Res 2018-227/adopting Guiding Principles for the City’s 2019 State Legislative Program Activities

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City of San Marcos Guiding Principles for the 86th Legislative Session The City of San Marcos recognizes the need for an active state legislative program to ensure the interests of the City's residents and businesses are protected and enhanced. The City Council has created a focused legislative platform, which reflects the core values found in the City Charter's statement of Goals and the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statements. As directed by the City Council, the City will participate in the 86th Texas Legislative Session (2019) process through monitoring and actively advocating for or against legislation when appropriate to support or safeguard the interests of the City. The following "Guiding Principles" serve as direction for staff and the City's legislative advocates on key issues. Preemption & Local Control • Oppose legislation that would erode municipal authority, impose unfunded mandates, or provide for state preemption of municipal authority in any way. • Support legislation to amend Section 361.096 (a)(1) of the Texas Health and Safety Code to allow local regulation of the use of disposable containers and packages for the purposes of environmental protection, preservation of endangered species, flood prevention, and to promote the health and safety of wildlife and livestock • Oppose legislative action that interferes with the ability of the City to determine how best to effectively operate local programs, services and activities or negatively impacts a municipally owned electric utility's ability to provide low cost services to its communities. Revenue and Finance • Oppose legislation that would impose a revenue and/or tax cap of any type, negatively expand appraisal caps, erode the local sales tax base, impose additional state fees or costs on city services, amend current taxing authority without replacing lost revenue with a fixed revenue stream, or erode the ability of a city