Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:01/26/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:09:46 AM to 10:39 AM
Bacon
X
Entz
X
Place:SCR 353
Jones
X
Kester
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Tochtrop
X
Senator Hanna
Groff
X
Hanna
X
This Report was prepared by
Raegan Robb
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB06-053
SB06-074
SB06-095		Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


09:48 AM -- Senate Bill 06-053

Senator Takis, the prime sponsor, presented her bill to the committee. This bill increases the maximum lot size limit for required weed removal from residential lots within a county. The bill increases the lot size from one acre to two and one-half acre. Committee discussion centered on the change of lot sizes and the effects of such change to agriculture properties.


09:50 AM

Robert Coney, Director of Planning and Development, Adams County, testified in support of the bill. He elaborated on the need for the expansion of lot sizes in counties such as Adams County. Mr. Coney explained that counties have residential developments that require lots larger than a single acre and indicated that anything beyond two and a half acres would most likely be considered agricultural land. This law will help draw the line between lower density residential and agriculture properties.


09:54 AM

Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill. She commented that the number of acres needs to increase due to contemporary residential communities that are now being developed with larger individual lots.









09:55 AM

Senator Takis entered closing comments on her bill and responded to final questions from the committee.
BILL:SB06-053
TIME: 09:57:43 AM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Moved SB06-053 to Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the Consent Calendar. Motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Entz
Yes
Jones
Yes
Kester
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Groff
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


10:00 AM -- Senate Bill 06-074

Senator Shaffer, prime sponsor of the bill, presented the bill to the committee. Senator Shaffer explained that this bill addresses the enforcement of county zoning and building codes in several ways. The most notable changes resulting from this bill is the reduction in time frame that a violator has to cure a violation before a summons and complaint is issued and the bill also increases the amount of the civil penalties that may be levied on violators (Attachment A).

Committee members discussed the permit requirements of agriculture buildings according to each county's building code.


10:04 AM

David Hughes, Deputy Attorney, Boulder County's District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Mr Hughes explained the details of the bill concerning cases of building or land use compliance and the thirty day time frame for compliance. Mr. Hughes testified that this bill will shorten the process of issuing a summons or court order against violators of county building codes or land use compliance. Mr. Hughes and Senator Shaffer responded to questions and comments from the committee regarding the advantages of a shortened time frame to address violations and, additionally, the ability for counties to define and clarify and to adopt their own time frames according to a county's building or land use code.











10:14 AM

Jennifer Stanley, Assistant County Attorney, Adams County, testified in support of the bill stating that the time reduction provides a balance between providing violators time and expediting the process of brining violators into compliance. Ms. Stanley and Senator Shaffer addressed questions and comments from the committee regarding an extension period that may be granted to violators.


10:17 AM

Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties Inc., spoke in favor of the bill. Ms. Ratliff stated that counties need more control in how they deal with code violations in order to protect unincorporated communities from building and land use code violations (Attachment B).


10:19 AM

Senator Shaffer provided closing comments on the bill and introduced prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment C) and explained that the amendment requires liens placed against property for building or land use code violations must be recorded in the county clerk and recorder's office.
BILL:SB06-074
TIME: 10:19:02 AM
MOVED:Bacon
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment C). Motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Entz
Jones
Kester
Tochtrop
Groff
Hanna
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection















BILL:SB06-074
TIME: 10:21:03 AM
MOVED:Bacon
MOTION:Move SB06-074 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Entz
Yes
Jones
Yes
Kester
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Groff
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


10:27 AM -- Senate Bill 06-095

Senator Taylor, prime sponsor of the bill, presented his bill and explained that his addressed the inequity of special district board selections by clarifying the qualifications for voting in a special district election and setting limitations on the transfer of property rights as a means of qualifying as an elector in, or potential board members of, a special district.


10:30 AM

Evan Goulding, Special District Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr Goulding elaborated on Senator Taylor's points. Senator Taylor and Mr. Goulding responded questions from the committee and clarified the difference between Special District and Metropolitan District.


























10:35 AM

Senator Taylor provided closing comments on his bill to the committee.
BILL:SB06-095
TIME: 10:37:22 AM
MOVED:Entz
MOTION:Move SB06-095 to the Committee of the Whole with the recommendation that it be placed on the Consent Calendar. Motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Entz
Yes
Jones
Yes
Kester
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Groff
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


10:39 AM

The meeting adjourned.