HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 09/10/1993 -LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 10,1993
MEMBERS PRESENT:Chris Kneeland,Chairperson
MEMBERS ABSENT:Alan Apt
Ann Azari
STAFF PRESENT:Susanne Edminster
Stewart EllenlDerg
Edith Felche
Dave Feldman
Ken Forest (PR-i)
Tom Gallier
Warren Jones
Alan Krcmarik
Tom Peterson
Andrea Rieger
Tom Shoemaker
Brian Woodruff
Meeting called to order at 12:00.
1.UPDATE ON TAX POLICY COMMITTEE:
Next meeting is Monday,Sep’t.13.Alan K.will attend and
monitor -
2.UPDATE ON YOUTH VIOLENCE COMMITTEE:
Committee focus is on the next generation of youth -intervention
and prevention.Have held three meetings,but have reached no
conclusions.The final meeting will be on November 5,and they
will present a final report.The committee held an additional
meeting on September 2 to review the special session bills.
Special session on youth violence is moving very quickly.Dave is
reviewing the bills which have been introduced in the special
session.
3.UPDATE ON SCHOOL FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Ken Forest,the Executive Director of the Poudre R-i Business
Office provided an update on the School Finance Committee,and the
Poudre R-i perspective on the committee.The School Finance
Committee is looking at re-writing the School Finance Act of 1988.
They should have recommended changes to the 1988 Act no later than
the first of December.There are equity issues in the School
Finance Act.For example,if Poudre R-1 had the same per-pupil
funding as Jefferson County,Poudre R-l would have an additional
$SM.
During the last set of meetings the School Finance Committee held,
on August 23 and 24,they received the report from the Legislative
Council.The Legislative Council recommended to the Committee that
funding be based on several factors..~mong those factors are the
number of at-risk students in the school district.The number of
free lunches are to be used to determine the population of at-risk
students.Poudre R-1 is concerned that this will not be an
accurate count of at-risk students,because students may not sign
up for the free lunch program,even if they are eligible.In
addition,the recommendation is to base funding on the pupil-
teacher ratio.Poudre R-1 is concerned about how “teacher”will be
defined.Is an administrator who teaches a few classes still a
teacher?In addition,this may require additional data collection
on the part of school districts.
Poudre R-l is monitoring this committee closely and their input is
filtered to the committee through Don Sole,Superintendent of the
Loveland School District.Any new legislation should have a good
chance of being passed.
The City will continue to monitor this committee,with Ken Forest’s
assistance.However,if the City would like to take a position
(support or oppose)on either a committee recommendation or on any
legislation,a resolution will have to go to full Council for
adoption.
4.UPDATE ON INTERIM WATER AiW STATE SCHOOL LANDS COMMITTEE
This committee has held three meetings.At the July 9 meeting the
committee heard testimony from several western Colorado interests
regarding Colorado River system and Colorado’s overall interstate
water compacts.There was concern that actions by the federal
government (reserved federal water rights and interpretations of
the existing interstate compacts,interpretations of the federal
Endangered Species Act)were eroding Colorado’s sovereignty over
water within the state.Testimony was also heard from the U.S.
Forest Service about instream flow requirements and special use
permits.
At the August 4 meeting,the committee reviewed the Colorado Water
Conservation Board studies and the state of the CWCB Construction
fund.A variety of organizations also presented their opinions on
major water issues facing the state.Much of the discussion
centered on the interbasin transfer issue.Colorado Springs and
Denver indicated a willingness to compromise with the Western
Slope.
The meeting on August 24 focused on interbasin transfer issues.
The next meeting on September 15 will focus on the reauthorization
of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.There is
a good possibility that we will see another version of SB 180 next
session.The LRC should be able to react to a draft of this bill
(if it looks like it is going to be introduced)at the November
meeting.
r r
On October 6 the committee will start addressing State School Land.
There is a feeling by the educational community (and also the
environmental community)that these lands are not being managed by
the Land Board to best support the school fund or recreational
interests.There may be a proposal next session to sell 25%of
these lands.This has implications for the City in the area of
Fossil Creek and Meadows Spring Ranch.
5.ENHANCED AIR QUALITY
Brian Woodruff discussed the process staff is recommending to
introduce “opt-in”legislation,so the City of Fort Collins could
participate in the state’s enhanced emission testing program.
Staff is concerned that unless the opt-in option is considered with
other options for improving air quality in the Fort Collins Air
Quality Strategic Planing process,the opt-in legislation may meet
with resistance from the community at-large.Therefore,staff is
working to quickly complete the air quality action plans,so that
all options and opinions may be considered before proceeding with
a legislative initiative.Staff is also contacting State agencies
to determine if the compliance deadlines can be extended to ‘95.
This would give us more time to develop an effective community
consensus in support of the opt-in legislation.
6.ENVIRONMENTAL NEWSLETTER
Decided to report LRC issues and decisions on environmental
legislation in the City’s Environmental Newsletter.Articles will
be drafted as a committee.
7.ISSUE PAPER FORMAT AND PROCESS
The LRC discussed creating a “legislative agenda”at the July
meeting.A “mini-packet”of issue papers was presented to the
committee.Looks like approach,level of detail,and the policy
statements are on track.Staff to have a complete agenda for the
LRC to discuss in October,along with guidelines for use.Steve
Roy recommended that the full Council adopt the legislative agenda,
and committee concurred.
8.OTHER BUSINESS
The Home Builders Association is considering legislation which will
limit the ability of the community to deal with impact fees.Tom
Peterson to monitor.
Decided that we may want to send a letter in opposition to the HUD
proposal to change the way rents are calculated on Section 8
housing.This is in line with prior policy,and Tom Peterson will
contact Alan Apt and Ann Azari to ask for their agreement.Tom to
draft letter.
Tom to contact Loveland City Attorney to discuss school impact
fees.
Adjourned -1:00
Next Meeting -October 8
r