Mayors Discuss Business and Technology at Conference

Investments, the Internet and infrastructure were the dominant themes at the first California-Mexico Summit of Mayors, a three-day conference in Irvine and Santa Ana that aims to increase cross-border trade.

The summit, which evolved from a trip last year to Guadalajara by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido Jr., Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea and three other California mayors, hopes to match California and Mexican politicians and California and Mexican business owners in an effort to strengthen business ties between the countries.

More than 200 people attended the summit Monday; nearly 500 politicians and business leaders are expected to participate today, Pulido said. Organizers had predicted an overall attendance of 200 for the event.

“Obviously, we’re striking a chord,” Pulido said. “This is something that’s of interest to people. We’re doing something that is needed.”

U.S.-Mexico trade last year exceeded $200 billion, up from $70 billion before the passage of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Jeffrey Davidow in a luncheon speech Monday. The increase in trade has attracted jobs and investment, but has strained transportation and other border infrastructure.

Mexican mayors expressed concerns that they are falling behind in the Internet revolution. In panel discussions, Mexican mayors and municipal officials asked their U.S. colleagues how to devise and implement Internet systems for billing, tax collection, service monitoring and delivery.

The mayor of Tijuana, whose population is growing by 5.7% annually, made an open appeal for U.S. investment. The city needs $240 million for an eight-mile trolley line starting at the border and a downtown athletic stadium that could someday host major league baseball games, said Mayor Francisco Vega De Lamadrid.

Among many ideas explored at the sessions, Pulido said, is the creation of an Internet site in which California cities could list used equipment available for Mexican cities to purchase.

“This isn’t something most people think about, but cities need to worry about where they’re going to get their fire trucks, their ambulances and other equipment that is necessary for running a city,” Pulido said. “There’s a lot of interesting ideas and possibilities that are developing as a result of this.”

In addition to Lamadrid, the conference attracted 39 other Mexican mayors and five California mayors. More California mayors are expected to attend sessions today on building business relationships, Pulido said. Several California mayors are hosting events for Mexican mayors in their cities on Wednesday, Pulido said.

Participants toured several sites Monday, including Irvine Spectrum, UC Irvine and the Irvine Ranch Water District. Plans are being made for a second summit.