CC - Agendas - City Council - REGULAR - 8/14/2018

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9.E.a BFED #3 League of Arizona Cities & Towns Resolution Add to the League's Federal Agenda support of federal legislation or rulemaking expanding the zone of permissible travel in Arizona for Mexican tourists that hold a border crossing card from the current 75 mile limitation to instead include the entire state. A. Purpose and Effect of Resolution Border Crossing Cards (BCC) authorizes the holder to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to visit the U.S. for business or pleasure for no more than 30 days and within certain areas depending on the state of travel. Applicants for a BCC must apply and be vetted at a U.S. consulate in Mexico in order to be eligible. Currently, the zone of permissible travel is limited to 25 miles beyond the border of California; up to 55 miles in New Mexico; and up to 75 miles from selected ports in Arizona. Mexican tourists wishing to travel beyond these distances or stay longer than 30 days must request an I-94 at the U.S. port of entry from the Customs and Border Protection and pay a fee. The current 75 mile zone in Arizona, which was increased from 25 miles in 1999, only allows Mexican tourists to travel as far north as the City of Tucson. There is a proposal being developed and is supported by various organizations, including chambers of commerce and planning organizations in Arizona, to increase the zone of permissible travel from the current 75 mile limitation to the entire state, allowing Mexican tourists to travel seamlessly to places like Flagstaff and Phoenix. B. Relevance to Municipal Policy Tourism is a major economic driver for many communities in Arizona and increasing the border zone may positively impact the economics of cities and towns beyond the current zone. C. Fiscal Impact to Cities and Towns (See below) D. Fiscal Impact to the State A 2015 study conducted by the University of ArizonaW projected up to $181 million in new spending; bringing the total projected spending by Mexican tourists to Arizona to nearly $3.1 billion and a total jobs impact of 31,766. J 11 Charney, Alberta, and Alan Hoogasian. Extending the Border Zone to the Entire State of Arizona: Estimated Expenditures and Economic Impact Simulations, 2013-2016. E. Contact Information: Sponsoring City or Town: Flagstaff Name: Coral Evans, Mayor Phone: (928) 213-2015 Email: cevansgflagstaffaz.gov League Staff: Tom Savage Attachment: 2018 League Conference Resolutions Packet (2125 : League Resolutions Voting) 14 Packet Pg. 150