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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Records - Miscellaneous (75)of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER Officers Members _LEWIS C. MURPHY Mayor, Tucson RAUL G. NAVARRETE Councilman, Chandler WAYNE C. POMEROY Mayor, Mesa THOMAS AGUILAR, Councilman, Clifton ROBERT MOODY, Mayor, Flagstaff J. F. O'BETKA, Councilman, Florence STERLING RIDGE, Mayor, Glendale CHARLES H. SALEM, Mayor, Goodyear E. S. TORRES, Mayor, Kingman OTTO SANTA ANNA, Councilman, Miami ARTHUR M. DOAN, Mayor, Nogales WILLARD W. TAYLOR, Mayor, Payson MARGARET HANCE, Mayor, Phoenix JERRI WAGNER, Mayor, Prescott HEINZ R. RINK, Councilman, Scottsdale WILLIAM C. WAFER, Councilman, Show Low RON GOLDBERG, Mayor, Sierra Vista BEATRICE MORALES, Councilman, South Tucson WILLIAM LO PIANO, Mayor, Tempe ERSEL BYRD, Mayor, Yuma 'Oh'k'�Pivewd at �"hm 4,90' ±A� Eli; 5 119� If October 20-22, 1976 UAAGWE axe ARMNA CURB AND 1820 West washin n j�rort bcenix, Ariuona 05407 1602) 25V-5766, PRESIDENT TO ARIZONA'S STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS: This year marks the beginning of my term as President of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. I look forward to the next two years and will continue the efforts of my predecessor, Mayor Art Doan, to do all I can to strengthen the League's activities. Our success in achieving this goal will greatly depend upon the continued sup- port and assistance of the League membership. Our primary focus of attention in 1977 is the League legislative program. We will again be facing some recurrent issues including labor relations and the 10% budget limit. The Legislature's action on these two issues will be of utmost importance to cities and towns in this State. Among the many new issues we will face is a proposed revision to the State Criminal Code. This is an area which may sig- nificantly impact on city and town law enforcement activities. These issues and a variety of others will require a unified effort on the part of city and town officials to assert the League's position. In an attempt to clearly and forcefully present the League position on important policy issues, the membership adopted this 1977 Policy Statement. The method used in adopting this year's Statement in- volved a change from previous procedures. This change was in re- sponse to the League Executive Committee's concern for increased city and town involvement in the League policy making process. For the first time, the Executive Committee appointed a subcom- mittee of elected officials to thoroughly study the policy statement and make recommendations to improve the document. In addition, the Executive Committee broadly expanded the membership of the Resolutions Committee which is appointed each year to officially consider changes to the Policy Statement. The number of Resolutions Committee meetings was also increased to encourage more study of League policies. 1 believe that this additional input has produced a better Policy Statement and will also increase city and town in- volvement and awareness of the League's legislative program. The Policy Statement is being sent to the Governor and every member of the State Legislature. We encourage the State recipients to examine its contents and carefully consider its implications for State and local government relationships. This document should pro- vide a valuable resource for city and town officials enabling us to discuss problems of local interest with the State legislators of our districts. This type of discussion and contact with your local legisla- tors is the backbone of a successful League legislative program. We encourage your support and assistance in discussing issues of impor- tance with your legislators. In conclusion, I am personally optimistic about the success of cities and towns in the 1977 legislative session. This does not mean that local elected officials should sit back and be casual observers of the Legislature's activities. There are too many tough issues to take this posture. I remain optimistic because of the support and unity which this organization has demonstrated in the past when facing tough issues. If we can focus that kind of support in the upcoming legislative session, I believe it will be a beneficial one for Arizona cities and towns. Sincerely yours, Lew Murphy, President Mayor of Tucson 1 2 �. LEAGUE PROFILE The League of Arizona Cities and Towns was originally formed in 1937 under the name The Arizona Municipal League. The organiza- tion was founded on a principle which is still endorsed by today's League and that is — home rule and local determination. In short, home rule is the belief that local decisions are best made by local decision -makers and not by some other level of government. The problem which prompted the organization of the League was the State Legislature's reluctance to allow city and town elected officials a reasonable amount of discretion in making decisions about their own communities. The Legislature paid little attention to the principle of home rule and this was reflected time and again in legislative actions which chipped away at local decision-making authority. The League's formation was the first step in gaining city and town access to the State legislative process. The formation of the League did not, however, meet with imme- diate acceptance by the State Legislature. There were some "hard times" when the League had to prove itself as an organization. The first positive step occurred in 1942 when a League sponsored initia- tive was passed by the people of the State securing a ten percent share of the State sales tax for cities and towns. This successful ini- tiative was met with some disapproval, and a law suit was filed ques- tioning the legitimacy of the League. In response to the suit, the State Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for cities and towns to support the League through payment of dues. This Court rubing was a serious financial blow to the League, but it was not the end of the organization. A number of mayors throughout the State believed that the League was such an important part of local govern- ment that they began to fund the organization out of their own pockets. This situation continued for about six years until the Supreme Court reversed its previous decision and ruled that cities and towns could legally support their organization through dues. In the mean- time, the League sponsored a successful initiative for cities and towns which resulted in a share of the gasoline tax monies returned to cities and towns. Prior to this action, no gas tax monies were received by cities and towns. This action was followed by a later initiative increas- ing cities and towns share of the State sales tax from ten to twenty- five percent. In 1972, the League sponsored another successful initia- tive which gave cities and towns a fifteen percent share of the State income tax collections. These State initiative drives backed by the type of determination demonstrated by the mayors and councilmen who funded the League out of their own pockets has made the League a political force representing viable local government. The present day activities of the League are directed by an Execu- tive Committee consisting of twenty mayors and councilmen from across the State. Among the twenty members are three officers con- sisting of President, Vice -President and Treasurer. The membership of the Executive Committee is voted on by the entire membership of the League at the Annual Conference. The officers and members of the Executive Committee serve two year terms. The League operates as a voluntary, nonprofit, nonpartisan associa- tion of the incorported cities and towns of the State. Currently, all seventy incorporated cities and towns in the State are members of the League. The League is legally termed an "instrumentality" of Arizona cities and towns and is owned and governed by the League membership. It it financed by cities and towns through a per capita dues assessment. In addition to the dues money, the service pro- gram is further supported by technical assistance grants made by various Federal agencies. The core of the technical assistance pro- gram is funded by the U, S. Department of Housing and Urban De- velopment through the Governor's Office. In recent years, the U. S. Civil Service Commission through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act has also funded a number of League activities in the area of per- sonnel management. In addition to these areas, the League's services include management assistance, ordinance and code assistance, an inquiry service, State agency liaison and Federal program assistance. In summary, the League is and always has been a tool for city and town elected officials to voice local policies on important municipal issues. This Municipal Policy Statement is a more precise formaliza- tion of the policies of the League membership. This document is reviewed and developed each year at the League Annual Confer- ence. The entire membership of the League votes on its adoption. We encourage city and town officials and all other interested readers to thoroughly examine this Policy Statement which is the basis for League activities. If you have any questions about the Policy State- ment, please do not hesitate to contact the League office. 3 4 1977 MUNICIPAL POLICY I. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOME RULE Federalism, a cornerstone of our United States Constitution, is the principle of government dividing the legitimate powers of the State and national governments. Cities and towns are voluntarily created by the people of a community to provide local self govern- ment and services. As political subdivisions of the State, general law cities and towns derive their power and authority from State law. Charter cities obtain their basic power and authority from the Arizona State Constitution and their locally adopted charters. Each municipality acting through its elected governing body is entitled to freedom for purposes of self government and local determination. The right to exercise self-determination is the cornerstone of mu- nicipal policy and serves to strengthen and perpetuate our Federal system of government. Therefore, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns: A. Supports the concept that incorporated city and town govern- ments are the best vehicle for providing the people with re- sponsible local government and services. B. Favors a course of action which will permit residents of the city or town to select the form of government best suited to their individual needs and desires. C. Urges the Legislature to recognize the diversity of problems and needs in Arizona communities and to include the necessary flexi- bility in legislation so that local officials can meet those unique needs and problems in the context of each city or town. i D. Urges Congress and the State Legislature to oppose the manda- tion of programs and services upon cities and towns. E. Endorses the concept, implicit in the State Constitution, that municipal utilities are solely a matter of local concern. F. Declares its intent to work with and through the Legislature to obtain legislation necessary for the proper administration of muni- cipalities. When, however, it becomes apparent that specific legis- lative goals cannot be achieved through normal channels, it becomes the responsibility of the League to propose those items vital to the welfare of the cities and towns of Arizona in an Urban Bill of Rights for presentation to the people of the State via the initiative route. G. Urges the Legislature to exercise caution in authorizing the crea- tion of special purpose districts which tend to fragment orderly development, result in costly and duplicative administrative over- head and can lead to a loss in the accountability of elected officials. H. Supports the granting by the Legislature of organizational home rule powers to counties, provided that any reorganization under a home rule option not be effective until it has been approved by a vote of the people within the county. I. Supports the concept that financial disclosure is a matter between locally -elected officials and their constituencies and is not a proper subject for State legislative action. I4 5 6 \ II. MUNICIPAL FINANCING The development, maintenance and retention of revenue sources sufficient to resolve local problems, provide necessary urban services and facilities, improve the urban environment and fulfill expanding obligations imposed by Federal and State government is of critical concern to Arizona cities and towns as is the flexibility necessary to utilize revenues effectively and efficiently. Therefore, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns: A. Seeks the cooperation of the Legislature in controlling the local tax burden through the referral of a constitutional amendment to the people requiring that State mandated programs be fin- ancially supported by the State government. B. Supports the present program of State collected locally -shared revenues and opposes reduction either directly through the elim- ination of such revenues, or indirectly through the exemption of certain classes of property or activities from the application of taxes unless other equal revenue sources are made available to local government. C. Urges legislation to grant permanent relief from the expenditure limitation imposed on cities and towns by State law. The legisla- ture should recognize that expenditure of local funds is properly a matter of local concern. The League supports legislation en- abling local budgetary matters to be resolved by the citizens within each community. D. Supports legislation that would require that Statewide tax relief or tax exemption programs be funded at the State level in recog- nition that these programs must be implemented within the con- text of the Statewide community. F. Urges the Legislature to study the present status of public liability coverage and provide alternate procedures for such protection. Municipalities are experiencing unprecedented increases in lia- bility insurance premiums, greater difficulty in obtaining adequate coverage and increasing litigation against elected and appointed officials as well as public entities. p G. Supports legislation allowing all residential and commercial prop- erties, listed by the national or State register of historical places, to be assessed for fifteen years at the true cash value such prop- erties held at the time of their registry. H. Urges the Legislature to authorize and fund State agency partici- pation in those Federal programs in which such participation re- sults in an increase in the Federal grant ,rate, and thus in the amount of Federal funds available to the State and its political subdivisions. I. Urges the Legislature to recognize the right of all Arizona cities and towns to earn the highest rate of return on their public funds commensurate with necessary safeguards to protect the public funds. Supports legislation requiring all urban unincorporated areas de- siring a level of service, above and beyond the amount provided county -wide, to form a special assessment area. Such increased existing services should be provided by county governments and paid for by the residents of the benefited areas. K. Urges the Legislature to raise the present force account ceiling. L. Supports legislation which would provide local government offi- cials with assessed valuation figures prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. E. Urges legislation requiringthat all proposed State laws having a M. Supports legislation which will clearly establish the authority of financial impact on the State and its political subdivisions contain i city or town councils to make multi-year commitments with re - a provision, at the time of introduction, which explains the fiscal gard to the funding of capital improvement projects or purchases. impact of the proposed legislation, estimates the cost if enacted and demonstrates the effect on other State and local services and N. Urges that the tax exempt status of municipal bonds be main - programs. tained. 7 8 Ill. PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE - It is the duty and obligation of cities and towns to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens. In addition to the development and implementation of sound administration and municipal operations, city and town officials have a duty to apply laws and regulations in a full, fair and uniform manner, to promote improvements in justice, to undertake positive code enforcement programs and to support the realistic delivery of social programs and economically feasible actions to protect the environment and quality of life. Therefore, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns: A. Supports legislative measures providing the necessary authority to local law enforcement agencies for the enforcement of laws in cities and towns. The League encourages citizen cooperation with law enforcement agencies to help reduce crime and develop a respect for law and order. B. Urges the State Legislature to oppose any preemption of the authority of cities and towns to regulate local businesses. C. Supports legislation which would require all public buildings to conform to the same building and inspection standards applied to private buildings. D. Encourages the Legislature to appropriate sufficient State funds to finance the legislatively mandated local alcohol reception center (LARC) law, as well as to appropriate funding for long term treament facilities for alcoholics. E. Supports efforts to eliminate the trial de novo procedure and to study and implement changes that would modernize the magis- trate courts and assist the judicial system. However, in address- ing this problem, care must be exercised that a portion of the revenue from adjudication at a high court level must be remitted to the municipal level in recognition of the total criminal justice system expenditures involved. F. Supports legislation ensuring full and fair discovery of all relevant facts in eminent domain actions for all involved parties. G. Supports the establishment by the State Department of Health Services of a task force composed of elected and appointed offi- cials of State and local government to develop minimum health standards for detention facilities. 9 IV. PLANNING AND URBAN GROWTH The increasing complexity of urban issues and the imposition of greater roles by the State and Federal government in the solution of such issues have increased the need to plan the use of limited resources, establish systems to coordinate planning among govern- mental levels and relate specific planning activity to the overall needs of our communities. Therefore, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns: A. Supports legislation which would implement a comprehensive land use planning program which would extend to cities and towns additional authority to adequately manage the urban en- vironment. Such legislation should include authorization for archi- tectural design review and control, amortization of nonconform- ing uses, the dedication of land for public uses and taxation of development to provide additional services resulting from devel- opment. B. Supports efforts of the State legislative and executive branches to define and implement a framework for the development of a land use policy. However, we urge the Legislature to recognize the need to base such a land use policy on the premise of public health, safety and welfare, and to provide that land use decisions should be made by local government. C. Urges the Legislature to grant all necessary authority for cities and towns to annex or exercise necessary control over unincorpor- ated areas within the recognized sphere of influence of the exist- ing community. D. Encourages the State to assist in Statewide and regional devel- opment of flood control projects. E. Supports legislation to provide the necessary tools for community conservation and rehabilitation efforts. Such tools include finan- cial incentives and special tax advantages for rehabilitation of residential, commercial and industrial structures in blighted or designated redevelopment areas; tax increment financing and the creation of a State housing finance agency with funding to stimu- late private investment in low and moderate income housing. F. Endorses changes in the State Constitution and the statutes which would allow public bodies the right to acquire State lands for parks, school sites, public building sites, roads, streets and high- ways at no cost. 10 PLANNING AND URBAN GROWTH—(Continued) VI. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS G. Supports Federal legislation granting preferential treatment to Cooperation, including the sharing of resources, among Federal, State and local governments to acquire, on a "no cost" or nomi- State and local governments is necessary for the solution of urban nal cost basis, U.S. Forest Service lands for public purposes, problems and the attainment of mutual objectives. The League dedi- cates itself to achieving increased cooperation among all levels of sioner to explore ways to exchange State trust land for Federal government and supports efforts strengthen existing planning, co - land. Such exchanges should be used to benefit local govern- ordinative and operational systems and partnerships involving FGoed- ments desiring to obtain such lands within, or on the boundaries eral, State and local government. Therefore, the League of Arizona of, a community. Cities and Towns: I. Recommends that State legislation be adopted to provide that all applications for the zoning or rezoning of unincorporated areas within a five a mile limit of each community must first receive the approval of the governing body of such community prior to receiving approval by the appropriate county board of super- visors. V. WATER POLICY Citizens throughout the State are now wrestling with the problems of determining the extent and nature of present supplies of water, new sources of water and the economic feasibility thereof as well as the extremely complex problem of distribution and allocation of both present and future water supply. The League establishes a policy of cooperation, conciliation and mutual effort to achieve a lasting and beneficial solution to this major State problem and: A. Pledges itself to cooperate with the State Water Commission in the development of a long range program of water resource de- velopment and management and in the development of admin- istrative procedures to meet the needs of all communities throughout the State and meaningfully involve local officials in the decision-making process. B. Supports proposals for creating new sources of supplemental water for the entire State of Arizona including importation from the Columbia River, the creation of desalinization plants, weather modification and the implementation and construction of the Central Arizona Project. C. Supports a policy which would allow cities and towns to obtain needed water resources from critical groundwater areas on an advantageous and economical basis. Legislation should be vigor- ously pursued which will reform the State's Water Code to pre- serve and properly allocate water in a manner which serves the best interests of all the people of Arizona. In this effort, priority must be given to the domestic use of water. A. Supports the integrity both from a geographical and functional standpoint of the State planning districts to provide local input of a regional nature. We request that all Federal, State and other agencies and jurisdictions involved with any program affecting the various planning districts shall respect and utilize said districts for purposes of coordinating activities and resources. The direction and control of the COGS must remain in the hands of locally - elected officials. COGS are not to act as a substitute nor replace the present structure of local government in Arizona. We sup- port partial funding of regional councils of governments by State appropriation to assist the COGs in their planning functions. B. Strongly endorses the existence of the local councils of govern- ments (COGS) to further coordinate the cooperative efforts among units of local government in solving local and regional problems. C. Urges Congress to consider re-evaluating the present complex system of Federal assistance programs. It is recommended that, where feasible, programs be combined or consolidated to create a structure involving fewer programs which are broader in scope, more uniform in their application and which provide for maxi- mum local participation in the selection of goals to be accom- plished and the means by which such goals shall be pursued. D. Supports the concept of block grants and subventions to the states for allocation to municipalities for use in broad program areas. The League further supports the continuation of direct grants to cities and towns. The League urges the creation, at the State level, of a system designed to ensure the effective and equitable allocation of block grants and subventions. The system should include the following elements: s A method for final decision-making by locally -elected officials rather than appointed administrators. 11 12 INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS—(Continued) • The development of criteria providing for the allocation of funds based on the priority of need. • The creation of mechanisms formalizing the right of locally - elected officials to participate in all aspects of the decision- making process. E. Urges Congress to establish a new Title V Regional Commission to deal more effectively with the unique issues and problems faced by Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas in their rela- tionships with Mexico. F. Endorses the concept of consolidated grant programs such as the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. However, we urge the Federal agencies to exercise caution in the develop- ment of implementing guidelines to ensure that the intent of Congress to provide local officials with greater authority and re- sponsibility in determining the use of these funds is maintained. G. Supports the concept of the Town Affiliation -Sister City Program and pledges our full cooperation toward its efforts. In particular, this program has enormous potential with respect to the cities and towns located in our sister State of Sonora, Mexico. We en- courage Arizona cities and towns desiring a sister city to investi- gate the possibility of affiliating with a city or town in the State of Sonora, Mexico. VII. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES The fair and equitable treatment of public employees is vital to the continuation of strong and effective local government. Providing services within financial constraints requires increasing productivity of public employees, continued building and improving of public management practices and sound personnel procedures and admin- istrative mechanisms. Any systems, procedures or processes institut- ing formal labor relations in a city or town should be determined by the local governing body. Therefore, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns: A. Supports enabling legislation which would permit general law cities and towns to establish labor relations procedures and pro- cesses appropriate to their community. However, the League op- poses any State legislation mandating any labor relations systems, procedures or compulsory binding arbitration on local govern- ment. B. Encourages the development, use and extension of merit sys- tem principles in personnel administration in cities and towns. C. Supports the concepts of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action without any quota system and without discrim- ination in the recruitment, selection, promotion and retention of public employees. 13 14 VIII. INDIAN POLICY In the past, relationships between Arizona's Indian communities and the State and political subdivisions often have been crisis ori- ented rather than active and positive. Faced with the complex issues of air and water pollution, transportation, and economic and urban development impacting upon both Indian and non -Indian lands and people, it is necessary that cities and towns and the State take steps to develop cooperative relationships with Indian governments. Such cooperation should focus on the orderly and stable development of urban communities on reservation lands especially where such urban growth is adjacent to Arizona cities and towns. Therefore, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns: A. Supports the efforts of the Governor and the Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations toward the development of a comprehensive enabling policy calling for the establishment of ongoing cooperative mechanisms allowing for the betterment of Indian/non-Indian relationships within the State of Arizona. B. Supports legislation which would provide for equitable taxation of leasehold interests without hampering the orderly develop- ment of Indian lands. Such legislation should recognize the spe- cial needs and problems which surround the economic develop- ment of Indian lands and should take cognizance of the need for an equitable approach to taxation of such lands. C. Urges Congress and the State Legislature to resolve the dilemma of the present state of the law which allows certain citizens of Arizona to participate in local government, to pass laws and to impose taxes, while these same citizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of such laws and taxes. 15