R-11-01-13-10D5 - 1/13/2011RESOLUTION NO. R -11-01-13-10D5
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS:
The Council approves the City of Round Rock's Federal Legislative Priority List, as set forth in
Exhibit A.
The City Council hereby finds and declares that written notice of the date, hour, place and
subject of the meeting at which this Resolution was adopted was posted and that such meeting was
open to the public as required by law at all times during which this Resolution and the subject matter
hereof were discussed, considered and formally acted upon, all as required by the Open Meetings Act,
Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended.
RESOLVED this 13th day of January, 2011.
ALAN MCGRAW, Mayor
City of Round Rock, Texas
ATTEST:
SARA L. WHITE, City Secretary
0:\wdox\SCC1nts\0112\1104\MUNICIPAL\00211064.DOC
Ca • itol Partners Inc.- Federal Le: islative Priorit List for the Cit of Round Rock
2011
Capitol Partners, through its previous work and correspondence with Round Rock Mayor Alan McGraw
and Round Rock Acting City Manager Cindy Demers, has ascertained the following issues as the
legislative priorities for the City of Round Rock in preparation for the beginning of the 112th Congress.
1. Advocate for the passage of a stand-alone transportation bill or amendment in Congress allowing
Section 5307 funds to be used for operation costs. In order to provide high quality public transportation
services, Round Rock is in great need of having Section 5307 funds be made more flexible by having
them legally used for both capital and operational expenditures. Capitol Partners has already targeted
and secured Rep. John Carter's support for introduction of a bill to amend the language of Section 5307.
In the 112th Congress, Capitol Partners will advocate on behalf of this amendment to key
Representatives and Senators in order to secure this bill's passage.
2. Oppose a Public Safety Bargaining Agreement. Capitol Partners will advocate against and secure
Congressional opposition to any Public Safety Bargaining Agreement introduced. This agreement is
essentially authorization language giving public safety officers and first responders collective bargaining
rights. This language is strongly opposed by the National Sheriffs Association and many State and local
governments as it negatively affects the freedom that municipalities have in negotiating contracts with
their police, firefighter, and other emergency response personnel, as well as a host of other problems.
As we have done in the 111th Congress, Capitol Partners will continue to advocate against this measure.
3. Oppose any bill containing an adverse Streamlined Sales Tax amendment. Capitol Partners will
promote Congressional opposition to any bill requiring states to change their current laws concerning
the sourcing of sales taxes for intrastate transactions. Any bill or bill amendment will be opposed that
will change tax laws and rules to source the sales tax for intrastate transactions on a "destination
basis", meaning that the sales tax rates in effect at the destination of a product or service delivery would
be the rates applicable to the transaction, as opposed to the current sales tax rules with an "origin
basis." Any statutory change requiring a "destination based" sales tax will have a massive detrimental
effect on Round Rock due to the fact Dell Inc. is located in the city and its sales tax is a major revenue
source for the city. As we have done in the 111th Congress, Capitol Partners will continue to advocate
against this measure and will promote Round Rock's involvement if congressional champions prepare to
(as we expect) re -introduce this bill in the 112th congress.
4. Advocate for the passage of favorable language regarding Capital Metro funding disputes. Capitol
Partners will assist the City of Round Rock in its dispute with Capital Metro on its rightful share for
funding allocation and promote Round Rock's autonomy from Capital Metro on funding issues by
looking for legislative methods to solve the problem. Capitol Partners has already alerted the Texas
delegation offices of this issue and is prepared to equip Congressman Carter and the Senators to act on
behalf of Round Rock in the 112th Congress. Capitol Partners' goal is that the city will soon gain the
ability to make and enforce transportation funding decisions independently from Capital Metro, but will
work for the most favorable outcome possible to achieve.
5. Promote the inclusion of a Round Rock project in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act.
(WRDA) Capitol Partners has identified the upcoming WRDA bill as a potential legislative target for the
city of Round Rock. It is a comprehensive water resources law typically passed every two years which
EXHIBIT
authorizes either projects or studies within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mission areas including
water line projects, sewage control, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction,
shoreline protection and environmental restoration. Capitol Partners will work with Round Rock
officials to ascertain if there are any water resource issues which can be crafted into a WRDA project,
and advocate for their authorization to Round Rock's Congressional delegation.
6. Promote the inclusion of a Round Rock project in the upcoming Transportation Bill. The
Transportation Equity Act (TEA) is reauthorized approximately once every 6-8 years and is comprised of
every state's road, development, and transportation priority improvement projects. Through its
previous work with Round Rock, Capitol Partners has worked to establish a highway project priority list
with which it can approach legislators with in working towards including Round Rock in the TEA -Bill.
Through the upcoming TEA Bill, Round Rock will have the opportunity to secure significant funding for its
road and public transportation projects. Capitol Partners has a strong track record of success in working
for its clients on this issue, having secured over $45 million in the most recent authorization of the TEA
Bill.
7. Resolution of commercial property owned by the federal government. Capitol Partners will
continue to communicate with appropriate congressional delegation members in order to effectively
advocate for a favorable resolution to the land sale issue involving properties 482076, 482074, 481895,
481896 & 550304. Through our advocacy efforts, Round Rock can expect congressional support in
seeing these properties released for sale.
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS
PURPOSE. PASSION. PROSPERITY.
City Council Agenda Summary Sheet
Agenda Item No. 10D5.
Agenda Caption: Consider a resolution approving the City's FY 2011 Federal Legislative Agenda.
Meeting Date: January 13, 2011
Department: Administration
Staff Person making presentation: Cindy Demers
Acting City Manager
Item Summary:
As part of the City's federal legislative activities, the City has identified a list of issues and legislative priorities in
preparation for the beginning of the 112th Congress. Some of the priorities include opposition of any bill containing
an adverse Streamlined Sales Tax amendment, support for the passage of a stand-alone transportation bill or
amendment in Congress allowing Section 5307 funds to be used for operation costs, and advocate for the passage of
favorable language regarding Capital Metro funding disputes. The proposed list of issues supports City priorities,
leverage funds, and provides benefits for a maximum number of citizens and legislative constituents.
Strategic Plan Relevance:
8.0 — Maintain and enhance public confidence, satisfaction and trust in City Government
These legislative priorities support several of the City's strategic goals including improving mobility and connectivity,
ensuring a safe, adequate and affordable water supply, ensuring a high and timely level of public safety and
developing the financial capital needed to support business growth and development, and improve the financial
advantages of operating in the City.
Cost:
Source of Funds:
N/A
N/A
Date of Public Hearing (if required): N/A
Recommended Action: Approval