CC - Agendas - City Council - REGULAR - 5/13/2014

Home

Prescott City Council Regular Voting Meeting Page 2 April 8, 2014 II. REGULAR AGENDA A. Legislative Update Alison Zelms, Deputy City Manager presented. She spoke about the budget that was caucused in the House and Senate the prior day and said it went through with a $9.23 billion state budget, which is awaiting the Governor's signature. Ms. Zelms noted that the Governor is expected to sign the budget, and said it would include $30 million of restoration of Highway User Revenue Fees and not the $119 million that was proposed by Speaker Tobin. $1 million was reinstated to the City of Prescott to help defray the costs of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) line of duty death benefits that the City has incurred. She noted that it would be $1 million successively for five years, directly into the employer liability fund. She thanked Speaker Tobin, Senator Pearce and Representative Fann for their help. Ms. Zelms said there is a new bill that puts the City at greater risk for the diminution of property value for zoning changes or other ordinance requirements put forth in the zoning code. It furthers the property owner's position outside of court to impact the City. It would allow the property to get a tax credit up to $100,000.00 from the City if the property owner prevailed in his claim, saying the City was lessening their property value based on zoning practices and other code requirements. Ms. Zelms noted that the gun bill that would have put excessive penalties on local elected officials has been stricken from the consent calendar. She noted that a concern for the next legislative session is that a gubernatorial candidate, Doug Ducey, is attempting to discontinue sales tax on construction. Mayor Pro Tern Lamerson asked if the Mayor should contact the Governor to let her know the level of importance the sales tax issue would be to the City of Prescott. Ms. Zelms said yes. B. Approval of contribution to the Prescott Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $17,000.00 for expenses related to Prescott's 2014 Sesquicentennial Celebration (General Fund / Special Events) Don Prince, Tourism Director, presented, saying the Prescott Sesquicentennial Committee has been meeting to plan Prescott's 150th birthday celebration for the past year. The weekend of May 30th through June 1st was selected for this event, to coincide with the naming of Prescott on May 30, 1864. The Committee includes representatives from the Prescott Downtown Partnership, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, the Sharlot Hall Museum, the City of Prescott, the Prescott Regulators, Eagles Event Management, the Western Heritage Foundation, Prescott Brewing Company, and others.