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LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
Meeting Summary
October 12,2006
Legislative Review Committee present:Doug Hutchinson,Ben Manvel,Kelly Ohlson
Staff present:Darin Atteberry,Steve Roy,Lucinda Smith,Susie Gordon,Mark Radtke
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hutchinson at 9:03 a.m.
MEETING SUMMARY
The meeting summary for the May 11,2006 Legislative Review Committee meeting was
approved as written.
2007 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA
Lucinda Smith delivered an overview of the suggested changes in the Air Quality section
of the Legislative Policy Agenda.Mayor Hutchinson asked if the changes were in line
with existing City policy.Ms.Smith said the changes mirror City policy.The changes
emphasize support for more fuel efficiency of vehicles and the use of alternative fuels.
The Committee agreed with Councilmember Ohison’s request that the Air Quality
changes reflect support only for cellulosic ethanol not corn ethanol.
Ms.Smith was asked to provide to the Committee with data demonstrating the amount of
emissions produced by both idling vehicles and vehicles in motion before final action is
taken on a proposed policy statement supporting reducing unnecessary vehicle idling.
Susie Gordon delivered an overview of the suggested changes in the Recycling and Solid
Waste section.She noted the statement supporting “buy recycled”policies for
government procurement was being expanded to support “environmentally preferable
purchasing.”Darin Atteberry expressed concern about unqualified support for
environmentally preferable purchasing and suggested the addition of a cost-sensitive
clause.The Committee discussed adding language that would allow the City to withhold
support if the purchases were not financially prudent.It was decided this concern applies
to several policy statements.The Committee asked Steve Roy to draft a general policy
statement that allows the Legislative Review Committee to weigh the costs and benefits
of individual bills when considering whether to support or oppose a bill based on an
adopted policy statement.
The Committee accepted a statement supporting legislation that limits a railroad’s ability
to block grade crossings.
Pending additional information the Committee delayed consideration of proposed policy
statements dealing with opposition to unfunded mandates regarding enforcement of
immigration law and support for consideration of water quality issues by water courts
when adjudicating water rights.
Councilmember Ohlson asked that a policy statement be prepared for the next meeting
that would show support for legislation restricting the use of cell phones while operating
a motor vehicle.
The Committee will prepare a final draft of the policy agenda at its November 9 meeting.
2007 LEGISLATION OUTLOOK
The Conm~ittee gave its support to Police Services efforts to pass two pieces of
legislation.The first would allow for electronic approval of search and arrest warrants.
Currently these warrants are issued by a judge either face-to-face or by fax.This bill
would allow the information to be transmitted electronically to a judge,and accept the
judge’s electronic signature to authorize a warrant.The second would boost the speed
limit cap on the use of camera radar from the current 35 mph zones to 40mph.It would
increase the maximum fine for a violation from the current $40 to $50.
Mr.Radtke distributed copies of Senator Johnson’s draft legislation limiting the amount
of time a train can block a grade crossing to no more than ten minutes.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 a.m.