Joint Committee Committee on Capital Development (02/17/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Date:	02/17/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	07:34 AM to 08:38 AM	Kopp	X
		McFadyen	*
Place:	SCR 356	Schwartz	X
		Sonnenberg	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Bacon	X
	Representative Riesberg	Riesberg	X

This Report was prepared by
	Jennifer Moe
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Division of Wildlife FY 2009-10 Six-Month Waiver Request Discussion About Projects Subject to the Capital Spending Freeze		Pass Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

07:34 AM -- Division of Wildlife FY 2009-10 Six-Month Waiver Request

The meeting came to order. A quorum was present. Representative Riesberg reminded the committee that it recently approved cash fund spending authority for the Division of Wildlife's FY 2009-10 request for the Colorado Outdoor Educational Recreation Center. Committee members received a description of the request, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment A). Representative Riesberg explained that a waiver of the six-month encumbrance deadline was part of the request, but the committee's action on the project did not include approval of the waiver request.


BILL:	Division of Wildlife FY 2009-10 Six-Month Waiver Request
TIME:	07:37:42 AM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Approve the six-month waiver request for the Colorado Outdoor Educational Recreation Center project ($3,000,000 CF). The motion carried on a vote of 5 - 1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	No
	Bacon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

07:38 AM -- Discussion About Projects Subject to the Governor's Capital Spending Freeze

Representative Riesberg opened the floor for discussion about capital projects subject to the Governor's capital spending freeze. Committee members received a letter from the Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) regarding capital freeze exemptions (Attachment B), and a list of OSPB's capital freeze exemption decisions (Attachment C). Representative Riesberg invited discussion about Attachment C. Mr. Brad Membel, Director of Facilities Services, and Mr. Richard Markovich, Manager of Planning and Architecture, both of the Department of Human Services (DHS), came to the table at the request of the committee to answer questions about specific DHS capital projects for which exemptions were requested. Representative McFadyen suggested making a recommendation to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) that projects with health and life-safety components be the first to be released from the freeze when it is lifted. Discussion ensued about how to interpret Attachment C and about specific projects in Attachment C, including project #11 and projects #38 through #43.

07:57 AM

Mr. Membel and Mr. Markovich continued to answer questions about the projects in Attachment C. Discussion shifted to the impact of not funding specific projects in Attachment C, and why exemptions for some projects were denied. Regarding questions about project #40, Mr. Membel explained that DHS did not receive a freeze notice from OSPB until January 29, 2009, so DHS began construction on the project on January 27, 2009. Discussion turned to how federal stimulus money might be allocated for specific projects, who would be authorized to make such allocations, and the process the committee might use to allocate money to projects in a priority order.

08:08 AM

Mr. Markovich spoke about projects #41 through #43 in Attachment C, and noted that Adams County recently closed on the land for project #46. Committee members commented. Representative Sonnenberg asked about redirecting severance tax funds, or other cash funds, for capital construction and maintenance needs, to the extent that severance tax funds are currently allocated to the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (Parks) and the Division of Wildlife. Discussion ensued.

08:20 AM

Discussion continued about severance tax funds and the funding sources for specific Parks projects. Committee members discussed possible ways to fund Parks projects. Representative Sonnenberg clarified that, in light of the state's budget and pressing needs, he had concerns with the funding sources for a handful of Parks projects, not all of the projects.

08:40 AM

The committee adjourned.