Item 4C - MemoCITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
MEMORANDUM
October 12, 2020
To: Mayor & City Council
From: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Agenda Item No. 4C
Subject: Item 4C — Statement of Legislative Priorities for the 87th
Texas Legislative Session
Action
Requested: Approve Resolution No. 20-049, adopting a Statement of
Legislative Priorities for the 87th Texas Legislative session.
Background
Information: Every two years the Texas Legislature meets in regular
session and each session numerous bills are filed that affect
municipal operations. In alignment with home rule doctrine
and its City Charter, the City of Southlake regularly adopts a
legislative agenda guiding interaction with the Legislature to
ensure that local governments continue to have the ability to
oversee municipal policies that serve its citizenry.
The City has developed the attached Statement of Legislative
Priorities for consideration by the City Council.
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.
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.
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:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City Legislative Agenda
Page 2 of 3
• 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 enact 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.
The City may form strategic partnerships with cities, political
subdivisions, and private sector entities that share common
goals with the City of Southlake. The formation of strategic
partnerships and coordinated efforts is intended to provide the
City with a stronger presence in the legislative process.
The Statement of Legislative Priorities is attached as Exhibit
A to Resolution No. 20-049.
Financial
Considerations: It may be necessary for both the staff and members of the City
Council to travel to Austin during the legislative session.
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City Legislative Agenda
Page 3 of 3
Sufficient funds have been budgeted in the FY2021 budget to
cover these expenses.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: N/A
Legal Review: The City Attorney has reviewed Resolution No. 20-049.
Alternatives: The City Council could choose to proceed without formal
legislative positions and rely on the staff to bring individual
issues before the Council for action.
Supporting
Documents: Resolution 20-049
City of Southlake's proposed Statement of Legislative
Priorities
Staff
Recommendation: Passage of Resolution No. 20-049 adopting the City of
Southlake's Statement of Legislative Priorities.
RESOLUTION NO. 20-049
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE,
TEXAS, ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE AGENADA FOR THE 87TH 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 Statement of Legislative
Priorities for the City of Southlake, Texas for the 87th 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.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 20TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2020.
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE
By:
Laura Hill, Mayor
ATTEST:
Amy Shelley,
City Secretary
Statement of Legislative Priorities
87'1'H J'FIXAS I,F1G1S1.A'f1VF SFSSION
The City o> Soulhlake supports legislation that advances the principles of local control,
allowing local elected officials to make decisions and advocate positions that are beneficial
to the interests of Citv residents or that is otherwise beneficial to the Cin's interests.
The City ofSoulblake opposes legislation that preempts or erodes the authority of city
government or is detrimental to the City's govern locally.
The 00 ol.Soalhlake supports legislation that provides flexibility to the local governing body
to determine the best method of raising necessary revenue and finding municipal
operations, including the use of technology for efficient service deliveti.
71re Cety ol.Sordblake opposes legislation that restricts the ability of municipalities to manage
local budgets and make financial decisions, including limitations on revenue generation, use
of debt, and requirements for onerous public notifications that do not improve local
financial transparency.
The Ch}of Soulhlake supports legislation that preserves local land use, zoning and
development regulator* authority.
The CiN of Soulhlake opposes legislation that would diruimsh the Clrv's authority to regulate
growth and development through land use and zoning regulations, building codes,
comprehensive planning, or eminent domain, or that would erode the City's authority to
assess inspection fees for new, existing, or re -development.
The City al daulblake supports legislation that allows that allows municipalities to invest in
development and tourism projects to benefit the Local econonnr.
The City of Soulhlake opposes legislation that world restrict current municipal economic
development tools or restrict the use of Hotel Occupancy Tax funding for tourism
programs.
The City of Soulhlake supports legislation that would improve the City's authority to menage
and control public rights-of-way and publicly owned land or solidify the City's ability to
receive fair market compensation for use of public rights-of-way.
'I be City of Soulhlake opposes legislation that seeks to limit the authority of cities to utilize
sights -of ways and publicly controlled property for public purposes deemed necessary by the
municipality, or to otherwise. manage rights -of way usage as deemed necessary by local
governing bodies.
The Oft ofSouthlake supports legislation that strengthens the ability of it municipality to
develop and implement public safety, programs, operational structures, employment
processes, and technology= to effectively manage the public:, safety.
(be CFty ofSowhleike opposes legislation or riles that would restrict a municipality from
making locally appropriate decisions to protect the publics safety, the safety of first
responders, and a mu icipalih's ability to make decisions related to public safety programs,
operational structures, and teclu mlogy.
EXHIBIT A