MAC Meeting March 14, 2017 State Capitol Room G15.4

Transcription

1 MAC Meeting March 14, 2017 State Capitol Room G15.4 In attendance: Staff Present: Guests Present: Councilmember Jon McAvoy, Adel Councilmember Bobbi Benz, Ankeny Mayor Ruth Randleman, Carlisle Mayor Scott Cirksena, Clive Councilmember John Edwards, Clive Mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines Councilmember Christine Hensley, Des Moines Councilmember Jill Altringer, Grimes Councilmember Tom Cope, Johnston Mayor Jon Woods, Mitchellville Mayor Tom Phillips, Norwalk Councilmember Stephanie Riva, Norwalk Mayor Jay Pattee, Perry Robert Sarchet, Polk City Mayor Bob Andeweg, Urbandale Councilmember David Russell, Urbandale Councilmember Kim Sacker, Van Meter Jeff Lester, Des Moines City Attorney Kandi Reindl, Asst. to the City Manager, Des Moines Robert Palmer, Iowa League of Cities Jen Schulte, Governmental Affairs Director, Des Moines Andrea Woodard, Greater Des Moines Partnership Melissa O Neil, Central Iowa Services and Shelter LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Robert Palmer It s been really busy up here. Many issues that impact cities include: Bonding bill Minimum Wage Pre-emption Residential Occupancy Electronic Notification (replaces publishing in newspapers) Scott Cirksena I have real concerns with the bonding bill and the narrowing.

2 Robert Palmer I spoke with Rep. Highfill and the bonding bill may not come up and all. A lot of professional groups started calling on this regarding thes treet lights and sidewalks Christine Hensley Is he trying to work against Windsor Heights? Robert Palmer It looks like that. Robert Palmer Fireworks is another bill that is out there. It looks like it has the steam to move. Christine Hensley asked about the landlord tenant bill Robert Palmer Roger Brown, assistant city attorney for Des Moines introduced an amendment that will fit in very nicely. Senator Shipley is the floor manager and the House is not willing to accept it. Rep. Nunn is the floor manager in the House in judiciary committee. In regards to ATEs, there are two different bills moving. Senator Zaun s bill which is a total prohibition of ATEs and the other bill would place reasonable restrictions on cameras that would let them stay in place. We want to preserve the tool and that is our goal. Robert Palmer - Collective Bargaining is likely to move through both Chambers today. The Iowa League of Cities has remained neutral on this bill. Another protest is planned for this afternoon. A majority of cities has said, it doesn t do as much as the Legislators think it will. Tom Cope It does a lot, but it doesn t have the impact the Legislators say it will. Robert Palmer Part time employees does include seasonal employees Tom Cope Public transit is not exempt which could jeopardize federal funding. Christine Hensley DART is concerned as well. Robert Palmer Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) has passed out of a House subcommittee. The League is registered as undecided at the request of Iowa City. So we are neutral on the bill as well. Tom Cope The language in this year s bill addresses the 50% property tax. Polk City and Perry would be exempt since they already have a LOST. We have to resolve this

3 Merle Hay Mall issue since the mall is in two separate cities. The Johnson County issue will get resolved. Christine Hensley What about the 50% property relief? Tom Cope Legislators want that to stay in the bill. Jay Patee There is a gentleman from DeSoto that wants to get LOST for all the cities in Dallas County and he is addressing all the city councils in Dallas County. Robert Palmer - Qualified counties include Polk, Dallas and Johnson. If you are a city in a qualified county, then you have the ability to call your own LOST and the result is within your city limits. Essentially, it uncouples. Jeff Lester spoke on HSB62 which is for mechanic liens that would be available on public property and right of ways. It allows arbitration for disputes. Robert Palmer The water quality bill is out with last year s bill being the starting point. I haven t spent a lot of time on this bill since it s not moving very quickly. Robert Palmer I have not seen a bill on TIF Christine Hensley I had a conversation with Rep. Upmeyer on the backfill. We dodged a bullet with the de-appropriation bill, but they would like to look at a transition plan. Rep. Forbes spoke on several bills including: Mental health levy issue There is a crisis on services. The budget has been $14.4 million since 1996 in Polk County. We have had a 132,000 population increase since then, but the levy has not grown. We have an issue that we cannot fund it properly to provide the services. With budget problems this year, the State is probably not going to be able to fund it. We are looking at raising the cap. We are concerned on the mobile crisis units and the mobile crisis center. Polk Co. has a $6 million shortage. Melissa O Neil, Central Iowa Services and Shelter director Our goal is to cut our 911 calls and losing that money is a huge impact. More people will go to jail without mobile crisis units. Rep. Forbes Right now, we will continue the backfill, but there is no guarantee. We will probably have fireworks here in the state. The fireworks bill will probably pass and hopefully it will have opt out provisions for cities. There are also issues with the State Medicaid program.

4 David Russell 560,000 Iowans receive Medicaid? Rep. Forbes That is correct and it s the 2 nd largest line item in the budget. John Edwards There s $12 billion in tax credits out there. Is the legislature looking at that? Rep. Forbes They are looking at sun-setting tax credits. Some are good and some don t work out. I don t think we will see anything this year. David Russell What is your prediction on ATEs? Rep. Forbes I think you will see something. Probably not outlaw them, but there will be provisions made on them. Collective Bargaining We will probably be here until midnight tonight and in my caucus there are about 80 amendments to go through. I m on the side of collective bargaining and this bill really guts it. I m hoping the Republicans are listening on how this is going to impact people s lives. This bill is Wisconsin on steroids. Scott Cirksena Do you see the two tier scenario going forward with public safety being carved out? Rep. Forbes Yes, I do and public safety is up here advocating to not carve them out. Christine Hensley Legislators are committed to protecting the backfill, with the understanding there needs to be a transition plan and also providing alternative revenue. I think we need to continue looking at alternative revenues. There was a meeting that came out with a report of alternative revenue sources that should be available. Jon McAvoy Rep. Watts echoed what Upmeyer stated. John Edwards What about hotel/motel tax increase? Christine Hensley I have heard that a lot of our Legislators stay in hotels here and don t want to see an increase in hotel/motel taxes. Scptt Cirksena Stay in hotels in Kansas City, Minneapolis and Chicago and look at their taxes. We need to be competitive with our surrounding states. Ruth Randleman asked about the I-WILL bill

5 Robert Palmer If it were to get moving, a lot of the groups that were supportive will now have concerns with it. It would be combined with another bill however. Representatives Hagenow and Cownie will be attending our next MAC meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m.