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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 03/03/2005 -r r LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Meeting Summary March 3,2005 Legislative Review Committee present:Ray Martinez,Marty Tharp,Eric Hamriek Staff present:Steve Roy,Ron Phillips,Mark Radtke The meeting was called to order by Mayor Martinez at 7:30 a.m. MEETING SUMMARY The meeting summary for the February 17,2005 Legislative Review Committee meeting was approved as written. UPDATES ON PENDING LEGISLATION An update on several bills was delivered by Mark Radtke.Amendments are being discussed to SB 101 that would eliminate the bill language that eliminates business personal property tax,substituting language that increases the current $2,500 exemption. The law enforcement peer counseling privileged communication bill (HB 1108)was approved by Senate Judiciary and moves to the full Senate for consideration.HB 1158 that would ban taxation of voice over internet calls has been sent to House Appropriations.The portion of HB 1183 dealing with granting immunity from prosecution for a person placing a 9-1-1 call to help a victim of alcohol poisoning has been tightened and the House has approved the bill. The Committee discussed possible amendments to HB 1277.The original bill would limit the liability of landlords in nuisance issues.The bill may be rewritten to give landlords greater access to their properties to abate obvious problems.Steve Roy noted landlords currently have the ability to access with reasonable notice but not instant access.Councilmember Tharp said a landlord then could be sued for removing trash from the property under current law.Mayor Martinez said most landlords write access provisions into their leases that allow them to address immediate problems.Mr.Radtke will share amendment language with the Committee when it becomes available. Changes to SB 63 dealing with urban renewal were discussed.An amendment will be submitted later today striking all the language in the original bill and substituting language that prohibits the inclusion of land zoned for agriculture from inclusion in an urban renewal area.Mr.Radtke advised there will likely be an additional amendment to allow 1000 of an urban renewal area to include agricultural land.Fort Collins has had concern over total exclusion of agricultural land because of its presence in potential sites for urban renewal.Councilmember Flamrick expressed his desire to stop the misuse of the urban renewal statute that is being used to drive urban sprawl.Councilmember Tharp pointed out that if a total ban on agricultural land had been in effect last year we would have had problems with the North College Avenue urban renewal area because it p 0 includes some agricultural land.Mayor Martinez urged the Committee not to take a stand on the proposed amendment,but wait and see what action the Senate takes.The Committee voted 2-1 to support the amended version of SB 63 if it includes an allowance of at least 10%of agricultural land within an urban renewal area,Mayor Martinez dissenting. DISCUSSION OF NEW BILLS HB 1296 would require a mitigation plan be in place before a water court could approve the transfer of water rights usage from one basin to another,or from one county to another.Mr.Radtke relayed that Utilities Manager Mike Smith is urging support for the bill as a way of keeping northern Colorado water serving northern Colorado.The Committee discussed what mitigation might mean to future water diversions.They also discussed how such a requirement might have thwarted the City of Thornton’s purchase of northern Colorado agricultural water in the 1980s.Mayor Martinez said we need to look at the bigger state water picture and urged the Committee not to get involved in this bill.The Committee voted 2-1 to support HB 1296,Mayor Martinez dissenting. FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS Mr.Radtke reported he is preparing a letter for the Mayor’s signature expressing the City’s concerns over the Administration’s proposed federal budget cuts that would impact FAA funding for the Fort Collins/Loveland Airport and Community Development Block Grants. The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 a.m. The next meeting of the Legislative Review Committee is scheduled for 7:30 a.m., Thursday,March 17 in the City Manager’s Conference Room.