Title
WHEREAS, urban areas now house over 80 percent of our population with close to 20% of our nation's total population residing in cities with populations above 200,000; and
WHEREAS, THE City of Pittsburgh and the surrounding metropolitan region ranks among the larger metropolitan areas in the United States, with a population of about 1.2 Million; and
WHEREAS, large cities and their metropolitan regions in the United States face many of the same challenges in planning an urban infrastructure that meets the future work and living requirements of growing populations; and
WHEREAS, there is a wealth of expertise and experience in cities such as Pittsburgh in both the private, non-profit and public sectors and represented among their public officials, administrators, urban planners, academic and research professionals, and community activists who are engaged in trying to identify solutions for these challenges; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh not only understands the theories behind remaking and revitalizing urban centers but has done much in the areas of practical application of such transformation beginning in the early 1950's through today. The Pittsburgh region stands as a national leader in green building technology and remaking a former heavy industrial center into one that is reflective of the new emerging economies and sustainable development; and
WHEREAS, a newly created Office of Urban Policy could greatly assist cities, like Pittsburgh, in identifying common challenges that face large, urban populations; in sharing their experience and expertise; and in facilitating solutions to those common challenges;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Pittsburgh's City Council joins the City Councils of Cleveland, Denver, Indianapolis, Seattle, and Winston-Salem in recommending to President Obama that a broad and diverse advisory group be created to help the proposed Office of Urban Policy reach out to cities across the country to assist them in working to adopt best practices available to improve the quality of life for urban residents and for those who work and do business in our cities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh conveys this Sense of Council Resolution to President Barak Obama.