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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 12/4/2007 *PLEASE NOTE: Since the Glendale City Council does not take formal action at the Workshops, Workshop minutes are not approved by the City Council. MINUTES CITY OF GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP DECEMBER 4, 2007 1:30 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Elaine M. Scruggs, Vice Mayor Manuel D. Martinez, and Councilmembers Joyce V. Clark, Steven E. Frate, David M. Goulet, Yvonne J. Knaack, and H. Phillip Lieberman ALSO PRESENT: Ed Beasley, City Manager; Pam Kavanaugh, Assistant City Manager; Craig Tindall, City Attorney; and Pamela Hanna, City Clerk 1. INTERGOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT 2008 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA CITY STAFF PRESENTING THIS ITEM: Ms. Jessica Blazina, Intergovernmental Programs Director; Mr. Greg Montes, Intergovernmental Programs Deputy Director; and Mr. Ryan Peters, Intergovernmental Programs Coordinator. This is a request for the City Council to review and provide guidance on the 2008 state legislative agenda. The Council-approved legislative agenda defines Glendale's priorities for the upcoming legislative session and will guide the city's lobbying activities at the Arizona State Legislature. The Intergovernmental Programs staff recommends prioritizing the legislative agenda to key principles to allow the city to have a stronger, more consistent message on the items of greatest priority. The proposed priority principles for consideration are described in the report that was presented to the Council with the agenda item. The Intergovernmental Programs staff will come before the Council on a regular basis throughout the session to obtain policy direction on bills and amendments that may be introduced. The city's legislative agenda is a flexible document and may change based on activities at the Legislature and with Council direction. The 2008 state legislative agenda includes policy statements intended to protect and enhance the quality of life for Glendale residents by maintaining local decision-making authority. 1 Throughout the legislative session, policy direction will be sought on bills relating to the financial stability of the city, public safety issues, promoting economic development, managing growth and preserving neighborhoods. Prior to each legislative session, the Intergovernmental Programs staff seeks Council adoption of the city's state legislative agenda. The 48th Legislature's Second Regular Session is set to begin on Monday, January 14, 2008. Governor Janet Napolitano will give her State of the State address on this same day. The key principles of the proposed state legislative agenda are to preserve and enhance the city's ability to deliver quality and cost-effective services to citizens and visitors; address quality of life issues for Glendale residents; enhance the Council's ability to serve the community by retaining local decision-making authority; and to maintain state legislative and voter commitments for revenue sources. Staff is requesting the Council to provide policy guidance on the proposed City of Glendale 2008 state legislative agenda. Ms. Jessica Blazina, Intergovernmental Programs Director; introduced the newest members of the staff. Mr. Greg Montes will be serving as the Intergovernmental Programs Deputy Director and Mr. Ryan Peters will serve as the Intergovernmental Programs Coordinator. She summarized the major goals for the city and provided a slide presentation with the following objectives being proposed. Glendale Legislative Principles Preserve and enhance the city's ability to: • Deliver quality and cost-effective services to Glendale citizens and visitors. • Serve Glendale residents by retaining local decision making authority and maintaining state legislative and voter commitments for revenue sources. Glendale Legislative Priorities - Fiscal Sustainability • Preserve State Shared Revenues at the 15% distribution level • Maintain Revenue Streams/Directed Funding Sources • Preserve Local Taxing Authority • Oppose Unfunded Mandates Glendale Legislative Priorities - Economic Development • Maintain the ability to execute economic development projects • Enhance the range of economic development mechanisms Land Use Planning • Maintain local authority in land use policies. • Encourage citizen involvement in planning and zoning processes. • Oppose efforts to impede growth management or restrictions to redevelop under- performing areas. 2 Military Preservation • Preserve the mission viability of Luke Air Force Base • Retain existing state statutes, compatible land uses, and efforts to limit encroachment and ensure capability for future mission expansions Neighborhoods • Preserve and enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods • Encourage active citizen involvement in the development of public policy Public Safety • Preserve and enhance the city's ability to strategically plan for and respond to emergencies Transportation • Support the voter approved Proposition 400 and regional coordination • Oppose efforts to limit local control in the decision-making process or hinder the implementation of Proposition 400 • Encourage additional tools to provide for transportation improvements Water • Ensure the wise use of natural resources and promote environmentally sensitive and sustainable development Ms. Blazina asked for any question or comments. Councilmember Lieberman asked if there had been any discussions on the preservation of state shared revenues and attempts at reduction. He asked if there had been any discussion as to who would sponsor legislation. Ms. Blazina noted that all options were on the table in an attempt to address the state deficit; however they had heard nothing specific so far. Councilmember Lieberman commented that he believed attempts for the process had been dropped for a couple of years. Ms. Blazina stated that he was correct. She noted that there had been a two year hold harmless agreement; however it was now at an end and required action to be taken. Councilmember Lieberman asked in regards to economic development, if there were any new developments or proposals on state revenues, regarding incentives. Ms. Blazina stated that she had not heard any specifics; however she believes it to be an issue that would have to be addressed and soon be on the table. Councilmember Lieberman asked if this was Mr. John Nelson's last year in office. Ms. Blazina stated that she believed it was. Councilmember Lieberman commented that they would also have to wait and see the role the Governor would play in the budget. Councilmember Goulet welcomed the new staff members. He asked for clarification on some figures Ms. Blazina had presented earlier in her presentation. Ms. Blazina stated that those were numbers that were reached as a compromise in 3 conjunction with the income tax reduction. She stated that there had been a two year lag in the city's collection so that cities would be held harmless. Councilmember Goulet commented on rural and urban perspectives on collection of state shared revenues. He asked if she believed or heard it was a problem. Ms. Blazina stated that urban and rural communities both shared in the state share revenue distribution and believes them to be unified. Councilmember Goulet asked if the League was going to encourage all members to deal with the incentive issues. He said that the issue had been a contention issue between cities. He asked for her thoughts on this issue. Ms. Blazina stated that discussion had been ongoing within the League and they would all be working in conjunction for the betterment of all cities. Councilmember Goulet commented that in regards to preserving and enhancing the quality of life in neighborhoods, this often meant additional money, which was always a problem. He asked if the League would be requesting from the states more federal money, if state money was not available. Mr. Blazina stated that he was correct. The City of Glendale had always been supportive of federal grants. She added that they would continue to explore all avenues of funding. Councilmember Clark stated that her question related to public safety. She asked that with all the government cuts in homeland security, would there be any changes or cuts with the grants currently received today. She said that she would also like to know how much was currently received to prepare for any changes to the general fund. She followed up with a question on how to preserve state shared revenues. She noted that she was unclear on the appropriation of funds verses the formula method. She noted that she disagreed with the change because with appropriation of funds, the funds could be granted or not, dispersed in any amount, and given out on any fiscal year. Ms. Blazina stated that the change occurred when the income tax reduction came into effect. It was done as part of a negotiation agreement. She said the distribution had been done as an appropriation. She added that each felt it was a slippery slope, however at the time of the negotiations it had been the best option. Mayor Scruggs added that the League's process to support a particular position was not always a democratic process. She added that it was often decided by a few cities. Councilmember Clark reiterated her concern with appropriations verses the formula process. Mayor Scruggs agreed with Councilmember Clark's concerns and believed it to be a poor precedent. Councilmember Clark asked if anyone had brought before the League the idea to codifying state statute with regards to the acceptance of the appropriation or formula method. Mayor Scruggs commented that there was already a state law on the books, however there were those who believed that those laws could be changed if it occurred before Proposition 205. She added that discussions were ongoing regarding this matter; however nothing would be done this year. Consultants had been retained to gage the 4 public's opinion and educate the public on this issue. Additionally, the president of the League would be forming a committee made up of Mayors of up to five cities, geographically based to represent the entire state. Councilmember Frate commented on the water and environmental issues. He noted that he had heard several concerns from the public regarding the sustainability of the quality and quantity of the water in Glendale. He said they were concerned with the water supply in the future, as well as environmental issues regarding the whole state. Vice Mayor Martinez commented on issues addressed at a Governor's summit. He said that the issues discussed were many of the issues being discussed at this workshop. He said the Governor had stated her support to retain 15% of the shared revenues. He noted that the Governor had stressed education of the legislature for elected representatives in order to be successful. Vice Mayor Martinez commented on Councilmember Goulet's observation on rural cities coming together and opposing larger cities for state revenues. He noted that many cities were represented at the summit meeting and the issue of revenue had not come up as an issue. He saw this as a positive sign. Mayor Scruggs added that they were very fortunate to have retained an extremely unified position with towns and cities throughout the state. She informed them of allocations given to six small cities that had been approved and supported by the League. She stated that those six cities would receive a minimum amount of shared revenues, even if they did not have the required 1,500 person threshold. She said this practice was helpful in keeping with the unification of the cities. Mayor Scruggs asked a question on two pieces of legislation being proposed on property taxes in addition to the current initiative being circulated today. She commented on Proposition 13 in California. She noted her concerns centered on increases previously experienced in tax property evaluations. Ms. Blazina stated that it was still too early in the process to speak on it; however they were evaluating those proposals at the moment. She added that she will get back to Council with an update as soon as possible. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m. 5