CC Resolution No. 2178 - Establish2012FederalLegislativeAgendaRESOLUTION NO.2178
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,
TEXAS, ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF BAYTOWN'S LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA FOR THE 2012 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION; AND
PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,
TEXAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, hereby establishes
the City of Baytown's Legislative Agenda for the 2012 Federal Legislative Session, which is
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein for all intents and purposes.
Section 2: This resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage by
the City Council of the City of Baytown.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED, by the affirmativ vote of the City Council of the
City of Baytown this the 9`h day of February, 2012. A
DONCARLOS, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
NACIO RAMIREZ, SR., 9 Attorney
\\Cobfs01\1ega1\Karen\Fi1es\City Council\Resolutions\20121February 9Tstablish2012FederalLegislativeAgenda.doc
Exhibit "A"
REVISED FEDERAL
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
-112TH U.S. CONGRESS -
ADOPTED:
FEBRUARY 9, 2012
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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES TO SUPPORT
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Support legislation that provides resources and funding to community colleges for
development of technical skills in local job -seekers.
✓ Baytown expects to bring in over 10,000 construction jobs and 550 permanent
jobs to the local employment base over the next five years, but recent news
articles have highlighted a lack of applicants with the technical skills needed for
Baytown's industrial and manufacturing jobs.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION
Support the passage of a two-year reauthorization of the surface transportation
program which would allow for direct federal spending for local transportation
infrastructure priorities.
✓ Include language that does not require every transportation project to go
through the State Department of Transportation, which creates an unnecessary
step in the process and unnecessary overhead expenditures, taking away from
actual infrastructure improvements.
• Support funding for Performance -Based Discretionary Programs.
✓ Transportations Enhancements (TE)
✓ Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER)
• Preserve funding for Active Lifestyle investments, including:
✓ A continuation of the Safe Routes to Schools Program to improve walking safety
for students in Baytown.
✓ Continued investments that increase access to biking, walking and transit, and
create economic development opportunities. The City supports significant
investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to decrease congestion and
increase livability throughout our community.
ARTS & CULTURE
Support continued funding for the following grant programs to improve arts and cultural
opportunities in our community and to restore historic areas of our city:
✓ National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grant Programs
✓ Commerce Department— Economic Development Administration grants to spur
economic growth in Baytown's Arts, Cultural and Entertainment (ACE) District.
REVISED BAYTOWN FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES (11fH CONGRESS)
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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES TO SUPPORT
CONTINUED
PUBLIC SAFETY
■ Full funding is requested for the following Federal grant programs to support vital public
safety services provided by the City of Baytown:
✓ Police Protection Grants
■ COPS Grant Program
• Byrne Justice Assistance (JAG) Grant Program
✓ Fire Prevention and Response Grants
• Staffing For Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant
Program
• Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
• Fire Prevention & Safety Grant
✓ Department of Homeland Security Grants to address the planning, operational,
equipment, training and exercise needs of high threat urban areas to prevent,
protect against, respond to and recover from natural disasters as well as threats
and acts of terrorism.
■ Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)
■ State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
■ Buffer Zone Protection Program
• Port Security Grant program
Support the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act of 2011, which would
allocate the D Block of spectrum directly to public safety, provide sufficient funding, and
establish an effective governance structure to construct and oversee a nationwide
public safety wireless broadband network.
WATER & WASTEWATER
■ Continue providing grant opportunities to improve public water and wastewater
infrastructure.
• Increase funding for land and water conservation projects.
■ Support the continued exemption of Public Water Systems and Water Treatment
Facilities from the Department of Homeland Security CFATS regulation.
REVISED BAYTOWN FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES (112T" CONGRESS)
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BAYTS
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES TO SUPPORT
CONTINUED
NATURAL DISASTERS
• Continue to provide resources for pre/post disaster mitigation.
✓ Continue funding for disaster mitigation; such as first responder training,
hardening of facilities, equipment, etc.
✓ Support a long-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP),
including a phase -in of full premiums for residents affected by the recent re -
mapping of flood zones by FEMA.
■ Continue to provide resources for disaster recovery.
✓ Support legislation that includes funding for community re -building efforts after
natural disasters, specifically funding to restore public infrastructure following a
natural disaster.
PESTICIDES
• Advocate for a legislative amendment in the 112`h Congress to the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to clarify that pesticides or any biological control
organism permitted under FIFRA will not be considered a pollutant and therefore avoid
facing unnecessary restrictions by the EPA through the Clean Water Act.
BROWNFIELDS REMEDIATION
■ Support legislation that diversifies loans into grants.
■ Increase funding for Brownfields assessment and cleanup.
REVISED BAYTOWN FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES (112TH CONGRESS)
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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES TO OPPOSE
CDBG PROGRAM
Oppose legislation that further reduces funding to the Community Development Block
Grant Program, which provides valuable resources to areas of our community in the
most need.
• Oppose legislation that would lower the CDBG Administrative Cap below the current
level of 20%.
LOCAL AUTHORITY
• Franchise Fees
✓ Oppose efforts that reduce or eliminate a municipality's ability to collect
franchise fees for use of rights -of -way.
■ Defined -Benefit Plans
✓ Oppose any federal preemption of state defined -benefit plans, such as the Texas
Municipal Retirement System. Each state should be responsible for the success
of their pension plans.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES
• Oppose any federal preemption of local government hotel occupancy taxes.
✓ Cities have mounted several court challenges against Internet -based travel
services providers because of their practice of paying state and local hotel
accommodation taxes on the wholesale price of hotel rooms paid by the Internet
travel services provider rather than the retail price paid by the customers using
the hotel rooms.
✓ Hotel accommodation taxes provide an important source of revenue for the City
of Baytown. The practice of paying taxes on the wholesale price of room is
unfair to those travelers who book their hotel room by telephone or in person
and also poses a threat to the City's budget (Cities nationwide are losing an
estimated $1 billion a year in revenue).
REVISED BAYTOWN FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES (112T" CONGRESS)
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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES TO OPPOSE
CONTINUED
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Oppose any legislation that would require local governments to adopt federal collective
bargaining standards, similar to those proposed in legislation such as the Public Safety
Employer -Employee Cooperation Act.
UNFUNDED MANDATES
• Oppose legislation that requires municipalities to fund former State and Federal
programs without providing the associated resources.
JOBS ACT OF 2011
• Oppose two sections of H.R. 3630, Title IV, including:
✓ 700 MHz Narrowband Giveback, which would require public safety to give back a
total of 14 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band, which is currently being used
for statewide and local interoperable mission -critical voice communications and
guard bands to protect against harmful interference.
✓ The "Administrator" Governance model, which would set up an unaccountable
third -party Administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration.
REVISED BAYTOWN FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES (112T" CONGRESS) - 6 -
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BAYTOWN
REQUESTS FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT
SIDEWALK CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE
GOAL:
To construct eleven new sidewalk segments throughout Baytown.
BAYTOWN VISION AREAS:
✓ Citizen Safety
✓ Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement
✓ Create a Community we can all be proud of
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
GOAL:
To construct new segments of roadway and highway connections throughout Baytown.
1) Extension of Hunt Road from John Martin to Garth
2) Spur 330 / SH 146 Flyover (Final Connector)
3) Grand Parkway (State Highway 99)
4) FM 565 Widening in Chambers County
BAYTOWN VISION AREAS:
✓ Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement
✓ Development and Redevelopment
WATER & WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
GOAL:
To complete storm water drainage improvements that will reduce the flooding potential in the
Craigmont subdivision in Baytown.
BAYTOWN VISION AREAS:
✓ Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT
GOAL:
To construct an additional segment of streetscape in Baytown's Arts, Cultural and
Entertainment (ACE) District.
BAYTOWN VISION AREAS:
✓ Economic and Financial Health
✓ Development and Redevelopment
✓ Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement
✓ Create a Community we can all be proud of
REVISED BAYTOWN FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES (112T" CONGRESS) - 7 -