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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 3966-02-2011A Resolution NO. 3966 -02 -2011 ADOPTING THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S 2011 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM WHEREAS, the 112th Session of the United States Congress convened on January 5, 2011; and WHEREAS, prior to the beginning of each U.S. Congressional session, the City Manager seeks input from the Mayor and Council, City staff, and members of the City's legislative delegation regarding legislative issues that affect the City and the way in which the City conducts its business; and WHEREAS, based upon the input received, proposed legislative initiatives are then taken to the City Council Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee for discussion and analysis; and WHEREAS, the attached City of Fort Worth 2011 Federal Legislative Program represents the recommended initiatives forwarded to City Council by the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee following its review of recommended initiatives on January 19, 2011; and WHEREAS, it is anticipated that other issues may arise prior to and during the 2011 legislative session and these will be brought before City Council at a later date; and WHEREAS, once City Council adopts the 2011 Federal Legislative Program, staff will distribute the program to members of our delegation, departments, agencies and upon request to major cities in furtherance of the 2011 Federal Legislative Program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: That the City Council adopts the 2011 Federal Legislative Program as outlined in the attached document. 2. That the City Council authorizes and directs the City Manager to distribute copies of the City's 2011 Federal Legislative program to members of the Legislature, other cities, and other interested parties. ORT WORMY Resolution No. 3966 -02 -2011 0 That the City Council authorizes and directs the appropriate City officials to send letters of support and to meet with legislators or federal officials to discuss the City's position on the initiatives outlined in the attachment. El That the City Council authorizes and directs the City's Government Relations staff and the City's federal legislative consultants to take the appropriate actions to advance the 2011 Federal Legislative Program before the U.S. Congress, the Administration and corresponding federal agencies. Adopted this 8th day of Februarv, 2011. ATTEST: By: Marty Hendrix, City Sec tary ORT WORTI T APPROVED CITY COUNCIL FEB 0 8 2011 �;c:- .,,,�; City Seaetwy of the City of Fort Worth, To= Resolution No. 3966 -02 -2011 2011 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE PROGRAM SUMMARY PROPOSED MAJOR 2011 GENERAL FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES: It is recommended, that the major issues the City should consider for a federal advocacy plan in 2011 include: • Defend against cuts to critical municipality operations programs such as LIHEAP, HOPE VI, WRDA, TEA -LU, etc. • Support Broadband for First Responders Act whose lead sponsor is now the Homeland Security Committee chair. Will improve interoperability for first responders • Support Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants which focus on enhancing regional emergency preparedness in major metropolitan areas • Support Weatherization Grants by the Department of Energy, designed to provide weatherization improvements to existing housing stock • Repeal or address IRS Form 1099 reporting requirement for all municipalities, small businesses, and real estate owner transactions over $600 annually PROPOSED MAJOR 2011 TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY, AND WATER INITIATIVES: It remains to be determined if transportation and/or energy and water projects will be carved out from an earmark exemption. It is recommended that if an opportunity arises the City be poised to immediately pursue the following: • Transportation — Concentrate on funding and enhancing the TIFIA program. It is undercapitalized and one of the major methods that NTTA and NTEMP are trying to raise capital to support the Southwest Parkway and I -35 Projects • Transportation — Support for the US Public Transit New Starts application for the SW2NE Commuter Rail Line • Transportation — Engage federal agencies to advance projects (FRA's release of funding for Tower 55) • Transportation — Support for addressing the federal gas tax law If earmarks are allowed: • Transportation - I -35 from US 287 to Denton County Line ($5 million for plan development, specifications and Estimates) • Transportation -- Interchange with I -30 in W. Fort Worth — Walsh Ranch Parkway ($10 million for construction only) • Water — Village Creek Peak Flow Storage /Holding Pond for excess wastewater during heavy rains (Estimated cost of $48 million -seek partial funding) • Energy /Sustainability — 3 year EECBG funding program which would include the following as related to both EISA2007 and ARRA2009 federal legislation for planning and strategy initiatives, lighting efficiency improvements, "Green" building initiatives, building improvements, traffic signalization initiatives, bicycle commuting initiatives, renewal energy initiatives, grant administration: Resolution No. 3966 -02 -2011 - Budget Year 1 /CFW FY13 $60 million - Budget Year 2 / CFW FY14 $60 million - Budget Year 3 / CFW FY15 $60 million - EECBG Program Year 2 / 2013 - 15 $180 million (Current EECBG funds similar efforts for 3- Budget Years, FY10 -12, and why the above begins in FYI 3) Support TRV Request - Energy and Water ($40 - $45 million) Support TRV Transportation (Bridges) Request ($17 million) Support TRV Transportation EDU HUD Request ($1 million) Resolution No. 3966 -02 -2011 DETAIL ON FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ISSUES TO WATCH/SUPPORT/DEFEND: SUPPORT/DEFEND CATEGORY: • Support/Defend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (Surface transportation bill for Transportation Public Works and Planning and Development) • Support/Defend WRDA Water Resources Development Act (Water) • Support Gas Pipelines Safety (Planning and Development) • Support appropriate Eminent Domain legislation (Planning and Development) • Support Region VI Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office regarding housing discrimination (Human Relations Commission) • Support Internet Sales Tax to allow the City to enhance its revenue from sellers and buyers out of state (Financial Management Services) • Defend/Support Build America Bonds (BABS) and other tools (Financial Management Services) • Support FY 2011 Commerce- Justice - Science Appropriations Bill (Fire- Emergency Management) • Support all electric generators, regardless of size, should be explicitly barred from the unlawful exercise of market power (Law/Utility Regulation) • Support cities harmed by wholesale market abuse, increases in fines and the prohibition of activities defined as market abuse (Law/Utility Regulation) • Support the modification of stationary purpose of the PUC Support and the prohibition of activities defined as market abuse (Law/Utility Regulation) • Support requiring competitive retail electric providers (REPS) to include at least one standard electricity package that has PUC approved terms and conditions (Law/Utility Regulation) • Support the increase of consumer representatives on the ERCOT Board • Support requiring the PUC to pre- approve all debt financing by ERCOT (Law/Utility Regulation) • Support appropriate legislation on PEG cable franchise fees in allowing funds to be utilized for operational expenditures as well as capital expenditures OPPOSE/REPEAL CATEGORY: • Oppose exemption Hotel Occupancy Taxes for Online Booking (Financial Management Services) • Oppose revenue caps /limits on telecommunications (Financial Management Services) • Oppose Additional SEC Oversight in the issuance of Municipal Securities and the GASB (Financial Management Services) • Repeal Expanded IRS Form 1099 (Financial Management Services) • Repeal Section 3402(t) of the IRS Code (Financial Management Services) • Oppose decreasing the authority of a city to be adequately compensated for the use of its right -of -way (Law/Utilities) • Oppose eroding municipal original jurisdiction relating to the ratemaking authority of electric utilities (Law/Utilities) • Oppose eroding municipal authority to require utility companies to pay the costs of relocating their facilities in a timely manner (Law/Utilities) • Oppose limiting current municipal authority related to the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (Law /Utilities) Resolution No. 3966 -02 -2011 • Oppose amending the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (Law/Utilities) • Oppose applying the Prompt Payment Act to utility bills submitted to a city (Law/Utilities) SUPPORT CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL GRANTS: • HUD Fair Housing for approx. $550K -$600K annually (Human Relations Commission) • EEOC Fair Employment for approx. $55K annually (Human Relations Commission) • Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) (Fire- Emergency Management) • Fire Prevention Safety Grant (Fire- Emergency Management) • Urban Areas Security Initiative (Fire- Emergency Management/Police) • State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) (Fire- Emergency Management) • Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) Program (Fire- Emergency/Management) • Citizen Corps Program (CCP) (Fire- Emergency Management) • Emergency Management Preparedness Grant (EMPG) (Fire- Emergency Management) • Support current level of funding for entitlement grants (Housing &Economic Development) • Support new funding for extended stimulus /ARRA related grants such as Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and Weatherization Grant (Housing &Economic Development) • Fort Worth Early Childhood Matters Initiative (Library) • Land and Water Conservation Fund (Parks & Community Services) • Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act (Parks & Community Services) • Reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Program of the Transportation Enhancements Program (Parks & Community Services) • 2011 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (Parks & Community Services) • Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR) Program (Parks & Community Services) • Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (Police) • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) High Priority Grant Program (Police) • Bulletproof Vest Protection (BVP) Program (Police) • COPS Secure Our Schools Program (Police) • Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (Police) • Solving Cold Cases with DNA (Police) • Human Trafficking Task Force Initiative (Police) • Safe Start Promising Approaches Project (Police) • G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Program (Police) • Homeland Security $13.7 million grant to assist with Police /Fire Training Center (Police) 4 Resolution No. 3966 -02 -2011 GENERAL LEGISLATIVE POLICY: • As a general policy, the City of Fort Worth seeks to preserve its authority to responsibly govern the City, its citizens, and its property. The City supports any legislation viewed as advancing the City's Comprehensive Plan or the City's Strategic Goals; or that improves the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; or that reduces the cost of governing the City. • In addition, the City will oppose any legislation viewed as detrimental to its Comprehensive Plan or its Strategic Goals; or that is contrary to the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; or that mandates increased costs or decreased revenues; or that would diminish the fundamental authority of the City.