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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Full - Legislative Review Committee - 12/30/1993 - Regular MeetingTUE COUNCIL OF TUE CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA t~ceTber 30,1993 CIC ftaan 12:00 P.M. 1.Review of evening meeting with area legislators. 2.Discussion of upcoming session and proposed bills. -trash hauler’s bill -Amendment 1,sales tax 3.Other business. -public-private cooperation resolution THE LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMIITEE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE CIC ROOM.CITY CABLE 27 WILL BE CABLECASTING MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITrEE.THE MEETINGS WILL BE CABLECAST LIVE ON CHANNEL 27 FROM 12:30 TO 1:30 P.M.AND REPLAYED ON FRIDAY AT 8:00 P.M. MPDesk Local Print for Andrea RIEGER Start of Item 32. Message.Dated:12/23/93 at 1639. Subject:Legislative Notes Sender:Susanne EDMINSTER /CFC/O1 Contents:2. TO:Andrea RIEGER /CFC/O1 Part 1. FROM:Susanne EDMINSTER /CFC/Ol TO:Andrea RIEGER /CFC/01 Part 2. SUNMARY OF NOTES FOR EDUCATION ISSUES TABLE Annual Meeting with Local Legislators December 20,1993 Moderator:Ken Forrest,Poudre R-1 School District Recorder:Susanne Edminster,City of Fort Collins Round #1: Participants:Rep.Peggy Reeves Councilmernbers Alan Apt and Chris Kneeland Don Unger,Superintendent of Schools Steve Burkett,City Manager Mike Hauser,Fort Collins Chanter of Commerce Paul Azari Summary:Over the past few years,the Poudre R-l School District experienced a 4%decrease in funding.The implementation of the “J”curve by the Legislature in determining which districts need the most funds put Poudre R-i in a “hold harmless”position.The goal of the Legislature is to end the disparity among districts. The new School Finance Act requires that the Legislature “fund the kids already in the classroom”with the count made “in”year rather than “end”year.Rep.Reeves agrees with this philosophy. Poudre R-l is growing at the rate of one elementary school per year.Right now many districts are growing faster than PR-i,but there are other needs for additional money such as the increased cost of funding buildings and support the staff.Poudre R-l also needs $3.5 million to bring all facilities up to ADA standards. Mike Hauser offered that the School Finance Act appears to be based on politics,not equity.Large districts carry muscle at the state level and places like Cherry Creek and Denver seem to come out ahead.Rep.Reeves offered that the variables in school finance are cost of living,at-risk students,size of districts and students with special needs.It’s hard to devise a formula that doesn’t create winners and losers. Poudre p.-1 has 26%of its students in the “at-risk”category.Rep. Reeves said that it was har to weight the formula for this variable because no one knows what programs will eventually help these students.Chris Kneeland added that education is a big component of the health of this community.it is a necessary part of the community infrastructure on which economic vitality is based.Erosion of the funding is a big concern for the Council who would like to see all kids have the same opportunities. Superintendent Unger offered that other funding options may be more appropriate.It has been suggested that lotto (not lottery)money be used for education.This would require 2/3 of the Legislature to agreed to put this on the ballot and the voters would have to approve it at a state-wide election.Councilmember Apt suggested that an income tax would be more palatable. As a final note,Rep.Reeves mentioned that several legislators are questioning the rationale for PR-i hiring a lobbyist and wonder how the district has enough money to do so. Round #2: Participants:Mayor Ann Azari Rep.Bill Jerke The Poudre School District R-i received about $30/pupil in state funding until the “J”curve method was implemented.The mandate as expressed in the state constitution is that all school funding be “thorough and uniform.”It is often necessary to supplement local ~funding to provide equity.Rep.Jerke admitted that it is all a political game.The 20%disparity from high to low districts is acceptable because there are significant cost of living expense differences for teachers depending on the district.All schools currently fit within one of eight funding categories.The new School Financing Act looks at cost of living but the big factor is the difference in “at-risk”populations. All admitted that local voters are the key to funding.People need to agreed to spend more on schools.The critical difference is in assessed valuation.For example,right now the PR-i mill levy is higher than Cherry Creek,but nets $14 million less in revenue. Why?Because the Denver Tech Center is part of the Cherry Creek district and the assessed valuation of those buildings is high enough to generate the additional revenue. Rep.Jerke pointed out that K-i2 funding is 40%of the state’s general fund budget.There has actually been a growth in funding but the problem arose in the last three years.With the old fomula,PR-i began lagging behind inflation in 1990.The position worsened because of the high growth in the area.Rep.Jerke felt sure that there would be enough money to fund the entire act,so each district would get all that it is deemed to need under the new act.Ken offered that PR-l’s goal is to get a fair and equitable act. Mayor Azari suggested that perhaps if children weren’t performing well in school,that funding would be cut of f for those students. Then the parents would be responsible to pay for the education. This might provide incentive for parents to make sure their children did well in school.The downside might be that it would most affect at-risk students who have no means of paying for the education in any event. Round #3: Participants:Ron Phillips,Interim Planning Director Only 83%of PR-i students graduate from high school.There is a movement toward more vocational training and perhaps lowering the age for compulsory attendance.If that were the case,curriculums would have to be revised to provide a basic education before a child could legally leave the system.Overall,there are more frustrations than answers. End of Item 32. 0 r NATIONAL HEALTH CARE Probably no major changes approved during this legislative session in congress There are about 10 proposals being discussed.It is hard to determine if any one option has more support than any others. City of Fort Collins costs may raise from 6.6%to 7.9%plus coverage for seasonal &hourly employees Rate of growth for medical insurance likely to be limited Numbers in current proposal don’t work —needs to be changed Colorado Care will probably wait until further direction from federal government Solution may be in local alliances Worker’s comp should not be included in National Health Care School district’s additional cost approx.1.8 mil Health care should be available to everybody —who &how should costs be covered? Is a national issue —problem how we’re going to pay for it Cost reduction should be an issue Abuse of system needs to be addressed Insurance “pools”should be allowed for public sector &for organizations with less than 5000 employees Preventative care good idea/concept Health care delivery should not be based on “newest’ technology Education should be part of health care reform Prioritize health care needs relative to eg.productivity, needs of the society I4PDesk Local Print for Andrea RIEGER Start of Item 13. Message.Dated:12/21/93 at 1635. Subject:Youth Issues Notes Sender:Jerry BROWN /CFC52/01 Contents:2. TO:Andrea RIEGER /CFC/O1 Part 1. FROM:Jerry BROWN /CFCS2/O1 TO:Andrea RIEGER /CFC/O1 CC:Peggy BOWERS /CFC52/O1 David FELDMAN /CFC/O1 Fred RAINGUET /CFC/O1 Part 2. Notes from the Youth Issues Round Table at the Legislative Review Committee meeting with legislators night of 12/20/93 Staff Lead:David Feldman Scribe:Jerry P.Brown Staff:Peggy Bowers,Debra Bueno,Fred Rainguet,Rafael Sandoval Guests:Ann Azari,Paul Azari,Peggy Reeves,Bernie Strom,Steve Burkett, Pete Dallow +Gov.Romer Youth Summit -Pro Active Approach -The Focus is on the Neighborhoods -He stated he will be having a full-time person working on this issue -Paul Azari noted that the Gov.stated that the National Guard could be used in +The Special Legislative Session last summer was truly a “stop gap”on crime +The key now should be prevention and intervention -There is a need to find more dollars to put into this arena +Team Fort Collins is now trying to act as a “clearing house” +The legal issues should also include accountability,tougher consequences, parental responsibility -Parental Denial is truly a problem There is a “wealth”of judicial solutions available +The cry is “open up the recreation/community centers and schools” -We need more facilities open in non-traditional hours -Open up schools after hours -We need space for programs such as sports,computers,equine activities,etc. -What about the utilization of “Old Fort Collins High School” +Recreation Division hopes to acquire a vehicle which will be fully stocked with supplies and fully staffed to take out to five neighborhoods next summer +City plan a summer jobs program 0 +Recreation wants to try a “Youth Forum”at the Northside Aztlan Community Center next Spring -Legal issues,job availability,entertainment will be available -a place to let kids know where to go to get help -“cups”program with information on cups to aid kids finding help +Mayor Azari noted that the City can help the legislators by informing them as to what “barriers”exist to providing youth programs -City used to have a trooper program in 1960’s and 1970’s that we have had to discontinue because of laws such as FLSA,Minimum Wage,Workers Comp concerns, +We must solicite the Private Sector to help with finances +Peggy Reeves noted that the State really doesn’t have any new money,so we will probably need to re-route money away from existing programs -Steve Burkett said the City is basically in a similiar situation financially End of Item 13.