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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07 - Legislative AgendaMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER $\ MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 16, 2014 SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RECCOMENDATION: City Council to consider a resolution laying out the City's agenda for the 84th State Legislative Session At a City Council workshop on December 2, Fred Hill presented our list of Legislative priorities for the 2015 session. The proposed priority list covers a variety of issues, such as appraisal and revenue caps, municipalities rights to hold elections and monitoring changes made to 4B and CCPD legislation to name a few. If the Council approves this list of Legislative priorities, it will be circulated to our State Legislators before the start of the session in January, 2015. This formal process is especially helpful as staff meets with State Legislators to discuss these items. Our agenda includes the items listed below. If other issues come up as the session progresses, we will bring those to you for your consideration. General Legislation • Oppose sales tax initiatives that change taxing situs from point of sale to point of delivery • Oppose property appraisal caps and revenue caps • Oppose unfunded mandates • Support a statewide smoking ban that would provide a level economic playing field between cities with a ban and those without • Oppose legislation that would restrict eminent domain authority of local governments • Monitor changes to 4B and CCPD legislation • Allow all mixed beverage tax to stay in cities where collected • Support legislation that would apply current City alcoholic beverage codes to currently dry areas in Grapevine that lie in Dallas and Denton Counties (approximately 500 acres) December 11, 2014 (10:49AM) L • Oppose any legislation that would further restrict a municipality's rights to hold election Human Resources • Oppose legislative changes that would expand the Meet and Confer law • Support legislation that would allow cities in TMRS to opt out of cost of living (COLA) increases for one or more years without a "catch up" penalty when COLA's are reinstated Library • Oppose further cuts to State funding of local libraries and endorse additional funding that would increase digital content for patrons and funding for remote workforce development activities in libraries. Parks and Recreation • Support legislation that would increase funding for State Parks and the Texas Recreation & Parks Account and insure that all funded projects be subject to the established Texas Parks & Wildlife Department scoring system • Oppose the continued diversion of the sporting goods sales tax away from Texas Parks & Wildlife to other uses • Support legislation that would directly benefit parks, recreation, open space and trails on utility corridors and waive all liability for those purposes to the utilities. Police • Support legislation that would require electronic reporting of pawn shop data to law enforcement • Support requiring DNA testing of arrestees • Support a ban on texting while driving Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement • Support legislation to give municipalities authority over the location of gas pipelines l Oppose any legislation weakening the ability of a City to enforce nuisance ordinances • Oppose efforts to shorten summer vacation of school children, which has a direct effect on the local and statewide tourism industry • Oppose cuts to the State Tourism Fund • Oppose legislation that would redirect hotel/ motel tax to any other entity or earmark its use for any particular purpose • Support legislation that would increase funding for the Governor's Office of Tourism, specifically for international marketing. December 11, 2014 (10:49AM) Fire Support the repeal of legislation that limits a city's ability to require sprinkler systems in residential dwellings • Support a statewide education campaign to inform Texans of transportation needs and the development of a consensus agenda to improve Texas transportation and that encourages Texans to participate in the transportation conversation • Support efforts to urge the Legislature to enact revenue measures to fund investment needed to improve Texas transportation. • Support statewide efforts to address water supply issues Support a revised incentive program for a Texas " deal closing fund "for large scale projects in which a Texas location is competing directly with other states for the investment Staff recommends approval. JCH/sgp December 11, 2014 (10:49AM) RESOLUTION NO. Li5atst-k-Tt V 6 A-ae-PDA A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 84TH SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature begins January 13, 2015; and WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine, Texas 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 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, Texas. 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 16th day of December, 2014. ATTEST: FAWSMS"T MOTARmfolffe-TS01MA CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS 84" LEGISLATIVE SESSION AGENDA (Exhibit A) General Legislation • Oppose sales tax initiatives that change taxing situs from point of sale to point of delivery • Oppose property appraisal caps and revenue caps • Oppose unfunded mandates • Support a statewide smoking ban that would provide a level economic playing field between cities with a ban and those without • Oppose legislation that would restrict eminent domain authority of local governments • Monitor changes to 4B and CCPD legislation • Allow all mixed beverage tax to stay in cities where collected • Support legislation that would apply current City alcoholic beverage codes to currently dry areas in Grapevine that lie in Dallas and Denton Counties (approximately 500 acres) 14 • Oppose any legislation that would further restrict a municipality's rights to hold election • Oppose legislative changes that would expand the Meet and Confer law • Support legislation that would allow cities in TMRS to opt out of cost of living (COLA) increases for one or more years without a "catch up" penalty when COLA's are reinstated Library • Oppose further cuts to State funding of local libraries and endorse additional funding that would increase digital content for patrons and funding for remote workforce development activities in libraries. • Support legislation that would increase funding for State Parks and the Texas Recreation & Parks Account and insure that all funded projects be subject to the established Texas Parks & Wildlife Department scoring system • Oppose the continued diversion of the sporting goods sales tax away from Texas Parks & Wildlife to other uses • Support legislation that would directly benefit parks, recreation, open space and trails on utility corridors and waive all liability for those purposes to the utilities. Police • Support legislation that would require electronic reporting of pawn shop data to law enforcement • Support requiring DNA testing of arrestees • Support a ban on texting while driving Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement • Support legislation to give municipalities authority over the location of gas pipelines • Oppose any legislation weakening the ability of a City to enforce nuisance ordinances Ism • Oppose efforts to shorten summer vacation of school children, which has a direct effect on the local and statewide tourism industry • Oppose cuts to the State Tourism Fund • Oppose legislation that would redirect hotel/ motel tax to any other entity or earmark its use for any particular purpose • Support legislation that would increase funding for the Governor's Office of Tourism, specifically for international marketing. Fire • Support the repeal of legislation that limits a city's ability to require sprinkler systems in residential dwellings Transportation and Public Works • Support a statewide education campaign to inform Texans of transportation needs and the development of a consensus agenda to improve Texas transportation and that encourages Texans to participate in the transportation conversation • Support efforts to urge the Legislature to enact revenue measures to fund investment needed to improve Texas transportation. • Support statewide efforts to address water supply issues Economic Development • Support a revised incentive program for a Texas " deal closing fund "for large scale projects in which a Texas location is competing directly with other states for the investment