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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 01/20/2005 -r r LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Meeting Summary January 20,2005 Legislative Review Committee present:Ray Martinez,Marty Tharp,Eric Hamrick Staff present:Diane Jones,Ron Phillips,Carrie Daggett,Mark Radtke The meeting was called to order at the Fort Collins Marriott Hotel Restaurant by Mayor Martinez at 7:00 a.m. MEETING SUMMARY The meeting summary for the October 14,2004 Legislative Review Committee meeting was approved as written. DISCUSSION OF URBAN RENEWAL LEGISLATION SB 63 has been introduced.The bill changes the state’s urban renewal statute in a number of ways,including allowing an affected landowner or affected government to halt the formation of an urban renewal area.It also eliminates agricultural or unimproved land from inclusion in an urban renewal area.The Committee was unanimous in their opposition to the bill.It was agreed the bill would make if very difficult to use urban renewal in the future. At least one more bill dealing with urban renewal is expected.Mark Radtke said Sen. Bacon’s bill will be much more surgical very likely only prohibiting agricultural land from inclusion in an urban renewal area.Mayor Martinez said that could also be problematic as some of the areas Fort Collins may look at for urban renewal in the future contain pockets of land that are agricultural.The Committee will await the introduction of the bill to make an analysis. DICUSSION OF NEW LEGISLATION A bill authored by Fort Collins Police Psychologist Dan Dworkin has been introduced as HB 1108.The measure grants “privileged communication”s!atus to law enforcement Peer Support Team counseling sessions with department personnel.The bill is endorsed by police chiefs,fire chiefs and sheriffs associations as well as the Fort Collins Police Chief.The Committee supported the bill. FIB 1138 makes failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense.Council member Tharp expressed concerns because it’s legislating someone’s personal safety.The Committee is maintaining a neutral position on the bill. C)0 DISCUSSION OF TAX REVENUE LIMITATION LEGISLATION MB 1158 is the Voice over internet bill that would restrict government’s ability to levy taxes on this form of voice communication.Councilmember Tharp saw the action as chipping away at local taxing authority.Councilmember Hamrick said noted it’s a two- edged sword,while we want to be high tech,we also want to maintain local control.The Committee took an oppose position. The Committee asked for more information on the tax revenue impact of SB 44 before taking a position.The bill eliminates business personal property tax on fully depreciated property.Ron Phillips noted lifting the tax on depreciated property does nothing to encourage economic development. SB 99 bans the collection of sales or use tax on telecommunications equipment. Councilmember Tharp noted this is the state taking money out of the City’s pocket.The Committee voted to oppose the bill. DISCUSSION OF ALCOHOL RELATED LEGISLATION HB 1077 would require beer kegs to be registered with the name of the purchaser as the responsible party.Mayor Martinez said he didn’t believe this would have any impact on Fort Collins’s underage drinking problem.He said it may even encourage drinking hard liquor.Committee members agreed this would do little to halt underage drinking and voted to oppose the measure. Support was given to HB 1122 that imposes a statewide ban on open alcoholic containers in the passenger compartment of vehicles. SB 34 prohibits the possession or use of Alcohol WithOut Liquid (AWOL)devices.Mr. Radtke explained the devices allow people to inhale a mixture of alcohol and oxygen causing rapid ingestion of the alcohol.Councilman Hamrick questioned whether it was worth directing resources to stop the use of these devices when more pressing problems such as meth labs need attention.Mayor Martinez suggested it was a good idea to get out ahead of this issue before they come into common use in the state.The Committee will support the bill. SB 77 allows local governments to decide whether to allow retail liquor stores to open for business between Noon and 8 p.m.on Sundays.The Committee voted to oppose the bill. Councilmember Hamrick dissented,saying he is opposed to “blue laws”for any business. The meeting was adjourned at 7:47 a.m.