TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Douglas J. Hewett, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM: Telly C. Whitfield, Ph.D., Assistant City Manager
DATE: January 7, 2019
RE:
Title
Legislative Priorities - Council Resolutions for 2019 NC General Assembly Long Session
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal I: A Safe and Secure Community
Goal II: Diverse and Viable Economy
Goal III: High Quality Built Environment
Goal IV: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Goal V: Sustainable Organizational Capacity
Goal VI: Citizen Engagement & Partnerships
Executive Summary:
The City of Fayetteville looks forward to working with our state delegation to best meet the needs, concerns and interests of Fayetteville residents. The Legislative Priorities and Council Resolutions will articulate this agenda and serve as the guide to elected officials, staff, and our strategic partners, in their collective efforts to advocate on behalf of the City and its residents.
The 2019 Legislative priorities includes the following:
A. Legislative support to amend the City’s Charter granting local authority to provide a recall procedure for local elected officials and to hold recall elections.
B. Legislative support to strengthen local public safety agencies’ ability to maintain a safe and secure community by:
• Providing an option to destroy obtained weapons (revision to N.C.G.S. § 15-11.2);
• Funding for the relocation of the Fort Bragg Road Fire Station;
• Securing resources to improve network system connectivity; and,
• Ensuring public facilities have adequate generators for emergency operations.
C. Legislative support for our local multimodal transportation network by:
• Creating opportunities to expand existing public bus fleet operations;
• Restoring formula funding for urban/fixed route transit systems through State Maintenance Assistance Program (SMAP)
• Maintaining stable funding for the Aviation Trust Fund; and,
• Establishing funding for the Blanton Road extension.
D. Legislative support for the City’s long-term financial strength by
• Pursing an equitable solution to the redistribution of sales tax; and,
• Pursuing an equitable solution to the redistribution of food and beverage tax.
E. Legislative support for Texfi site’s Brownfield project including groundwater remediation and pilot testing activities.
Background:
Council supported the following list of priorities that represent the City’s legislative agenda for the 2017-2018 long session:
• Legislation to protect Fayetteville’s Rental Assistance Management Program (RAMP)
• Legislation for Phase II of Veterans Park
• Legislation for Local Small Business Enterprise initiative
• Legislation for State financial assistance in funding a downtown pedestrian overpass
• Legislation for the establishment of an Aviation Trust Fund for statewide improvement projects
• Legislation for funding Fayetteville’s Consolidated 911 Center
• Legislation for Regional Emergency Preparedness Fund
A preliminary list of recommended legislative priorities for the upcoming Long Session was introduced at the November 13, 2018 Dinner Meeting. A Special Joint Meeting with the State Delegation was held on November 19, 2018 to discuss priorities.
Issues/Analysis:
None.
Budget Impact:
Unknown at this time.
Options:
1. City Council provides guidance to staff on the Legislative Priorities for the 2019 Long Session. Resolutions for the accepted Legislative Priorities will be placed on the January 14, 2019 Regular Meeting Agenda for adoption.
2. City Council does not accept the recommended Legislative Priorities.
3. City Council provides further direction to the City Manager.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that Council provide guidance on the legislative priorities for the 2019 Long Session.
Attachments:
None.