Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-12-12 Minutes, City Commission, SPEC MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION BOZEMAN, MONTANA December 12, 2002 ***************************** A quorum of the Commission of the City of Bozeman participated in a community meeting at the Student Union Building on the Montana State University campus for the purpose of identifying a common legislative platform for the upcoming session of the Legislature. Those in attendance from the City of Bozeman included Mayor Steve Kirchhoff, Commissioner Marcia Youngman, Commissioner Jarvis Brown, City Manager Clark Johnson and Clerk of the Commission Robin Sullivan. The meeting began at 5:45 p.m., with participants assembling and mingling. The meeting was facilitated by the Community Mediation Center, with a number of people participating in facilitating the small group sessions and the large group discussion and serving as scribes. Welcome City Commissioner Marcia Youngman and County Commissioner John Vincent welcomed the group and outlined the purpose of this meeting. Members of the Community Mediation Center gave an overview of the process to be followed at this meeting. Small Group Discussion The participants were divided into several small groups identified as follows: local government, health and mental health services, human services, business, education, and natural resources. The purpose of the small groups was to identify those items in which a group was particularly interested. Large Group Discussion Each group reported on potential legislative changes about which they are concerned and which they feel may impact the overall local economy. Business. The following list was submitted: the efficiency of government is important; concerns about taxes; the need for very specific reform in various areas; the need to continue to emphasize cultural tourism; insurance issues for businesses; tort reform; workers' compensation reform; group health insurance; and enhancement of the workforce through training opportunities. Government. The following list was submitted: local control is in jeopardy; concerns that the State will balance the budget on the backs of local government without authority to fund those items; loss of the safety net, resulting in crisis management for human services; shifting of costs from the state to local governments; and property taxes. Health and mental health services. The following list was submitted: shifting of costs from the public sector to the private sector; the potential for implosion of the infrastructure for core services; and higher long-term costs resulting from decreases in prevention and early intervention services. Human services. The following list was submitted: loss of funding for programs and supportive services; loss of trained workers; forcing people onto the welfare system; loss of life due to suicide; increased impacts on the justice system; and increases in children at risk. Natural resources. The following list was submitted: lack of support or commitment at the state level for maintaining agricultural land and the natural landscape; and siting of state facilities, which can encourage sprawl and impact a community's ability to provide housing. 12-12-2002 Special --- - ---------- - ....--... .-.- ------- ._ n....__.._ .. ---.....-.- - 2 - Education. The following list was submitted: cuts which result in the loss of services; lack of community attractiveness; loss of volunteer services; and lack of prevention, which results in higher costs for both the justice and medical systems. Each group then identified the overarching issues, which will serve to identify a broad based platform that a majority of those in each of the groups can support. Business. The following was submitted: it is important that any tax overhaul be revenue neutral to Montanans; education is important; workforce development issues; government efficiency, including putting more monies into classrooms than into central administration; economic development; capital gains tax reform; and tort reform, to decrease the impacts of punitive damages on businesses. Government. The following was submitted: protect the basic safety net; support a budget that is revenue positive, with a greater share of the costs being assumed by State resources; enact legislation for local option taxes; more local flexibility and greater state responsibility; property tax relief; retain federal match dollars; don't usurp local control; no unfunded mandates; incentives for local economic development issues; and monies for research and development and for education. Health and mental health. The following was submitted: stress those agendas that support prevention services; new revenue sources at both the state and local levels; more partnerships, including state/local partnerships to look at health systems and short-term and long-term solutions; encourage use of in-state providers and businesses; healthy and safe communities initiatives that attract business; offenders bearing more of the costs of the legal system they impact; locally driven solutions; and keeping people in jobs. Human services. The following was submitted: cut administration before cutting direct services; focus on prevention; allow locals to generate revenues; implement a statewide sales tax; rework the tax structure; give credits to low-income families; and keep communication open. Natural resources. The following was submitted: invest in communities first; ensure that state decisions and actions don't run counter to local plans and decisions; and improve the dialogue between federal and state agencies. Education. The following was submitted: identify the minimal level of services and maintain at least that level; assess available resources; promote economic development; make community attractive; workforce development through good education; long-term planning; and improved dialogue. Mayor Kirchhoff left the meeting at 8:00 p.m. During discussion of the various items listed above, the following issues and concerns were raised. (1) Retailers are concerned that local option taxes may drive people to another community to shop; (2) the importance of property tax relief in conjunction with local option taxes; (3) the lack of crisis beds in Gallatin County and the need to support a proposal to locate such a facility in Bozeman; (4) the need for government efficiency or streamlining; (5) assessment of state funding options, including reassigning revenues from gaming, tobacco and alcohol; and (6) the balance between costs and prevention. Several small groups were created to write statements on the broad topics that seemed to have surfaced from the group reports. The following statements were then submitted to the group for evaluation and acceptance. Government efficiency. Run the State like a responsible business, and provide incentives to agencies to save monies, rather than expending any remaining monies in the budget at year end. Local control. We support legislation which would allow county voters to determine by referendum whether or not a county-wide local option tax should be enacted. Under this proposal, the specifics of the tax, including any exclusions, and the allowable uses of those revenues would be identified; and the County Commission would hold public hearings on the proposal prior to determining whether to place it on the ballot. The type of sunset provision to be included must also be determined. 12-12-2002 Special - 3 - Commitment to building a healthier community. Recognize that prevention/early intervention are critical and further pursue tools for those programs. Excellence in education/economic development. Keep education programs in place; use collaborative efforts, both state and local, to keep communities attractive and promote economic development; workforce development, and promoting an atmosphere to grow, are important. Local controls. Don't adopt legislation to pre-empt or weaken local control; don't undermine local land use decisions with State infrastructure decisions that contradict local goals. Summary Commissioner Marcia Youngman stated she feels that both the statements generated by the large group and the issues identified by the small groups should be submitted to the legislators, particularly since a broad spectrum of the community is reflected in this meeting. She then asked if those in attendance would be willing to participate in a campaign when an issue arises under one of the broad statements, noting that a grassroots effort is essential in the success of any platform. County Commissioner John Vincent noted it is important to recognize that some of those in attendance at this meeting may not be able to support or oppose specific legislation that might arise under these broad statements due to the political environment of a particular organization or agency. Commissioner Youngman concluded the meeting by thanking those who attended the meeting, including several local legislators. Adjournment ~ 9:10 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10p.m. STEVEd~,~~ ATTEST: ~i:~ Clerk of the Commission 12-12-2002 Special ------..