Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:03/17/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:02:02 PM to 02:42 PM
Acree
X
Bradford
X
Place:HCR 0111
Liston
X
McKinley
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Middleton
*
Representative Peniston
Schafer S.
X
Tipton
X
This Report was prepared by
Vigil
*
Raegan Robb
Waller
X
Soper
X
Peniston
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB09-020
SB09-105
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to Finance


02:03 PM


The committee chair, Representative Peniston, called the meeting to order.

02:04 PM -- Senate Bill 09-020

Representative Scanlan, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-020, concerning the command chain for wild land-urban fires, explained that the bill was recommended by the 2008 Interim Committee on Wildfire Issues in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas. She discussed the impact of the bark beetle epidemic on forests in Colorado and the increasing wildfire danger in the state. She explained that Senate Bill 09-020 provides for a unified command structure for the management of wild land fires in the state. The bill also addresses the adoption of a county wildfire preparedness plan for the unincorporated area of the county and urges cooperation between a county sheriff and any fire districts with jurisdiction over unincorporated areas. She addressed questions from the committee members concerning forests destroyed by bark beetles in the state and wildfire preparedness plans that are addressed by the bill.

02:09 PM

Joe Pelle, County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and discussed the strike-below amendment that was adopted in the Senate. Sheriff Pelle discussed the statutory powers of county sheriffs and fire district chiefs and talked about the need for a unified command structure for the management of wild land fires in the state. He explained the provisions of the bill and discussed the need for local and state entities to have guidance on the primary responsibilities for fighting wild land fires.






02:12 PM

Dave Parmley, Fire Chief, Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association, testified in support of the bill and discussed the high risk for severe wildfires in the state. Chief Parmley talked about the need for clarification in state law to organize the command structure for the management of wild land fires in the state. He also discussed the process of using local incident management teams to manage wildfires that exceed the capabilities of local fire districts and require mutual aid and outside resources. Chief Parmley addressed questions from the committee concerning the risk of wildfire in the Lake Dillon Fire District.

02:19 PM

Representative Scanlan explained prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment A).
BILL:SB09-020
TIME: 02:20:12 PM
MOVED:Soper
MOTION:Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Schafer S.
VOTE
Acree
Bradford
Liston
McKinley
Middleton
Schafer S.
Tipton
Vigil
Excused
Waller
Soper
Peniston
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

090317AttachA.pdf

02:20 PM

Representative Scanlan entered closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB09-020
TIME: 02:21:17 PM
MOVED:Soper
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-020, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:Bradford
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Excused
Waller
Yes
Soper
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:22 PM -- Senate Bill 09-105

Representative Scanlan, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-105, concerning the removal of a property tax limit to fight fires, explained her bill. She talked about the need to mitigate fire danger at the local level and discussed the statutory limit on the amount that a county can raise through a special property tax for the purpose of fighting fires. She explained that the current limit on the amount that may be raised is $500,000 per year, talked about the history of this statutory limit, and explained that the bill would allow county voters to approve a higher tax rate.

02:27 PM

Paul Cooke, Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association, testified in support of the bill, discussed the risks of severe wildfire in the state, and talked about the need for counties to ask voters to increase mill levies for fire protection.

02:29 PM

Chris Mendez, Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill and explained the history of the statutory property tax limit on the amount that a county can increase to fight fires. Mr. Mendez discussed the issue of local control and the ability of local voters to approve property tax increases to support fighting fires.

02:31 PM

The members of the committee made closing comments on the bill.





02:38 PM

Representative Scanlan addressed questions from committee members concerning methods that home owners and subdivisions are taking to mitigate surrounding forest fire fuels.

02:38 PM

Representative Scanlan made closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB09-105
TIME: 02:41:00 PM
MOVED:Soper
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-105 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a 9-1-1 vote.
SECONDED:Liston
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKinley
No
Middleton
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Excused
Waller
Yes
Soper
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:42 PM

The committee adjourned.