Joint Committee Committee on Joint Local Government (01/26/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	01/26/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:03 PM to 03:15 PM	Acree	*
		Apuan	X
Place:	SCR 356	Bradford	X
		Cadman	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Foster	X
	Representative Peniston	Hodge	X
		Kester	X
This Report was prepared by		Liston	E
	Raegan Robb	Lundberg	*
		Massey	X
		McKinley	X
		Newell	X
		Priola	X
		Schafer S.	X
		Soper	X
		Vigil	X
		Schwartz	X
		Peniston	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
County Officials Salary Commission Colorado Retail Council Housing Issues Issues Affecting Municipalities Issues Affecting Counties Issues Affecting Special Districts Municipal Issues cont.		Discussion on potential draft legislation Briefing only Briefing only Briefing only Briefing only Briefing only Briefing only

02:04 PM - Call to Order

The meeting was called to order to Representative Peniston.

02:04 PM -- County Officials Salary Commission

On January 19, the Joint House Local Government and the Senate Local Government and Energy Committee received a report from the County Officials' Salary Commission that was created in Senate Bill 05-188. The commission is charged with making recommendations every four years to the General Assembly concerning the equitable and proper salaries to be paid to county elected officials. Representative Peniston explained that Senator Schwartz is seeking permission to sponsor a late bill to implement some of the recommendations of the County Officials' Salary Commission. These recommendations are specified in the commission's January 13, 2010, report that was submitted to the General Assembly. This report is available on the websites for the House Local Government and the Senate Local Government and Energy Committee.

02:07 PM

Troy Bratton, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained that he is drafting a bill to change when the County Officials' Salary Commission reports to the House Local Government Committee and the Senate Local Government and Energy Committee to implement the commission's recommendation concerning county surveyors.

02:09 PM

Committee discussion followed on the proposed legislation concerning county officials' salary including a provision to allow a county to opt out of or delay a salary increase specified in statute.

There was no testimony.

02:13 PM -- Colorado Retail Council

Chris Howes, Colorado Retail Council, described the mission and membership of the Colorado Retail Council. He also urged the committee to consider the impact of changes to sales tax collection policies on retailers. He also responded to questions from the committee about alternative policies to make sales tax collection less of a burden on retail businesses and he described the current economic climate for his members.

02:20 PM -- Housing Issues

Meghan Pfanstiel, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Home Association, explained that the association's members include retailers, developers, manufacturers, communities, and lenders involved with the modular and manufactured housing industry (Attachment A and B). She also described economic challenges affecting members of her association including lower vacancy rates for mobile home parks and reduced manufactured home construction and sales. She also responded to questions from the committee regarding energy efficiency construction standards for modular and manufactured housing.

02:26 PM

Nancy Engelken, Executive Director, Housing Colorado, described the mission of Housing Colorado and its effort to develop affordable housing in Colorado (Attachment C). She described the lack of affordable housing in certain communities in Colorado and the effect it has on employment levels and Colorado's business climate. She also described affordable housing policies in Nebraska and other states. She urged the committees to consider the potential effect of legislation on affordable housing in Colorado and she responded to questions from the committee.

02:37 PM -- Issues Affecting Municipalities

Kevin Bommer, Colorado Municipal League (CML), explained that his organization represents 264 municipalities in Colorado (Attachment D). He described how CML is governed and how it selects legislative policy priorities. He explained that CML is particularly interested in legislation concerning publication of municipal legal notices, regulation of medical marijuana facilities, urban renewal districts, voluntary rent agreements, regulation of beer and liquor sales, and changes to how Conservation Trust Fund moneys may be used. He also responded to questions from the committee about options to simplify the collection of sales taxes to address the concerns raised earlier by the representative of the Colorado Retail Council.

02:48 PM -- Issues Affecting Counties

Chip Taylor, Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI), introduced CCI staff attending the meeting and explained that all 64 of Colorado's counties are members of CCI. He also identified 2010 legislation that may significantly affect counties including the regulation of medical marijuana facilities, vehicle registration fees, urban renewal districts, and state budget cuts (Attachment E). He also responded to questions about efforts to reach agreement with representatives of municipalities on changes to state laws concerning urban renewal districts and tax increment financing.

02:59 PM -- Issues Affecting Special Districts

Ann Terry, Executive Director, Special Districts Association (SDA), introduced SDA staff attending the meeting (Attachment F and G). She also described the implementation of Senate Bill 09-87 concerning the transparency of special districts. In part, this law requires that audit, budget, and election information for special district be posted on the websites of the Division of Local Government and the Special District Association beginning January 1, 2010, and each year thereafter (Attachment H). She also identified legislation of interest to SDA tax increment financing, "time out" for the formation of special districts, and regional transportation authorities. She also responded to questions from the committee about potential changes to state urban renewal policies.

03:07 PM

Evan Goulding, SDA's Legislative Affairs Director, commented on potential legislation concerning urban renewal districts. He also responded to questions about the 2009 Interim Committee to Study School Finance and alternatives to address the state's budget shortfall.

03:12 PM -- Municipal Issues cont.

Mr. Bommer returned to answer questions about potential changes to state laws concerning urban renewal districts and whether such changes would be acceptable to both municipalities and counties.

03:15 PM

The meeting adjourned.