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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 10/14/1999 -rr rr Legislative Review Committee October 14,1999 Minutes Attendees: Council Members-Ray Martinez,Karen Weilkunat Staff Members —Diane Jones,Tom Vosburg,Ron Phillips,Dennis Sumner,Marty Heffernan,Rita Davis,Alan Krcmarik,Ginny Brown (recorder). Minutes from the September 9,LRC meeting were adopted as written. II.Potential Legislative Issues A.Firearms Rita Davis,Executive Project Manager for Police Services reported to the committee that there are a number of potential pieces of legislation associated with firearms for the 2000 session.Concealed carry issues is not anticipated to be a focus for this year.Most of the legislation will focus on tightening gun laws in the following areas: •Background checks at gun shows •Raising the age limit for purchase of a firearm from a gun show. •Banning straw purchases (buying4wis-guns on behalf of criminals or children). +Include juvenile records in background checks used for gun shows. •Holding parents accountable if they improperiy store a gun and a child commits a crime with it B.Transportation -Ron Phillips,Director of Transportation Services reported to the committee that there will be transportation legislation resulting from state interim committees that met during the summer months. 1.Transportation Legislative Review Committee This committee recommended a number of bills but only two will affect us: a.CASTA (Colorado Association of Transit Agencies)—requested that the state appropriate funds from the general fund to the department of transportation.This amount is equal to 10%of the amount of federal transit administration formula funds guaranteed to the state for each federal fiscal year for which the appropriation is made. b.HUTF (Highway Users Tax Fund)—specifies that the general assembly will appropriate money from the general fund to the highway users tax fund beginning with the fiscal year July 1,2000 and continuing each fiscal year after that. City r Cit of Fort Collins MEMORANDUM Date:November 12,1999 To:Mayor and Council Thru:John Fischbach,City Manager Diane Jones,Deputy City Manage~ft5’ From:Ginny Brown,Legislative Affairs Coordinator Re:Legislative Review Committee Minutes Attached are the minutes from the Legislabve Review Committee meeUng on October 14,1999.The minutes were approved as written except for a typo in the first paragraph about firearms.It should say ‘(buying guns on behalf of criminals or children)’.Instead of saying ‘(buying funs on behalf of criminals or children).’ Addiionally,I have attached handouts from the presentaUon given at the annual October 29,luncheon with our delegation. 300 LaPorte Avenue •PC.Box 580 •Fort Collins,CO 80522-0580 (970)221-6505 •FAX (970)224-6107 r r Monies will be approriated using the a formula of: •60%of dollars will go back to the state •22%of dollars go back to the counties •and 18%of dollars will go back to municipalities. III.Legislative Luncheon October 29,at the Lincoln Center is the City’s annual legislative luncheon with our delegation.The legislative issues identified by the City as being of primary importance are: •Transportation Funding •Firearms •Tax Policy •Growth Management The purpose of the event will be to have a dialogue with our legislators about legislative issues that the City anticipates it will be affected by for the 2000 legislative session. Council members requested that the luncheon be extended to 1:30 PM instead of 1:00 PM. Dennis Sumner suggested that electric deregulation be added as one of the City’s top 10 Challenges for the year 2000. Ron Phillips suggested “Transportation Issues”be changed to “Transportation Funding.” IV.Legislative Agenda Modification The Legislative Review Committee agreed to make a modification to the legislative agenda regarding affordable housing because of potential legislation for 2000.The modification will be included in Council’s “read-before”packet prior to their 10119,meeting. IV.Legislative Notebooks A prototype of a legislative notebook for LRC members was exhibited.The purpose of the notebook is to assist with organization.During January through May information is moving so fast and furious that it seemed appropriate to provide a tool that would function as a “catch all.” A recommendation was made by Mayor Martinez to provide access to this notebook electronically. V.Other A.Deregulation -Dennis Sumner added that Deregulation be added to the 10129, Leg jslative Luncheon agenda.This is anticipated as having a significant economic imq*ct on the City of Fort Collins for 2000—2001.Currentiy,a task force (Colorado ElecUic Advi~pry Panel)has been meeting.The purpose of the panel is to study the effects of market deregulation in Colorado and present its findings to lawmakers on November 1,1999. Dennis also recommended thatthe City not make a blanket statementthat it OPPOSES deregulation.The position taken must be because it provides the best value to the community. B.Land and Water Conservation Fund —Marty Heffeman,repoprted that dollars are available from the Land and Water Conservation funds for urban parks and youth programs. C.Electronic Commerce —Alan Krcmadk is drafting a memo to send to the electronic commerce commission regarding internet sales.By the year 2003,it is projected that without taxation,$5 -$6 million dollars would be lost to the City’s general fund. vi.Next Meehng Dates and Times —the following is a list of meeting dates through May 2000.Please mark these on your calendars;however,these dates are subject to cancellation if a meeting is not necessary. Date Time Location November 18,1999 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room December 9,1999 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room January 20,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room January 27,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room February 3,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room February 10,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room February 17,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room February 24,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room March 2,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room March 9,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room March 16,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room March 23,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room March 30,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room April 6,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room April 13,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room April 20,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room April 27,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room May 4,2000 7:30 am —8:30 am CIC Room Admi(”trative Services Finance Administration ti of Fort Collins MEMORANDUM DATE:October 29,1999 TO:Legislators Representing Fort Collins City of Fort Collins Council City Staff FROM:Alan Krcmarik,Financial Officer SUBJECT:Upcoming Legislative Session Issues of Major Financial Interest In the upcoming Legislative Session,there are several issues that have important financial impact.My presentation today will cover just three of them:taxation of sales conducted over the Internet,deregulation and restructuring of the electric industry in Colorado,and the concept of a comprehensive study of the tax structures at all levels of government in Colorado. Each of these issues,depending on the final results,could have dramatic effects on the financial viability of the City of Fort Collins and other municipal jurisdictions in the state.The City of Fort Collins has experienced sustained strong growth in population over the last 25 years.The community has done very well.However,there is a growing backlog of service demands that are unmet.Any decisions by the legislature that would limit Fort Collins ability to raise revenue could impair the City’s ability to keep up with service demands. I would like to thank all of you for the time to discuss this issues.In the future,I invite you to contact me should you have any questions about these matters or others of a financial nature.In addition to the telephone and fax numbers at the bottom of this page, you can contact me through e-mail at akrcmarik@ci.fort-collins.co.us Copies of the slides that I have prepared for this presentation are on the back of this page. 300 LaPorte Avenue •P.O.Box 580 •Fort Collins,CO 80522-0580 •(970)221-6788 •FAX (970)221-6782 Finance Matters Finance Matters City of Fan Collins 2000 Legislative Concerns Alan Krcmarik City of Fort Collins Fiscal Policy •Why talk about this •City has had great economic expansion •Despite increases revenues,several services are below standards —because revenue sfructures do not keep up with demand for services •State to consider several important issues that have direct financial impact on cities and towns •Tax Policy Study Internet Sales Tax Electric Deregulation 4 Sales over the Internet •Tax free Internet violates principle of tax neutrality •Unfair to local merchants •Puts state and local services at risk •over 70%or the avenge municipality revenues from sales tax •By 2003 Fort Collins could lose 8’.of its sales tax base •Violates tax equity--Tax fee Internet benefits high income groups most •Technology exists to solve the complexity issue 4 EleCtric Deregulation •Not in the best Interest of the State as a whole •Existing rates are low •Independent study shows 29%cost increase •Low income groups will be hurt the most •Public Service Company (>60%of market)has too much market power •Restructuring would expose consumers to cost, reliability and service risks not now being felt —Comprehensive Study of Colorado Tax Policy •Long time since a comprehesive study has been completed •Colroado has followed good basic principles in creating the current system •Government closest to the people provides services •Along with responsibility for services,state laws and contitution provide authonty Tax Policy -continued •Gallagher and TABOR at odds and stressing the system •load property tax on business •impractical limitation on user fees •really hurts CSU and other fee based services •Limitations on debt makes use more costly,less efficient borrowing Alan Krcmarzk r r S.S Cit of Fort Collins S I I I Statewide Transportation Funding •—•Deve .p Statewi.e tnt egy rasitF dig $3.4 million of CF for Transit 10%of FTA allocation •.wers/May Bill Puts CF into HUTF $15 million to start +$15 million/yr Up to $200 million,w/local shareback Encourage the sharing of state transportation resources using the HUTF formula. o 0 City of Fort Collins City of Fort Collins Legislative Agenda 1.Support: •local authority over land use, •regional cooperation, •removing barriers to effective regulation. •NEW:Support specific legislation establishing a minimum land use and transportation plan. 2.Oppose: •New vesting and takings. r r Three Principal Approaches 1.CML/CCI Amendments to existing statues. •City staff participating on Growth Committee. •Helpful •Insufficient 2.Sullivant/APA Bill proposing new requirements. •Similar to Fort Collins’position. •City staff cooperating to improve. 3.COPIRG or Sierra Club Initiatives. •Not comprehensive,potentially harmful. •Broad appeal. •City staff will track,participate if appropriate. 0