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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 03/31/2006 -r LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Meeting Summary March 31,2006 Legislative Review Committee present:Doug Hutchinson,Ben Manvel Staff present:Wendy Williams,Ron Phillips,Carrie Daggett,Mark Radtke The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hutchinson at 8:00 a.m. MEETING SUMMARY The meeting summary for the February 16,2006 Legislative Review Committee meeting was approved as written. NEW BILLS Two bills that would provide state support for the transfer of university research products to the private sector were outlined by Mark Radtke.HB 1360 and HB 1361 together would spend $3 million in gaming fund dollars to support those efforts.The Committee affirmed City support for those measures.Councilmember Manvel inquired as to the current use of those funds which are for historic preservation both for the gaming communities and statewide funds and CDOT. HB 1352 has been introduced and would allow water courts to consider impacts to water quality before approving a change in water rights use.Carrie Daggett stated the bill could throw up barriers to City projects,but also could be a help in our opposition to other projects.Wendy Williams noted that currently the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment handles water quality issues,not the water courts,and this would be a major shift in procedure.A memo from Fort Collins Water Utilities stated that the bill contains both potential benefits and negatives for the City.The Committee took no position on the bill. SB 220 requires public and private utilities to adopt a policy that protects elderly customers from a service shut-off due to non-payment during the winter months.Ms. Williams said the City already works with customers on non-payment,creating payment schedules based upon their ability to pay.Ms.Daggett said the bill also calls for the collection of a large amount of personal data about customers that would be difficult to collect.The Committee took no position on the bill. UPDATES ON LEGISLATION Mr.Radtke noted that SB 52 regarding the ability of counties to exceed the statutory cap on sales tax rates for open space purposes has advanced from the Senate to the House. SB 156 that would have required a TABOR vote on all fees was defeated in the Senate. HB 1268 that allows cemeteries to reclaim and resell grave sites that have been unused for more than 75 years has passed the Senate and returns to the House for consideration of Senate amendments. HB 1159 has emerged from Conference Committee with the amendment that requires a vote of enclave residents before an enclave annexation may take place.The City objects to the amendment as being unconstitutional and poor land use policy.Ben Manvel said he did not receive support for removal of the amendment following his communication with the bill sponsor.Mayor Hutchinson has signed a letter to be distributed to the members of the General Assembly urging them to reject the vote amendment.The Committee continues to support the House version of the bill that requires cities to form citizen transition advisory committees to serve an information conduit when considering enclave annexations. The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 a.m.