Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Date:02/05/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:30 AM to 08:58 AM
Becker K.
X
Brown
*
Place:SCR 356
Kefalas
X
Sonnenberg
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Baumgardner
X
Representative Vigil
Vigil
X
This Report was prepared by
Matt Becker
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB15-089
Project Prioritization		Committee Vote - Tie Vote
Allow OLLS to Continue Drafting and Recommend to JBC


07:30 AM -- SB 15-089

The committee came to order. A quorum was present. Mr. Bo Pogue, Legislative Council Staff, explained Senate Rule 42(a). Senator Leroy Garcia came to the table to present Senate Bill 15-089, pursuant to Rule 42(a) to the committee. Senator Garcia discussed the fiscal responsibility of court facilities by counties and by the state. Current law requires county governments to provide courtrooms and court facilities for the state judicial branch. He also discussed the poor building condition of several county court houses. Discussion ensued on the state's court facilities, the new judiciary facility in Denver, and other county buildings in rural counties. In response to a committee question regarding local courts, Senator Garcia responded that local courts are usually separate from state and county courts and that the bill only addresses the county portion. Discussion ensued on other state functions carried out by counties and on tax expenditures at the local and state level. In response to a committee question regarding the source of revenue planned to pay for the fiscal impact of the bill, Senator Garcia discussed the impact of a phased implementation on the General Fund. Discussion ensued on the prioritization of funding capital investment in the state.



07:49 AM

Senator Garcia stated that the last time a proposal similar to the bill was considered was in the 1960s. In response to a committee question regarding the phased two-group approach of transferring the fiscal responsibility for state court facilities from counties to the state, Senator Garcia stated that the groups were chosen based on county median household income. Discussion ensued on jail facilities in county courthouses.
BILL:SB 89
TIME: 07:53:05 AM
MOVED:
MOTION:Refer to the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee with no comment. The motion failed on a 3-3 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Brown
No
Kefalas
Yes
Sonnenberg
No
Baumgardner
No
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE

07:56 AM -- Project Prioritization

Ms. Kori Donaldson, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to discuss the prioritization of FY 2015-16 capital budget requests. Committee members received an updated list of FY 2015-16 capital budget request (Attachment A). Discussion ensued on the new project list. Ms. Donaldson stated that Capital Development Committee (CDC) staff recommends approving all cash-funded projects, except the Heat Detection Fire Alarm Systems Regional Centers project. The project requires a funding mechanism approved by legislation for depreciation that has not been finalized. The Joint Budget Committee (JBC) has requested that the committee consider sponsoring potential legislation related to the project. In response to a committee question regarding the pros and cons of the project, Ms. Donaldson responded that one of the benefits is the utilization of federal funds. One disadvantage is that it may require additional approval to seek spending authority by the committee. Discussion ensued on a minimum threshold for spending authority.

150205 AttachA.pdf150205 AttachA.pdf


08:06 AM

In response to a committee question regarding the amount of annual spending authority possible under the legislation, Ms. Donaldson stated that it is approximately $1 million.
BILL:Project Prioritization
TIME: 08:07:39 AM
MOVED:Baumgardner
MOTION:Allow OLLS to draft legislation related to the Heat Detection Fire Alarm Systems Regional Centers project, and approve and recommend to the Joint Budget Committee funding for all other cash funded projects. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Brown
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Ms. Donaldson discussed the recommended amount budgeted for capital construction projects in FY 2015-16. Discussion ensued on the certificates of participation (COP) lease payment for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Pueblo West lab. Ms. Donaldson also discussed differences between the amount recommended by Legislative Council Staff and the amount recommended by the Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB). In response to a committee question regarding COP payments, Ms. Donaldson stated that most of them have been referred to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) for possible inclusion in the operating budget. She also discussed a recent refinance of a COP project and additional revenue available from Federal Mineral Lease (FML) funds, that potentially allows for additional spending on capital projects. Discussion ensued on the history of FML funding for capital projects.


08:25 AM

Ms. Donaldson stated that the FML COP payment funds 12 higher education projects across the state. Discussion ensued on the total recommended budget for capital projects. Ms. Donaldson discussed the out-year costs associated with OSPB's recommended capital projects, as well as the projects referred to the JBC for possible inclusion in the operating budget.
BILL:Project Prioritization
TIME: 08:35:22 AM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Refer certain projects to the Joint Budget Committee for possible inclusion in the operating budget (see Attachment A). The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Brown
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

08:39 AM

Committee members received a summary of state-funded capital budget requests recommended by CDC staff (Attachment B). Discussion ensued on the tiered projects on the list. Discussion ensued on several DHS projects. Ms. Donaldson discussed potential legislation regarding the creation of a planning unit within the Office of the State Architect. This new unit has the potential to impact master plans, including the DHS master plan. Therefore, staff has recommended funding the planning unit, in lieu of funding the DHS master plan. Ms. Donaldson stated that the projects within tiers are not ranked in order.

150205 AttachB.pdf150205 AttachB.pdf

08:54 AM

In response to a committee question regarding the prioritization of DHS projects, Ms. Donaldson discussed the need for a more strategic approach to planning across all state agencies. Discussion ensued on the timing of the master planning funding.

08:57 AM

The committee adjourned.