House Committee on Local Government (04/02/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	04/02/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 03:23 PM	Balmer	X
		Conti	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Fields	X
		Gardner B.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Labuda	*
	Representative Bradford	Lee	*
		Pace	*
This Report was prepared by		Soper	X
	Raegan Robb	Swerdfeger	X
		Szabo	X
		Bradford	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB12-124 SB12-118		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:32 PM

Representative Bradford, committee chair, called the meeting to order.

01:32 PM -- Senate Bill 12-124

Representative Nikkel, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-124, concerning the elimination of the limit on the number of regional tourism projects that the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) may approve. Representative Nikkel, explained that current law limits the number of regional tourism projects that the EDC may approve to two initial projects in 2012, plus two additional projects in calendar years 2013 and 2014. The bill eliminates the limit and specifies that any pending applications must be approved or disapproved before the commission may consider new applications.

01:35 PM

Patricia Silverstein, representing the Economic Development Council of Colorado and the Douglas County Regional Tourism Authority, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of tourism in Colorado. Ms. Silverstein discussed the importance of new tourism projects in Colorado and responded to questions from the committee concerning the benefits of regional tourism in the state and the current statutory limits on regional tourism projects. Committee discussion ensued concerning the EDC's selection process for regional tourism projects, which were established by Senate Bill 09-173.

01:54 PM

Linda Cassaday, Deputy City Manager for the City of Glendale, testified in support of the bill and talked about a pending tourism project submitted to the EDC by the City of Glendale. Ms. Cassaday discussed the importance of local tourism dollars, responded to questions from the committee, and explained how regional tourism projects would implement tax incremental financing (TIF).

01:58 PM

Michael Gifford, President of the Colorado Association of General Contractors, testified in support of the bill and discussed the relationship between tourism and the overall economic health of the state. Mr. Gifford responded to questions from the committee.

02:04 PM

Michael Dunafon, Mayor of the City of Glendale, testified in support of the bill and talked about the importance of economic development in the City of Glendale.

02:10 PM

R.J. Hicks, representing the Jefferson County Business Lobby, testified in support of the bill and discussed the economic importance of regional tourism projects in the state.

02:12 PM

Terence Quinn, representing Douglas County, testified in support of the bill and discussed pending tourism projects in Douglas County that were submitted to the EDC to receive regional tourism funding and for inclusion in the state TIF calculation.

02:19 PM

Mark Latimer, representing the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to increase the amount of state funding and the number of regional tourism projects submitted to the EDC. Mr. Latimer addressed questions from the committee concerning the long-term benefits of successful regional economic tourism projects.

02:23 PM

Tony Milo, representing the Colorado Contractors' Association, testified in support of the bill and talked about the importance of future economic development in the state.

02:25 PM

Carol Hedges, representing the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, testified against the bill and discussed the history of regional tourism projects and the limits placed in law under Senate Bill 09-173. Ms. Hedges talked about the loss of state revenue that will be allocated for regional tourism projects funded through TIF if the bill passes. Ms. Hedges talked about the current $50,000 limit for regional tourism projects and the loss of state revenue for tourism projects approved for TIF.

02:34 PM

Discussion ensued among Ms. Hedges, Representative Nikkel, and the committee concerning the importance of regional tourism projects and the impact to state revenue by tourism projects funded by TIF. Ms. Hedges responded to questions from the committee concerning the current statutory limits on regional tourism projects and how TIF would be implemented by the EDC for future regional tourism projects.

02:52 PM

Representative Nikkel made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-124
TIME:	02:54:37 PM
MOVED:	Balmer
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-124 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Szabo
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:56 PM -- Senate Bill 12-118

Representative Acree, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-109, concerning the repeal of the requirement for a hotel and restaurant alcohol license that 25 percent of sales must be from meals. Representative Acree explained that the bill repeals the requirement that an establishment with a hotel and restaurant alcohol license must make at least 25 percent of its gross income from the sale of food. She responded to questions from the committee concerning the definition of a hotel and restaurant alcohol license under state law.

02:58 PM

Pete Meersman, President of the Colorado Restaurant Association and also representing the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, spoke in favor of the bill and addressed questions from the committee concerning the qualifications for a hotel and restaurant alcohol license. Mr. Meersman explained the various types of liquor licenses in state law and talked about problems with the 25 percent food requirement. Mr. Meersman explained that the reengrossed version of the bill requires that any establishment with a hotel and restaurant alcohol license must show that the 25 percent requirement was met in any one-year period.

03:08 PM

Patrick Moroney, Chief of Investigation for the Liquor Enforcement Division within the Department of Revenue, responded to questions from the committee regarding the enforcement of the 25 percent threshold. Mr. Moroney clarified the difference between tavern licenses and hotel and restaurant licenses and responded to questions from the committee concerning the statutory definition of food.

03:19 PM

Kevin Bommer, representing the Colorado Municipal League (CML), addressed the committee to explain that CML withdrew their opposition to the bill and discussed the state and local the liquor licensing process for hotel and restaurant alcohol licenses.

03:22 PM

Representative Acree made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-118
TIME:	03:22:28 PM
MOVED:	Szabo
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-118 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Conti
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:23 PM

The committee adjourned.