The Ferguson Group Blog

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, The Ferguson Group blog will be posting a series of articles published over the previous week that discuss topics of interest to local governments.  Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Social Media Transforms the Way Chicago Fights Gang Violence
In a new, innovative strategy to combat gang-related violence, the Chicago Police
Department (CPD) is using social media to figure out what persons are most
likely to be involved in a homicide and where they are located.  Similar
to the idea of tracking hotspots to understand where and when crime happens,
the “network analysis” of social media activity is helping the CPD rank the
most active gang members in Chicago to see which members are the most likely to
kill or be killed.  Read More…

If Shutdown Persists, Would States Be Reimbursed for Filling Federal Holes?
For state governments, the shutdown forces them to consider whether they can afford
to fill potential gaps in their federally funded programs, and if they can,
whether or not the feds will pay them back.  Despite clear intentions from
the Obama Administration that they believe states should be reimbursed, the
Administration is reminding states and state budget officers that reimbursement
will be determined by appropriations.  Read More…

U.S.Farm Law Expires Again with Lawmakers Split on New Bill
A shutdown of the federal government wasn’t the only Congressional failure
experienced on October 1.  The U.S. farm subsidy law expired for the
second time, and with (surprise) no compromise in sight over the fate of food
assistance programs, the future is unclear for the new farm bill.  Read More…

Analytics Will Help Cities Manage Water Supplies, Repair Aging Infrastructure
The Smarter Cities software by IBM now has new features that will allow
municipalities to apply the predictive analytics capabilities of the software
to event management, city permitting, infrastructure planning, water efficiency
and more.  In particular, the water efficiency analytics capabilities will
help municipalities predict pipe failures, let them know when maintenance is
needed, and will even calculate optimum pressures needed in distribution
networks to help conserve water.  Read More…   

Florida Sues Georgia Over Water Use
On Tuesday, Florida filed a long-awaited lawsuit against Georgia alleging Georgia
is consuming too much water from a shared river basin that supplies water to
parts of Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.  Florida is looking to ensure a
steadier supply of water to the state, which has experienced detrimental
impacts to its bread-winning oyster industry.  Read More…

Climate Leaders, Take Some Credit!

The  September 13, 2013 deadline for the EPA’s 2013 Climate Leadership Awards gives you plenty of lead time to pull together a solid application and make sure that your organization and organizational leadership get some recognition for your good work. Last year’s awardees included several municipalities and public agencies -_  Boulder County, Colorado;the City of Austin, Texas; and the Port of San Diego.

Particularly notable was the award received by the Sonoma County Water Agency  (SCWA) which is a member of the North Bay water Reuse Authority, a TFG client. The EPA recognized SCWA for “leading a county-wide local government electric vehicle effort; initiating Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program financing for clean energy projects; and  developing a Community Choice Aggregation program as a means to facilitate distribution and development of renewable energy county-wide.”  Nationally, SCWA also  initiated, helped establish, and supports Applied Solutions—a non-profit network of counties and cities that identify and share innovative clean energy projects, programs, and financial mechanisms.

To learn more about the application process, eligibility, and evaluation criteria for the 2014 award categories, please go to EPA’s Climate Leadership Awards webpage.

Urban Transit: All Aboard for Energy Savings

A new report released by the International Energy Agency asserts that urban areas around the world could save as much as $70 trillion by 2050 by improving the energy efficiency of urban transport systems.  That’s far more than bus fare!

The report, "A Tale of Renewed Cities," finds that as urban populations increase (and today more than half the world’s population lives in cities), the need for efficient transport solutions will become more acute. The report cites several model communities, including Belgrade, Serbia  which has developed a master plan to 2021 and has already modernized its public transportation system with more than 30 new efficient trams and 400 high-capacity compressed natural gas buses.

By 2050, only 37 years from now, the share of global inhabitants living in cities is expected to climb to 70 percent. That’s not long from an urban transportation planner’s standpoint and there is much to be done.

House HUD Funding Bill Deals a Blow to Key Programs, Outlook Better in the Senate

Earlier this week, the House Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY 2014 appropriations bill. The full Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on June 27. The bill includes $28.5 billion for HUD, $5 billion, or 15 percent, less than the FY 2013 enacted level and $3 billion, or 9 percent, less than the FY 2013 post-sequestration funding level.

Community Development Block Grant formula funding would be decreased by almost 45 percent to $1.6 billion.  Overall, funding for Community Development Programs would be cut by $1.9 billion from FY 2013 to $4.8 billion, which is $1.6 billion below the spending level under sequestration. It would eliminate funds for new "sustainable" or "green" community development programs. The bill would fully fund veterans housing vouchers at $75 million, but would cut Section 8 and public housing overall by $953 million to $24.9 billion. Families expected to hold vouchers at the beginning of FY 2014 would continue to receive assistance. Housing for the disabled and for the elderly would be funded at levels requested by the Administration at $126 million and $374.6 million respectively.

MAC Makes its Mark at Brownfields Conference

On May 16, TFG and its Manufacturing Alliance of Communities (MAC) hosted 2 events at the US EPA's annual Brownfields Conference in Atlanta, GA.  Speakers at the MAC-sponsored Town Hall on Manufacturing and Community Revitalization and the Roundtable on the MAC's soon-to-be-published "Roadmap for Auto Community Revitalization" included Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling, EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus and Senior White House aide Jay Williams.

The MAC was founded in December 2008 as the Mayors Auto Coalition and expanded its mission to include all manufacturing communities in June 2012, which now includes communities as varied as Lansing, MI; Indianapolis, IN; and Beaverton, OR.  For more information on the MAC, visit us at www.manufactutingalliance.us.

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, The Ferguson Group blog will be posting a series of articles published over the previous week that discuss topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Almost the Same Cost, Spend Differently:  Comparing Farm Bills in House, Senate Committees

Even though both the House and Senate Farm Bill drafts look to spend about $500 billion over a five-year period, there are some major differences on how the money will be allocated.  See how the different bills deal with food stamps, direct payments, crop insurance, price protection and food aid.  Read More…

On Tech Visas, Orrin Hatch Holds Some Cards

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), a major tech industry advocate, has been a supporter of H-1B visas and is being seen as a potential swing vote on the Gang of Eight immigration bill.   With his leverage, Hatch is pushing for his tech-friendly amendments in the bill, and has stated that he will oppose the legislation without his provisions.  Read More…

Senate Votes to Extend Federal Law Overseeing Water Resources Projects

The Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA) has jumped its first major hurtle, sailing through the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 83-14.  The comprehensive water bill will promote imperative investments in water infrastructure projects in the new earmark-ban era.  This bill is the first water bill to be passed by the Senate since 2007.  Read More…

House Panel Passes $73.3B Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Bill

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs moved its first bill from the subcommittee on May 15^th.  The $73.3 billion appropriations bill looks to provide $9.9 billion for military construction projects and $63.1 billion of discretionary spending to the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Read More…

Has High-Speed Rail Been Derailed?

In 2008, the Administration made high-speed rail a national priority.  However, with the lack of funding and differing opinions amongst Congress, the future of high-speed rail in California and the rest of the United States is slowly becoming an intangible vision.  Read More…

Lower Health Care Costs May Last

Through a recent study, Harvard economists have predicted that the lagging growth of U.S. health care costs could mean significantly less spending on Medicare, translating in $770 billion worth of savings over the next decade.   The economists point to several factors that explain the recent downshift in growth and how this relates to projected estimates of health care costs by the Congressional Budget Office and Medicare and Medicaid Services.  Read More…

2013 WRDA on Senate Floor

The Senate began floor consideration of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA) on Monday, May 6^th.  WRDA authorizes new projects for flood protection, port improvements and upgrades to the nation’s aging locks and dams.  Senate sponsors of WRDA (S. 601), Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and David Vitter (R-LA), introduced a manager's amendment to substitute for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public passed bill with some contested elements pruned out.  The bill inched forward May 8^th with the adoption of the manager's amendment as agreed to on the previous day.

Two noncontroversial amendments were added to the manager's amendment, and while dozens of amendments have been proposed, and more are expected by week’s end, only a handful are likely to be voted on.  The Senate approved an amendment by Rep. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to authorize establishment of a National Endowment for the Oceans.  The endowment, if eventually funded by other legislation, would provide grants for research, restoration, and conservation efforts for U.S. marine environments and the Great Lakes.  The other adopted amendment, by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), would appoint the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the lead agency to coordinate interagency efforts to halt the spread of the voraciously invasive Asian carp.

The leadership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the committee with primary jurisdiction over WRDA in the House, has indicated that they are not in a rush to take up the Senate WRDA bill.  The House expects to hold additional hearings and “listening sessions” on the bill and remains dissatisfied with the way the Senate handled the issue of authorizing projects to move from the study phase to construction.  With the House and Senate observing no-earmark policies, the question of how to authorize projects without naming them has challenged the two public works committees.  The Senate bill, according to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster, cedes too much authority to the executive branch as to which projects can move to construction.  Chairman Shuster has not, however, released an alternative plan for moving projects to construction in light of the current prohibition on earmarks, which applies to authorizing bills as well as appropriations bills.

Work by the full Senate on WRDA can be expected to spill over into the week of May 13^th, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said as he urged his colleagues to hasten the pace on the much-needed legislation.  According to many observers, formal consideration of WRDA by the House committee will likely occur no earlier than mid-summer.

Federal Sustainable Communities Agency Briefing: What we Learned

Last week HUD, DOT, and EPA representatives held a conference call to discuss their plans for the FY 2014 Sustainable Communities Initiatives.

The HUD Office of Sustainable Communities announced that it has allocated $75M to create a new Integrated Planning and Investment Grants program.   The HUD representative, Shirley Poticha, suggested, but would not commit, that this new program would likely replace the Sustainable Community and Community Challenge grant programs.  Specifics on this new grant program will be announced soon.  HUD also announced that past winners of Sustainable Communities grant will be eligible for grants to implement housing and economic initiatives. 

John Frese from EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities gave an update on the utility of the Preferred Sustainability Status going forward.   In January, 2013 HUD/EPA/DOT sent memos to agencies directing that future RFPs include the six principles for Sustainable Communities. 

Frese also stated that the proposed Office budget for 2014 is $10.4M, which is an increase from FY12 budget of about $1.7M.  This Office plans to scale up technical assistance for sustainable growth.  They will also expand existing technical assistance programs like the Governor’s Institute on Community Design and the Greening America’s Capitals program. 

Frese announced that that the proposed Brownfields budget for 2014 is $85M and funding for Brownfield State & Tribal Program is pegged at $47M in FY 2014.  Frese also mentioned that EPA’s Office of Water will be issuing an Urban Waters Improvement Program.  These will be grants in the range of $40-$60K.   The grants will be made available to 7 communities.    Frese stated that The Office of Environmental Justice will not, however, be issuing a NOFA for the Small Grants program in FY2014.

Beth Osborne of USDOT gave a high level overview of the FY 2014 proposed budget.  Osborne touched on the proposed $10B American Fast Forward Bonds program – to create a national infrastructure bank.  She mentioned that AFF could include TIFIA–like assistance and could overlap some of TIFIA’s program offerings. 

Town of Cary Leads Chief's Energy Challenge

The fire department for the Town of Cary, NC, a TFG client since 2001, has joined with the fire departments in three other North Carolina communities to issue the Chief’s Energy Challenge, a nationwide program to encourage fire departments to track and reduce their energy use.

The goal of the program is to generate a 10 percent reduction in energy use the first year and a 20 percent reduction by the third year of participation in the initiative. 

According to EPA: “…participating departments will be recognized in program materials, by network partners and by fire-related publications and organizations nationwide. All departments that sign up will receive window clings recognizing their participation and a public relations packet for use in their communities. They will also become part of a community to share best practices, lessons learned, and peer-to-peer education and networking on how to meet these energy goals.”

The first twenty departments to sign up for the challenge will receive hands-on assistance from a volunteer to help them track and monitor energy usage, so there is a real benefit to joining the challenge early.

The Town of Cary’s fire department was also among those recognized in the 2012 National Building Competition.  The fire department saw an energy reduction of over 10 percent.

Registration for the 2013 National Building Competition, EPA’s fourth such competition, is open now through May 31^st.  Informational webinars will be held on May 7 and May 22.

Congratulations to Fire Chief Allan Cain and the entire Town of Cary!

(Belated) Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, and in this case Thursday,  The Ferguson Group blog will be posting a series of articles published over the previous week that discuss topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Business and Education Organizations Call for National STEM Fund to Improve Education in Florida

Floridian business and education organizations, like STEM Florida and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, are pushing for a more robust STEM fund in the immigration reform bill currently being drafted in Congress.  Similar to many other states, Florida is struggling to not only get students to enter STEM fields, but keep the students that do in the state.  Read More… 

Jeanne Shaheen, Rob Portman Have High Hopes for Energy Efficiency Bill

Senator Shaheen and Senator Portman are hopeful that their bipartisan energy efficiency bill, introduced April 18^th, will have strong support in Congress from both sides of the aisle.  Although it is not likely a broad energy bill will be produced, experts say the focus on energy efficiency has the potential to cut greenhouse gases and curb energy costs in the short term.  With the backing of major organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Union of Concerned Scientists, Shaheen and Portman are confident the work they put into the bill will pay off on the floor.  Read More…

Lines Drawn on Debate over Cyber Security Bill (CISPA)

Major tech companies and small businesses have differing opinions on the new Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection bill (CISPA) expected to be on the Senate floor soon.  Companies like IBM and Intel support the legislation because it would free the company from liability if they gave information about a cyber attack on their firm to the government. Small businesses argue that CISPA would allow major corporations to share any information with the government.  Read More…

2014 Budget Debate Begins in U.S. Senate 

From student loan interest rates to the collegiate Race to the Top program, the Senate is beginning to delve into budget talks for the Department of Education.  Education Secretary Arne Duncan told the Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday that an investment in higher education would help states deal with budget cuts, promote college completion, and allow greater access to higher education.  Read More…

The Scales of the President’s Budget

How does the President’s FY 2014 budget compare to the proposed budgets from Republicans and Democrats? To the current law? To the Bush and Clinton administrations?  This interactive chart and related article will help clear the fog surrounding this year’s budget proposals.  Read More…