AGENDA #11a
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
Ralph Karpinos, Town Attorney
SUBJECT: Continued Discussion of Potential Legislative Initiatives for 2005 Session of N.C. General Assembly
DATE: February 28, 2005
This agenda item has been scheduled to provide an opportunity for the Council to further consider and determine which potential legislative topics it wishes to raise with our Legislative Delegation on March 4, 2005.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On February 14 the Council identified and discussed briefly a number of potential legislative topics of interest. Attachment 1 is a copy of that agenda report. We believe the following list includes all the topics that have been cited by Council members, staff and citizens as subjects of interest for possible presentation to the Legislative Delegation:
1. Authorization of a per-ticket fee on events at large venues, possibly with the revenue being earmarked for public transportation or public safety funding.
2. State registration of beer kegs. (See memorandum from Police Chief Gregg Jarvies, Attachment 2).
3. Repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
4. Opposition to the proposed Constitutional amendment defining marriage as only the union of one man and one woman. (See Senate Bill 8, Attachment 3). A similar bill (House Bill 55) has been introduced in the House.
5. Support for adjustments to the homestead tax exemption (See House Bill 36, Attachment 4).
6. Reconsideration of a local bill to authorize an additional tax on utility bills to provide funding to put overhead power distribution lines underground.
7. Application of state vehicle regulations to electric personal assistive mobility devices.
8. Repeal of the state law prohibiting public sector employee collective bargaining.
9. Support for the League’s position regarding annexation law.
10. Continue to seek additional state funding for the provision of Town fire protection services to state facilities on the University of North Carolina campus and throughout Town;
11. Support additional substance abuse treatment facilities in Orange County and the hiring of additional local Alcohol Law Enforcement Officers.
12. Support an adjustment to the law enforcement supplemental retirement program to provide that each agency where a retiree worked shall contribute a pro rata portion of the retirement allowance rather than having the entire allowance paid by the last agency where the retiree served.
13. Support a change in state law to reaffirm the confidentiality of public agency attorney work product and attorney-client communications involving public agencies and their counsel.
14. Repeal of the Town’s authority to operate automated camera equipment to cite red light traffic violations.
The Council tonight has the opportunity to decide which topics it wishes to discuss with the Legislative Delegation at our annual breakfast meeting with them, on March 4 at 7:30 a.m.
Members of the Orange County Legislative Delegation have introduced in both the Senate and House blank bills as place holders for possible local legislation that would affect Orange County only.
CONCLUSION
Following the Council’s meeting with the Delegation we propose that the Council formally adopt a resolution establishing its legislative agenda. We believe the scheduling of the Council’s consideration of its legislative agenda should take into consideration guidance we receive from the Delegation on March 4.
RECOMMENDATION
The Manager recommends that the Council identify tonight those subjects it wishes to discuss with the Legislative Delegation on March 4 as potential legislative requests.
ATTACHMENTS
Additional Information for
Legislative Agenda Item for February 28, 2005
Additional Legislative Issue: Support for VIPER System Funding