The 8th Annual Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative Organizational Meeting
MRCTI ANNUAL MEETING Sept 17-19, 2019
M E M P H I S The Mississippi River, Heart & Soul
Draft Agenda Title Sponsor: Unless otherwise noted, all sessions and events are open to all mayors and other officially invited attendees. Meeting services are located within the Bass Pro Pyramid, 1 Bass Pro Drive, Memphis, TN 38105 Check www.mrcti.org frequently for Annual Meeting Agenda updates.
September 16 Special Mayoral Event: Deployment of First Whole-Mississippi-River Nutrient Sensor 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Beale Street Landing (Dock Side), 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN MRCTI Executive Committee Members will join officials from the U.S. Department of Interior and executives from American Queen Steam Boat Company as they launch the first private-carry nutrient sensor for the River. Mayors and guests may gather in the store lobby of the Bass Pro Pyramid at 1:00pm to load buses for the dock. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Introduction: USGS REPRESENTATIVE
Partnership: AMERICAN QUEEN STEAM BOAT COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES
September 17 Registration 10:00am – 6:00pm, Bass Pro Pyramid, Main Lobby, 1st floor
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Welcome Reception & Opening Ceremony Welcome Reception 6:00pm – 6:30pm, Beale Street Landing (whole venue) 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN The Landing is one of the Mississippi’s premier river-side venues as it is a cruise vessel dock, a riverfront park, entertainment space, and an example of cutting-edge adaptive design. Mayors and guests may gather in the main lobby of the Bass Pro Pyramid at 5:30pm to load buses. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Welcome: HON. JIM STRICKLAND HON. Mayor of Memphis, TN Mayor of West Memphis, AR
Opening Ceremony and Exclusive Bridge Light Show 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Beale Street Landing (whole venue) 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN Join Mayor Strickland as he and the MRCTI Co-Chairs open the 8th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative through recognition of Memphis’ Bicentennial followed by a light show for MRCTI along the Hernando de Soto Bridge. Opening: THE HON. LIONEL JOHNSON THE HON. FRANK KLIPSCH Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA Mayor of Davenport, IA MRCTI Co-Chair MRCTI Co-Chair
Ceremony: Procession of Colors
Welcome: THE HON. JIM STRICKLAND Mayor of Memphis, TN
Light Show: ROBERT KNECHT Director, Public Works City of Memphis
September 18 Registration 7:30am – 5:00pm, Bass Pro Pyramid, Main Lobby,1st floor
Opening Breakfast Plenary: The 2019 Flood – Economic Equality, Vulnerability, Risk 8:00am – 9:30am, National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry St, Memphis, TN Mayors and guests may gather in the Bass Pro Pyramid store lobby at 7:15am to load buses for the venue. Presiding: Sharon Weston Broome, Mayor of Baton Rouge, LA Rick Eberlin, Mayor of Grafton, IL
Presentation: The 2019 Flood Season: Resilience, Recovery, and the Path to Systemic Solutions
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Mayors’ Press Conference 10:00am – 10:30am, Beale Street Landing Overhang, 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN Mayor Strickland, Mayor Klipsch, and Mayor Johnson will convene a press conference to make announcements regarding the Mississippi River. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Introduction: THE HON. JIM STRICKLAND Mayor of Memphis, TN
SESSION: INFRASTRUCTURE – PROJECTS, INVESTMENTS, WATER, AND RESILIENCE 10:45am –12:20pm, Halloran Center for the Performing Arts & Education Reception Hall Moderating: Brant Walker, Mayor of Alton, IL
Greetings: JILL PIETRUSINSKI District Governor Rotary Club
Partnership: THE HON. TIM KABAT ROSALIE A. SCHNICK Mayor of La Crosse, WI Rotary Club, La Crosse, WI
Investment ALEXANDER LOUCOPOULOS Introduction: Partner Sciens Capital Management
Lunch Plenary: Developing a New Partnership with Rotary International 12:30pm – 1:50pm, Halloran Center for the Performing Arts & Education Center Main Lobby Presiding: Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis, TN
Welcome: BRETT BATTERSON President & CEO The Orpheum Theater Group
Keynote: BARRY RASSIN President Rotary Club International
2020 Mtg THE HON. RITA ALBRECHT Preview: Mayor, City of Bemidji, MN
Break, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
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SESSION: BUILDING OUR TRASH FREE FRESHWATER ECONOMY 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Halloran Center for the Performing Arts & Education Reception Hall Moderating: Rita Albrecht, Mayor of Bemidji, MN Belinda Constant, Mayor of Gretna, LA
Introduction, BARBARA HENDRIE, PHD (invited) Announcement: Director, North America United Nations Environment Program
Remarks: SAMI ANDOURA (invited) Sustainable Development Leader European Political Strategy Centre European Commission
Presentation:
Update: SARAH DEARMAN Executive Director Circular Economy Accelerator
Corporate REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE Roundtable: Unilever McDonald’s Pepsi Corporation
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Host City Showcase & Dinner Memphis Bicentennial Performance Barbeque & Bourbon Tours • MRCTI Awards Ceremony Night on Beale Street
Brought to you by the City of Memphis, this will be a showcase dinner like none other. Join Mayor Strickland for an emersion into the best of Memphis and Tennessee beginning with a live musical performance followed by barbecue and bourbon tours at historic Old Dominick Distillery. Then, explore world-famous Beale Street.
Host City Showcase Opening Performance 6:00pm – 6:30pm, Old Dominick Distillery, 305 S Front Street Mayor Strickland will welcome everyone to an evening guaranteed to make an impression as things begin with a drum performance by the nationally recognized Memphis Grizzline. Buses will begin loading at main entrance of the Hotel Blackhawk at 5:15pm to transport mayors and guests to the dinner venue. Buses will return guests to the Hotel Blackhawk beginning at 8:30pm. Presiding: Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis, TN Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Welcome:
Greetings:
Host City Dinner: Memphis Barbeque and Tennessee Bourbon Tours 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Old Dominick Distillery, 305 S Front Street The City of Memphis invites Mayors of the Mississippi River to tour the historic Old Dominick Distillery sampling the tastiest Barbeque in the region as well as the finest, smoothest bourbon the State of Tennessee has to offer. Greeting:
Recognition Of the MRCTI COLIN WELLENKAMP Exec Comm: Executive Director, MRCTI
Beale Street 8:00pm – 9:00pm, Beale Street After you’ve sampled all the barbeque and bourbon you want at Old Dominick, join us as we take-in the fantastic sights and sounds of world-famous Beale Street. Explore the rhythmic ups and downs of Blues music’s heart and soul destination. Buses will provide back-and-forth between Beale Street and Old Dominick. 5 | P a g e
September 19 Registration 7:30am – 10:30am, Bass Pro Pyramid, Main Lobby, 1st floor
Corporate Advisory Board Breakfast: Bringing Industry to your City, Reducing Risk, Attracting Tourism 8:30am – 10:00am, FedEx Forum Main Lobby, 191 Beale Street Buses will begin loading at the Bass Pro Pyramid at 7:45am to transport mayors and guests to breakfast venue. Presiding: Tim Kabat, Mayor of La Crosse, WI Bob Gallagher, Mayor of Bettendorf, IA
Greetings: REPRESENTATIVE FedEx Forum
Welcome:
Announcement: Chair, Vice Chair, and New Members of MRCTI Corporate Advisory Board
Transition: JEREMY TRAVIS DUPLE TRAVILLION Manager of Operations Senior Gov. Affairs Representative Tetra Tech, Inc. Federal Express MRCTI CAB Chair Incoming MRCTI CAB Chair
Remarks: REPRESENTATIVE American Cruise Lines
Presentation: Status of the Inland Waterway Cruise Industry and how Cities can Benefit
Presentation: Findings and Conclusions of the National Drought Forum REPRESENTATIVE National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce
Break, 10:00am – 10:15am
MRCTI Business Meeting 10:15am – 12:00pm, FedEx Forum Main Lobby, 191 Beale Street Mayors will meet in an open-door session to discuss new business brought before the Association. Mayors interested in hosting an annual meeting may also officially list their city as a candidate for the 2023 meeting. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Update: Status of the Resilience Revolving Loan Fund
Elections: MRCTI CO-CHAIRS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS 6 | P a g e
Remarks: NEWLY ELECTED MRCTI CO-CHAIRS
Nominations: MRCTI 2023 ANNUAL MEETING HOST CITY CANDIDATES Note: Every five years, the MRCTI Annual Meeting is hosted in our headquarter city of St. Louis which is where the 2022 10th Anniversary Meeting will take place. Thus, nominations will be accepted for upper stem cities to host the 2023 Annual Meeting.
12:00pm – Adjourn
Excursion: Tour of Graceland, TN 1:00pm – 5:00pm, Graceland, TN
MRCTI has partnered with the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau and Graceland USA to escort up to 20 mayors (including spouses) on an excursion touring the legendary home of Elvis Presley, Graceland. This is a first-come, first-serve opportunity. Lunch is provided at Vernon’s Smokehouse in Graceland. Buses will depart the Bass Pro Pyramid at 1:00pm.
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