TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: City Council Legislative Committee
SUBJECT:
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Policy Statements and Procedures for 2017 Oregon Legislative Session
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council approve the attached legislative policy statements as policy direction for the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session and direct staff to assign priority to legislative bills using the system adopted in the Facts and Findings section of this report?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Approve the attached legislative policy statements as policy direction for the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session and direct staff to assign priority to legislative bills using the system adopted in the Facts and Findings section of this report.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The Oregon State Legislature will convene February 1, 2017. To enable the City to respond to moving legislation, the Council adopts guiding policy statements prior to the start of each session. These statements allow a City response to and position on issues expected to come before the Oregon Legislature during the current session.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
On November 18, 2016, the Legislative Committee met to review legislative policy statements. The statements address broad topics of economic development, financing and revenue, human resources, telecommunications, public safety and land use (Attachment 1). Following discussion, the Committee recommended the statements be forwarded to Council for their consideration and approval. Adoption of the attached policy statements will provide the overarching framework for represention on bills in the absence of a specific recommendation on a particular legislative bill.
On November 18, 2016, the Legislative Committee also considered whether to support a measure to restore recreational immunity for employees of public entities (Attachment 2) and unanimously recommended the City pursue such legislation. The Committee also recommended the City pursue a legislative fix to increase efficiency in review of comprehensive plan changes for a single property (Attachment 3).
When proposed legislation is outside the scope of the policy statements, staff will convene the Legislative Committee for consultation and a recommendation. If time permits, staff will bring forward the recommendations of the Legislative Committee to the City Council for adoption. Staff will bring updates to the Council throughout the 2017 Legislative Session and provide a summary report at the Session's end.
City response to legislation will follow the prioritization approved last year by Council:
1. Very High Priority-Major fiscal or policy impact. Mayor, Councilors, and/or staff should work to support or oppose the bill.
2. High Priority-Moderate Impact. Staff should be involved in supporting or opposing the bill.
3. Medium Priority-Watch for changes. Staff may become involved if time/resources permit.
4. Very Little/No Priority-Does not warrant staff effort. (Note: Given the limited resources available, these bills will be set aside and not referred to the Committee or Council unless amendments change their anticipated impact.)
To continue a coordinated and unified response during the upcoming full session, staff requests notification of contacts made with regard to proposed legislation. Councilors are asked to communicate the nature of their legislative contacts via an email to the Courtney Knox Busch (cbusch@cityofsalem.net <mailto:cbusch@cityofsalem.net>) and Deputy City Manager (kduncan@cityofsalem.net <mailto:kduncan@cityofsalem.net>). The email should identify the date of the legislative contact, the legislator(s) or aides with whom contact was made, bill(s) discussed, and a summary of the position(s) and comments shared. Staff will forward the communication to contracted legislative consultant, the Legislative Committee and City Council as appropriate.
Courtney Knox Busch
Strategic Initiatives Manager
Attachments:
1. Policy Statements
2. Recreational Immunity
3. Comprehensive Plan Changes
11/18/2016