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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 07/10/2012 - 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 Meeting Minutes July 10, 2012, 4:15 p.m. City Manager’s Conference Room Present: Kelly Ohlson, Mayor Pro Tem; Wade Troxell, Councilmember; Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager; Dan Weinheimer, Legislative Policy Manager Absent: Lisa Poppaw, Councilmember; Steve Roy, City Attorney Guests: Dale Adamy; Kelly Unger, Management Assistant Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson called the meeting to order at 4:28 pm. Adoption of the minutes from the March 6th meeting were moved for approval by Councilmember Troxell and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson. Minutes were adopted without amendment. Dan Weinheimer reviewed federal issues, mentioning the recent passage of the surface transportation reauthorization bill – MAP-21. Dan noted that this is a two- year bill and provides funding for activities through October 1, 2014. Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson asked for a memorandum summarizing the bill to be drafted and distributed to City Councilmembers. Dan discussed the upcoming train horn noise meeting – scheduled for August 7th – and that this meeting was going to be regional, with representatives of several adjacent communities coming to Fort Collins to participate. Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson noted the importance of the issue of train horn noise on the community and the future development along Mason Street. He asked that staff ensure the federal officials are well received, impressed with the importance of this issue to Fort Collins and suggested providing refreshments for meeting attendees. Dan then ran through Colorado bills of interest from the 2012 legislative session. This summary included bills that would have impacted City operations like banning the use of red light cameras and issues that were rumored but never were brought forward like URA transparency. As 2012 session was not a very active session as there were few very impactful legislative proposals introduced. Related to the URA proposal and in the spirit of improving the working relationship between staff and legislators, Dan has arranged a community tour for State Representatives Kefalas and Fischer. Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson noted that the LRC should attend this event as well to convey their thoughts. Dan will invite the LRC to participate, he noted that a list of sites was being developed with consideration for the interests of Representatives Kefalas and Fischer but welcomed input from the LRC. Councilmember Troxell suggested the mall, North College improvements, Mulberry improvements, showing camera radar locations, oil and gas operations in the community and housing around campus. Next, the LRC discussed a list of possible issues to include in the 2013 Legislative Policy Agenda. This list came from notes made during various LRC meetings and discussions throughout the 2012 session. Among possible topics to either include or further flesh out include internet sales tax, full strength beer, rental housing – both city and community-owned, ways to reduce City liability for suspects’ actions while in police custody, take back programs for prescription drugs, the status of pyrolysis (burning of materials) as a renewable energy source, asbestos containing soils, and mobilehome relocation. Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson commented that this is a good start and he looks forward to seeing the language that staff puts together for the Policy Agenda. He asked for a date when this would come forward to the LRC and to City Council. Dan stated he would determine the schedule and get that information to the Committee. The City Council Futures Committee has asked Dan to facilitate a discussion on legislative policy. Dan mentioned that this meeting is scheduled for September 10th and he had developed some general thoughts. The focus of Futures is a long- term vision for actions and so Dan mentioned that a long-term vision for policy could include more collaboration with institutions, businesses and activist groups in Fort Collins where the City could act to convey and collaborate on priorities. Councilmember Troxell noted that he chairs the Futures Committee and that he liked this approach. He also thought that the legislative program could work closely with various City departments to support operations. Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson supported this concept and mentioned that there is a place for both the strategic approach to legislative policy and a more day-to-day that LRC provides. Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson stated that he wants LRC to function better, that he would rate the committee function at a “D” based on the 2012 session. He would like to ensure there are engaged participants, that they have adequate information to provide staff direction and that the scheduled meetings occur. He asked staff to develop recommendations for improvement. Mayor Pro Tem Ohlson asked community member Dale Adamy for his thoughts on areas to consider for the Policy Agenda. Mr. Adamy mentioned an article that he had read recently about a California city that had used its eminent domain powers to help people with foreclosed properties. He said the city had condemned properties and then worked with lenders to develop affordable terms for the owners to re-occupy their homes. Staff will research this model. The meeting was adjourned 5:17 pm.