the METRO MAYORS CAUCUS

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theMETRO MAYORS CAUCUS

• A History of Collaborative Action

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Who We Are

• Non-partisan, consensus based, voluntary
  collaborative regional forum of 38 mayors
• Formed by mayors in 1993
• Member jurisdictions range from Morrison (pop.
  460) to Denver (pop. 582,474)
• Dues based on population
• Governed by a 10-member Executive Committee
• Staffed by Civic Results, a Colorado non-profit

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The Political Climate

• Local Control!
• Term limits
• Competition at MPO

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Why form a Caucus?

• CML statewide focus
• DRCOG Broader membership specific focus -
  planning, transportation aging services
• Metro area needs a voice on critical issues

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A Place to

• Build Relationships
• Develop Trust
• Discuss Common Problems
• Prevent Resolve Disputes
• Respond to Regional Challenges

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Organizational Structure

• Priority issues set by consensus at annual
  day-long retreat each January
• 6 half-day meetings each year
• Executive Committee
• Chair, 2 Co-Vice Chairs, 6 at-large members
• Agendas set by Executive Committee
• Ad-hoc Committees on priority issues

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Priorities Since 1993

• Transportation Funding Build-out
• Affordable/Workforce Housing
• Legislative Relations
• Smart/Sustainable Growth
• Energy Efficiency Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Health Wellness

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Steady Support for Multi-Modal Transportation

• Increased regional tax and Fed funding for 1st
  LRT (1996)
• 1997 Guide the Ride (failed)
• SB 97-01 Mode-Flexible revenue stream for
  transportation
• 2004 Unanimous support for FasTracks 4.7
  billion, 12 year 119-mile network
• FasTracks Task Force 2008

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Affordable Workforce Housing

• Metro Mortgage Assistance
• 9 yr partnership with Denver nearly 200MM in
  MRBs
• Down-payment grants below-market mortgages
• TOD
• 57MM Loan Pool with CHFA for affordable MF rental

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Legislative Relations

• Convened caucus of state legislators from metro
  area
• Position statements on
• Transportation Funding
• Telecom Regulation
• CDBG PAB allocations to states
• CTFIP

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Sustainable Growth

• Organizer of Metro Growth Forum (1995)
• Used Caucus to build consensus on key components
  of DRCOGs Metro Vision (1995-1997)
• Work with legislators to define acceptable growth
  management legislation (1999)
• Draft execute Mile High Compact voluntarily
  binding signers to implement Metro Vision -- 32
  jurisdictions sign (more than 79 of metro area)
  in 2000
• Winner of 2 Governors Smart Growth Awards for
  housing programs
• Unanimous support for transit build-out critical
  to shaping region (2004)

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Water Conservation

• Participants in drafting Colorado 64 Principals
• Sustained drought - regional conservation tree
  canopy preservation (2001)
• Voluntary conservation works summer 2003 save
  more than 20 billion gallons region-wide
• 2004 Conservation Stewardship MOU 28 cities
  commit to ongoing conservation efficiency
  measures and programs
• 2005 develop Best Management Practices for Water
  Conservation
• Developing metrics to measure regional progress

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Energy Conservation Efficiency

• 2006 Drafted unanimously approved MOU among 37
  members to
• Recognize efficiency as a critically
  under-utilized resource in meeting growing energy
  demand
• Encourage information sharing
• Promote programs that increase access to
  resources reduce the costs of efficiency
  upgrades

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Health Wellness

• MDHWC Founding partner
• Mayors active on Commission
• Mayors co-chair Healthiest Communities Team
• MOU signed by 26 cities commits to 237 policies,
  programs or environmental changes

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Core Values

• Regional Cooperation
• Local Determination
• Personal Relationships

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Keys to our success

• Work by consensus everyone counts
• Develop agreements that are enabling and
  encouraging rather than prescriptive or
  restrictive
• Create strong working relationships with private
  and non-profit sector partners
• Build strong personal relationships that allow us
  to find common ground