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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 01/30/2003 -r r LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Meeting Summary January 30,2003 Legislative Review Committee present:Ray Martinez,Marty Tharp,Eric Hamrick Staff Ron Phillips,Vincent Pascale,Mark Radtke MEETING SUMMARY The meeting summary for the October 10,2002,Legislative Review Committee meeting was approved as written. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION Vincent Pascale outlined the local impacts of three bills dealing with Fire and Police Pension.118 1009 would allow for a FPPA retiree health plan.Mr.Pascale noted participation in the plan would be required of FPPA members if a 65%positive vote was recorded.Employer contributions are optional,but Mr.Pascale noted his concern that it could become mandatory in the future.Mark Radtke noted an amendment to the bill relieved local governments of responsibility for any unfunded liability that accrues.The Committee confirmed a neutral stand on the bill. Mr.Pascale said SB 56 allows employers to include part-time employees in FPPA membership.This would provide benefit coverage for them.Proposed amendments to the bill make such inclusion optional on the part of employers.The Committee agreed to take a neutral stand on the bill if those amendments are added. The Committee agreed to support SB 57 which allows FPPA member groups who earlier elected to join a money purchase retirement plan to rejoin a defined benefits plan. Three gun bills are before the legislature.SB 25 declares all regulation of firearms to be a matter of statewide concern,pre-empting local ordinance.Mr.Radtke reported amendments have been added to the bill to allow local control over discharge and open carry the two Fort Collins firearms ordinances.Committee members shared their concern over this broad move against local control.Discussion continued over two concealed weapons carry bills,SB 63 and SB 24,the former allowing carry anywhere and the latter barring concealed carry in K-12 schools and courtrooms.Both pre-empt local control. A move to shift regulation of LP Gas from local government to the State Division of Labor is contained in FIB 1099.Mr.Radtke noted the bill is of major concern to the Poudre Fire Authority,which regulates propane through a permitting process.The Committee confirmed the City’s opposition to this bill. 0 Housing price controls are prohibited by SB 154.Councilmember Thaq expressed concern about laws that threaten inclusionary zoning.The Committee agreed to oppose the measure. HB 1171 allows home rule cities to ask voters to move municipal elections to November. It allows candidates to list a political party-affiliation on the ballot.All Committee members expressed opposition to making City elections partisan —a practice prohibited by the City Chartpr. Conflict over condemnation costs would take an added element with the passage of HB 1089.If a final court award to a property owner was 20%or more above*he original government offer to purchase the property the government would have to pay the properties owner’s attorneys fees and expenses in the case.Councilmember Hamrick asked if condemnation awards are often 20%over original offers.Ron Phillips said property appraisal is more of an art than a science,and there are instances where a property owner’s appraisal is much more than the governments and a court must decide. The Committee agreed with a CML proposed amendment to raise the trigger point to 50%above the original offer. OTHER BUSINffSS Mayor Martinez asked staff to look into the possible legislation to regulate private home inspectors.He said there are people with little knowledge of building inspection puffing themselves forw~rd as experts.He said the result can be very costly for property owners. The Committee adjourned at 8:55 a.m. The-next-meeting oFthe Legislative Review Committee is scheduiedlbr8 am., Thursday,February 13,2003 in the City Manager’s Conference Room.