HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 10/08/2013 -City Manager’s Office
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Legislative Review Committee Agenda
Meeting Notes
October 8, 2013, 4:00 p.m.
City Manager’s Conference Room
Present: Lisa Poppaw, Councilmember; Ross Cunniff, Councilmember; Wendy
Williams, Assistant City Manager; Steve Roy, City Attorney; Dan Weinheimer,
Legislative Policy Manager
Absent: Wade Troxell, Councilmember
Guests: Dale Adamy
Councilmember Cunniff called the meeting to order at 4:09 pm.
Adoption of the minutes from the August 13, 2013 meeting were moved for
approval by Councilmember Poppaw and seconded by Councilmember Cunniff.
Minutes were adopted without amendment.
Dan Weinheimer presented a new date for the annual Legislative Breakfast,
Tuesday, December 10, 8:00-9:30am and noted that the planning for the
breakfast is underway.
The LRC discussion started with the 2014 Legislative Priorities. Councilmember
Poppaw commented on the priority surrounding oil and gas and asked for a
clearer explanation of the City’s positions. Councilmember Cunniff asked for an
additional statement that seeks to better balance the rights of surface property
owners with the rights of mineral rights owners.
On marijuana policy Councilmember Cunniff recommended eliminating a
sentence that appeared to editorialize the City’s view on this issue.
On flood recovery Councilmember Poppaw sought to clarify the language in the
document but expressed support for the statement.
Councilmember Cunniff raised the question of whether there ought to be a
priority on tax-increment financing or urban renewal authority. Dan
expressed that there may be need for a priority based on the expectation for
legislative activity in the 2014 General Assembly session. Councilmember
Cunniff said he felt that there should be TIF reform or restraint applied statewide.
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Moving to the Legislative Policy Agenda, Dan directed the LRC to items that had
been modified rather than discussing the entire document. In Finance and
investment Councilmember Cunniff raised the question whether the Agenda
should seek the City divest itself from non-renewable energy. Dan noted that was
a reasonable suggestion but did not sound legislative – that the City could act on
this with a Council policy. Wendy Williams said that this might be an item for the
Council Finance Committee.
In Economic Development, Dan sought clarification that the LRC saw no
problem calling out economic development (rather than economic health). He said
that this distinction was being proposed to more clearly mirror outside jargon and
for ease of reference from readers outside the City organization. Councilmember
Cunniff recommended that the reference to technologically-focused solutions
need not be so limited – that innovative solutions should be fine. Councilmember
Poppaw agreed with that suggestion.
Steve Roy recommended that staff discuss the need for an Election section. He
said that home rule gives the City the ability to hold local elections.
On Open Records Councilmember Cunniff had a question about the intent
behind seeking an increase from 3 to 5 days of response time. Steve Roy
mentioned that there are some internal policy considerations that the City can take
to achieve the goal of more time. Staff was going to discuss options on modifying
or replacing this language.
Councilmember Poppaw asked that Dan send the 2014 Legislative Priorities and
Legislative Policy Agenda to all the chairs of City boards and commissions.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.