Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 - Legislative Agenda ITEM MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER/10-A MEETING DATE: JANUARY 6, 2009 SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RECOMMENDATION: City Council to consider a resolution laying out the City's agenda for the 81st State Legislative Session. BACKGROUND: At the City Council workshop on December 16th, Dan Shelley presented our list of legislative priorities for the 2009 session. The proposed priority list covers a variety of issues, such as right-of-way management, sales tax revenue protection and transportation funding. If the Council approves this list of legislative priorities, it will be circulated to our State Legislators before the start of the session on January 13, 2009. This formal process is especially helpful as staff meets with State Legislators to discuss these items. Our full agenda is attached as Attachment A to the resolution. If other issues come up as the session progresses, we will bring them back for your consideration. Staff recommends approval. December 30, 2008(10:39AM) City of Grapevine 2009 State Legislative Agenda Sales Tax Streamlined Sales Tax-Oppose Proposed legislation that would change the sales tax situs from point of sale to point of delivery would be extremely detrimental to our sales tax revenue stream. 4B and 4A Statute Changes-Monitor Since the Voters passed the 4B and CCPD sales tax on November 7, 2006, we have a vested interest in seeing that the legislation that created those optional sales taxes is not changed in a way that would negatively impact the projects proposed to be funded with that revenue. Expansion of Non-Taxable Items-Monitor We will monitor the Legislature's expansion of non-taxable items and oppose the expansion if it would represent a severe, negative impact to City sales tax revenue. Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps We will continue to oppose both of these items. Unfunded Mandates We will oppose any efforts to pass along to cities additional fees or any increases in fees to fund state budget shortfalls. We would also oppose legislation that would create new obligations on cities to provide services to their citizens without the necessary funding to carry out the provisions of the legislation. DFW Airport The City of Grapevine continues to support the revenue sharing agreement between the Cities of Grapevine, Dallas and Fort Worth enacted by the 77th Texas Legislature. Election Law Oppose any legislation that would further limit uniform election dates. Support any proposed change that would move the May uniform election date/runoff date away from Mother's Day, Father's Day or Main Street days weekend. Hotel/Motel Tax Oppose legislative changes that would redirect the city's portion of hotel/motel tax to any other entity or earmark any portion of it for a specific use. State Medical Risk Pool Oppose higher assessments for the State Medical Risk Pool. Parks Funding Advocate legislation that would increase funding for State Parks and the Texas Recreation and Parks Account and insure that all grant applicants are selected based on competitive grant scoring. Contingency Fee Contracts Legislation Support continued ability for City to pursue contingency fee contracts for attorneys (i.e. back tax collection). Right to Fund Lobbying Support continued ability to use local funds for State lobbying to insure that the interests of Grapevine residents are known in Austin. Right of Way Legislation The City will oppose any legislation that erodes our ability to govern the right of way in our City limits. In addition, we will oppose any further legislation that affects our ability to collect fees for the use of the right of way from utility companies. Meet and Confer During the 79th session of the Legislature, a bill was passed that would grant cities above 50,000 the authority to call an election to recognize and meet and confer with Police and Firefighter Associations regarding pay and benefit issues. The City is opposed to this legislation as it is the first step towards collective bargaining. We will _ oppose any efforts to lower the threshold below 50,000 and support any efforts that would repeal the legislation or raise the threshold. Gas Pipelines The City supports legislation that would give municipalities the authority over the location of gas pipelines. Scrap Metal Sales With theft of copper continuing to climb, the City supports legislation that would require a photo ID to sell scrap metal. Driver's Education Classes The City supports legislation that would reinstate the requirement of first-time drivers to take a formal driver's education course, a written test, and a driving test. Electronic Reporting of Pawn Shop Data Manual entry of pawn tickets is tedious and time consuming for the police department but often critical for the apprehension of thieves. The City supports efforts to require electronic transmission of pawn ticket data directly to the police department. Green Cement Support legislation that would clarify a municipality's right to pay up to 5% more for cement that produces less greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation Funding • Advocate for the appropriation of all revenue from highway user fees and taxes to fund transportation and discontinue the diversion of transportation resources to other uses; and • Support indexing the motor fuel tax to enable it to keep pace with the growth in the economy and increase the rate to restore lost purchasing power; and • Support enabling legislation and appropriate funds to implement Proposition 12 (Constitutional Amendment approved by the voters in November 2007 to issue $5 billion in general obligation bonds to fund transportation; and • Advocate reallocation of approximately $300 million in transportation tax and fee revenue from the general fund to the mobility fund to recapitalize the Texas Mobility Fund. 66 JS RESOLUTION NO. Apokk A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS,ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 81st SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature begins on January 13, 2009; and WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine has a strong interest in Legislative activities that may affect the City; and WHEREAS, once the Legislative Session starts, Legislation moves quickly and oftentimes a City position must be expressed on an issue before the City Council has an opportunity to meet; and WHEREAS, the passage of a broad Legislative agenda will allow to staff to communicate the Legislative priorities of the City on behalf of the entire City Council. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. That all matters stated in the above preamble are true and correct and are incorporated herein as if copied in their entirety. Section 2. That the Legislative Agenda, attached as Exhibit"A",will serve as the official Legislative Agenda for the City of Grapevine. Section 3. That this resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its passage. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 6th day of January, 2009. APPROVED: ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: RES. NO. 2