City’s legislative goals for 2012 approved

The Maricopa City Council approved a list of state and federal legislative goals for 2012 Tuesday night presented by Intergovernmental Manager Paul Jepson.

“One of the things we want to do is protect state-shared revenues,” Jepson said. “These are revenues collected by the state that are distributed to us. We oppose cost shifting back onto to cities and towns.”

The Legislature earlier this year passed the Environmental Budget Reconciliation Bill, which allows the Department of Water Resources to assess and collect an annual fee from all municipalities. The fee cannot exceed $7 million, the amount cut from the department’s budget.

City councilmembers during their Oct. 18 meeting unanimously denied a request by then Assistant City Manager Roger Kolman to pay the state water department’s assessed fee of $54,170.

Municipalities are required to pay the fee by Jan. 16, but the department wasn’t given a way to enforce the law.

The Fountain Hills City Council voted last week to postpone consideration of the fee pending further investigation to determine whether the issue will be taken up by the Legislature during its next session.

Maricopa and Fountain Hills do not operate their own water departments and would have to pay the assessment out of their operating budgets instead of passing the costs along to residents with water service, as other municipalities could do.

Other state legislative goals include protecting local control of the city council’s capacity to represent Maricopans; supporting legislative efforts to enhance government policies to benefit residents of Maricopa; and to urge legislators to create economic development tools to expand and attract commerce and employment in the city.  

The city’s 2012 federal legislative goals include:

• Obtaining federal grants to complete the grade separate on State Route 347 and the Union Pacific railroad crossing. The city has proposed for years building either an overpass or underpass at the crossing to mitigate traffic problems.
• Working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to resolve flood control issues in and around the city. 
• Working with representatives of Amtrak, Union Pacific and the federal government to facilitate and fund the relocation of the Maricopa Amtrak station.
• Working with neighboring tribal communities in possible joint legislative efforts in support of common goals.
• Working to support specific legislative or administrative actions that enhance the interests of Maricopa residents.
• Taking part in initiatives that create or advance the city’s environmental sustainability. 

State Sen. Steve Smith, who addressed the council Tuesday night about his goals for 2012, said on Wednesday he supports Maricopa’s legislative priorities for the upcoming year.

“The city’s goals are my goals,” said Smith, a Republican who lives Maricopa. “I want this city to be as prosperous as it can be.”

Smith said he will support legislation that helps cities and towns in rural counties.

And while he represents most of the county, he “only lives in one city,” he said.

“I live here; my interests are your interests,” he said. “Let me know what is a problem for you. I work very closely with the mayor, Paul Jepson and the council when issues are before me to vote.”