to: Mayor and Town Council
from: Ralph D. Karpinos, Town Attorney
subject: Adoption of Legislative Agenda for 2009 Session of the N.C. General Assembly
date: March 9, 2009
The attached resolution would express the Town Council’s position on a number of local and statewide legislative subjects for the 2009 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly. Public Notice of this matter, inviting public comment and including the list of potential issues for inclusion on the Town Council’s Legislative Agenda was published in the News and Observer on February 27 and in The Chapel Hill News on March 1.
The General Assembly convened in January to begin what is traditionally referred to as a “Long Session,” in which the members of the House and Senate have an opportunity to consider a wide range of proposed bills, both state-wide and local bills.
The deadline for local bills to be to be submitted for the House is March 18. The deadline for submittal of local bills to the Legislative Drafting Office for the Senate was March 3
Prior to this evening the Council conducted a public forum to receive public comment on potential topics for its legislative agenda on February 9, 2009 and, on February 23, met with Senator Eleanor Kinnaird and Representatives Bill Faison, Joe Hackney, and Verla Insko to discuss the 2009 Session of the General Assembly and legislative matters of interest to the Town Council.
Based on the Council’s prior discussions, its meeting with the Delegation and the specific topics which were discussed with the Delegation, the following list of issues has been prepared to tentatively reflect the Council’s interests in local and statewide legislative matters for the 2009 Session of the General Assembly. Based on comments from members of the Legislative Delegation in previous conversations, we understand that the Council should consider indicating its priority ranking when it sends its list to the Delegation.
Local Issues
1. A local bill to allow disclosure of personnel information to a citizen review panel established to review disciplinary matters for Town police employees or, possibly, all Town employees. (Please see the attached Quick Report about the February 23, 2009 meeting of the Council Committee on Response to the Petition for a Civilian Review Board.)
2. A local bill to permit a tax on tickets purchased for large entertainment and sports events, with the revenue dedicated to the support of public transit and transportation programs.
Statewide Issues
1. Support for State legislation to increase the emphasis on bicycle safety issues in drivers’ education courses and on the State drivers’ license examination.
2. Support for State legislation to affirm the Jordan Lake watershed regulations adopted by the N.C. Environmental Management Commission.
3. Support for State legislation that would further regulate or prohibit the use of herbicides for the clearing and maintenance of easements and rights of way by utility companies.
4. Support for changes to State law to lower the metering fees assessed by utility companies for facilities that produce electricity from renewable sources.
5. Support for changes to State law to provide additional funding options for local transit services.
That the Council make any adjustments to the attached resolution it deems appropriate and then adopt its Legislative Agenda for 2009.
NEXT STEPS
Following tonight’s meeting we will forward the Council’s adopted resolution to our delegation. Where feasible we will include draft language on local bills and references to other bills that have been prepared in prior years that reflect the local bills of interest to the Town.
1. Feb. 23, 2009 Quick Report from Council Committee on Response to Petition for Civilian Review Board (p. 4).