CCP 11-28-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . How THE AMM LEGISLATIVE CONTACT SYSTEM WORKS The AMM Board developed the Legislative Contact System for two primary reasons: (1) to keep AMM members involved in the legislative process and (2) to improve the overall AMM lobbying effort, A city elected official or staff member is chosen by each municipality to seNe as a legislative liaison (Legislative Contact Person) between the AMM, the municipality and its local legislators. The Legislative Contact Persons help to make legislators aware of the strong metropolitan interest regarding certain issues, The Contact Persons primarily interact with the AMM and the municipality's senators and representatives during the early stages of the legislative session to discuss AMM Priority Policies and during the later stages when bills and legislation are finalized Contact with the legislators usually occurs over the telephone, but the AMM encourages one-to-one contact The AMM may ask the Contact Persons to discuss specific issues with their legislators. In such an . event, the Contact Person will receive a telephone call or fax from the AMM Legislative Coordinator. The Contact Person should call the municipality's senators and representatives to express the AMM's concerns, As appropriate, the Contact Persons should communicate to the AMM staff of progress and legislator comments, The Contact Persons usually meet with the AMM staff at least once during the session for Priority Issue briefings, In addition to talking with legislators, the Contact Persons brief their respective city council on Priority Policies and solicits official endorsements; the liaison then updates the AMM on the positions of the cities and the legislators. The responsibilities of the Contact Person are not time-consuming, However, the work of the liaisons are invaluable -- they are essential to an effective AMM lobbying effort. Contact Persons may wish to develop a sub-contact system by teaming with council or staff members who have expertise in a particular area or have a special relationship with a legislator. This could be developed on an issue-by-issue basis, Please notify the AMM of the development of a sub- contact system. Also, indicate to the AMM if you will allow an alternate of your choosing to talk with your legislators if an emergency situation arises and you are unavailable. Building a rapport with legislators is essential to the AMM lobbying efforts. Direct participation 1IUJgnifies interest and gets results. . ----. ---..--.--