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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR17-002 2017 Legislative Policy Statement Commissioner v Ol4c - 1.44.4- 41.. adoption • of the following Resolution: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COORADO RESOLUTION No. 2017- orZ RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE EAGLE COUNTY 2017 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENT WHEREAS, Eagle County follows state and federal legislative activity closely in order to identify any potential impacts on the county and its citizens; and WHEREAS, due to the nature of the legislative process and the ever-changing language of numerous bills of substance, it is critical that Eagle County maintains an effective and responsive system for taking and communicating official county positions on relevant legislation; and WHEREAS, an integral part of this system is the adoption of an Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement, which identifies general legislative issues of interest to the county along with the county's policy principles on these issues; and WHEREAS, Eagle County officials and staff will utilize the 2017 Legislative Policy Statement as a guide when reviewing and analyzing bills that may have an impact on the county's interests; and WHEREAS, the Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement incorporates Eagle County's Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado: THAT, the attached Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement in Exhibit A is hereby adopted representing the county's policy principles on these legislative issues. MOVED, READ and ADOPTED by the Board of County commissioners of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado, at its regular meeting held the 10th day of January, 2017. ,� r By: .� .a ��.fi1/!l'[ 1 J S Eagle County Attorney's 0 fice By: Eagle County Commissioners' Office COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO,by and Through Its • ATT ..T: e BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS iv /I 1 Iffit _4010. By: '1 ! /�10 eg' O'Brien "illian . Ryan Clerk to the Board of Chai ' an i County Commissioners ar A4i/./. /I/ fry Ii Kathy CI.ndler-Henry 16 Commissioner /,p _t anne McQueeney ommissioner Commissioner Ae _ seconded adoption of the foregoing resolution. The roll having been called, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Ryan AAA`' Commissioner Chandler-Henry " Commissioner McQueeney 14\-4•'' This Resolution passed by 3! °vote of the Board of County Commissioners of the County III of Eagle, State of Colorado. • • EAGLE COUNTY 2017 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENT ,,,,,, _di • -*1-7- 'EAGLE COUNTY 0 Exhibit A Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW AND STRATEGIC PLAN 2 POLICY PRINCIPLES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 4 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 5 GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL ISSUES 7 HOUSING 10 HUMAN SERVICES 10 LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT 10 PUBLIC HEALTH 11 PUBLIC LANDS 13 PUBLIC SAFETY 13 • SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE PROTECTION 14 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 15 TRANSPORTATION 15 • 1 • Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • OVERVIEW Eagle County's Legislative Policy Statement identifies the county's policy principles on key legislative issues. The county will utilize the Legislative Policy Statement as a guiding policy when reviewing and analyzing specific bills that impact Eagle County interests. The policy statements included in this document are necessarily broad and by no means all-inclusive. Eagle County will take Official County Positions on a limited number of significant bills. Official County Positions are not automatically assumed on bills simply because they are congruent with the policy statements contained in this document. The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) has discretion in determining Official County Positions. When significant legislation is identified that might warrant an Official County Position, the BoCC, other elected officials and county staff will coordinate review through the County Manager's Office. In coordination with the County Attorney's Office, the County Manager's Office will provide the BoCC with a brief summary of the substance of the legislation and, if warranted, a proposed Official County Position that is consistent with the principles of the Legislative Policy Statement. The BoCC will consider the Official County Position, and if adopted, the county will communicate the position to legislators and the public. Eagle County welcomes the opportunity to discuss the county's legislative priorities and positions. This Legislative Policy Statement provides a reference tool when considering legislation that may impact Eagle County. EAGLE COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN With a mission of"Creating a Better Eagle County for All,"the Strategic Plan provides a roadmap as the county allocates resources, gauges progress and ensures delivery of quality services to constituents. The • Strategic Plan identifies underlying principles on which decisions are based, and includes goals and objectives to be achieved through 2020. Specific policy and management action items are identified for the coming year that work towards achieving these goals and objectives. The Eagle County Legislative Policy Statement is consistent with the Eagle County Strategic Plan's goals and objectives. Therefore,Eagle County: • Supports legislation that is consistent with and works towards the achievement of the County's Strategic Plan goals and objectives. • Opposes legislation that runs counter to or prevents the achievement of the County's Strategic Plan goals and objectives. • 2 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • PLACEHOLDER FOR ONE-PAGER 2015-2020 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES • • 3 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • POLICY PRINCIPLES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION A substantial body of research documents the importance of early childhood education to children's healthy growth and development and to their success in school. Research also demonstrates that funds spent on effective early childhood programs represent a sound and cost-effective investment. For example,the Colorado Early Childhood Leadership Commission developed its Early Investment Model to calculate the return on state investments in early childhood programs based on peer-reviewed and nationally-recognized research. This model assumes that every state dollar invested in early childhood programs yields a return on investment of almost $8.80. This assumption is consistent with research reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures showing returns on early childhood program investments of more than$8 for every$1 invested. A key problem is that providing quality early learning and childcare is often quite costly and beyond the means of many low-income and working class families, which in turn, makes it difficult for childcare providers to either sustain their business or offer high- quality care. According to Eagle County's Early Childhood Roadmap, there are 4,300 children ages 0 to 5 in Eagle County and that number is expected to grow. Approximately 2/3 of those children have one or more parents employed, yielding 2,881 children who may need childcare. Currently, 1,500 of these children are in licensed care, leaving 1,381 others whose parents may need or want childcare,but may not be able to obtain it. Understanding the importance of early childhood care and education, Eagle County: • Supports legislation that promotes access, affordability and quality in early childhood education opportunities. • Supports increased state funding for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, including state financial support for unfunded mandates such as tiered reimbursement and • parental discounts. • Supports quality initiatives for family,friends and neighbor care. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A healthy economic climate is critical to the overall quality of life in Eagle County and Colorado. The county is working with regional and state partners to create a diverse and resilient economy. Eagle County: • Supports the development of a statewide economic development strategy that addresses issues of business climate and economic direction at the state level,but seeks local input and respects local control of economic development. • Supports appropriate state tax policies and incentive programs, including enterprise zones, business incentive agreements, or other legislative initiatives, that encourage business expansion, retention, and attraction through primary job creation, investment in capital equipment,and employer facility development. • Supports workforce development, including higher education funding, relevant pre- and post-secondary vocational training,and STEM curriculum for K-12. • Supports efforts to reduce the high costs of health care and health insurance premiums that have a significant impact on the workforce and employers. This includes efforts to realign insurance rating areas that would result in lower health care premiums for the workforce and employers of Eagle County. • Supports tourism-centric economic development that can lead to job growth and economic diversification. • • Supports small-scale cottage industries that assist in broadening the economic base in resort tourist communities. 4 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • Supports efforts that respect county authority in fostering community beautification and 1111 enhancement. Protection of the natural, scenic, cultural, educational, and historical environments is key to the success of tourist resort communities and their economies. • Supports programs that further sustainable recreation while protecting the environment on which the economy depends (snow sports,fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, biking, off-road vehicles,horseback riding, etc.) ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WA TER RESOURCES Protecting the quality and quantity of Colorado's water is vital to its environment, economy, and people. A number of policy-making and regulatory efforts are underway, including new municipal separate storm system and sediment rules, state gray water implementation rules, and a new definition of waters of the U.S., all of which could impact Eagle County and all Colorado local governments. During these processes, Eagle County will advocate for legislation, regulations, and other policy approaches that focus on the critical goal of protecting water quality and quantity, conserving water resources and only developing new supplies as a last resort. Eagle County: • Supports Colorado's doctrine of prior appropriation of water,necessary water conservation efforts and reuse efforts to seek and maintain state primacy and county control. • Supports the application of county powers related to water resources, including 1041 powers, to address local impacts on and protection of Colorado's water resources. 1041 powers must be broadly and liberally construed to ensure maximum flexibility and authority for counties. • Supports cooperative statewide water planning efforts that do not negatively impact the • basin of origin communities and are supported by such communities. • Supports efforts to maintain and seek state primacy of federal water quality programs that adequately fund counties to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act. • Supports legislation that promotes efficient water use and water conservation. The Colorado State Water Plan provides sustainable water resource management practices, public policy incentives and regulations to achieve greater conservation and more efficient use of Colorado's water supply. • Opposes any attempt to limit application of local 1041 powers. • Opposes attempts by the federal government to usurp the prior appropriation system when issuing necessary federal permits. FOOD SAFETY Food safety programs are significantly under-resourced in Colorado. Restaurant licensing fees, which reside in state statute and were last increased in 2009, are nominal and average less than$300 per year per restaurant. This only supports approximately 40% of current food safety program costs. Increasing restaurant licensing fees will better balance the public and private investment in food safety programming, allow Colorado's public health agencies and its restaurant industry to move closer to national best practices for food safety programs and better protect the public from food-borne illnesses. Eagle County: • Supports legislation to increase the license fees for retail food establishments. • 5 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement AIR QUALITY • Outdoor air quality is a genuine concern in Eagle County. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA establishes air quality standards to protect public health,with special attention to the health of"sensitive"populations (children under 10 years, adults over 65 years, and asthmatics). Poor air quality has significant public health and environmental impacts, from increasing doctor and hospital admissions, to compromising the unique value of our open space lands and negatively impacting wildlife and habitat. Eagle County supports state legislative, regulatory, and other efforts to protect public and environmental health by reducing the emissions of harmful pollutants. Eagle County: • Supports state regulation and other policy means to protect air quality. WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND FOREST HEALTH Wildfire mitigation measures modify the forest environment surrounding a structure that is at risk from destruction by a wildfire, while forest health efforts improve the conditions of Colorado's forests to restore ecosystems to a healthier state. Together, these efforts have the benefit of minimizing the destructive effects of wildfire on Colorado's communities, land, and environment. Activities such as developing and maintaining defensible space and a safe home ignition zone around homes, forest thinning, and prescribed fire are common and proven tools for reducing wildfire risk. Local governments have access to an array of tools to reduce the risk of wildfire by considering the amount and type of development that occurs in areas at risk for wildfire and establishing requirements for wildfire mitigation measures for any development within these areas. Eagle County: • Supports funding for wildfire mitigation efforts through the reauthorization of the • Department of Natural Resources' Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program. • Supports legislative efforts that promote forest health and restoration projects that improve overall forest conditions. • Supports forestry projects that reduce fuels for fire and create fuel breaks and safe escape routes. • Supports increased private homeowner awareness and participation in the creation and maintenance of defensible space and a safe home ignition zone; and increased use of ignition-resistant building materials in residential construction, renovations, decks, and additions in the wildland urban interface. • Supports efforts to seek alternative federal funding options in lieu of United States Forest Service (USFS) for wildfire response and recovery. This would result in additional resources for much-underfunded forest management activities. NATURAL RESOURCES Colorado's natural environment contributes to its high quality of life and robust economy. Recognizing this, the state and its local government partners have developed an array of public policy and programmatic initiatives designed to preserve and protect Colorado's land, water and natural resources. Examples include the Conservation Easement Tax Credit and Great Outdoors Colorado. Eagle County will continue to utilize these tools to protect our local environment and will advocate for their continuation and expansion to ensure the preservation of the environment and quality of life that Coloradans have grown to expect. Eagle County: • 6 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • Supports the development of tools the state and local governments may use to conserve and • protect natural resources. • Supports efforts to protect floodplains and riparian areas from encroachment. GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL ISSUES UNFUNDED MANDATES In order to effectively serve the needs of their communities, county officials must have the financial resources and authority commensurate with the responsibilities placed on them by state and federal laws, regulations and court decisions. In all decision making, state and federal governments should refrain from solving budget shortfalls with county government resources. State and federal government should base decisions about laws and regulations affecting county governments on comprehensive data and measurable outcomes. Relying on these two standards to scrutinize existing and proposed laws and regulations will help reduce unnecessary,unfunded or underfunded mandates, streamline government and utilize limited resources more efficiently. Eagle County: • Supports the provision of adequate funding for any future state or federally-imposed mandates upon local government, including the need for technology improvements necessary to fulfill these mandates. • Opposes cost shifting from state and federal government to local governments. LOCAL CONTROL AND FLEXIBILITY Eagle County believes that the authority to address issues that pertain to the county must reside firmly with the county, where state or federal authority does not already exist. Local governments are best •suited to identify solutions to local issues, particularly in regards to the services it provides and the land use decisions that it makes. Local authority also includes the flexibility to determine use of funding for specific initiatives. The most effective governance results from local, state and federal officials working in true partnership toward the development and implementation of programs and services. Eagle County: • Supports legislative efforts that strengthen and preserve local control and authority of county governments. • Opposes legislation that reduces local control or weakens administrative flexibility of county governments. SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS The issue of taxing remote sales has compounded in recent years due to the extraordinary development of the Internet as a retail marketplace. As a result, state and local governments have lost billions in uncollected sales taxes and Main Street businesses find themselves at a significant competitive disadvantage to various online sellers. Eagle County: • Supports legislation to permit the collection of existing sales and use taxes from remote sellers. • 7 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement RULE-MAKING • Eagle County believes county commissioners are important and necessary stakeholders in any rule- making process. Eagle County: • Supports county participation in legislative and regulatory efforts that impact counties. • Opposes the exclusion of counties from participating in legislative and regulatory efforts to promulgate rules and regulations that affect counties. INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERSHIPS Eagle County recognizes the important role all levels of government play. Eagle County respects the unique and important roles of the federal, state and local government, and believes counties are more than an administrative arm of state government. Commissioners represent the interests of their constituents, and counties must be viewed as partners, not as a"special"interest. Eagle County: • Supports involvement of counties in executive department restructuring that directly affects operations and programs administered by county government. • Supports commissioner representation on state boards, commissions and working groups appointed by members of the executive, legislative or judicial branch whose decisions affect county government. LONG-TERM FISCAL STABILITY OF THE STATE OF COLORADO Eagle County recognizes the importance of a state government that operates in a fiscally responsible way and advances the economic vitality and well-being of all Coloradans. Eagle County appreciates the transparency in the state budgeting process and the opportunity to provide input, and it seeks collaboration with the state, especially with regard to decisions and processes that affect our organization • or our constituents. The state and its counties are intertwined in many different, significant ways when it comes to the delivery of services to Colorado residents. The conflicting priorities of the Gallagher Amendment,Amendment 23, and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights present a complex set of circumstances that must be addressed. Rising costs of doing business, including the costs of health care and health insurance premiums,present a significant challenge for the state and its counties. Eagle County: • Supports and will continue to engage with any substantive effort to evaluate and address the ongoing structural and budgetary challenges that negatively impact the fiscal stability and sustainability of the State of Colorado and by extension,its local government partners. GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY Eagle County recognizes that the complexity and diversity of its operations and services required to meet the needs of the community may expose the county, its officers, and employees to liability for damage and injury. The county strongly believes that public officers and employees need to be assured that this liability will not impair the lawful and proper provision of necessary services to the public. Eagle County: • Supports legislation that protects the interests of counties, their officers, and their employees in the lawful and proper performance of their duties and responsibilities. • Supports legislation that discourages baseless and frivolous claims and demands made against counties,their officers,and their employees. • Supports the availability of public liability insurance at reasonable costs and the ability of counties to reduce these costs through self-insurance. • • Opposes legislation that expands or increases county liability,or,conversely,further limits county immunity. 8 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement WORKERS'COMPENSATION • Eagle County recognizes that the Colorado Workers' Compensation Act was developed as a no-fault system established"to assure the quick and efficient delivery of disability and medical benefits to injured workers at a reasonable cost to employers, without the necessity of any litigation, recognizing that the workers' compensation system in Colorado is based on a mutual renunciation of common law rights and defenses by employers and employees alike." The county is concerned about any legislation that will erode the ability of an employer to control their claim costs and inhibit an employer's ability to get competitive quotes from the market for quality insurance coverage. Eagle County: • Supports legislation that maintains the spirit of the Colorado Workers' Compensation Act, for the protection of both Colorado employers and employees. • Opposes legislation that creates presumptive eligibility coverage within the law, promotes litigation or adds significant insurance premium costs or administrative burdens to employers. ELECTIONS As with other counties across the state, most responsibility for administering local elections falls on Eagle County. To that end, Eagle County: • Supports equitable sharing of the costs of elections by all governmental entities with a stake in elections. MOTOR VEHICLE FEE RESTRUCTURING The Motor Vehicle responsibilities in county offices, directed by the Colorado Department of Revenue, are customer service centric, complicated and demanding. Despite the fact that sales of new and used • cars and corresponding registration fee revenues have increased in recent years, county revenues to administer these services are relatively flat. Eagle County: • Supports increasing the Clerk's fee and the county share of late fees or creating a new fee to enable counties to keep pace with the necessary costs of providing this service at a level that meets customers' expectations. E-RECORDING SURCHARGE FEE EXTENSION In 2006, the state instituted a surcharge on all recorded documents of $1.00 per document. This surcharge was intended to help counties pay for systems, equipment and training for electronic recording of legal documents. Eagle County made this transition several years ago, but there are ongoing costs to maintain and upgrade the system every year. As protectors of the permanent public records related to real estate transactions, marriage and death certificates, loans, covenants, plats and maps, it is imperative that Eagle County preserve these documents in a manner that is readable for modern technology capabilities. The surcharge is about to sunset. Colorado's recording fees are among the lowest in the nation. Eagle County: • Supports legislation to extend the e-recording surcharge fee permanently, as well as to increase the amount per document by$1.00 for a total of$2.00. • 9 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • HOUSING Affordable housing is a critical workforce issue in Eagle County and across the state. Eagle County: • Supports legislation that will remove barriers to attainable and affordable housing. • Supports legislation that will increase the supply of affordable housing in multifamily buildings by limiting construction defect litigation. • Supports legislation that identifies a permanent funding source for the statewide Affordable Housing Trust Fund. HUMAN SERVICES Eagle County Human Services aims to connect people and strengthen communities by providing essential services for those who are most in need. Eagle County: • Supports increased funding for the HB 04-1451 Collaborative Management Program. • Supports funding to address increases in Adult Protective Services caseloads resulting from the implementation of mandatory reporting for elder abuse. • Supports the federal-state-local structure for financing and delivering Medicaid services. • Supports policies that reduce the "cliff effect" for people moving off public benefits toward self-sufficiency. • Supports efforts under SB 190 to close the funding gap between state allocations and the costs of administering human services programs. • Supports funding to address the service gaps for children and'adults needing mental health assessments,evaluations,and culturally competent in-home evidence-based treatment. • Supports state-level efforts to provide paid sick leave to all workers. Women and minorities • have disproportionately lower access to paid sick leave, and thus more negative economic and health impacts when sick. • Supports sustainable funding for veteran services in Colorado. • Opposes legislation that would further shift federal and state Medicaid costs to counties. LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT Eagle County seeks to create communities with a sense of place. Land use authority is critical to shaping well-planned, livable developments. Eagle County: • Supports legislation that would maintain or increase county construction review and oversight authority, including timely adjudication and appropriate penalties for building code violations. • Supports efforts to work with State Department of Regulatory Agencies to allow counties to have control over the fee structure on electrical permits. • Supports giving boards of county commissioners the authority to approve the use and the amount of the county portion of revenues designated in a proposed urban renewal plan for tax increment financing. • Supports establishing mechanisms to ensure that a proposed urban renewal project meets the current statutory requirement of ameliorating blight or slum conditions. • Supports right-to-farm ordinances and acquisition of conservation easements and conservation leases to maintain agricultural uses. • Opposes legislation that would supersede, override, or preempt local land use authority both from regulatory and comprehensive master planning perspectives. • • Opposes legislation that would reduce county construction review and oversight authority. 10 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • Opposes any state or federal effort to preempt or further limit local government regulatory 4111 authority over any extractive industry. PUBLIC HEALTH HEALTH DISPARITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Eagle County supports development, expansion and monitoring of programs to reduce disparities in health. Persistent health inequities and disparities mean that millions of Americans suffer from a disproportionately high burden of disease, disability, and premature death. These disparities also impose an unacceptable fiscal cost. Eagle County: • Supports funding for effective strategies that work to reduce health disparities and better understand the underlying causes of health disparities. • Supports initiatives and efforts to better define and support environmental justice efforts to promote health equity. HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND COST Eagle County promotes availability of and access to quality preventive and primary health care when not otherwise available through the private sector, including acute and episodic care,prenatal and postpartum care, evidence-based home visitation programs, child health, family planning, school health, chronic disease prevention, child and adult immunizations, testing and screening services, dental health, nutrition, and health education and promotion services. The rising costs of health care and health insurance premiums have had a significant impact on the workforce and employers in Eagle County. Exploratory efforts are underway to realign insurance rating areas, which would result in lower health care premiums in Eagle County. Eagle County: • • Supports legislation that promotes quality health care access and improves the affordability of that care. FAMILY PLANNING AND LONG ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTIVES By providing greater access to voluntary contraception, including long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), Colorado has become a national leader in reducing unintended pregnancies. Since 2009, the Colorado Family Planning Initiative has increased health care provider education and training and reduced the costs of the most effective forms of long-term contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices and implants. As a result, the number of Colorado women choosing these methods has increased dramatically and Colorado has seen unprecedented declines in the birthrate and number of abortions.From 2009-2013, the teen birthrate in Colorado fell 40% and teen abortions declined by 42% thanks to a six-year program that distributed free LARCs to teens and young women(New York Times). Unintended pregnancies have serious health ramifications for mother and baby, as well as high economic and social costs for the new family. Eagle County: • Supports legislation that funds LARC distribution efforts for family planning purposes. • Supports policies that dedicate funding and resources to Title X Family Planning Clinics and other reproductive health care organizations in Colorado. INJURY PREVENTION Injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44 and are responsible for nearly 193,000 deaths per year. Motor vehicle crashes account for the highest number of unintentional deaths in Eagle County. Unintentional injuries and suicide are Eagle County's third and fourth leading causes of death. • Slips,trips and falls from steps or stairs are by far the leading cause of hospitalizations nationwide. Adults 11 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement ages 55 and older are more prone to becoming victims of falls, and the resulting injuries can diminish the • ability to lead active, independent lives. Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds, and suicide rates are highest among the 45 to 54 age group. Eagle County: • Supports legislation to enact a primary seatbelt law. • Supports a first conviction(driving while impaired) ignition interlock law. • Supports legislation prohibiting texting and driving, in addition to laws requiring a hands- free device for mobile communications while driving. • Supports laws that prevent early licensing of teens, such as those who go through driver's education. • Supports other legislation aimed at reducing deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes. • Supports legislation and policies that increase capacity and infrastructure in the behavioral health system to raise awareness about mental illness and suicide prevention. • Supports legislation that enacts policies proven to reduce injuries,including,but not limited to a child helmet law and prescription drug monitoring programs. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLANS Colorado's local public health agencies and the state have developed public health improvement plans as required by the Public Health Act of 2008 (SB 08-194). Developed through a stakeholder engagement process,these plans assess and set priorities for the public health system and guide the system in targeting core public health services and functions. Eagle County: • Supports funding of local public health systems. Adequate funding will provide accountability in the systems and assure positive public health outcomes through program • development,implementation,and evaluation. • Supports funding for more mental health services,especially for more crisis beds across the State. COLORADO IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION SYSTEM The Colorado Immunization Information System(CIIS) is a confidential,population-based, computerized system that collects and disseminates consolidated immunization information for Coloradans of all ages. Operated by the Colorado Immunization Program at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), CIIS works to increase and sustain high immunization rates by consolidating immunization records from multiple providers, allowing providers to generate notices for individuals who are not up-to-date, minimizing over-immunization, and identifying missed opportunities for immunization. First implemented in 2011, CIIS has struggled with technical and other issues that have limited its acceptance and use by health care providers, an outcome which ultimately compromises its effectiveness. Broad, statewide implementation of CIIS will meet multiple public health priorities, especially for children.Eagle County: • Supports funding and other approaches to expand implementation of the CIIS. • 12 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement PUBLIC LANDS • Approximately 85% of the land area in Eagle County is comprised of public lands. This greatly elevates the importance of federal and state policies related to public lands. Eagle County: • Supports full Congressional appropriation of Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILT) to compensate counties for the costs associated with the presence of federal tax-exempt lands. • Supports all efforts to compensate counties for lost property tax revenue from tax-exempt lands. • Supports legislation that encourages the state and federal governments to provide sufficient funding to local governments to alleviate the burden from the negative impacts attributable to wildfire, fuel loads, road maintenance, search and rescue efforts, law enforcement, wildlife, predators, pests, noxious weeds, and undesirable plants originating on state and federal lands. • Supports control of the allocation of USFS PILT remaining solely with the boards of county commissioners. • Supports proposed legislation that would allow the State Land Board to sell land directly to local governments. • Supports legislation that encourages public land managers to develop and implement vegetation management programs that create and maintain healthy, diverse wildland communities and are consistent with affected county policies. • Supports legislation intended for the recovery and preservation of endangered species considering all potential impacts and subject to local government involvement and approval. • Supports legislation that would create special land designations that are consistent with land use policies within the county of designation. All proposed wilderness legislation • should include county input. • Supports efforts by the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife to manage species appropriately from cost-benefit and economic impacts perspectives. • Supports efforts to improve hunting and fishing within the county consistent with local authority while minimizing and mitigating impacts from hunting and fishing on other affected areas and private property. • Opposes mandatory linkages among federal payment programs that reduce county receipts. • Opposes proposed legislation that would designate wild and scenic rivers or any designation where Eagle County has not participated in the designation,or where the designation would conflict with local land use policies. PUBLIC SAFETY The Eagle County Sheriffs Office has inmates with mental health issues who need to be evaluated and treated. Due to the nature of criminal charges, they need to go to a secure facility. Some inmates plead not guilty by reason of insanity and a judge typically orders a competency examination. The waiting list for Pueblo is months long and meanwhile, these persons are housed in county jails. Mind Springs' (mental health service provider)bed space for mental health holds is also lacking and they are working on expanding their facility in Grand Junction. The county has recently had situations where all of our holding cells at the Eagle County Detention Facility are full of inmates with mental health needs. These inmates have to be checked every 15 minutes due to their condition and this presents resource issues. If these inmates were in a proper mental health setting, they could be medicated and potentially placed with other inmates. Eagle County: • 13 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • Supports funding for more mental health bed space at the state mental health facility in • Pueblo and an increase in the number of mental health beds on the western slope. SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE PROTECTION COLORADO COMMUNITIES FOR CLIMATE ACTION POLICY STATEMENT Eagle County is committed to climate protection and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within county operations, in the community, and in the state. Each year the BoCC reviews the county's environmental policy statement and considers changes in environmental priorities and goals. In April 2016, the BoCC adopted a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Eagle County operations 5% each year, equating to a 50% reduction by 2030. The 2016 Climate Action Plan for the Eagle County Community identifies local energy costs, sources of greenhouse gas emissions, reduction targets, and recommended actions for governments, businesses and organizations. In 2016, Eagle County joined the Colorado Communities for Climate Action(CC4CA), and adopted a shared Policy Agenda for 2016-2017 (attached as Exhibit 1), including policy positions pertaining to local and state climate programs, electricity generation, energy efficiency,transportation, and waste management. WASTE DIVERSION AND RECYCLING Eagle County has a strategic plan objective to achieve a waste diversion goal of 30% by 2030. With investments already made and other strategies being developed for the future, the county is well on its way to hitting that mark. Eagle County: • Supports legislation to increase the level of recycling and composting in Colorado and provide Colorado's residents and businesses with increased access to waste reduction services. According to the CDPHE, Colorado recycles only 11% of its waste, excluding scrap • metal, which is well below the national average of 34% calculated by the EPA. Residential curbside recycling is available in less than half of counties statewide and more than 65% of Coloradans never recycle or recycle only sporadically. Eagle County supports Colorado setting statewide recycling goals with interim targets, ensuring that all Coloradans have access to recycling services. • Supports legislation and other means for promoting and advancing product stewardship. Eagle County supports legislation, regulation, or other means to engage manufacturers, retailers, and consumers in strategies that maximize the economic benefits, reduce environmental impacts, and take the end-of-life product disposal management burden out of the hands of local government. Options include disposal fees, national bottle law and bottle deposits, computer take-back, recycling leftover paint, and control of toxics, particularly in electronics. This also includes efforts to support the development of local end-markets for recycled materials. • Supports legislation to provide statutory counties with authority to implement pay-as-you- throw pricing structures. Rate incentives in solid waste have strong and measurable effects on waste disposal behavior. Studies show that adoption of market-based pricing strategies similar to those used in the energy and water sectors, amongst others, will result in increases in recycling and composting rates and reductions in the overall amount of materials send to landfill. "Pay-as- you-throw"(PAYT)pricing, as it is often described, accomplishes this by charging the consumers the same amount for every unit of trash that they dispose of. In other words, volume discounts are prohibited. With aggressive recycling and zero waste goals, Eagle County would like statutory authority commensurate with Colorado's home rule cities to require local waste haulers to utilize PAYT pricing structures to incentivize recycling and composting. s 14 • • Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement TELECOMMUNICATIONS • Eagle County stands behind the principle of local government retaining the ability to determine the services and amenities it will provide to its residents. This includes the provision of low-cost, high-speed broadband Internet access to residents.Unfortunately,the state statutory landscape is presently a barrier in pursuit of this goal. Signed into law in 2005, SB 05-152 preempts local governments from providing telecommunication services without a vote of the people. Eagle County believes that Colorado's local governments should not be handicapped in this fashion, and will support legislative efforts to re-establish the right of local governments to engage in activities focused on improving broadband Internet services. Eagle County: • Supports legislation to re-establish the rights of Colorado local governments to provide broadband internet services. • Supports telecommunications policies that encourage equitable access to telecommunications services (especially high speed Internet access) in both urban and rural areas. • Supports the development of federal resources and other mechanisms to assist in providing telecommunications services,including both data and voice transmission,to all areas. • Supports universal service funds, which should be paid into by all communication service providers and should be used for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing service in high cost areas. TRANSPORTATION Eagle County believes that the movement of people and goods is vital to the continued economic success of the State of Colorado and to the maintenance of the high quality of life that Coloradans enjoy. In order to preserve these, the State Legislature must be willing to make significant investments to maintain and • improve the state's transportation network including roads, bridges, and multimodal systems. With the Colorado Department of Transportation's funding challenges, municipal and county governments have taken on greater construction,maintenance,and financial responsibilities. Eagle County: • Supports new revenue streams for transportation and transit needs of Colorado. • Supports long term transportation funding and county priorities in FAST re-authorization. • Supports federal PILT for road and bridge needs. • Supports efforts to reduce closures on I-70 during the winter months caused by vehicles with inadequate tires attempting to drive on mountain roads. • Supports an equitable HUTF allocation formula and restrictions on the use of"off the top" diversions. • Supports legislation that ensures local shareback is provided for transportation projects from all transportation revenue sources. • Supports state funding for the Safe Routes to School program. • Supports methodologies, including, but not limited to bonding, public private partnerships and the issuing of state tax credits as options for expediting transportation projects. • Supports using state general fund dollars for maintenance and construction of transportation projects. • Supports extending transfers from the state general fund to transportation (enacted under SB09-228), and supports expanding the uses of these funds for maintenance, provided new funding for transportation construction projects is in place. • Supports initiatives and programs that provide multi-modal funding opportunities, including trails. • 15 Eagle County 2017 Legislative Policy Statement • Supports legislation and programs that support affordable, safe and efficient public • transportation in tourist/resort communities. • Opposes efforts to pass along additional State roadway construction or maintenance responsibilities to local governments without increased and adequate funds to meet these additional responsibilities. • Opposes funding mechanisms which eliminate or reduce local shareback for transportation projects. • Opposes any reduction in the Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery Act of 2009(FASTER). • • 16 EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A • • CC4CA Colorado Communities for Climate Action POLICY AGENDA FOR 2016-2017 Colorado Communities for Climate Action is a coalition of local governments advocating for policies that protect Colorado's climate for current and future generations. The initial members of CC4CA are Boulder County, the City of Fort Collins,the City of Boulder, Eagle County, Summit County,the City of Lafayette,the City of Golden, Pitkin County, San Miguel County,the City of Aspen, the Town of Vail, the Town of Telluride, and the Town of Mountain Village.Already,the coalition represents one-ninth of all Coloradans, and its membership is expected to continue growing. CC4CA's initial policy priorities for 2016-2017 reflect unanimous agreement among the coalition members on steps that should be taken at the state level, often in partnership with local governments,to enable Colorado and its communities to lead in protecting the climate.These steps would complement the strong local climate actions CC4CA members already have underway. The policy agenda currently includes specific policies to be undertaken only by the state government, but CC4CA will also be active in 2016-2017 in advocating for federal actions. General Policy Priorities • The following general principles guide the specific policies for which Colorado Communities for Climate Action advocates. CC4CA: • Supports state and federal government collaboration with Colorado's local governments to advance local climate protection action through the provision of information, technical assistance,funding, and other resources. • Supports continued and adequate state and federal funding of programs directly and indirectly related to achieving reductions in heat-trapping emissions. • Supports analyses,financial incentives, and enabling policies for the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. • Supports state and federal impact assistance programs requested by affected communities that are impacted by the reduced use of fossil fuels for power production. Specific Policy Positions Colorado Communities for Climate Action supports the following policy positions: Local Climate Programs 1. Supports state-level actions to remove barriers and promote opportunities that allow counties and statutory cities and towns to maximize the deployment of local clean energy options. • The deployment of local energy generation and technology will continue to be a critical component of Colorado communities' climate efforts. In many cases, regulatory or legislative 1 EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A . limitations exist that will need to be removed for communities to fully explore new local program options and technologies that can effectively reduce fossil fuel use, increase energy resilience, • and support community values related to climate protection. For example,the integration of local renewable energy, storage technologies, and microgrids all support a local jurisdiction's ability to address the supply side of energy-related emissions. 2. Supports state government actions to enable local governments to obtain the energy use and other data they need to effectively address climate change. Local governments need convenient and consistent access to data that is essential for developing and administering local programs that address clean and efficient energy and reductions in heat- trapping emissions. For example, access to uniform data from electric and gas utilities is critical for implementing building energy use disclosure and benchmarking programs designed to make sure building owners, tenants, and others can be fully informed about energy performance. Local governments also struggle to get consistent data regarding waste collection and disposal, oil and gas operations, and other sources of heat-trapping emissions. CC4CA supports state government actions and policies that lead to uniform systems for collection and distribution of data from investor-owned and public utilities that is easily accessible to local governments, while still protective of data privacy for residents and businesses. State Climate-Specific Programs 3.Supports the establishment by the Colorado state government of new goals for reductions in statewide heat-trapping emissions,to be no less stringent than adopted national goals and those set by Governor Bill Ritter,Jr. III In 2007, Governor Bill Ritter,Jr. included in his Colorado Climate Action Plan goals for reductions in statewide heat-trapping emissions of 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, compared to 2005 levels. In 2008, Governor Ritter also included these goals in Executive Order D 004 08. While that executive order has not been amended or superseded, and so remains official state policy, the goals are not being given the attention necessary to drive action aimed at achieving them. CC4CA supports the establishment of new state goals to guide state emissions reduction policies, with the new goals to be at least as strict as those established by Governor Ritter and as those set by the federal government as a national target in its official submission to the United Nations under the Paris Agreement, which are to reduce national net heat-trapping emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, and to make best efforts to reduce them by 28%. 4.Supports development by the Colorado state government of administrative, legislative, and other actions to implement the Colorado Climate Plan and achieve the state's emission reduction goals,and requests an opportunity for meaningful,sustained engagement by CC4CA in developing those specific steps. Released in 2015 by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper,the Colorado Climate Plan is a high-level overview document of state actions for adapting to future climate change impacts and reducing heat-trapping emissions.The governor and other state officials are now considering a new series of steps to develop concrete policy actions to meet the general goals described in the plan. CC4CA believes it essential that the state government provide an opportunity for meaningful, • sustained collaboration with local governments in developing specific climate actions, and proposes 2 EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A that representatives of CC4CA be included in that process. • 5. Supports the development of a new forecast of future heat-trapping emissions reflecting Colorado laws and Colorado-specific information by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,with input from local government and other stakeholders. The "Colorado Greenhouse Gas Inventory-2014 Update Including Projections to 2020& 2030," prepared by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment(CDPHE), includes a forecast of statewide emissions that utilizes federal Environmental Protection Agency nationwide assumptions about future emissions policies. As such,the inventory does not reflect currently adopted Colorado laws and policies, such as our Renewable Energy Standard. Without this information, it is impossible to tell what progress Colorado is already on track to make–or not make –in reducing heat-trapping emissions. CC4CA supports development of a new Colorado inventory of heat-trapping emissions that incorporates existing Colorado law and policy in order to more accurately track the state's progress in achieving its emissions reduction goals. Electricity Generation 6. Supports state government actions to reduce emissions from electricity generation and consumption in Colorado at least equivalent to the levels required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. Under Governor Hickenlooper's leadership, Colorado state government has consistently stated that it will develop a rule to comply with EPA's Clean Power Plan (CPP), and has reiterated its intent S to proceed even in light of the current judicial stay on the federal rule. Governor Hickenlooper and other state officials are now considering the best way to proceed,without delay, in the development of state actions that would bring about reductions in heat-trapping emissions that may exceed the level that would be required by the CPP. CC4CA supports the state government moving forward in this way, without waiting for resolution of the legal challenges currently pending to the federal rule. 7. Supports state legislation to incrementally increase the Renewable Energy Standard. Colorado's current Renewable Energy Standard requires electricity providers to obtain a minimum percentage of their power from renewable energy sources: • Investor-owned utilities: 30% by 2020, of which 3% must come from distributed energy resources. • Large rural electric cooperatives: 20% by 2020. • Municipal utilities and small rural electric cooperatives: 10% by 2020. This standard has been one of the most effective state policies in facilitating the transition from carbon intensive fossil fuel electricity sources to renewable sources, and CC4CA supports giving consideration to incrementally increasing the standard for all three types of utilities. 8.Supports state legislation to require the Public Utilities Commission to consider all environmental and health costs of the fuels used by investor-owned utilities to generate electricity. S Electric utilities should be required to include a "cost of carbon" when developing their long-term integrated resource plans, as would have been required under a bill considered in the 2016 session 3 EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A of the Colorado General Assembly.The "social cost of carbon" calculates the financial costs of the • externalities generated by one ton of carbon dioxide emissions and can be used to assess the costs and benefits of regulations or measures designed to reduce carbon dioxide. By requiring utilities to generate at least one scenario that assesses and recognizes the social cost of carbon, ratepayers and decision-makers will be better able to understand the true costs to society associated with energy generation. 9. Supports state net metering policies that incentivize distributed generation installations, in ways that are consistent with current net metering policies. Participation and customer survey data demonstrate that metering, billing, and rate policies are important to utility customers who invest in distributed energy technologies. Colorado's current net metering policies allow electric customers who make such investments, primarily in the form of rooftop solar systems,to net their solar energy production against their consumption. Available in 43 states,this simple billing arrangement is one of the most important policies for encouraging rooftop solar and other on-site clean energy options. Net metering also helps foster the voluntary reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, contributes to the reliability of the electricity supply and distribution systems, supports the residential and small-commercial renewable energy industry, and helps to more quickly replace coal-fired power plants with cleaner sources of energy. CC4CA supports Colorado's existing net-metering protocols, and opposes efforts to weaken or eliminate this important clean energy incentive. Energy Efficiency 10.Supports ongoing and sustainable funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program. • Low-income and vulnerable households spend a disproportionately large percentage of their income on energy utility bills.The federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)was created in 1976 to address this problem. WAP provides funding to locally-administered home weatherization programs to provide free weatherization services to Colorado's low-income residents in order to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Colorado supplements its annual federal WAP allocation with state severance tax dollars, both of which can be volatile sources of revenue. A stable revenue stream for Colorado's eight WAP programs would support the dual goals of assisting families in reducing their energy bills while promoting safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient housing. 11. Supports state enabling legislation to provide counties and statutory cities and towns with the same authority held by home rule cities to implement local energy conservation policies and programs. Unlike their home rule municipal peers, Colorado counties and statutory cities and towns in many cases lack authority to adopt and implement energy conservation policies and programs. For example, energy conservation ordinances are proven policy tools for improving the energy efficiency and performance of the existing residential and commercial building stock, but only Colorado home rule cities have statutory authorization to enact such ordinances. Enabling legislation is needed to provide Colorado's counties and statutory cities and towns with the authority necessary to enact policies and programs that can support and promote energy conservation within their jurisdictions. • 4 EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A 12.Supports the extension of the Colorado Energy Efficiency Resource Standard law beyond 2018. • The Colorado legislature enacted H.B. 1037 in 2007, requiring the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to establish energy savings goals for investor-owned electric and gas utilities.The statute sets an overall multi-year statewide goal for investor-owned electric utilities of at least five percent of the utility's retail sales in the base year(2006),to be met by the end of 2018. Legislation is needed to provide standards for subsequent years. As investor-owned utilities have achieved greater energy savings than the current goals require, new legislative benchmarks for the goals may be appropriate. Transportation 13. Supports an extension of existing state enabling legislation that provides authority for Regional Transportation Authorities to collect property taxes for transit programs. The formation of Regional Transportation Authorities (RTAs) is enabled by state statute. RTAs are formed by two or more local governments to finance, construct, operate, and maintain regional transportation systems. Under the current state enabling legislation, RTAs are authorized to derive funding from several types of fees and taxes, subject to voter approval.The authority RTA5 currently hold to collect a property tax up to a maximum levy of five mills on property within the RTA territory expires at the end of 2018. CC4CA supports extending this authority for RTAs to collect property taxes for regional transit programs. 14. Supports new state government incentives for the purchase and use of zero emission vehicles, • and the development of the infrastructure needed to support the use of those vehicles across Colorado. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's 2014 inventory and forecast of heat-trapping emissions, the transportation sector is Colorado's second largest source of heat-trapping pollutants. Colorado's recent population growth has led to a commensurate increase in vehicle miles traveled, which has overtaken the emissions reductions made possible through the increasing fuel efficiency of the statewide vehicle fleet. Electrification of light and heavy duty vehicles, as well as other emerging zero-emissions technologies, holds perhaps the greatest promise for emissions reductions in this sector. CC4CA supports legislative, regulatory, and administrative action to increase the adoption of electric vehicles by investing in electric vehicle charging stations, educating customers about EVs, and providing customer incentives. CC4CA also supports committing a portion of Colorado's share of the Volkswagen emissions control violations settlement to the construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Colorado, an expressly approved use of these funds. Waste Management 15.Supports the establishment of a statewide target for diversion of solid waste from landfills, and the development and implementation of state policies and programs to achieve that target. Recycling and composting reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions, but Colorado has a low waste diversion rate (the combination of recycling and organics diversion as a proportion of the solid • waste stream) of 23 percent compared with the national average of 35 percent. According to the 5 EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's draft Integrated Solid Waste & Materials Management Plan (2016), in Colorado approximately 30 percent of the total materials currently • sent to landfills are recyclable (with an annualized value of about$267 million), and another 30 percent is organic material.The CDPHE draft plan notes that while there is widespread support for a statewide diversion target among the stakeholders engaged in drafting the plan, CDPHE's legislatively-granted waste management authorities lie almost entirely within the landfill disposal category, so the agency has little authority over diversion policies. It also notes the wide disparity of challenges and gaps among regions of the state, with large areas of the state facing barriers such as transportation logistics, lack of processing facilities, and other costs. CC4CA recommends legislation that sets a statewide diversion goal and that grants CDPHE the authorities needed to administer diversion programs, including but not limited to economic and technical assistance for local and regional waste diversion programs and facilities. CC4CA also supports consideration of statewide bans of specific materials from landfills, such as the ban on electronic devices passed in 2013, and advanced disposal fee policies for certain products, such as those already enacted for paints and waste tires. For more information: • Rebecca Myers at Frontline Public Affairs, CC4CA's contract lobbying firm: rebecca@frontlinepublicaffairs.com, (303) 704-7350. • Tom Easley at the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, which administers • CC4CA for its members: easley@rockymountainclimate.org, (303) 593-0853. 411