Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Date:01/22/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:32 AM to 08:07 AM
McFadyen
*
Penry
*
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
Kori Donaldson
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Department of Revenue FY 2009-10 Request
Parks Six-Month Waiver Request
Discussion About Approval Process for Higher Education Cash Projects		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Pass
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only


07:32 AM -- Department of Revenue FY 2009-10 Request

The committee came to order. A quorum was present. Ms. Roxy Huber, Executive Director, Department of Revenue, and Mr. John Vecchiarelli, CITA Business Sponsor, presented a FY 2009-10 state-funded request for the Colorado Integrated Tax Architecture (CITA) project. Committee members received a summary of the request, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment A). Ms. Huber addressed questions about the project timeline. Mr. Vecchiarelli said that in November 2010 the sales and use tax component of the project will be operational. Ms. Huber said the new system will be more adaptable to changes in technology and will be able to include future new revenue sources in the tax-collection system.

090122AttachA.pdf

07:37 AM -- Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Six-Month Waiver Request

Mr. Steven Cassin, Chief Financial Officer, and Ms. Olga Ivanova, Budget Analyst, both of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (Parks), presented a request to waive the six-month encumbrance deadline for the Boat Ramp Construction, Nighthorse Reservoir project. Committee members received a summary of the request, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment B). Mr. Cassin answered questions about the timing of project construction.

090122AttachB.pdf

07:41 AM

Representative Gagliardi joined the committee at the table. Mr. Cassin responded to questions about the source of funds for the project and the ongoing operation of the boat ramp.
BILL:Parks Six-Month Waiver Request
TIME: 07:42:56 AM
MOVED:McFadyen
MOTION:Approve the six-month waiver request for the Boat Ramp Construction, Nighthorse Reservoir project ($750,000 CF). The motion passed on an unanimous vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
McFadyen
Yes
Penry
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Bacon
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



07:43 AM -- Discussion About Approval Process for Higher Education Cash Requests

Several representatives of higher education institutions came to the table to discuss the current approval process for higher education cash-funded requests. Representatives included Ms. Kelly Fox, Interim Vice-President of Budget and Finance, University of Colorado (CU) System; Mr. Rich Schweigert, Chief Financial Officer, Colorado State University (CSU) System; Ms. Kirsten Volpi, Senior Vice-President for Finance and Administration, Colorado School of Mines (Mines); and Mr. Randal Haack, Chief Financial Officer, University of Northern Colorado.

Ms. Fox began the presentation by acknowledging the current economic climate and expressing her concerns about project delays caused by a lengthy approval process for cash projects. She explained that higher education institutions have a system of shared governance, which requires careful review of new projects at the college or university level before projects are submitted to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) or the legislature for approval. Ms. Fox explained that streamlining the CCHE and legislative review process could expedite project commencement by up to a year. She cited the CU-Denver New Pharmacy Research Building project as an example of a project that experienced delays in the required review process.

07:48 AM

Mr. Schweigert said the CSU system is very focused on finding ways to construct new academic buildings on its two campuses. He reiterated Ms. Fox's comments about the need to streamline the review process for cash-funded projects. He also said that it is preferable to start projects quickly when student fees or donor money is involved. Mr. Schweigert addressed a question about the average amount of time it takes for a project to make its way through the approval process.

07:53 AM

Ms. Volpi said Mines has a rigorous internal review process for capital projects. She gave a brief overview of the amount of pending capital projects on the Mines campus. Ms. Volpi then discussed the current climate of market volatility and the importance of flexibility to enter the market when rates are most favorable to bond for new projects. Ms. Volpi addressed questions about campus master plans, how debt is sold by higher education institutions, and student fees. Ms. Volpi explained that when the latest student fee was approved by the students in 2007, it was not contingent on state approval of any pending capital projects. Ms. Fox said the CU system has considered changing its requirements regarding approval of student fees and requiring a vote of all students, instead of a vote of just student leadership. Senator Schwartz asked the committee if there was a way that the CDC could help expedite the review process. Representative Riesberg suggested using a simultaneous review process by CCHE and legislative entities, rather than the current, linear approval process. Ms. Fox clarified that when capital construction projects are constructed with cash funds, these funds come from multiple sources and not just student fees.

08:02 AM

Mr. Schweigert said that the goal of the discussion was not to find a specific solution immediately, but to see if the committee is willing to find a way to expedite review of cash projects. Mr. Haack agreed briefly with his colleagues about the need for an expedited approval process. Senator Bacon expressed his willingness to pursue solutions. Representative Riesberg suggested that the committee continue the discussion about the approval process for higher education cash-funded projects at a future meeting.

08:07 AM

The meeting adjourned.