AGENDA #1f

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            Ralph D. Karpinos, Town Attorney

 

SUBJECT:       Initial Public Forum on Potential Legislative Initiatives for 2005 Session of N.C. General Assembly

 

DATE:             January 26, 2005

 

 

Tonight’s public forum is an opportunity for Chapel Hill citizens to propose topics for the Council to consider in developing the Town’s legislative agenda for the 2005 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The North Carolina General Assembly was scheduled to convene today, January 26.   This year the General Assembly will hold a “long session” which generally means that there are greater opportunities for the consideration of bills of local interest.  The Council has a breakfast meeting with our local delegation scheduled for February 18.

 

Attachment 1 to this memorandum is a copy of the September 13, 2004, memorandum to the Council, providing a status report on the Town’s legislative requests and other items of interest considered by the General Assembly during last year’s short session.  According to that report, the issue of transfer of development rights (No. 3) was included as a topic authorized for study by the Joint Legislative Growth Strategies Oversight Committee.  A check with Senator Kinnaird’s office has confirmed that the Committee did not take up this subject this past fall and winter.    

 

DISCUSSION

 

Issues that were part of last year’s legislative agenda may again be subjects the Council would want to consider this year. (Some, such as support for fire protection funding for coverage of state-owned property, adjustments to transportation funding policy, and revisions to the homestead exemption, have already been mentioned.)   In addition, recent conversations have identified other, new topics, including:

 

  1. Requesting increase in funding for substance abuse treatment facilities in Orange County and for the hiring of additional local Alcohol Law Enforcement Officers.
  2. Repeal of State statutory prohibition on collective bargaining between public agencies and labor unions.  (N.C. General Statute Sec. 95-98)
  3. An adjustment to the law enforcement supplemental retirement allowance to provide that agencies contribute a pro-rata share of the allowance to the retiree based on years of service.

 

Citizen comment received by the Council prior to tonight’s public forum has included:

 

  1. A January 11, 2005, letter from Orange County Board of Commissioners Chair Moses Carey proposing the County and Town collaborate on legislative topics (Attachment 2).
  2. A January 12, 2005, message from Roland Giduz proposing the Town renew a request for enabling legislation for a tax on tickets to large venue entertainment events (Attachment 3).

 

After hearing from citizens, Council Members may wish to identify other potential legislative matters this evening prior to the upcoming meeting with legislative representatives.  We would suggest scheduling time on the Council’s February 14, regular business meeting for the Council to discuss legislative matters prior to meeting with the Legislative Delegation on February 18. 

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

  1. September 13, 2004, Legislative Update (p. 3).
  2. January 11, 2005, letter from Moses Carey (p. 7).
  3. January 12, 2005, message from Roland Giduz (p. 8).