From
Megan Mahan
Title
Resolution Establishing the City's 2019 Legislative Priorities
Presenter
Megan Mahan, City Attorney
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The Texas legislature is scheduled to convene on January 2019. Among other things, the legislature will consider many measures detrimental to the City’s ability to provide services as well as desirable changed to facilitate municipal goals. It is critical that the City of Grand Prairie focus its attention on the most critical items by establishing legislative priorities. The resolution expressing those priorities is attached below and was reviewed by the Finance and Government Committee with reccomendations for certain additions.
Financial Consideration
None
Body
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE CITY’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND PRIORITIES FOR THE 86TH SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
WHEREAS, beginning November 12, 2018, state legislators may begin filing legislation that could impact City operations, finances and our citizens, and
WHEREAS, beginning January 8, 2019, the legislature will convene for a 140-day session to consider legislation; and
WHEREAS, many significant decisions affecting Texas cities are made by the Texas Legislature; and
WHEREAS, during the 2017 session, more 2,000 bills would have affected Texas cities in some substantial way; and
WHEREAS, it is a challenge for the City, given its limited resources, to effectively monitor legislation drafted and debated in Austin and to prevent encroachments on local authority; and
WHEREAS, it is important to establish priorities, positions and to communicate them to the legislature.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE:
SECTION 1: THAT the City seeks to preserve its current authority to govern the City and its citizens in accordance with the City’s strategic goals and interests.
The City opposes any legislation that:
· is detrimental to our strategic goals;
· erodes municipal a...
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