HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 02/10/2015 -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
February 10, 2015, 4:00 p.m.
Commons Conference Room
Present: Wade Troxell, Councilmember; Ross Cunniff, Councilmember; Lisa
Poppaw, Councilmember; Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager; Carrie
Daggett, Interim City Attorney; Dan Weinheimer, Legislative Policy Manager
Absent: None
Guests: Kevin Jones, Chamber of Commerce; Sarah Bruce and Jake Christensen,
ASCSU; Mike Beckstead, Fort Collins Chief Financial Officer; Ken Sampley and
Jon Haukaas, Fort Collins Utilities; Eric Potyondy, City Attorney’s Office
Councilmember Troxell called the meeting to order at 4:13 pm.
Ken Sampley and Jon Haukaas presented a draft bill concerning stormwater
management and proposed the LRC recommend the City Council adopt a letter of
support for the draft bill. Fort Collins Utilities staff are concerned with a proposed
Colorado Division of Water Resources, “State Engineer”, change in stormwater
detention regulation. The proposed changes require augmentation for short-
term detention would result in significant change to state stormwater control and
management and goes against standard industry practice. LRC approved
developing a resolution and requesting a Council provide a support letter.
After this discussion, the LRC reviewed SB15-135 concerning Urban Renewal
Authority (URA). Mike Beckstead presented background information related to
the formulation of this bill. LRC discussed the bill, which proposed to add a
county commissioner appointee to a city’s URA board and to ensure funds are
returned to underlying taxing authorities upon completion of funding for a URA
project. LRC approved a support position for this bill.
The two student representatives of the Associated Students of Colorado State
University (ASCSU) Legislative Committee presented analysis of affordable
housing in Fort Collins. The students discussed the impacts of "U plus 2",
specifically the rising costs of school tuition and fees and the pressure of rent as a
negative impacting students’ ability to participate in the community or to advance
their education. LRC recommended that the ASCSU students continue to engage
on these issues and that they come back to LRC in May for continued discussion.
2
Adoption of the minutes from the January 27, 2015 meeting were moved for
approval by Councilmember Poppaw and seconded by Councilmember Cunniff.
Minutes were adopted without amendment.
Dan then described new bills for LRC consideration:
HB15-1012 – amends the Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Dyed Diesel which
is tax exempt fuel used for construction and farm equipment that does not
travel/operate on roads or highways. LRC had adopted a position of oppose unless
amended. Dan shared that this bill was amended to remove the sections that
concerned Fort Collins. LRC adopted a monitor position
HB15-1107 – concerns Annexation of Large Communities Served by a Metro
District; the bill would require a 2/3 vote of the special district board to approve
an annexation. This switches the current procedure for annexations, placing
special districts in control. LRC adopted an oppose position.
HB15-1192 – concerns amending the Entertainment District to Expand
Licensed Premises Types. Cities have used entertainment districts to expand the
hours of alcohol service and this bill seeks to allow additional business types
eligibility to participate in such a district. The bill is permissive – a local
government would need to authorize a specific district and enact governing rules.
LRC adopted a monitor position.
HB15-1202 – is a bill seeking to provide local licensing authorities the ability to
address Alcohol Beverage License Reissuance. The bill is permissive, giving
cities the ability to enact rules to reissue an alcohol license when an
establishment’s license lapses from between 90 and 180 days (cities can currently
reissue in cases up to 90 days). LRC adopted a support position.
HB15-1204 – creates a new liquor license category for Distillery Pub Alcohol
Beverage License. Qualifying businesses would operate similarly to a brew pub
licensee in that they serve meals, gross at least 15% income from food sales, limit
wholesale sales of spirits on premises and annual production of spirits. LRC
adopted a monitor position.
SB15-076 – would allow people to Dispose of Cathode Ray Tube in Hazardous
Waste Sites. This bill would reverse a City-supported law to allow and encourage
electronic waste recycling statewide. LRC adopted an oppose position.
SB15-136 – would enact regulation on Labeling Retail Marijuana Packaging
within the state statutes rather than having administrative rules. LRC adopted a
monitor position.
3
The LRC then briefly discussed the March National League of Cities
conference in Washington DC. Dan briefly summarized the planned meetings
and LRC members asked to receive a summary of the meetings, anticipated
meeting topics, and talking points ahead of the NLC trip.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 pm.