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Item 4B - Memo M E M O R A N D U M October 9, 2018 To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager From: Ben Thatcher, Assistant City Manager Subject: Item 4B - City of Southlake Legislative Agenda Action Requested: Approve Resolution 18-044, adopting a legislative agenda for the 86th Texas Legislative session. Background Information: Every two years the Texas Legislature meets in regular session. Over the last several years the Legislature has taken up a number of issues that were thought to be, by some, an aggressive stance with regard to City’s rights to govern themselves in accordance with the desires of the City’s citizens. The City of Southlake wants to ensure that it has the ability to preserve its current authority to govern the City, its citizens and property. The City has developed the attached legislative agenda for consideration by the City Council. The City’s General Legislative Policy is: STATEMENT OF PRESERVATION As a general policy, the City of Southlake seeks to preserve its current authority to govern the City, its citizens, and its property in accordance with its strategic goals and interests. The City will oppose any legislation viewed as detrimental to the City’s strategic goals; or that is contrary to the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; or that mandates or results in increased costs or loss of revenues; or that would diminish the fundamental authority of the City and the City Council that has been elected to govern. POSITIONS OF SUPPORT The City supports any legislation viewed as advancing the City’s strategic goals and interests; or that improves the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; or that responsibly increases revenues; or that advances the City’s authority to conduct the public's business. Honorable Mayor and City Council City Legislative Agenda Page 2 of 6 POSITIONS OF OPPOSITION The City will oppose any initiatives that seek to erode municipal authority or that otherwise have a negative impact on municipal operations, including but not limited to legislation that would:  Erode home rule authority;  Undermine principles of home rule authority;  Apply one size fits all solutions to complex local policy issues;  Detrimentally affect the City’s financial position by reducing revenue streams or increasing costs through unfunded mandates;  Erode the authority of Texas cities to manage and control their rights-of-way or other public property and to be reasonably compensated for such use;  Erode current municipal economic development authority;  Erode the current authority of Texas cities to ena ct a system and set the level of impact fees for new development;  Further restrict cities’ ability to manage land uses or adopt or amend zoning regulations  Erode municipal eminent domain authority; and  Any legislative requirement requiring the City to generate revenues for the State;  Otherwise restrict local government decision-making, as noted in the attached Legislative Agenda. Partnerships The City may form strategic partnerships with cities, political subdivisions, and private sector entities that share common goals with the City of Southlake. Additionally, the City will work in coordination with organizations such as the Texas Municipal League when their adopted positions are in line with the legislative objectives and goals of the City. The formation of Honorable Mayor and City Council City Legislative Agenda Page 3 of 6 strategic partnerships and coordinated efforts is intended to provide the City with a stronger presence in the legislative process. The remainder of the legislative agenda is broken down into the City’s Legislative Issues and the Goals of the Legislative Activities. Each legislative issue is given a priority designation as follows: Seek passage of legislation dealing with the issue Support legislation dealing with the issue Oppose legislation dealing with the issue The complete Legislative Agenda is attached for review. Financial Considerations: It may be necessary for both the staff and members of the City Council to travel to Austin during the legislative session. Sufficient funds have been budgeted in the FY20 19 budget to cover these expenses. Citizen Input/ Board Review: N/A Legal Review: The City Attorneys have contributed to the language of the proposed agenda. Alternatives: The Council could rely on TML’s legislative agenda and educational efforts for the legislative session; The Council could choose to not have a formal legislative agenda and rely on the staff to bring individual issues before the Council for your action. Because time is so often an issue during the legislative session you may find that this alternative puts the City in a “catch-up” position and/or without the Council providing specific support for a position on the issue, having the legislature suggesting that the position is merely that of one Council Member or the staff; Supporting Documents: Resolution 18-044 City of Southlake’s proposed 2019 legislative agenda Honorable Mayor and City Council City Legislative Agenda Page 4 of 6 Staff Recommendation: Passage of Resolution No. 18-044 adopting the City of Southlake’s Legislative Agenda. Honorable Mayor and City Council City Legislative Agenda Page 5 of 6 RESOLUTION NO. 18-044 A RESOULTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE AGENADA FOR THE 86 TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION. WHEREAS, Home Rule Charter of the City of Southlake, Texas, was approved by the voters in a duly called Charter election on April 4, 1987; and, WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the need for the City to preserve its current authority to govern its citizens, budget and property; and, WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has in the past adopted legislation that has impacted the City’s ability to govern its citizens, budget and property; and, WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the importance of the City being fully involved in the legislative process; and, WHEREAS, the City Council had deemed that the recommended legislative agenda reflects the strategic goals and interests of the City, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS THAT: Section 1. All of the findings in the preamble are found to be true and correct and the City Council incorporates said findings into the body of this resolution as if copied in its entirety. Section 2. Exhibit A is hereby adopted as the Legislative Agenda for the City of Southlake, Texas for the 86th Regular Legislative Session. Section 3. The different elements, issues or priorities, as adopted, and as amended from time to time, shall be kept on file in the office of the City Secretary of the City of Southlake, along with a copy of the resolution and minute order of the Council so adopting or approving same. Section 4. This resolution shall become effective on the date of approval by the City Council. Honorable Mayor and City Council City Legislative Agenda Page 6 of 6 PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2018. CITY OF SOUTHLAKE By: _____________________ Laura Hill, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________ Carol Borges, City Secretary