IA League Legislative Survey
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MEMORANDUM
August 2, 2006
TO:
FROM:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Survey
Assistant City Manager Cindy Steinhauser has visited with Department Managers and
recommends the attached responses to the Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative
Survey.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Micnael C. Van Milligen ---
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
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MEMORANDUM
August 1, 2006
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager /" c. I (1/'
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager ~
TO:
SUBJECT: Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Survey
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request approval of the City of Dubuque's
submittal of the Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Survey.
Discussion
The Iowa League of Cities Legislative Policy Committee is developing priorities for the
2007 General Assembly and is seeking input from member cities. The Committee's
focus is encouraging legislators to keep Iowa's cities sustainable and they have
identified four categories of prioritizing legislative initiatives that will achieve that goal.
The four categories are: Diversified Funding Sources; Economic Development and
Growth; Protecting our Resources; and Home Rule Protection and Mandate Relief.
Attached is the survey which includes questions underneath each of these four
categories and the recommended response from the City of Dubuque. Upon City
Council approval of these responses, city staff will submit these responses to the Iowa
League of Cities Legislative Policy Committee under separate cover for each of the City
Council Members and the City Manager as requested by the Committee.
Once the Iowa League of Cities approves the official list of Legislative Priorities, these
will be presented to City Council, along with the City of Dubuque's Legislative priorities,
for City Council approval. This information will then be presented to our area
Legislators at the City of Dubuque Legislative Dinner held in November each year.
Action
The Requested Action is for City Council to approve the survey response attached.
Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Policy Survey
Page I of6
Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Policy Survey
The League's legislative policy committee is developing priorities for the 2007 General Assembly with a goal of
encouraging legislators to keep Iowa's cities sustainable. The committee has identified four categories of interest,
including:
1. Diversified Funding Sources
2. Economic Development and Growth
3. Protecting our Resources, and
4. Home Ruie Protection and Mandate Reiief
Please indicate the importance of specific issues under each category by circling the corresponding number,
ranging from 1 (Not Important) to 5 (Very Important). Your input will help to ensure the League's legislative agenda
reflects a consensus among members.
Please complete this survey no later than Monday, August 7,2006.
If you have any questions, please contact the League legislative team at cv@iowaleague.org or (515) 244-7282.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
1. Your Name
2. Your Position
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3. City
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4. Population
r 0-500 r 501-1999 r 2000-7999 ~oo+
5. If you would like to join CityVoices, the League's e-mail list service focused on legislative issues, please enter
your e-mail address
FOR ALL QUESTIONS: Use 1 for "Not Important" or "Low Support", and 5
for "Very Important" or "Strongly Support"
Making Iowa's Cities Sustainable
Diversified Funding Sources
Property Tax Reform:
http://www .iowaleague.orglMembersOnlylLegislativeSurveyIP0Iicy2007 .aspx
8/2/2006
Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Policy Survey
Page 2 of6
BACKGROUND: Legislators continue to acknowledge a need to reform the property tax system. Cities, counties,
schools, business groups, taxpayer groups, and others have a stake in the approach that reform will take. The
source of funding for property tax credit reimbursements remains uncertain after two years of funding from one-
time sources.
6. Support legislation calling for property tax reform that ensures sufficient revenues for local governments to
provide necessary services for citizens.
r1 r2 r3 r4K5
7. Address the effect rollback has on the erosion of the property tax base.
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8. Increase limits on township levy rates for fire protection.
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g. Support legislation requiring that local government budgets be held harmless from changes to property tax credit
funding.
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Revenue Alternatives:
10. Support legislation protecting and enabling revenue alternatives for local governments beyond property taxes.
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BACKGROUND: Revenue alternatives that would aid in funding diversification could include items listed below.
Please indicate your level of support for each alternative.
11. Enable a city income surtax (currently authorized for schools and for county emergency medical services).
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12. Expand accessibility to an income tax TIF for specific development (authorized for four border cities in 2006
session).
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13. Enable a public safety fee, paid by all properties. in lieu of property taxes for law enforcement, fire and EMS
services.
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14. Raise the 7% cap on the hotel/motel tax to 9%.
http://www .iowaleague.orgIMembersOnly/LegislativeSurveylPolicy2007 .aspx
81212006
Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Policy Survey
Page 3 of6
1112139(415
15. Protect a city's ability to implement a utility franchise fee.
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16. Facilitate a city's ability to negotiate with developers for necessary park improvements.
1112~1415
17. Make the local option sales tax subject to reverse referendum instead of automatically requiring a public vote.
1 1 9\2 1 3 1 4 1 5
18. Enable a local wheel tax (local vehicle registration fee) to support road repairs.
11 12 )<3 14 15
19. Support legislation that removes caps on various fines imposed at the local level.
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20. Make waste disposal tonnage fees equitable whether disposal occurs inside or outside of the state.
11 12 13 1 <Jl(5
Economic Development and Growth
BACKGROUND: Eminent domain law is likely to remain a key issue in 2007. Legislators indicate a continued
interest in economic development, especially in quality of life areas including cultural development, trails and
historic preservation.
21. Protect and enhance eminent domain authority for cities for redevelopment of slum and blighted areas.
11121314~
22. Protect eminent domain authority for cities for traditional public use projects such as transportation or
recreation facilities and municipal buildings.
11121314<X'5
23. Protect tax increment financing (TIF) as an economic development tool.
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24. Support expansion of new local or state incentives for economic development.
http://www .iowaleague.org/MembersOnly/LegislativeSurvey/Policy2007 .aspx
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Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Policy Survey
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25. Enable a sales tax TIF for specific development, such as downtown projects.
11121314 '9(5
26. Support increased funding for historic preservation tax credits.
1 1 12 13 14 li(5
27. Support increased funding for the Main Street Iowa program.
11121314~
Protecting our Resources
Street Infrastructure:
BACKGROUND: A sound transportation system is essential for Iowa to remain competitive. The League is
interested in working with other interest groups to secure the future of Iowa's street and highway infrastructure
through increased revenues to the Road Use Tax Fund.
28. Increase the revenues available to cities for street infrastructure through the road use tax fund.
11 12 13 14 9\5
29. Support equalizing the registration fees for vehicles, including pick-up trucks.
11121314~
Infrastructure and Utilities:
BACKGROUND: Utilities playa significant role in city development and provide basic regional services including
electric, gas, telecommunications, water and sewer services. Investments in these facilities protect public health
and enhance economic development by providing adequate service to Iowa's citizens and businesses.
30. Increase state funding to assist cities in complying with new water quality standards.
11121314 )(5
31. Oppose any hindrance to a city's ability to establish or provide a municipal utility.
11121314~
32. Support legislation that protects a city's ability to protect right-of-way and enable citywide provision of services,
including telecommunications service.
http://www.iowaleague.orgIMembersOnly/LegislativeSurvey/Policy2007 .aspx
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Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Policy Survey
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33. Support legislation clarifying the obligation of rural water utilities to provide notice of service, allowing cities to
provide a water utility within the city's two-mile jurisdiction.
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34. Support legislation allowing for modification of electric service territory boundaries for municipal utilities.
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Home Rule Protection and Mandate Relief
BACKGROUND: The Home Rule amendments of the Iowa Constitution give cities and counties authority to
determine their own local affairs and government in a manner not inconsistent with state statute, except no tax may
be levied without state authorization. The League opposes legislation that restricts cities' Home Rule authority.
Unfunded mandates on cities often lead to increased taxes and fees at the local level.
35. Support incentives and funding opportunities for local service sharing.
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36. To enable sharing of services between cities and counties, make certain county positions appointive instead of
elective, such as the county sheriff.
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37. Enhance funding and technicai assistance resources for regionalized planning.
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38. Support efforts to reduce costly mandates, including certain publication requirements.
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39. Protect city interests in the collective bargaining process, including consideration of market factors for benefits
programs.
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40. Oppose any legislation that expands existing public pension benefits or provides for new member benefits.
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41. Enable public pension systems to operate more equitably, such as clarifying that the heart lung presumption
under the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (MFPRSI, or 411 Program) is rebuttable.
http://www .iowaleague.org/MernbersOnly/LegislativeSurvey/Policy2007 .aspx
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Iowa League of Cities 2007 Legislative Policy Survey
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42. Improve the actuarial accuracy of public pension systems by adopting up-to-date mortality tables or a more
long-term actuarial smoothing assumption.
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43. Support legislation to ciarify a city's authority to adopt ordinances regulating smoking in public places.
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44. Other comments or explanation of above answers
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http://www.iowaleague.orglMembersOnly/LegislativeSurvey/Policy2007 .aspx
8/2/2006