M E M O R A N D U M 07-55

TO: MAYOR HORNADAY AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

FROM: MATT SHADLE, COUNCILMEMBER

DATE: MARCH 19, 2007

SUBJECT: REPORT ON NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE

I attended the 2007 National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C. March 10^th through 14^th. It is in Homer’s best interests to stay involved with NLC, as they provide a wealth of information. While attending the conference I took one class on my own nickel called Challenge of Change, a familiar happening in many cities.

Dr. David Gergen, bi-partisan guy and past advisor to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton, was an incredible speaker. On Capitol Hill I met U.S. Senator Murkowski’s staff members Nathan Butzlaff, Arne Fuglvog and Homer’s own Isaac Curtis. Mr. Curtis introduced me to Lisa Murkowski.

I met with U.S. Representative Don Young, Jeremy Price and an old friend, David Whaley. At U.S. Senator Ted Stevens office I met Chief of Staff George Lowe and Mimi Braniff.

It was good timing for the conference, as I attended the energy resources party and saw many Alaska legislators there, including Senator Tom Wagoner and Representatives Kurt Olson and Reggie Joule. It was at the energy resources party that I met Lisa Murkowski and her spouse.

Isaac Curtis says hello to Mayor Hornaday and Karl Ohls says hi to City Manager Wrede.

I came to Washington, D.C. very reserved and left very impressed with the NLC. Meeting the congressional leaders is helpful to the City of Homer. We need to follow up and keep in close contact so we can get capital improvement projects funded. It was good to learn from the differences of other communities. We can do things to make the Homer community tighter and Council more responsive.