Date: 04/23/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-179

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-179 to the Committee on ApproPASS



02:21 PM -- SB14-179

Representative Sonnenberg and Representative Foote presented and summarized Senate Bill 14-179 concerning the creation of a flood debris cleanup grant account to facilitate watershed cleanup efforts in areas affected by the September 2013 flood. The reengrossed bill creates the Stream Restoration Grant Account in the Flood and Drought Response Fund and transfers $2.5 million from the Disaster Emergency Fund to the stream restoration account. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has continuous spending authority for grant-making purposes to help pay the costs of watershed cleanup and stream restoration in areas affected by the September 2013 flood. The bill requires the CWCB to adopt criteria and procedures for awarding grants and requires that private entities and individuals be able to apply for grants. The CWCB is authorized to seek gifts, grants, and donations to increase the availability of grant funds. The account is repealed July 1, 2015, when the unexpended funds revert to the response fund.

Representative Foote and Representative Sonnenberg answered questions from the committee regarding the debris from the Fall 2013 flood and the restoration of the landscape. Representative Singer discussed the Flood Disaster Study Committee. Representative Sonnenberg answered questions from the committee regarding the CWCB.

02:29 PM -- Chris Sturm, representing the CWCB, spoke for questions only. Mr. Sturm answered questions from the committee regarding the restoration of a flooded stream and the debris. He discussed the debris that is being removed or reconfigured in a way that will help protect against future flooding.

02:32 PM -- Keith Cowan, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He said that he is the owner of the mobile home park that was destroyed by the flood. Mr. Cowan said, under current local govern policies, that he is responsible for the costs of the debris cleanup, without the ability to use the property in the future. He said that this bill is important in helping clean up the debris that has collected on the property. He said that the current debris is being brought to the dump and that the cleaning process is very costly. He answered questions from the committee regarding flood insurance and FEMA mitigation grants.

02:37 PM -- Donna Brosemer, representing the City of Greeley and the Colorado Water Congress, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the current assistance to the City of Evans in providing support for debris cleanup.

02:38 PM -- Jim Feehan, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He said he is the owner of a mobile home park that was destroyed in the flood and said that he will be able to rebuild the park. He said that he is responsible for the cost of the debris cleanup. Mr. Feehan discussed the costs of removing the debris and for rebuilding the mobile home park. He answered questions from the committee regarding the flood plain and flood insurance coverage.

02:42 PM -- Meghan Storrie, representing the Colorado Municipal League, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the current work on stream restoration.

02:43 PM -- Andy Karsian, representing Colorado Counties Inc., spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the provisions of the bill that will assist private landowners.

02:44 PM -- Ian Hyde, representing the Colorado Division of Emergency Management in the Department of Public Safety, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the current needs for environmental restoration and debris clean up. Mr. Hyde answered questions from the committee regarding met and un-met needs.

02:46 PM -- Brett Moore, representing the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the need of providing services for debris removal and answered questions from the committee on the source of the funds.

02:48 PM -- Leslie Irwin, representing Boulder County, spoke in favor of the bill and distributed images of the flood damage in Boulder County (Attachment A). She discussed the current cost of flood damage, and the un-met costs. Ms. Irwin discussed the long term process for providing restoration and the issues with spring and thunderstorm runoff that will cause debris and water ways to shift.

14HseLocal0423AttachA.pdf14HseLocal0423AttachA.pdf

02:53 PM -- Sandra Seader, representing the City of Longmont, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the impact of the flood on Longmont and the City Reservoir.

Representative Foote answered questions from the committee regarding the number of counties that would be supported by the provisions of the bill.

Representative Sonnenberg and Representative Foote answered questions from the committee regarding the effective start date for the bill and what counties will be covered.

Mr. Hyde was called back to the table. He said that El Paso County was included in the Presidential Emergency Declaration.

Mr. Sturm was called back to the table and answered questions from the committee and said that the provisions of the bill would be available to all flood affected counties, including El Paso County.

The committee members discussed their positions on the bill.

BILL:SB14-179
TIME: 02:55:57 PM
MOVED:Fields
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-179 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Vigil
VOTE
Dore
Excused
Exum
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Gardner
Excused
Landgraf
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Navarro
Yes
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Wright
Yes
Singer
Yes
Fields
Yes
FINAL YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:03 PM

The committee adjourned.