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CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM |
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Department: |
City Attorney’s Office |
Commission Meeting Date: December 4, 2018 |
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Staff Contact: |
Toni R. Wheeler, City Attorney |
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Recommendations/Options/Action Requested: |
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Direct staff as appropriate concerning items of interest to include in the City’s 2019 Legislative Priority Statement. |
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Executive Summary: |
The City of Lawrence prepares a Legislative Priority Statement to share with the area State legislative delegation. Attached is the proposed statement prepared for the 2019 session as well as the League of Kansas Municipalities’ 2019 State of Municipal Policy. The City of Lawrence greatly relies upon the work of the League in monitoring legislative issues.
The proposed statement closely resembles the 2018 Legislative Priority Statement. There are three (3) additions:
1. A statement that the City supports construction of the western leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway but opposes making it a toll road to fund the construction and maintenance of the highway. 2. A statement calling for legislation requiring the Board of Tax Appeals to use proven methods of property valuation rather than valuation methods put forth by large corporate property owners that value the commercial properties as if the properties are vacant. When this matter was studied last year, the Mayor sent a letter urging rejection of such property valuation approaches, noting that the method shifts the burden of supporting municipal services to residential and nonresidential property owners because it undervalues the large commercial properties. 3. A statement supporting specific recommendations by the Kansas Supreme Court’s Ad Hoc Committee on Bonding Practices, Fines, and Fees in Municipal Courts to give municipal court judges greater flexibility to consider defendants’ ability to pay when imposing penalties. |
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Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor |
Effective Governance/Professional Administration
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Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source): |
There is no fiscal impact to the City. |
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Attachments: |
2019 Legislative Priority Statement League of Kansas Municipalities’ 2019 Statement of Municipal Policy |
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(for CMO use only) |
☒TM ☐DS ☐CT ☐BM |