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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 01/21/2014 -City Manager’s Office City Hall 300 LaPorte Ave. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6505 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov.com Legislative Review Committee Agenda Meeting Notes January 21, 2014, 4:00 p.m. City Manager’s Conference Room Present: Wade Troxell, Councilmember; Ross Cunniff, Councilmember; Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager; Steve Roy, City Attorney; Dan Weinheimer, Legislative Policy Manager Absent: Lisa Poppaw, Councilmember Guests: Dale Adamy Councilmember Troxell called the meeting to order at 4:08 pm. Adoption of the minutes from the November 5, 2013 meeting were moved for approval by Councilmember Cunniff and seconded by Councilmember Troxell. Minutes were adopted without amendment. Councilmember Troxell sought to clarify process for City review of bills and to clarify staff recommended positions versus adopted positions of the LRC. Dan presented an overview of the process for staff review including use of the State Bill website, staff lists used to analyze proposals in specific issue areas, City Attorney comments, and information gathered from Colorado Municipal League and other outside groups. Several process improvements will be adopted in response to LRC feedback – • staff will remove the bill list from the LRC agenda document (relying instead on the bill tracker for a detailed bill list) • staff will ensure that the bill tracker is published on LRC website • staff will distribute a searchable bill dossier to LRC (allowing members to read bills if desired) After this discussion, Dan reviewed the bills listed in the LRC agenda. HB14-1002 would create a water infrastructure grant fund for use after natural disasters. LRC adopted a support position. HB14-1004 attempts to realign emergency management entities providing disaster response. Based on staff recommendation that this reorganization would result in a net negative for local emergency response, LRC adopted an oppose position. HB14-1007 provides additional power to counties during times of severe fire risk to restrict agricultural burning and fireworks. LRC adopted a support 2 position citing risks to public safety from fire. Councilmember Troxell asked that Dan check whether Larimer County has adopted a position on this bill. HB14-1011, 1012, and 1013 all involve programs meant to spur advanced industries either through funding, tax credit or workforce development. LRC sought to have additional information before taking a position on these bills and adopted a monitor position. HB14-1017 seeks to add funding options and realign the Department of Local Affairs to support creation of more affordable housing statewide. The LRC adopted a support position on this bill. HB14-1038 would have expanded tasting rooms and the goods that a tasting room could offer beyond those produced by the business hosting the tasting room. Dan noted that this bill was killed by the sponsor; LRC did not consider a position on this bill. HB14-1064 deals with capping the amount of severance tax – money meant to address local impacts from extraction activities – to cities that have adopted moratoria or bans on oil and gas. LRC adopted an oppose position. HB14-1077 seeks to increase the amount available in the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s environmental response fund. LRC adopted a support position. HB14-1087 would prevent public employees from collective bargaining. LRC adopted a monitor position. HB14-1105 concerns tax exempt fuel sales between government agencies, making these sales legal. LRC adopted a support position. Councilmember Cunniff commented that this bill offers efficiency in the use of taxpayer funds and in operations when school districts, cities and counties can pool resources. HB14-1122 is a proposal meant to keep marijuana from those under-21. The LRC discussed how this would work and members requested additional details and a chance to address local concerns. LRC adopted a monitor position pending additional information. HB14-1132 would provide local control for setting hours of operation for alcohol sales. Dan discussed that this proposal is written to allow cities to either extend (from 2am to 7am) hours of operation or contract the hours of operation. On the basis of local control the LRC adopted a support position. SB14-002 creates a permanent funding source and home for the Safe2Tell program within the Attorney General’s Office. This program is an anonymous tip hotline for students to report school threats. LRC adopted a support position. SB14-007 allows counties to alter their portion of the road and bridge fund to address flood damaged infrastructure. The LRC adopted a support position. SB14-009 seeks to implement a disclosure of split mineral and property estate at time of real estate transactions. LRC adopted a support position. SB14-022 would allow cities to adopt financial policies to put reserves into a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). This mechanism could then be used to fund affordable housing construction. LRC adopted a support position. Councilmember Cunniff noted that local adoption of a CDFI policy 3 would still require robust community conversation but increased flexibility is a good thing. SB14-045 concerns responsibility for wildland incident management. Dan noted that PFA expressed opposition to this bill and circulated information from the Colorado State Fire Chiefs also opposing the bill. LRC adopted an oppose position. SB14-046 creates a local firefighter safety grant program. Dan noted this program may not directly benefit PFA but could provide resources to volunteer departments within the region. LRC adopted a support position. The LRC then briefly discussed the March National League of Cities conference in Washington DC. Dan sought input from members about whether they were interested in side meetings with legislators or federal agencies. Councilmember Troxell expressed a desire to schedule any meetings around the Colorado Municipal League events. Finally, the LRC briefly discussed CRS 24-17-104 which could prevent local governments from adopting plastic bag regulations. Dan stated that a bill may be introduced in 2014 and that it might fall outside the adopted Legislative Policy Agenda. LRC members agreed that if it did then a resolution would be brought to Council to take a position on that bill. The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 pm.