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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 02/01/2007 -r r LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Meeting Summary February 1,2007 Legislative Review Committee present:Doug Hutchinson,Ben Manvel,Kelly Ohlson Staff present:Steve Roy,Wendy Williams,Mark Radtke The meeting was called to order by Councilmember Manvel at 9:07 a.m. MEETING SUMMARY The meeting summary for January 18,2007 Legislative Review Committee meeting was approved as written. NEW BILLS Several bills that would impact the laws banning in-door smoking were discussed.SB 103 would create a new category of liquor license that would permit smoking on the premises of a liquor establishment.The bill would circumvent the existing Colorado Indoor Clean Air Act.Councilmember Ohlson said the bill is objectionable to Fort Collins for its detrimental health effects and its pre-emption of local control.The Committee agreed that the City take an “opposed”position. The Committee asked staff to monitor two other smoking bills that as introduced do not pre-empt local smoking ordinances as introduced.SB 120 would permit smoking at veterans’clubs and HB 1196 would allow smoking in Assisted Living Centers. The Committee issued a “support”position for SB 149 that doubles the existing liquor license fees.Fees would increase from $500 to $1,000 for new applications and from $50 to $100 for annual renewals.The Committee asked staff to report on where is the fee money credited in the City budget. Failure to wear a seat belt would become a primary traffic infraction under SB 151.The Committee gave its support to the bill.A primary infraction allows police to stop motorists if they observe that a seat belt is not being worn. HB 1222 has been titled the Colorado Consumer Cable Act.Mayor Hutchinson said this bill was discussed at length by the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board and said the bill takes franchising of cable television away from the cities and puts it in the hands of the Public Utilities Commission.The Committee adopted an “oppose”position. HB 1220 requires governmental bodies to award bid contracts to offers that feature environmentally preferred products if those products meet specifications and the bid is within five-percent of the lowest bid.Mark Radtke said he will visit with the sponsor and city staff to gain a better understanding of how the bill would be applied.The Committee did not take a position pending further information. The City’s governmental immunity would be eroded by the passage of HR 1218.The bill assigns liabilities to a municipality if it makes a utilization of a natural waterway.Steve Roy was asked by the Committee to examine the bill and recommend a position for the Committee. UPDATE ON LEGISLATION Mr.Radtke gave the Committee information on the progress of several bills: -HR 1006 was postponed indefinitely.It would have doubled the penalty for any traffic violation that occurred as the result of distractions to the driver such as eating,reading or cell phone use. -HB 1010 passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee with a unanimous voted yesterday.The bill submitted by Fort Collins Police and would authorize the electronic transfer of search and arrest warrants. -HB 1110 was killed in House Local Government on Tuesday.It would have required local governments to provide compensation to property owners who lose more than 20°c of the value of their property due to a change in regulations. -Although not scheduled for Committee hearing yet,a check among Transportation Committee members shows interest in SB 21 that limits to ten minutes the amount of time a railroad may block a grade crossing. -SB 89 will be heard in Senate Local Government this morning.The bill would require an affirmative vote of enclave residents before a municipality could annex an enclave. FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION Mr.Radtke provided follow-up information on questions posed by the Committee on January 18.The Committee heard that the City does regularly update its energy conservation building code and periodically adopts an entirely new platform as it will this summer.The Committee was also informed that the City’s existing non discrimination protections for employment include protection for “sexual orientation.” RESCHEDULE NEXT MEETING The February 15 LRC meeting was rescheduled to 9:00 a.m.,Friday,February 16. The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 a.m. Mr.Radtke received word shortly after adjournment that SB 89 (requiring a vote of enclave residents before an annexation)had been defeated in Senate Local Government Committee and informed Committee members of the development.