HomeMy WebLinkAbout024291 RES - 11/21/2000RESOLUTION
ADOPTING THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI'S LEGISLATIVE
PROGRAM FOR THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE TEXAS
LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the 77th Texas Legislature convenes in January 2001; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature will consider many measures that may affect the City of
Corpus Christi; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide guidance for City officers and representatives in
conducting the City's legislative efforts and relations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The City Council adopts the Legislative Program, which is attached to and
incorporated into this resolution, for the 77th Session of the Texas Legislature.
SECTION 2. This Legislative Program remains in effect during the 77th Session of the
Texas Legislature unless amended by the City Council.
ATTEST: ~~
Armando Chapa
City Secretary
APPROVED:
THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Mayor
/~/V~ay of /'~/ovc,, ~.f , 2000.
James R. Bray Jr.
City Attorney
R. Ja R ning
Fir~is~s~ nt City At'to rney
024291
2001 resolution doc
Corpus ~isti, Texas
The above resolution was passed by the following vote:
Samuel L. Neal, Jr.
Javier D. Colmenero
Melody Cooper
Henry Garrett
Dr. Arnold Gonzales
Rex A. Kinnison
Betty Jean Longoria
John Longoria
Mark Scott
O24291
200'[ resolution.doc
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Legislative Program
77th Legislative Session
November 14, 2000
INTRODUCTION
Prior to the commencement of each legislative session, the City of Corpus Christi staff,
working with input from local interests, Texas Municipal League, other cities, prepares a
recommended legislative program for City Council consideration and approval.
The legislative program, after consideration and approval by the City Council, is then
transmitted to our local legislative delegation and forms the basis for the City's activities
during the 140 days of the session. In each legislative session, the number of bills that are
introduced is massive. For example, in 1999, almost 6,000 bills were introduced, over
1,600 actually passed, with approximately 1,230 of the bills City-related, of which slightly
more than 130 passed. Unfortunately a large percentage of the efforts by cities are
necessarily directed simply at stopping bad pieces of legislation which would negatively
affect cities.
Over the past few legislative sessions, the City of Corpus Christi, with the tremendous
support and action of our local legislative delegation, has had very good success in
not only stopping bad bills which would negatively impact us, but also in the passage of
legislation which very positively affects us. For example, in the last legislative session, a
serious assault on cities' annexation powers was successfully defeated, while at the same
time, the City, through our local legislative delegation, was able to fund expansion and
renovation of the Convention Center, provide liability protection for our Latchkey Program,
acquired the official designation of the Museum of Science and History as the Texas
Maritime Repository, and funding of the local Estuary Program, among a number of other
issues.
The upcoming 77th legislative session will undoubtedly consider many issues that are
detrimental to cities and will be extremely crowded because the Legislature must also deal
with redistricting.
As in the past, the City anticipates working very closely with our local legislative delegation.
In addition, we will work with the Texas Municipal League as well as the very active
legislative lobbying group of the eight largest cities (this latter group meets once a week
during the legislative session with TML staff to coordinate action.) The following legislative
program is broken down into sections each representing a major part of municipal
government beginning with a general statement of policies and procedures.
The communication of this legislative program is carried out on a day to day basis by the
Assistant City Manager for Intergovernmental Relations and Community Development
under the general direction of the City Manager after approval of the program by the City
Council. The Mayor and City Council Members are called upon to testify in Austin on a
case by case basis, as well as City staff from the Police and Fire Chiefs and City Attorney
to departments heads.
I. GENERAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES
a. The City will support legislation and administrative actions that:
2.
3.
4.
Will protect and enhance City revenues.
Reduce costs to the City.
Provide for more local control.
Protect those policies previously established through the Charter,
ordinances, resolutions, and master plans.
Provide increased educational opportunities for the citizens of Corpus Christi
and the region.
The City will oppose legislation or administrative actions that:
1. Undermine the principle of home rule and local self-government.
2. Result in the loss of revenue growth to cities.
Diminish the authority of cities to regulate and manage their growth and
development.
Nullify or undermine the City's policies contained in existing provisions of the
Charter, ordinances, resolutions, and master plans, unless such changes
expand the City's ability to manage its own affairs.
5. Diminish any existing authority of cities.
Impose mandates that require any expenditure by the City unless all costs
of same, including administrative as well as direct out-of-pocket costs, are
fully reimbursed by the mandating government.
The City Council will determine the City position on all legislative issues.
The City's Boards, Commissions, and Advisory Groups may not represent in oral
testimony or in writing a position on proposed legislation or administrative action
unless that position is first approved by the City Council.
Positions on legislative or administrative matters originating outside of the City
Council, but within the City's governmental framework shall be submitted to the City
Manager for review prior to consideration by the City Council.
The legislative or administrative positions herein approved, and others separately
approved by the City Council, shall be communicated to the legislative and
congressional delegations, to the Legislature and Congress, in general, and/or to
the appropriate legislative committees and administrative agencies or to others by
members of the City Council, the City Manager, staff persons, and consultants and
others designated by the City Manager.
The City will coordinate its legislative and administrative program with other political
jurisdictions and provide assistance to those political jurisdictions where possible
and where there is a commonality of interest.
The city will support the legislative program of the Texas Municipal League, except
to the extent it conflicts with any policy herein.
It is recognized that this policy will often be implemented in the context of great
numbers of voluminous proposals being considered within short time periods. City
representatives, under the direction of the City Manager, shall be authorized to act
on behalf of the City consistently with the necessarily broad policy concerns set
forth in this policy.
In this policy, items are classified under three levels of importance, Priority, Actively
Support, and Endorse, as follows:
Priority means that the City will actively pursue and support (or oppose, as
specified) the policy including, if necessary, seeking introduction and
passage of legislation.
Actively Support means the City will aggressively attempt to obtain passage
of a measure if it is introduced by some other entity (or actively oppose, as
specified).
=
Endorse means that the City will make its (support or opposition) known, but
will not actively pursue the issue.
II. FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
eo
PRIORITY
Franchise Fees. The City unalterably opposes any measure which would reduce
the City's existing franchise fees, the growth of those franchise fees, or its ability to
charge franchise fees, and any measure which would prevent the City from
requiring utilities to bear 100% of costs associated with relocations of utilities
required by the City or which would impair City regulation of use of rights-of-way.
Franchise fees are essential to continuation of basic services. A vote to reduce
franchise fees would be a vote to increase local ad valorem taxes or reduce basic
local services such as police, fire, roads, and parks, and would constitute a gift of
public property for private purposes.
State Hotel Tax for Beach Maintenance. The City supports legislation which
would provide State hotel tax funding of 1% for beach maintenance.
Street Accessibility Improvements. The City supports legislation which would
authorize a street use fee or other funding source to construct facilities to enhance
disabled access.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
911 Fees. The City opposes legislation which would hinder its withdrawal from
participation in the 9-1-1 regional plan, or which would inequitably affect the Corpus
Christi area on 9-1-1 funding.
Liability Law. The City supports legislation to reduce potential liability of
municipalities and municipal employees for torts and other actions and opposes
legislation which would increase such liability.
Sales Tax Information. The City supports legislation to allow cities to obtain sales
tax information on any entity that annually remits sales tax payments of more than
$100,000.
Prompt Payment Statute. The City opposes legislation increasing the
requirements of the prompt payment statute.
Indemnity Provisions. The City opposes legislation invalidating or prohibiting
indemnity provisions in public works contracts.
Mandated Fees. The City opposes legislation which would require a city to raise
any municipal fee and remit the revenue to the state, unless use of the monies
would be clearly dedicated for programs beneficial to the City.
ENDORSE
Crime Victims Fund. The City supports legislation to allow local entities to share
in the revenue collected under the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund for eligible
projects.
Appraisal Appeals. The City supports legislation to allow cities to challenge the
appraisal of a specific property.
Municipal Court Costs. The City supports legislation which would consolidate all
State court costs collectible by municipal courts into one fee payable to the State,
and require that, in case of partial payments, a city and the state will split the
payments until both receive the proper amount of revenue. The City opposes
additional State fees or court costs on municipal courts.
m. Sale of Tax Liens. The City supports legislation to authorize cities to sell tax liens.
School Traffic Court Cost. The City supports legislation to reinstate the local
option court costs for a traffic offense that occurs in school zone or for unlawfully
passing a school bus.
Truth in Taxation. The City supports legislation which would exclude new growth
for the purpose of determining notice and hearing requirements triggered by
additional ad valorem tax revenue.
III. ESSENTIALINFRASTRUCTURE
PRIORITY
Water. The City supports legislation to protect the City's water supply and water
rights, and to enable the City to expand its water supply and rights, and strongly
opposes legislation which would diminish or challenge such water supply or water
rights or the City's ability to expand such. The City supports amendments to the
Texas Water Code which would remove unreasonable restrictions on interbasin
water transfers, and which would encourage use of market forces to distribute water
and water rights subject to reasonable environmental regulations.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
b. Transportation.
Resources. The City strongly supports legislation assuring the equitable
allocation of transportation resources from the State.
Funding for Construction and Maintenance. The City supports legislation
that would increase the level and availability of state transportation funding
for construction and maintenance.
Streamlining: The City supports legislation that would streamline the Texas
Department of Transportation to make it more effective and efficient.
IV. COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT
PRIORI'I'~.
Development. The City strongly opposes legislation which would erode municipal
authority to regulate development for the public safety, health and welfare,
including, but not limited to, locations of manufactured, housing, annexation,
condemnation, platting, zoning, extraterritorial jurisdictions and building and housing
codes.
Windstorm Insurance. The City supports windstorm insurance legislation which
assures full replacement cost coverage to presently existing building codes, and
exclusion from windstorm building regulations for parts of the city outside the
coverage area.
Marine Archeological Repository Funding. The City supports legislation which
at a minimum provides equitable funding to the City's Museum from any state
allocation of funds for marine archeological repositories.
Regulation of Location of Manufactured Housing. The City opposes legislation
that would erode the authority of cities to regulate the location of manufactured
housing.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
Affordable Housing. The City supports affordable housing initiatives which do not
undermine the City's regulatory authority to protect the public health, safety, and
welfare.
Building Codes. The City supports legislation maintaining and expanding municipal
authority to select building codes and make local amendments as determined by
local city councils, and opposes legislation eroding such authority such as by
mandating adoption of particular codes.
Platting. The City supports legislation that would: 1) repeal the "five acre
exemption" in the platting statute; 2) direct the county clerk to require that deed filing
include an affidavit verifying compliance with subdivision requirements.
Historic Courthouse Preservation. The City supports full State funding for
preservation of historic courthouses for which preservation is feasible.
i. Nuisance. The City supports legislation to strengthen municipal enforcement
authority with respect to nuisances.
Annexation Authority. The City opposes legislation that would erode current
annexation authority.
Condemnation Authority. The City opposes legislation that would erode
condemnation authority.
Dune Protection. The City supports city administered dune protection within city
limits and cities' ETJ.
ENDORSE
Plumbing Inspectors. The City supports legislation to replace current regulations
relating to plumbing inspectors, by establishing qualifications for taking the state
plumbing inspector exam and maintaining a plumbing inspector license.
Electrical Licensing. The City opposes legislation which would impose a statewide
electrical licensing law.
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation. The City supports legislation to protect and
strengthen city authority to regulate alcoholic beverage sales and consumptions.
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Group Homes. The City supports legislation to protect and strengthen city authority
to regulate group homes.
V. CHILDREN AND YOUTH
PRIORITY
a. Juvenile Crime. The City supports legislation to reduce crime and delinquency
among children and youth, to promote their development and well-being, and
continued funding of CYD programs.
ENDORSE
b. Safe Schools Act. The City opposes weakening of the Safe Schools Act.
VI. EDUCATION
PRIORITY
Higher Education. The City supports legislation to advance and obtain sufficient
support for education in this area, especially legislation to enable Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi to operate as a strong and viable four-year university,
including special item funding; and legislation to insure adequate funding for the
operation and programs of the Del Mar Junior College District, including Full
Formula Funding.
Regional Public Safety Training Academy. The City supports legislation to enable
development of a Regional Public Safety Training Academy in Corpus Christi.
Support of Local School Districts. In general, the City supports the legislative
programs of local school districts leading to enhancement of educational
opportunities for citizens of Corpus Christi.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
South Texas/Border Initiative. The City supports continued funding of the South
Texas/Border Initiative.
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VII. PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH
ao
PRIORITY
Fire Control and Prevention District. The City supports legislation permitting the
creation of Fire Control and Prevention Districts similar to Crime Control and
Prevention Districts.
Child Safety Registration Fee. The City supports legislation to amend current
law to: (1) increase the optional county vehicle registration fee for child safety from
$1.50 to $3.00; (2) require a county to impose the fee if requested by a city or cities
whose total population exceeds 2/3 of the total population of the county; and (3)
prohibit a county from rescinding the fee after it has been adopted in that manner.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
Pawnshops. The City supports legislation which would 1) require licensed
pawnshops to provide electronic access to local law enforcement agencies of all
pawn transactions, 2) and which would protect and strengthen cities authority to
regulate pawnshops.
Liability Limit Outside of Jurisdiction. The City supports legislation that would
limit liability against City emergency service providers when requested to provide
service on an emergency basis in another jurisdiction.
Photograpic Traffic Signal Enforcement: The City supports legislation that would
allow cities to employ photographic traffic signal enforcement.
9-1-1 Emergency Service Systems. The City opposes legislation that would
diminish the authority of cities to operate their own, independent 9-1-1 emergency
service systems.
Crime Control District. The City supports changes to the statute that would allow
the definition of city sales tax rather than county for city created crime control
districts.
ENDORSE
Community Service for Minors. The City supports legislation to eliminate the
requirement that mandatory community service imposed on a minor convicted of
certain alcohol or tobacco offenses be alcohol or tobacco-related.
Rabies Vaccinations. The City supports legislation to authorize designated local
rabies control authorities to vaccinate animals under their control for rabies and to
obtain vehicle owner records from law enforcement agencies in the course of their
required duties.
Impoundment of Uninsured Vehicles. The City supports legislation to authorize
the impoundment of motor vehicles that are not covered by insurance.
Nuisances. The City supports legislation which would allow a city to pursue
nuisance remedies against the owner of a multi-unit residential property who
knowingly permits certain violent criminal offenses to occur on the property.
Paint Sniffing. The City supports legislation to repeal Section 485.018, Health and
Safety Code, which prohibits a city from enacting an ordinance that requires a
business establishment to display abusable glue or aerosol paint in a manner that
makes the glue or paint accessible to patrons of the business only with the
assistance of personnel of the business.
Felony Forfeitures. The City opposes legislation which would detrimentally change
the existing felony forfeiture statute.
Smoking Regulation. The City opposes legislation which would weaken city
authority to regulate the sale, distribution, advertising, display, or promotion of
tobacco products.
Peace Officers. The City opposes legislation to authorize additional entities to
employ and commission peace officers.
VIII. UTILITIES
PRIORITY
Electric Industry Deregulation, The City supports continued electric industry
deregulation legislation but only if it 1) fully preserves municipal authority over
rights-of-way or other public property; 2) fully preserves municipal authority to
impose a right-of-way fee that:
a) is equal to that received prior to competition, and b) increases with growth; 3)
ensures that all citizens will benefit through lower rates; 4) assures that electric
system reliability and service quality will be maintained at standards equal to or
better than the reliability and service standards which exist today; 5) allows cities
to serve as aggregrators; 6) provides checks and balances against concentration
of market power through takeovers, mergers, acquisitions, or other means; 7)
protects the ability of a municipally owned utility (MOU) to operate profitably,
continues to exempt MOU's from regulation by the Public Utility Commission, and
protects the financial integrity of any city.
Right-of-Way Control. The City opposes legislation which would erode the
authority of cities to manage and control their rights-of-way and other public
property.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
Franchise Requirement for PUC Certificate. The City supports legislation which
would require an applicant for a Service Provider Certificate from the Public Utility
Commission to obtain a city franchise.
Underground Facilities Notification. The City opposes legislation that would
amend the Underground Facilities Statute to 1) raise the $1.25 cap on the fee paid
by a facility operator, 2) levy a fee on an excavator, 3) raise the registration fee
unless the fee is determined on a more equitable basis, and 4) require mandatory
participation by cities as Class B operators.
Sections 401 and 404 Certifications. The City supports legislation that, with
regard to Sections 401 and 404 certifications (Clean Water Act), would prevent the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) from expanding the
scope of its activities beyond that required by law.
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ENDORSE
Use of Water Courses. The City supports legislation which assures the unlimited
right of cities to use water courses in the state to discharge permitted wastewater.
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IX. ENVIRONMENT
PRIORITY
Effluent Use. The City supports legislation that would assist the innovative use of
wastewater effluent, including diversion into estuaries in lieu of water release
requirements from reservoirs.
Air Quality. The City supports continued allocation of financial resources for near
non-attainment areas, which is essential for those communities striving to remain
within federal guidelines for air quality.
National Estuary Program. During the last legislative session, the City of Corpus
Christi actively supported State funding of the local National Estuary Program. It is
an important priority that the program continue to be funded, possibly at an elevated
level.
Regional Water Planning. Under SB 1, which was passed during the last
legislative session, regional water planning groups were established across the
State. It is imperative that continued funding of these groups occur.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
Parks and Recreation. The City supports additional funding for State grants to
cities for park acquisition and development.
Beach Cleaning. The City supports full State funding of the beach cleaning
program.
Oil Spill Response Program. The City supports continued and expanded State
support for the Oil Spill Response Program and the location of a major center in the
Corpus Christi area.
Drainage/Stormwater. The City opposes further unfunded mandates with respect
to drainage and stormwater, and supports increased State programs to assist in
solving such problems.
Solid Waste. The City supports legislation which would: 1) create/continue state
incentives for demonstration projects of volume-based solid waste rates; 2) allow
for a refund of a portion of the solid waste tipping fee for cities that voluntarily
institute volume-based solid waste rates; 3) create/continue state incentives for
cities to voluntarily adopt yard waste bans; 4) allow creation of solid waste
management districts; 5) require the TNRCC to adopt the EPA's "503" rules relating
to land application of sludge and to encourage cities to pursue beneficial use of
sludge rather than landfilling; 6) prohibit the TNRCC from enacting a landfill
standard more stringent than federal law, and/or require the TNRCC to allow
maximum flexibility for landfills under federal law. The City opposes legislation which
would: 1) require cities to adopt volume-based solid waste rates or full-cost
accounting procedures for solid waste services; 2) eliminate existing incentives for
demonstration projects of volume-based solid waste rates; 3) impose a ban on yard
waste; 4) eliminate existing incentives for cities to voluntarily adopt yard waste bans;
5) require landfills to further identify the source of solid waste accepted at the
landfill; 6) expand the authority of counties or other entities to regulate the siting of
landfills that are part of a regional solid waste plan; 7) mandate waste separation
beyond current law; 8) mandate recycling beyond current law; 9) mandate
composting; 10) increase the solid waste tipping fee or change the allocation
formula in such a way that grants to cities from funds generated by the fee are
endangered; 11) erode the authority of cities to provide solid waste services in
newly annexed areas.
Glass and Plastic Bottles. Several states have enacted State-wide container
deposit laws for both glass and plastic bottles. Such a deposit system would
substantially enhance litter removal from public rights-of-way in the City of Corpus
Christi.
X. PERSONNEL
PRIORITY
City Medical Providers. The City supports legislation to include city employees
who provide medical services within the same limits on liability applicable to other
city employees.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
Emergency Response. The City opposes legislation which would erode current
municipal authority to establish standards relating to response of non-resident
employees to civil emergencies or which would in any other way, erode current
municipal options regarding residency policies.
Collective Bargaining Law. The City opposes legislation which would broaden
current law regarding adoption of collective bargaining.
State Fire and Police Civil Service. The City supports amending the State Fire and
Police Civil Service law to: 1) permit entrance examinations for police officers to be
held at different locations; 2) redefine the probationary period for police officers to
be either 12 or 18 months from the date of licensing; 3) permit score-banding in
entrance examinations; 4) require dismissal of police or fire personnel convicted of
a felony without civil service appeal; 5) permit full list certifications for all candidates
who pass the entrance examination; 6) extend the alternative promotional system
provision to fire departments; 7) extend experience provisions to fire fighters; 8)
authorize civil service commission to appoint independent expert to conduct
conclusive medical/mental examinations; 9) define "working day"; 10) define "year
of injury leave"; 11) permit cities to pool resources to develop and administer
entrance exams; 12) require police officers and fire fighters to notify their
departments if arrested or convicted of a crime; 13) extend the time to hear appeal
of disciplinary action from 30 to 45 days; 14) include "deferred adjudication" as a
conviction; 15) clarify that there is no appeal from decision of panel of physicians;
16) allow filling of a position following a determination that the officer is physically
or mentally unable to perform his duties; 17) allow the civil service commission to
set additional standards for a beginning position; 18) allow the civil service director
to certify three "suitable" candidates from the entrance eligibility list; 19) restrict
payment of up to 90 days sick leave to only one time for persons involuntarily
separated and who return to the classified service; 20) permit score banding on
promotional exams; 21) permit full list certification of all candidates who pass
promotional exams; 22) eliminate the option of requesting a third party hearing
examiner.
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ENDORSE
Internal Investigations. The City opposes legislation which would create special
employment rights for any group of public employees who may be the subject of
internal investigations.
Mandated Job Protection. The City opposes legislation that would erode the
employment-at-will doctrine.
Nepotism. The City opposes legislation that would invalidate any city nepotism
policies.
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Xl. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PRIORITY
Military. The City supports continued funding and legislative support of the Texas
Strategic Military Planning Commission.
Spaceport. The City supports efforts to procure the Spaceport for Texas and
supports efforts to set aside $50 million in State aid for the winning location.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
Economic Development Authority. The City opposes legislation which would
erode municipal economic development authority.
Child Care. The City supports increased, sustained State funding for child care.
Texas Public Libraries. The City supports legislation that would increase support
of Texas public libraries through TexShare and the Library of Texas for improved
access to electronic information.
E-Commerce Taxation. The City supports a level playing field for all businesses
whether they are locally operating or operating through e-commerce. The City
opposes any system of taxation which restricts a local government's ability to collect
sales tax on commerce over the internet.
ENDORSE
Executive Sessions. The City supports legislation to permit a governing body to
discuss economic development incentives in executive session.
Proprietary Information. The City supports legislation to assure that proprietary
information provided during the economic development application process be
confidential under law.
Waiver of Agricultural Rebate. The City supports legislation which would allow a
city the option of waiving the payment of three years of recalculated property taxes
when agricultural land is converted to a different use.
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Rail Policy. The City supports development of a rail policy to protect our citizens
from monopoly railroads.
Workforce Development. The City supports local control over employment
training programs, continuation of Smart Job training grants and the Skills
Development Fund, and State funding for adult literacy programs.
2O
Xll. EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION
PRIORITY
Design-Build. The City supports legislation that would allow cities to enter into
"design-build" contracts.
Procurement. The City supports legislation that would allow cities to increase from
$15,000 to $25,000 the procurement amount at which a city would be required to
seek competitive bids.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT
Effective Tax Rate Calculation. The City supports legislation that would allow a
city to adjust its effective tax rate calculation to account for mandated (statutorily-
imposed) reductions in general fund revenue.
Sales Tax Exemption. The City opposes legislation that would enact a sales tax
exemption that isn't a local option exemption.
Property Tax Exemption. The City opposes legislation that would enact a property
tax exemption that would be a substantial erosion of the tax base.
Delinquent Sale Tax. The City opposes legislation that would abolish the authority
of cities to sue for delinquent sales taxes or to join in an attorney general's suit.
Notification of Delinquent Amounts of Sales Taxes. The City opposes
legislation that would repeal the requirement that the comptroller notify cities of
delinquent amounts of sales taxes.
Rate Case and Complaint Dockets. The City supports legislation that would
establish the right of cities to recover expenses related to rate case and complaint
dockets within a reasonable time and require utilities to recover rate case expenses
out of stockholders' equity when a rate case is found to be unjustified.
Water or Wastewater Permittees Fees. The City opposes legislation that would
increase fees paid by water or wastewater permittees.
Sales Tax Pledge. The City supports allowing the pledge of sales tax for financial
obligation outside of economic development.
ENDORSE
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Open Meetings Act. The City supports legislation clearly exempting from the Open
Meetings Act attendance by a quorum at public community events, and clarifying
restrictions on meetings in less than a quorum. The City opposes making the Act
more restrictive.
Open Records Act. The City supports legislation which would change the date by
which requested information must be released after receiving a decision from the
Attorney General from 10 calendar days to 15 business days, and to change the
date to file suit challenging a decision of the Attorney General from 10 calendar
days to 15 business days from receiving the decision.
Municipal Court Fees. Repeal the statute imposing a court fee on any person who
seeks to pay a fine over time rather than immediately; or if that fails, legislation that
would clarify the statute by: 1) defining "immediately," and 2) stating whether the fee
is to be collected per offense or per defendant.
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