Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2011_09_27_R119 Adopting a Legislative program for 2012The Town of Leesburg, Virginia PRESENTED September 27, 2011 RESOLUTION NO. 2011 -119 ADOPTED September 27, 2011 A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR 2012 WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have identified legislative items that are in the best interest of the residents of the Town of Leesburg; and WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to communicate these items to the elected officials representing Leesburg to be addressed by the 2012 General Assembly. THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia that the attached 2012 Legislative Agenda and 2012 Legislative Positions Statement are hereby established and are to be communicated to the elected officials representing Leesburg. PASSED this 27 day of September, 2011. P: \Resolutions\Resolutions 2011 \0927 2012 Legislative Agenda.docx C. mstattd, Mayor Town of Leesburg Town of Leesburg 2012 Legislative Agenda Town Charter Amendment Should there be a successful referendum changing the date of Town elections from May to November, the Town Council requests a Town Charter amendment to change the date of Town elections and to extend the terms of office for the currently elected Mayor and Council Members as necessary. City Status The Town Council requests amendment of State Code Section 15.2 -3201 and Section 15.2 -3800 to terminate restrictions on the granting of city charters. Repeal HB 1307 (Temporary Family Health Care Structures) The Town Council requests the repeal of HB 1307, which requires that localities allow temporary family health care structures as a by -right use in all residential zoning districts. Definition of "Unsafe Structure" The Town Council requests legislation that expands the definition of "unsafe structure" in the Virginia Property Maintenance Code to include vacant or abandoned structures that are unsecure to the extent that they can harbor vermin or wildlife. Utility Line Relocation The Town Council requests legislation that grants localities the authority to compel utility companies to relocate utility lines in a timely manner, as needed for capital projects. Transportation Funding Intermodal Transportation Facilities. The Town Council requests that the General Assembly dedicate additional state and regional transportation funding for highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, from stable, reliable, proven and permanents sources of revenue. Construction of Grade Separated Interchanges. The Town Council requests dedicated funding for the construction of grade separated interchanges to replace the current at -grade signalized intersections of the Route 15 Bypass Battlefield Parkway, the Route 15 Bypass Edwards Ferry Road, and Route 7 Battlefield Parkway. Tree Save Efforts Eminent Domain Town of Leesburg 2012 Legislative Agenda Conditional Zoning Actions Subsequent to Parcel Subdivision The Town Council requests legislation that grants localities the authority to approve or amend conditional zoning involving parcels that have been subdivided from a master parcel that was subject to conditional zoning without having to obtain the concurrence of the owners of all parcels that were subdivided from the original master parcel. Water Quality Funding The Town Council adopts the Virginia Municipal League's position on water quality funding, urging the federal government and the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide adequate funding for capital improvements to sewage treatment plants, stormwater systems, sanitary sewer overflow systems and combined storm and sanitary sewer overflow systems. The Town Council requests legislation that requires counties that impose a special real estate tax for water quality funding to adequately compensate any towns within their jurisdictions that maintain their own MS4 permits. Restoration of HB 599 Law Enforcement Assistance Funding The Town Council requests that the General Assembly fully restore HB 599 Law Enforcement Assistance Funding to funding levels per the established formulas. The Town Council supports legislation that grants localities the authority to enforce compliance with tree save regulations associated with private new construction projects. The Town Council supports changes in VDOT road standards that would allow greater flexibility to save mature trees during road construction, especially in medians. The Town Council opposes the proposed constitutional amendment that mandates compensation to landowners for any loss of access or for lost profits as the result of property taken or damaged for public use related to the municipal powers of a locality. 2 General Positions Town of Leesburg 2012 Legislative Positions Statement Oppose any reduction of local taxing authority. The Town Council opposes any reduction or narrowing in the taxing authority of local governments, including but not limited to business license tax, machinery tools tax and meals tax. Further, the General Assembly should not take any action to restrict the use of current local revenue sources. Oppose any reduction of local land use authority. The Town Council opposes any legislation that weakens local authority to plan and regulate land use, zoning and property maintenance. This authority should remain with local governing bodies. The Town Council generally supports the granting of additional land use, zoning and property maintenance authority to localities, especially in areas experiencing high rates of sustained growth, and as a means to address the fiscal burdens experienced by localities in providing needed public services to local residents. Oppose any unfunded mandates. The Town Council opposes any new state mandates that are not fully funded by the Commonwealth, and opposes the shifting of fiscal responsibility from the state to localities for existing programs. Support revenue sharing with state. The Town Council supports any state revenue sharing formula to assist local governments with public infrastructure needs so long as the formula includes recognition of the needs in high growth localities. Support the VML Policy Statement. The Town Council supports the positions of the Virginia Municipal League, as stated in their 2011 Legislative Program and Policy Statements. 1 Positions on Specific Issues Town of Leesburg 2012 Legislative Positions Statement Transportation Funding Funding for Northern Virginia Projects. The Town Council seeks, with other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, the reinstatement of exclusive Northern Virginia revenues in the range of at least $300 million annually, as well as Northern Virginia's portion of additional statewide revenues to address transportation needs not originally covered by the HB 3202 funding approved for Northern Virginia. New Statewide Dedicated Revenue Sources. The Town Council requests, with other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, that the General Assembly adopt new statewide transportation revenue sources to bolster existing highway and transit revenue sources which are not generating sufficient funding to meet the Commonwealth's critical transportation needs, or to meet the Commonwealth's statutory 95 percent share of eligible transit operating and capital costs (net of fares and federal assistance). This additional transit funding alone would require approximately $166 million annually in new funds for the limited transit projects and eligible operating costs included in CTB's six -year program. The Town Council supports state policy changes to reduce state oversight of locally administered transportation projects. Such oversight is duplicative, cumbersome, and inefficient resulting in unnecessary delays and costs. Periodic state audits of locally administered projects would be more efficient and better policy than constant, day to day oversight. The Town Council supports state policy changes to mandate further refinement of VDOT cost estimates for transportation projects in an effort to improve accuracy and thus reduce time lost due to the accumulation of unnecessary excess funds. In those circumstances when excess funds are unavoidable, allow those funds to be allocated to other projects more efficiently. Transient Occupancy Tax The Commonwealth should not allow online travel companies to avoid paying the full transient occupancy tax and the Town Council supports legislation to clarify this in statute. Prohibit Predatory Lending Practices (Council Resolution, July 13, 2010) The Town Council supports legislation that prohibits all predatory, usurious lending practices, including but not limited to provisions that would: Impose an interest rate cap of thirty -six percent (36 calculated as an effective annual percentage rate including all fees or charges of any kind, for any consumer credit extended in the Commonwealth of Virginia; Prohibit a creditor's use of a personal check or other device as a means, directly or indirectly, to gain access to a consumer's bank account; Incorporate into the Virginia Code the protections regarding consumer credit to military personnel as reflected in the Military Lending Act, 10 United States Code, Section 987. 2 Town of Leesburg 2012 Legislative Positions Statement Independent Consumer Advocate for Transmission Line Issues The Town Council supports legislation that creates an independent office of the consumer advocate within State government to actively participate in transmission lines issues before the State Corporation Commission. Conditional Zoning (Cash and In Kind Proffers) The Town Council supports existing local authority to accept cash and in -kind proffers from developers to assist localities in financing the capital facilities and infrastructure needed to serve new development and opposes legislation to eliminate or restrict that authority. Utility Rates Connection Fees The Town Council supports the existing authority of localities or locally created authorities to impose utility rates and connection fees adequate to support the full cost of water, wastewater and stormwater utility systems, and opposes any legislation that would limit that authority. Higher Education Presence in Leesburg The Town Council requests funding for a state supported higher education presence in the Town of Leesburg. Enforcement of Recycling Regulations The Town Council supports legislation that grants localities the authority to enforce compliance with environmental regulations. Civil Zoning Fines The Town Council supports legislation that grants localities the authority to collect unresolved civil zoning fines in the same manner as real estate taxes and levies are collected. Towing of Trailers The Town Council supports legislation that grants localities the authority to tow trailers for unpaid parking tickets. Line of Duty Act The Town Council supports the Virginia Municipal League's position that funding should responsibility for the Line of Duty program should be returned to the Commonwealth. Lyme Disease Eradication The Town Council supports legislation that addresses the control and eradication of deer ticks that carry Lyme disease within the Commonwealth. 3