Jackson Free Press

An unusually long agenda faces today's special business meeting of the Jackson City Council, as members consider what appears to be Mayor Tony Yarber's agenda for the coming legislative session, which starts in January.

Most of the 17 items are related to getting financial assistance from the state for police and fire protection of state properties and employees, as well as permission to implement community-improvement programs.

Each item is a resolution to either ask for a monetary allocation or authorization from the state, which keeps tight reins on the power of cities. That has added a layer of complexity to historically tense relations between Jackson—a majority African American and Democratic-leaning city—and the state, which is largely ruled by white conservatives.

Some of the highlights of Jackson's 2015 agenda include requesting a vehicle for providing reimbursement for police and fire protection, an annual request to which lawmakers have been historically cool. However, state budget officials could be more open this year in the wake of fires at several prominent landmarks, including the state-owned Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum and the Eudora Welty Commons, which is a privately owned but well-known events venue.

The city also wants the state's assistance with establishing special funds for municipal fire and emergency management, crime prevention and workforce development.

In addition, the city wants to establish a commission to study and provide strategies for tackling chronic poverty, and permission to create one or more special taxing districts that would benefit neighborhood associations.

The Jackson Zoo—which is largely supported by the city—and Livingston Park would receive a $500,000 allocation under another legislative request. A separate agenda item would transfer to the state portions of surface and ground infrastructure near state-owned buildings for maintenance and upkeep.

Yarber has not announced a pick for the city's lobbyist since his nomination of Hayes Dent Strategies—which worked on his campaign for mayor earlier this year and has close ties to Mississippi Republicans—failed to draw council support in September. For the time being, Synarus Green, the city's director of policy and intergovernmental affairs, is doing most of the city's legislative work.

The legislative session begins on Jan. 6, 2015.