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Session 1308, Minutes Page 10 May 24, 1982 this matter be placed on the agenda. Mayor Mooney said he was one who requested that this subject be discussed again be- cause he felt the Council should be working for University City, and whatever it did should be for the benefit of University City, regardless of the benefit to in- dividual councilmembers. Rev. Sterling Lands, 6943 Roberts, asked to address the Council. Rev. Lands said he understood that not renewing the City's membership-in NLC meant that the City would lose some publications. Mayor Mooney said there was a weekly newsletter, but he thought not all councilmembers read it. Rev. Lands asked if the City would lose a direct vote at the national meeting, and the Mayor said that was correct, but that it really did not make that much difference when there were 4,000 people vot- ing. He said there was no way for an individual to have much influence unless he represented a large city. Rev. Lands then wished to know if councilmembers would lose the right to hold certain offices on official committees. Mayor Mooney said that three of the Council (Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Adams and himself) are on national steering committees, and those positions would be forfeited if the City did not pay its dues. However, all councilmembers may make comments, express opinions and ask questions at any of the meetings. Mr. Adams said he disagreed with several of the Mayor's points. Mr. Adams said it was very important to have a voice on the steering committees, which determine the issues that reach the floor for a vote. He said perhaps other councilmembers don't read the newsletter, but he did so he would be-informed on current issues. He felt it had been somewhat misleading to interpret some of the policies of the NLC as be- ing in favor of President Reagan's "new federalism" but thought the NLC was merely recognizing that it exists and that the cities will have to cope with it. He said the NLC was one of the few ways cities have of trying to influence the federal gov- ernment and he thought $1500 was a small price to pay for the benefits the City re- ceived from the NLC. Mr. Charles Alphin, 8004 Noel Court, asked to address the Council. He asked how many national organizations University City belonged to. Mr. Ollendorff said sev- eral department heads belong to professional organizations in their own fields, but the NLC is the only one to which the Council belongs. Mayor Mooney said the NLC was a lobbying organization which tried to influence Congress, but he felt the Council could do a better lobbying job by contacting its congressional representatives per- sonally and telling them what the City wants. Mr. Alphin asked if the benefits to the City had decreased recently. The Mayor said that not only had the benefits de- creased, but that the dues had increased dramatically. He asked Mr. Ollendorff to comment. Mr. Ollendorff said the main benefit the City should get from the NLC was having its viewpoint represented, and it was his opinion that this had not been the case for the last several years. Mr. Douglas King, 6841 Crest, asked to address the Council. He asked why only this organizational membership and not others were being considered for cancellation. Mayor Mooney said he formerly belonged to the U. S. Conference of Mayors, where he also served on a committee; however, he decided that because of budgetary consider- ations he would drop his membership, thereby saving the City $1,000. He noted the