HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10 - Legislative Agendae(I ITEM # —LO
MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER `
MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 18, 2012
SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council to consider approval of a resolution adopting the City's platform for the 83 Id
Legislative Session.
BACKGROUND:
The proposed legislative agenda was presented to the City Council during a workshop at
the December 4 meeting to discuss the upcoming legislative session and the impact it
may have on area cities.
As in past sessions, staff is recommending the passage of a legislative agenda that
includes a variety of issues such as unfunded mandates, property appraisal caps and
revenue caps.
This list was developed collaboratively with the input of City Council Members and staff.
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. This formal process is especially
helpful as staff meets with State Legislators to discuss these items. Our full agenda is
attached. If other issues come up as the Session progresses, we will bring them back
for your consideration.
Staff recommends approval.
83rd Texas Legislative Session
City of Grapevine Legislative Agenda
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
• Support City's continued right to fund legislative advocacy
• Monitor changes to 4B and CCPD legislation
• Monitor legislation that would impact economic development
Elections
• 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
• Oppose higher assessments regarding the State Medical Risk Pool
• Support legislation that would allow cities in TMRS to opt out of Cost of Living
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
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
Police
• Support making burglary of a motor vehicle a state jail felony
• Support legislation that would require electronic reporting of pawn shop data
to law enforcement
• Support requiring DNA testing of arrestees
• Support making a failure to stop and render aid charge a 3rd degree felony
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
Tourism
• 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 expanding the areas of the State where a tourism Public
Improvement District may be formed
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
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA FOR THE 83RD SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the 83rd Session of the Texas Legislature begins January 8, 2013;
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 18th day of December, 2012.
APPROVED:
ATTEST.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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