AGENDA DATE: 9/6/2017
TITLE:
Title
Proposed 2018 Legislative Priorities
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Consideration and approval of the proposed 2018 Legislative Priorities
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Walker, Kamptner, Blount
PRESENTER (S): Greg Kamptner
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Douglas C. Walker
BACKGROUND: Each year the Board considers and approves its legislative priorities and submits them to the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo), and the Virginia Municipal League (VML). Generally, the TJPDC’s legislative program incorporates the County’s legislative priorities. Other initiatives are sometimes added prior to the General Assembly session. This executive summary provides an overview of the Board’s proposed 2018 Legislative Priorities (Attachment A).
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission: to enhance the well-being and quality of life for all citizens through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION: Two legislative priorities are proposed, discussed below. The State statutes that would be amended are provided in Attachment A.
On-street Parking
Priority: Initiate legislation to amend Virginia Code § 46.2-1222 to add Albemarle County to the list of those counties enabled to regulate on-street parking public streets in the State’s secondary system of highways.
Virginia Code § 46.2-1222 currently enables Fairfax, James City, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince George, Prince William, and York Counties to adopt ordinances that may (i) restrict or prohibit parking on any part of the state secondary system of highways within their respective boundaries, (ii) create vehicle classifications that would or would not be subject to these restrictions and prohibitions, and (iii) provide that the violation of the ordinance would be a traffic infraction and prescribe penalties.
On-street parking regulations would apply only on those street segments that are signed or marked to prohibit or restrict on-street parking. An on-street parking ordinance would allow the County to address some existing on-street parking issues in certain neighborhoods.
Appropriations
Priority: Initiate or support legislation to amend Virginia Code §§ 15.2-520 and 15.2-2506 to enable county’s under the county executive form of government to allow funds appropriated for multi-year capital projects to be carried over for one year without being reappropriated. Both Virginia Code §§ 15.2-520 and 15.2-2506 require that appropriation resolutions be adopted in order for money to be drawn or an obligation to spend money be incurred. The statutes also provide that for a county under the county executive form of government, funds that are appropriated for outstanding grants may be carried over for one year without being reappropriated. The authority to carryover grants implies that no other types of appropriations may be carried over under the county executive form of government. Staff is aware that other Virginia localities not under the county executive form of government carry over appropriations for multi-year capital improvement projects from one year to the next.
BUDGET IMPACT: The County’s legislative priorities seek to ensure that the State adequately funds its mandated responsibilities and does not jeopardize the County’s ability to effectively and efficiently implement the policies (including fiscal) and programs that it deems necessary. There are no specific, identifiable budget impacts.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board review the 2018 proposed legislative priorities and recommend any changes it feels are appropriate, which will be brought back at a later date as desired by the Board for submission to the TJPDC, VACo and VML. If there are no further changes, staff recommends that the Board approve the legislative priorities.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - 2018 Proposed Legislative Priorities