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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 01/14/1994 -r r HPDesk Local Print for Molly DAVIS Start of Item 2. Subject:LRC MEETING MINUTES Creator:Andrea RIEGER /CFC/0l Dated:01/21/94 at 1234. LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 14,1994 MEMBERS PRESENT:Chris Kneeland,Chairperson Alan Apt STAFF PRESENT:Guy Boyd Jerry P.Brown Pete Dallow Susanne Edminster Stewart Ellenberg Ken Forest (PR-i) Tom Gallier Mike Pretz Andrea Rieger Tom Shoemaker Brian Woodruff Meeting called to order at 12:00. 1.UPDATE ON SCHOOL FINANCE STATUS AND BILL: Ken Forest from PR-i distributed preliminary enrollment projections.PR—i will have enough space,but operational budgets will be tight.He also handed our a briefing paper from the Coalition for a Through and Uniform Colorado Public Education system,which is a coalition of eight similar school districts. This briefing paper outlines the important issues this Coalition has identified,and contains specific recommendations for changing school funding.(Please contact Andrea if you would like a copy of this briefing paper.) Under the proposed school finance act,Poudre R—l would not be at their spending limit as imposed by Amendment 1.However,because PR-l won’t be funded at their maximum limit under Amendment 1,the “ratchet—down”effect will take place the following year,and their expenditure limit will be lower. Under the new school finance act,Poudre R—l would be in a “hold harmless”category,where they would not lose any money,but would not gain additional dollars either,beyond the additional funding on a per student basis,for new students.While PR-l is projecting 550 new students,they will have to cut their budget.If PR-i had the same funding as Cherry Creek,their budget would increase by $12M.(Both Cherry Creek and Boulder approved increases in local funding on a regular basis.This increased local share is considered when calculating the state’s portion.) Except for the “J—Curve”,components of the School Finance Act are outstanding.PR—l feels that additional money for increased size would be more appropriately addressed through an at—risk calculation.Ken will work with Andrea and Susanne to draft a letter for Mayor’s signature,expressing concern with the “J— Curve”. 2.FINANCIAL BILLS: It is rumored that there will be legislation which would create a permanent Tax Policy Committee and a permanent Tax Policy Advisory Committee.We may also see a bill on tax increment financing. SB 3 was introduced by Senator Mendez.This bill would change the property tax classification on hotels and motels.May benefit resort towns.Little to no impact on Fort Collins. SB 22 by Senator Schroeder would continue and revise the authority of the State Division of Securities.Finance will track. HB 1036 by Representative Agler would repeal the intervening year property reassessment.This may benefit the County assessor. HB 1067 would revise procedure for the collection of property taxes.This is a nice clean—up bill for the Treasurer’s Office. Brief comments on SB 69.(See attachment at the end of these minutes.) 3.NATURAL RESOURCES -BILLS AND UPDATES: There is a bill out which would create a municipal and county solid waste district.HB 1077 would transfer regulatory authority from the Department of Health to the State Board of Health.Also a bill (HB 1027)on the expansion of powers of conservancy districts. (Natural Resources will coordinate with Water.)Staff is monitoring all of these. Distributed a draft letter in support of the GOCO vision statement. The intent is to let COCO know that we are actively interested in their actions and our programs are consistent with their mission. Brian discussed the memo on the Air Quality Action Plan.While City Council will review the Air Quality Action Plan in February, this memo provides an update of the legislative portion of that plan.Suggestion to convene a task force to study the issue of emissions testing.Proposals could become the basis for a legislative bill introduced in the ‘95 session or later. Air Toxics:We can petition the Air Quality Control Commission to include particular toxic chemicals or sources which are not listed in state regulations.Should be able to work with the state health department and within existing legislation (92—105)to resolve concerns. Will continue to explore the issue of gasoline formulation. 4.WATER ISSUES: Tom Gallier distributed a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Interim Committee on Water and State School Lands.The Committee recommended two bills,both of which have been introduced: a)SB 29 deals with technical issues with the Colorado Water Conservation Board,and has no impact on Fort Collins. b)HB 1006 by Rep.Jerke is an honest attempt to clarify existing state law.It would remove a requirement that person exporting water from Colorado prove that credit will be given to Colorado for the water under interstate water compacts.This is quite complex, and is still being analyzed. The Interim Committee forwarded four resolutions to the General Assembly.They supported local flexibility in implementing federal programs,and opposed unfunded federal mandates.Letters which were sent are summarized in Tom’s memo. Other water bills include: HB 1027 which would expand the power of conservancy districts was written for a conservancy district in Pueblo,so that it may use its funds for recreation projects.We are only concerned with the portion of the bill which expands pollution control abilities. HB 1075 is being monitored and analyzed at this point.It is sponsored by Acquafresca and would allow retention of rights by owners participating in the “Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act.” Also monitoring SB 29 which deals with water conservation board construction fund authorizations and revisions,and with SB 55 which addresses conditional water rights.Tom will talk to the Northern Colorado Water District Board on this bill,for their perspective. SB 56 Would grant seats on the Denver Water Board to its districts outside its boundaries.The composition of the Denver Water Board has been a long standing battle.This may set unfavorable precedents.Will monitor. Also expect more bills from the Colorado Department of Health, especially with regard to threatened pollution.Congress is working on the Safe Drinking Water Act SB 1547 and HR 3392 are competing bills on safe drinking water.There are pros and cons to both bills.3392 is raising environmental concerns because there is a provision for local communities to opt out of requirements. However,this bill has a lot of support from national organizations because of its language on unfunded mandates. The LRC directed that we want to be very cautious opposing unfunded mandates.Some mandates are of such critical importance (such as safe water)that the funding source is of secondary importance. 6.OTHER BILLS: SB 46 would allow defendants to claim attorney’s fees in municipal courts of record,if they were found not guilty.While Fort Collins is not a court of record,this bill could be expanded to include Fort Collins or we could become a court of record.This bill would create a chilling effect on municipal prosecutions and on citizen complaints.However,CML expects this bill to be killed. Guy Boyd and Mike Pretz from PFA reported that there may be a bill which would cap investment limits (pension funds)in stocks.There may also be a bill creating a State Fire Marshals Office and adopting a state fire code,which would preempt ours.Staff will monitor. HB 1023 would require general contractors to list all their subcontractors,and the project owner to issue joint checks and submit to arbitration in a payment dispute.This bill would potentially increase our administrative costs and time,although we will also analyze for benefits to us.Purchasing will give feedback to CML. HB 1025 is a concealed weapons bill which would allow people from 16 —up to carry concealed weapons with a permit.This is not something that we would support.Police to give feedback to CML. National League of Cities will be March 12-15.Tentative briefing papers would include briefings on safe drinking water act,perhaps the clean water act.Also briefing papers on financial issues and health care.If water issues are big,it would be appropriate to send the LRC water representative. February 3 is the CML legislative conference. Adjourned:1:15. **SB 69 would have adopted the Committee of Legal Services’ definition of real property (which would have included all public property).However,this bill was amended on Friday, Jan.14,and public property was excluded from the definition of real property.It is expected that this amendment will stay,and the bill should be in good shape. End of Item 2.