by Dustin Gardiner - Sept. 19, 2012 09:47 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com
Phoenix council members voted Wednesday night to renew membership in the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, but several said the influential association needs to be more transparent and improve relations with its largest member city.
The vote came three weeks after the council blocked payment of dues to the league, a move that shocked Valley municipal leaders. Phoenix Councilman Tom Simplot said the city's misgivings should be a "wake-up call" for the association.
"As the largest city in the state of Arizona, we need special consideration," Simplot said as he motioned to approve membership. "There needs to be better transparency."
Phoenix's spat with the league boiled down to a few primary concerns for council members: the $142,250 cost of membership and accusations that the league has not been transparent and has pushed an inappropriate agenda.
The league, a lobbying and education group, represents 91 cities and towns throughout the state. Proponents of the vote to renew membership have said that if Phoenix withdraws from the league, it would send the wrong message about regional cooperation.
Council members were once again split 5-4 over the issue, this time a majority voting to reaffirm membership. The minority appeared to support a motion by Councilman Sal DiCiccio to table the vote until the league would agree to abide by the Open Meeting Law and Public Records Law.
Ken Strobeck, executive director of the league, told the council that the organization is already required to adhere to state law in both areas. He said the league does not take any positions without direction from the mayors serving on its executive committee, which includes Phoenix's Greg Stanton.
Stanton, who voted to renew membership, said the league helps cities speak with a united voice to rural state lawmakers, who have an outsize influence and might pass bills that hurt Phoenix financially.
"I think the city made the right decision tonight," Stanton said after the meeting. "The league of cities is ... not a nameless, faceless bureaucracy."
DiCiccio and Councilman Jim Waring reiterated concerns Wednesday that the league has taken on an inappropriate role at the Legislature. They accused the league of hiding results of a poll in the spring that indicated Maricopa County residents largely supported a bill to move city elections to even years.
Strobeck said the poll wasn't intended to be released but was made available after DiCiccio requested it. The league and many cities have opposed consolidated elections, calling it an attack on local control.
20 Sep, 2012
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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2012/09/18/20120918phoenix-still-league-arizona-cities-towns.html
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