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

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1 MAC Meeting March 14, 2017 State Capitol Room G15.4 In attendance: Staff Present: Councilmember Jon McAvoy, Adel Mayor Ruth Randleman, Carlisle Councilmember John Edwards, Clive Councilmember Christine Hensley, Des Moines Councilmember Chris Coleman, Des Moines Councilmember Jill Altringer, Grimes Councilmember Tom Cope, Johnston Mayor Tom Phillips, Norwalk Mayor Jay Pattee, Perry Mayor Sara Kurovski, Pleasant Hill Councilmember Robert Sarchet, Polk City Mayor Bob Andeweg, Urbandale Councilmember Kim Sacker, Van Meter Councilmember Tony Timm, Windsor Heights Jeff Lester, Des Moines City Attorney Kandi Reindl-Sullivan, Asst. to the City Manager, Des Moines Guests Present: Robert Palmer, Iowa League of Cities Jen Schulte, Governmental Affairs Director, Des Moines Jamie Letzring, West Des Moines Asst. City Manager Andrea Woodard, Greater Des Moines Partnership Zachary Bales-Henry, Windsor Heights Lindsey McCune, Iowa League of Cities APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the January 10, 2017 and February 14, 2017 MAC meetings were motioned for approval by Ruth Randleman and seconded by Jay Pattee. All voted in favor, motion carried LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Robert Palmer from the Iowa League of Cities provided the following legislative update:

2 The revenue estimating conference meeting is at 11:00 a.m. today. The Dept. of Revenue and the Dept. of Management will present their revenue estimate. In December they were $30 million apart. We ve heard if it s under $50 million it s a win and this will affect the rest of the session. Using emergency funds is an option which they will need to pay back the following fiscal year. These are not easy decisions to make. Bills of interest: Minimum Wage Bottle Bill Water quality Budgets need to be certified on March 15 th and property tax and the backfill has been the Iowa League of Cities primary focus. Jon McAvoy Did the discussion of a 3/8 cents in sales tax came up? Robert Palmer After today we will know if it has a real chance. I have not seen a bill on that yet. Robert Palmer - Red light cameras have not moved since we talked last. These bills are funnel proof and Senator Zaun is trying to find middle ground on this and fireworks just passed out of Ways and Means in the Senate. John McAvoy What is in the bill? Robert Palmer 4 th of July fun! You can restrict or prohibit their usage. The sales of fireworks is a disparity. Local Option Sales Tax We needed to move to neutral on this bill since there are cities with differences Tom Cope - I think the bill is going to come out of committee. Robert Palmer The gun bill gives you the right to sue if you have been infringed. The Attorney General was going to go and seek clarification and we need to find out if firearms can be regulated. Sara Kurovski Our concern is whether or not city employees can carry firearms. Robert Palmer I think this bill if passed, would have an impact on insurance rates for cities.

3 Jay Pattee We had a meeting on a compliance complaint and we had a citizen attend with a firearm and it was intimidating Robert Palmer There are certain legislators that believe that if you restrict their rights to carry a firearm, you are putting them in danger. Jon McAvoy Can they carry in the State Capitol? Robert Palmer The bill does allow that, but right now they are not allowed to, but some do. Jen Schulte The Water Works bill is still intended to move out of the House and amendments are being finalized. Bob Andeweg West Des Moines has asked for some amendments on that bill. Tom Cope West Des Moines has some wells as part of the Microsoft project and they need language about regionalization and rates. Jamie Letzring We are trying to get bond counsel to assist us without a conflict of interest. Robert Palmer Regulations on taxi cabs is also being discussed. They want to establish a baseline regulation and if you want to exceed that you can. If you have any thoughts on that, please shoot me an . John Edwards If the fireworks bill passes, it would be nice to have a model ordinance with contiguous cities. Christine Hensley Our council is split on this issue. Chris Coleman I think we have at least four who would want to at least regulate fireworks. John Edwards Is this something we need to get the fire chiefs involved? Christine Hensley The Fire Chiefs, the veterans and Police Chiefs are all opposed. This would also add cost to our police departments since they would have to take two cars instead of one since you don t know if it s fireworks or gun shots. Robert Palmer You can say no fireworks at all in your city, or you can regulate where fireworks cannot be shot like in industrial areas where there are chemicals.

4 Sara Kurovski Can we regulate how these are sold, like not pop up campers on University Ave.? Robert Palmer You can control that through zoning regulations. Jon McAvoy Can you regulate what type of fireworks are sold? Robert Palmer I would have to look at the language of the bill, but I think that is possible. Christine Hensley Anything on tax credits and the impact on budgets? Robert Palmer Given the situation of the state s revenue, I think everything is on the table. They want to review them and if you have tax credits that are valuable to you, please those to me. Tom Cope There is a bill that is progressing with Workforce Tax Credits. Ruth Randleman There is a federal bill to increase the low income housing tax credits and that will be interesting to watch that bill. Robert Palmer On another bill, all across the country Verizon is trying to get the same legislation. There are some right-of-way safety concerns. The bill did not pass out of the House, however, it did pass out of the Senate. The rural legislators slowed it down a bit when they realized it wasn t going to really help the rural areas. They are going back to the cellular companies with their concerns. Tom Cope The momentum seems to be dropping. Christine Hensley Anything on TIF? Robert Palmer Only on wind farms in the rural areas. Sara Kurovski Has the League ever tried to change the date when the budgets are certified? Can t we try to change that to have them certified after the revenue estimating committee meets? Chris Coleman I would hate to lose the argument that they can t change the backfill after our budgets have already been certified. Chris Coleman Do we want to pursue John s suggestion on a model ordinance for fireworks?

5 Christine Hensley suggested that John work on that and bring it back to the next MAC meeting John Edwards Are their things we need to look to regulate minimum wage? Tom Cope The bill will likely pass the Senate and I expect it to be signed by April 1 or shortly thereafter. John Edwards Some of the metro cities have already taken action. Is there a draft ordinance circulating? Sara Kurovski Yes, we ve all used the same ordinance. Meeting adjourned at 8:05 a.m.