HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 01/20/2009 -r City Manager’s Office
City of City Hall300LaPorte Ave.Fort CoLLins ~II~~:CO80522
Legislative Review Committee Minutes
January 20,2009
Present:Doug Hutchinson,Ben Manvel,Kelly Ohison,Darin Atteberry,Steve Roy,
Wendy Williams and Tess 1-Jeffernan
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.
1.Minutes of the January 6,2009 meeting were approved.
2.Legislation update
o Tess Heffernan noted that over 250 bills have been filed thus far.Around 700
bills were filed last year and a similar number is expected this session.
Committee members were provided a list of bills currently being tracked in the
City Legislative Tracking System.The following bills were discussed:
HB 1005 -Special Improvement District in Special District -Monitor
HB 1026 -Low-Power Self-Propelled Vehicles
SB 75 -Low-Speed Electric Self-Propelled Vehicles staff from Police,Utilities,
Purchasing and the City Attorneys Office met today to discuss this bill.Darin
Atteberry noted the challenging of balancing the desire to be a leader on policy
that promotes green practices with the need to address safety concerns.The
Committee will wait to hear the staff recommendations before taking a position.
HB 1070 Lands Prohibited from URAs Steve Roy summarized the key points
of this legislation:
o eliminates agricultural land and vacant lands from URAs
o expands groups who have a say;expands groups who can object and slow
down URAs by requiring arbitration
o eliminates some of the blight factors (ones that people would say are
found everywhere)
o intended to curb abuses
CML opposes the bill as written.Following discussion,the Committee concluded
that there are aspects of the bill that are worth consideration and other aspects that
go too far,such as the arbitration requirements.Steve will contact Rep.Fischer
(the sponsor)with feedback on the parts the bill that work and aspects that might
be amended.Steve will also contact Erin Goff at CML to let her know about
today’s discussion.As members of the CML Policy Committee,Ben Manvel and
Doug Hutchinson will contact CML staff to convey the Committee’s views.
o HB 1105 —Colorado Innovation Investment Tax Credit Members noted that the
bill is too narrow in that the government picks the targeted industries that benefit.
Local companies that don’t fit the description.The Committee noted they support
the bill in concept,but it isn’t flawless.
HB 1114 Dissolve State Highway Designation to Commuter Highways This
bill would allow the State to turn the responsibility for maintenance of state
highways over to municipalities with no commensurate funding.Position:
oppose.
SB52 Waste Tire Fee Higher Ed Research Fund -Committee members
expressed concern that a compromise was struck just last year and now the CCHE
is asking for the remaining portion of these funds.It was noted that these grants
are currently open to universities,too.Position:oppose.Ben Manvel will contact
Bob Bacon (the sponsor)to explain the City’s position.
o SB 60 Illegal Drug Laboratory Testing Police Services supports this bill but
Housing Authority staff have raised concerns about the mitigation costs.Position:
support.Darin Atteberry will contact Housing Authority Director Julie Brewen
on this decision.
SB 83 Political Campaigns Restrict Use of Public Resources —This bill has
grave consequences.Position:oppose.
Energy Efficiency —This bill is not yet been filed.It would require a percentage
of revenue be dedicated to energy efficiency programs for larger REAs and
municipal utilities.The City already meets or exceeds the requirements this bill
would impose.The Committee discussed leadership on this issue and the impact
of “breaking rank”with CML,CAMU and other municipal utilities who would
not support this bill.Position:neutral.
Collective Bargaining CML has been informed about a pending bill that would
mandate collective bargaining for police and fire departments.Position:oppose.
Representative Fischer agreed to pull the bill further defining “public lands”at the
request of the City.
The language for the camera radar bill is being finalized and Senator Bacon
expects to file it no later than this Friday.
Tess Heffernan will follow up to confirm whether or not January 23 and 28 are the final
dates for all Senate and House bill submittals (respectively)or if there is the possibility of
later submittals.
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3.The 2009 Legislative Policy Agenda is scheduled for Council adoption on February
3,2009.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.