House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources (05/05/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	05/05/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:31 PM to 02:56 PM	Becker	*
		Buck	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Coram	*
		Garcia	E
This Meeting was called to order by		Lebsock	X
	Representative Fischer	McLachlan	X
		Mitsch Bush	X
This Report was prepared by		Rankin	X
	Brooke Maddaford	Saine	*
		Scott	X
		Sonnenberg	*
		Vigil	X
		Fischer	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB14-195 SB14-199		Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:33 PM -- SB 14-195

Representative Singer and Representative Sonnenberg, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 14-195. This bill, recommended by the Flood Disaster Study Committee, requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to commission a study to evaluate the growth and identification of phreatophytes in a portion of the watershed along the South Platte River affected by the September 2013 flood. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between high groundwater and nonbeneficial consumptive water use by phreatophytes, and to develop a cost analysis for removal of unwanted phreatophytes. The CWCB may contract with Colorado State University's (CSU) Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Program to conduct the study. CSU will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and weed management specialists from affected local governments. The CWCB is required to prepare and present a progress report to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Agriculture committees during the 2016 session, and a final report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2016. The study is repealed July 1, 2017. Committee discussion ensued on the bill.

Representative Fischer distributed a fact sheet regarding phreatophytes (Attachment A) and Amendment L.006 (Attachment B).

140505 AttachA.pdf

140505 AttachB.pdf

The following persons testified on the bill.

01:46 PM -- Jen Bolton, The Audubon Society and Colorado Trout Unlimited, said the organizations she represents are neutral on the bill. Ms. Bolton discussed her concerns about the bill and the lack of distinction in the bill between native and non-native phreatophytes. She talked about changes that she would like to see made to the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding these changes. Committee discussion ensued.

01:56 PM -- Tim Feehan, CWCB, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Feehan discussed CWCB's involvement in the drafting of the bill and the funding of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the Colorado Water Institute's involvement in the study that would be authorized by the bill.

02:01 PM -- Steve Sauer, Colorado Weed Management Association (CWMA), spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Sauer discussed the removal of Russian olive trees in Boulder county; flood impacts on Russian olive infestations; and the importance of the bill. Mr. Sauer responded to questions from the committee regarding native versus non-native phreatophytes; the management of phreatophytes; and the eradication of Russian olive trees.

02:09 PM

Committee discussion ensued on the bill and amendments.

02:19 PM

Representative Sonnenberg and Representative Singer closed their remarks on the bill.

02:23 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

02:25 PM

The committee returned to order.


BILL:	SB14-195
TIME:	02:26:42 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-195 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:	Coram
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	Buck	Yes
	Coram	Yes
	Garcia	Excused
	Lebsock	Yes
	McLachlan	Yes
	Mitsch Bush	Yes
	Rankin	Yes
	Saine	Yes
	Scott	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Vigil	Yes
	Fischer	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:27 PM -- SB 14-199

Representative Becker, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 14-199. Under current law, the town of Georgetown, Colorado must get approval from the General Assembly to amend its town charter. This bill approves updates to the town's charter that add new provisions, modify existing provisions and codify current practices, and eliminate obsolete provisions. Specifically, the amendments to the charter address the process by which the town's Board of Selectmen are elected, terms of office, and eligibility requirements; the conduct of town elections and how vacancies are to be filled; the manner in which the town's police judge (town Mayor) is elected, terms of office, and eligibility requirements; the authority and duties of the town's selectmen and police judge; proceedings for cases involving eminent domain and special districts; public notice requirements for ordinances; the appointment and roles of town officials; and the authority to establish a municipal court, and the procedures for the appointment and removal of a municipal court judge. The bill also codifies into the town's existing charter eight amendments that were approved by the General Assembly in previous years. Committee discussion ensued on the bill.

The following persons testified on the bill:

02:30 PM -- Lynette Kelsey, Craig Abrahamson, and Dr. Keith Holmes, representing the Town of Georgetown, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Abrahamson discussed the history of Georgetown; the intent and importance of the bill; and provisions discussed in the bill.

02:37 PM

Ms. Kelsey discussed the public process that took place to determine the changes that should be made to Georgetown's charter and Dr. Holmes discussed the importance of updating Georgetown's charter.

02:41 PM

Mr. Abrahamson responded to questions from the committee regarding the language used in Georgetown's charter and the distinction between territorial charter cities versus home-rule cities.

02:46 PM -- Kevin Balmer, Colorado Municipal League, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the importance of the bill. Mr. Balmer responded to questions from the committee regarding the safety clause in the bill.

02:52 PM

Representative Becker closed her remakes on the bill.


BILL:	SB14-199
TIME:	02:52:19 PM
MOVED:	Becker
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-199 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:	Saine
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	Buck	Yes
	Coram	Yes
	Garcia	Excused
	Lebsock	Yes
	McLachlan	Yes
	Mitsch Bush	Yes
	Rankin	Yes
	Saine	Yes
	Scott	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Vigil	Yes
	Fischer	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:53 PM

Representative Fischer thanked the committee for their hard work during his tenure with the House of Representatives. Committee discussion ensued.