conferences; National League of Cities CED (Community & Economic Development) / TIS
(Transportation & Infrastructure Services) Policy Committee meeting, National League of Cities
University Leadership Summit, Growing Sustainable Communities Conference, and National
League of Cities Congress of Cities.
ISSUE
Council members have expressed interest in attending various local and national conferences throughout the
year, including; National League of Cities CED (Community & Economic Development) / TIS
(Transportation & Infrastructure Services) Policy Committee meeting, National League of Cities University
Leadership Summit, Growing Sustainable Communities Conference, and National League of Cities Congress of
Cities.
SUMMARY
According to the City’s adopted policy, the conference must be approved in advance by a vote of the City
Council at an open meeting and must include an estimate cost of the travel. In evaluating the out-of-state
travel request, the Council will consider the following:
• Whether the elected official will be receiving training on issues relevant to City or his or her role as
Mayor or Council Member.
• Whether the elected official will be meeting and networking with other elected officials from around
the country to exchange ideas on topics of relevance to the city or on the official roles of local elected
officials.
• Whether the elected official will be viewing a city facility or function that is similar to nature to one that
is currently operating at, or under consideration by the City where the purpose for the trip is to study
the facility or function to bring back ideas for the consideration of full Council.
• Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to visit another city for the
purpose of establishing a goodwill relationship such as a “sister-city” relationship.
• Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to testify on behalf of the
City at the United States Congress or to otherwise meet with federal officials on behalf of the City.
• Whether the City has sufficient funding available in the budget to pay for the cost of the trip.
The conference expenditures are included in the 2015 Budget. The estimated costs are shown on the attached
spreadsheet which includes proposed in-state conferences and travel, as well.
CONCLUSION
It is requested that the City Council approve the aforementioned travel and conference attendance.
Council Travel Estimates
LMC - Newly Elected Officials / Elected Officials - January - Brooklyn Center
Number Attending 3
Total Cost $950
NLC - Congressional Cities Conference - March - Washington DC
Number Attending 2
Estimated Conference Costs $3,400
NLC - CED / TIS Policy Committee Meeting - June - Salt Lake City
Number Attending 2
Estimated Conference Costs $2,650
LMC - Conference - June - Duluth
Number Attending 3
Estimated Conference Costs $2,800
NLC - Leadership Summit - September - Orlando
Number Attending 1
Estimated Conference Costs $1,900
Growing Sustainable Communities Conference - October - Dubuque
Number Attending 1
Estimated Conference Costs $1,200
NLC - Congress of Cities & Exposition - November - Nashville, TN
Number Attending 4
Estimated Conference Costs $6,500
TOTAL $19,400
Budget Available $20,000