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Home My WebLink AboutResolution 4365-10-2014 I �I f I A Resolution NO. 4365-10-2014 i ADOPTING THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S 2015 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM WHEREAS, the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature will convene on January 13, 2015, and pre-filing of legislative bills began November 10, 2014; and G WHEREAS, each biennium, prior to the beginning of the regular session of the Texas Legislature, staff seeks input from the Mayor and Council, the City Manager's Office, City staff, and members of the Legislative delegation representing the City r regarding legislative issues that affect the City and the way in which it conducts its business; and I 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 I I WHEREAS, the attached City of Fort Worth 2015 State Legislative Program represents the recommended initiatives forwarded to City Council by the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee following its review of recommended initiatives on June 3, 2014 and July 15, 2014; and i WHEREAS, it is anticipated that other issues may arise prior to and during the 2015 legislative session and these will be brought before City Council at a later time; and WHEREAS, once City Council adopts the 2015 State Legislative Program, staff will distribute the program to members of the local state delegation, departments, agencies and upon request and to major cities in the state in furtherance of the 2015 State Legislative Program. I i NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: That the City Council: 1. Adopts the 2015 State Legislative Program as outlined in the attached document; and i FORTWWORTli �I Resolution No.4365-10-2014 2. Authorizes and directs the City Manager to distribute copies of the City's 1 2015 State Legislative program to members of the Texas Legislature, to other cities, and other interested parties; and 3. Authorizes and directs the appropriate City officials to send letters of support or to meet with legislators or state officials to discuss the City's position on the attached I initiatives; and 4. Authorizes and directs the City's Government Relations staff and the City's state legislative consultants to take the appropriate actions to advance the 2015 State Legislative Program before the Texas Legislature, the Administration and corresponding state agencies. i e of October, 2014. Adopted this 14th day � oell g11'Q,� ATTEST: �` gpb F°Ft �� II �79rC 0 I i coo o�� By — — —AVA -- -------------�¢' o° 0°�'� 00 Mary Kay serty Secretary ��$ °°o°O°o°°o ; i ap i i I ,I I I I i r I f ORTWORT l i i Funding for Mental Health Services for Homelessness j Support the continued funding for mental health services for the homeless I I Funding for Business Assistance Center & UNTHSC Support continued funding for the City of Fort Worth and UNT Health Science Cent for the Economic Development and Technology k Commercialization Partnership l G i Compatible Growth around Military Installations i Support legislation that enables tools to promote compatible growth such p as: Protecting the voluntary participation of coordinated efforts by municipalities surrounding military installations i i I I i i I i I j I j 2 I J I i 1 I I FORTWORTH , i 2015 State Legislative Program i I STATE FUNDING CATEGORY ' , Funding for Transportation Support legislative appropriations and options to fund transportation investment in Texas I j Funding for the Local Parks Grant Program Support the continued funding of local parks I j i 4 Funding for Library Resource Sharing Support the use of state funding for local libraries through shared partnerships with the state and other entities I I 4 Funding for Housing Retention and Supportive Services for the Homeless i Support the continued statewide funding for supportive services, work and j housing retention services for the homeless I i I i i I I I SEEK LEGISLATION CATEGORY i , Municipal Court Appeals to County Court i Seek legislation that will provide Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 5 and Tarrant County Criminal No.10 with jurisdiction to hear appeals of civil j ordinance violations from municipal courts. i Tax Foreclosed Property Resale I Seek legislation that will clarify that tax foreclosed property may be resold for any dollar amount by the City provided it uses the public sealed bid sale procedure. Foreclosure for Building Standards Commission issued Civil Penalties l Seek legislation that allows a general-law municipality or home-rule municipality to foreclose on a Building Standards Commission civil penalty as long as the property is not a homestead. Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits Seek legislation that allows a set aside for areas outside High Opportunity Areas to receive funding under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit ` Program. i I 1 I i 4 I t I , I 3 I i SUPPORT LEGISLATION CATEGORY i Support Legislation to allow Canine Encounter Peace Officer Training j Support legislation that provides mandatory uniform training for all Texas peace officers in canine encounters. i Support Legislation to decrease insurance cost for local transit agencies I Support legislation that would decrease the cost of liability insurance and ! other cost to local transit agencies across Texas. I i Land Use Authority in Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction Support legislation that will grant increased land use authority to local governments to promote responsible land development in extra-territorial jurisdictions I Public, Education and Government (PEG) Funds P Support legislation to allow flexibility in the expenditure by local governments of PEG Funds Texas Education System s Support legislation that improves the Texas education system and appropriations that provides adequate funding to the Texas public school finance system i i 1 I 4 I I i d I Community Health and Wellness Programs I Support legislation that will promote increased Community Health and f Wellness Programs i Healthy Work Environments and Healthy Work Places Support legislation that promotes healthy places of employment and healthy work environments Sales Tax Revenue for State and Local Parks k Support legislation for the constitutional dedication of sporting goods' sales tax revenue for the funding of state and local parks I f I Special Events Trust Fund f Support legislation that will continue to allow special events to be incentivized i i d i Recycling Facilities i I Support legislation that will give municipalities and the state greater authority to address illegal recycling facilities I Graffiti Legislation j d Support legislation that will enhance the ability of municipalities to address j prevention and control of graffiti G , i l 5 I i J i I FORTWORTH I GENERAL LEGISLATIVE POLICY i 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. I P i I i I I i 4 6 j i i i i FORTWORTH Preserve r I City's ability to uniformly impose property taxes City's ability to raise revenue City's ability to zone property i City's ability to safely and fairly annex property I City's ability to impose and collect reasonable storm water fees z City's ability to impose and collect reasonable impact fees i City's ability to participate in development in the ETJ 1 City's authority under the current vesting laws City's rights under the current sovereign immunity statutes City's rights and authority under the special districts laws City's rights and authority under the current eminent domain laws City's rights and authority under current environmental laws i i r , f 7 � I City's ability to make responsible decisions regarding its Municipal Pension System I City's ability to make decisions regarding responsible drilling within its jurisdiction G City's ability to utilize Red Light Cameras to promote public safety City's ability to assure that there is adequate water supply and sources for the citizenry in the future I I I 1 I i f i i l i E i 8