HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08 - Legislative AgendaMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: JANUARY 7, 2025
SUBJECT: CITY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 89TH SESSION OF THE TEXAS
LEGISLATURE
RECOMMENDATION: City Council to consider a resolution adopting the City of Grapevine
Legislative Agenda for the 89th Texas Legislative session.
FUNDING SOURCE: NA
BACKGROUND: Each Texas Legislative Session, the City Council adopts a list of priorities
that can be shared with State Legislators during the session as bills are
filed. The proposed agenda for this session is attached and is relatively
unchanged from past Sessions.
One additional item relates to an issue that several Texas cities have
experienced over the past several years related to property being
purchased by governmental entities from outside of their jurisdiction and
thus removed from their tax rolls. We anticipate that legislation to require
the host jurisdiction's approval for this transaction will be considered in the
next Session.
We also expect bills regarding land use to continue to be a concern this
Session. Last Session, bills regarding state -mandated minimum lot sizes,
accessory dwelling units, and short-term rentals moved relatively far
through the process. Both of our State representatives have been made
aware of our strong conviction regarding the continuation of local control
regarding land use.
Once the Legislative Agenda is approved, we will use it as the grounds to
advocate on behalf of the City on these topics.
Staff recommends approval.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-001
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
FOR THE 89TH SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF TEXAS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the 89th Session of the Texas Legislature begins on January 14, 2025;
�I
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 staff to
communicate the legislative priorities of the City on behalf of the entire City Council; and
WHEREAS, all constitutional and statutory prerequisites for the approval of this
resolution have been met, including but not limited to the Open Meetings Act; and
WHEREAS, the City Council deems the adoption of this resolution to be in the best
interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
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 7th day of January, 2025.
APPROVED:
William D. Tate
Mayor
ATTEST:
Tara Brooks
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Matthew C.G. Boyle
City Attorney
Resolution No. 2025-001
DRAFT
CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
89t" LEGISLATIVE SESSION AGENDA
General Legislation
• Oppose legislation that would restrict the City's right to regulate short term rentals
• Monitor changes related to sales tax sourcing
• Oppose legislation that would restrict eminent domain authority of local governments
• Support legislation to achieve equality and fairness in the appraisal process
• Oppose additional revenue caps
• Oppose unfunded mandates
• Monitor changes to 4B and CCPD legislation
• Support changes to Housing Finance Corporation (HFC) legislation to require consent from the
hosting community for another community to create an HFC outside of its own jurisdiction.
• Oppose legislation that allows property owners to unilaterally de -annex from the City
Elections
• Oppose any legislation that would further restrict a municipality's rights to hold an election
• Oppose legislation that would make local elections partisan
Human Resources
• 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
• Oppose legislative changes that would expand the Meet and Confer law
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
• Oppose the diversion of the sporting goods sales tax away from Texas Parks & Wildlife to other
uses
Police
• Support legislation increasing law enforcement training and management of critical incidents
and high -risk responses
• Support legislation that would further service/care delivery of individuals in need of mental health
services
Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement
• Support legislation to allow municipalities authority over the location of gas pipelines
• Support legislation that allows cities to require reasonable exterior materials (not just brick) that
maintains health, safety and property value, follows current national and international standards
for building code materials and maintains character, property values, and economic vitality of
identified districts within their community
• Support legislation modifying the timing requirements put in place by HB 3167 so they give the
developers more certainty yet have timeframes that are reasonable to ensure future residents'
safety and the economic value of developed properties
• Oppose legislation that would restrict the City's right to enforce the tree preservation ordinance
• Oppose mandatory "30 day approval" deadlines for the plat and site plan review process
• Oppose any legislation weakening the ability of a City to enforce nuisance ordinances
• Oppose state -mandated building codes that restricts the City's ability to regulate building
standards
• Oppose state mandates relative to lot sizes and accessory dwelling units
Tourism
• Support preservation of full funding for Texas tourism (Office of the Governor, Economic
Development and Tourism Division)
• Support protection of the summer travel market by opposing legislation that allows school to
start prior to the 4th Monday in August
• Support preservation of the Event Trust program
• Support reasonable transportation infrastructure policies that impact the Texas travel industry
• Support preservation of state funding for programs that benefit travel and tourism at the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department (TP&WD), Texas Historical Commission (THC), Texas
Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA)
• Oppose legislation that would redirect hotel/motel tax to any other entity or earmark its use for
any particular purpose
Fire
• Support the repeal of legislation that limits a city's ability to require sprinkler systems in
residential dwellings
Transportation and Public Works
• 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
• Support policies which enhance workforce development