Loading...
19-01 - RRESOLUTION NO.19-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PROSPER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SETTING ITS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 86TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS; MAKING FINDINGS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Prosper Economic Development Corporation wishes to express its desires and concerns regarding Town economic development issues by adopting a legislative program for the current. 86th Legislative Session of the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, the Prosper Economic Development Corporation has developed recommendations for the State's legislative agenda, as' more fully described in the attached document, entitled "Legislative Priorities for the Upcoming 86th Texas Legislative Session," incorporated by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PROSPER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT: SECTION 1 The foregoing recitals are hereby found to be true and correct findings of the Prosper Economic Development Corporation, and are fully incorporated into the body of this Resolution. �.`IxwY(�7�(►a The Prosper Economic Development Corporation's Legislative Priorities for the Upcoming 86th of Session of the Texas Legislative Session, attached hereto and incorporated by reference, is hereby adopted. SECTION 3 This Resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage. DULY RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Prosper Economic Development Corporation on this the 16th day of January, 2019. JXfn Wicker, President ATTEST: Jorda Simms, Secretary PROSPER EDC LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING 8611TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION PROSPER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jim Wicker, President David Bristol, Vice President Jordan Simms, Secretary Roger Thedford, Treasurer Mayor Ray Smith Town of Prosper Reno Jones Don Perry Section 1- Prosper Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) Board Priorities PEDC Priorities for FY2019 1.- Robust mixed -use development, including destination uses, along the US 380 Corridor 2. Continued retail development along US 380 and SH 289 (Preston Road) Corridors 3. Full Service Hotel development 4. Development of Class A Office and Flex Office space 5. Infrastructure improvement, including solutions for fiber 6. Use growing sales tax base to reinvest in projects that will bring quality jobs and new investment to Prosper, TX. It is the express intent of the PEDC Board of Directors that decisions regarding positions on legislative matters will be made in furtherance of these priorities. Section 2 - General Legislative Principles Texas has a rich history of encouraging and•promoting local authority and local control of important community issues. The PEDC Board of Directors fundamentally believes local governments are uniquely suited to determine how best to govern local affairs. In furtherance of this deeply held belief: 1. The PEDC will support legislationthat enhances the ability of the PEDC and Town to solve local problems or increase the quality of life of its citizens and businesses. 2. The PEDC will support legislation that enhances the agricultural, educational, cultural, tourism and infrastructure resource in the North Texas region. 3. The PEDC will oppose legislation that is detrimental to the long-term viability of the US 380, Hwy 289 (Preston Rd.) and Dallas North Tollway Corridors. 4. The PEDC will oppose legislation that erodes the Town of Prosper's authority to govern its own local affairs or erodes home rule authority for Texas cities in general. 5. The PEDC will oppose efforts to reduce, or unreasonably limit, its revenue sources. 6. The PEDC will oppose the imposition of additional unfunded state mandates. Section 3 - Priority Legislative Initiatives The PEDC will actively seek the passage of the following initiatives using PEDC staff and authorized representatives to secure legislators to author a bill, provide testimony, and advocate forthe bill's passage throughout the legislative process. 1. A bill that would extends the deadline to September 2024 to enter into a development agreement and execute a hotel/convention center project under Section 351.102 of the Texas State Tax Code: The PEDC will actively oppose the following initiatives, using PEDC staff and authorized representatives to secure legislators to author a bill, provide testimony, and oppose the bill's passage throughout the legislative process. 1. Any legislation that would reduce the scope of a hotel/convention center project as defined under Section 351.102 of the Texas State Tax Code. Section 4 - Statements of Support or'Opposition The PEDC will not actively seek introduction of legislation for these legislative topics, but will actively support or oppose the passage of legislation and will engage staff and authorized representatives if a bill is introduced addressing one of the following legislative concerns. The PEDC will support legislation that: 1. preserves the full funding of Texas tourism; 2. reauthorizes municipal ad -valorem tax abatement authority (Texas Tax Code, Chapter 312), and in general, supports the continuation and sound ,use of current economic development tools; 3. allows municipalities to more easily recover costs associated with addressing blighted or abandoned properties; 4. increases state aid for municipal services, through grants or direct funding; 5. allows municipalities to publish legal notices online rather than in a newspaper of general circulation; 6. improves workforce development programs for military personnel and veterans; 7. allows the Texas Municipal Retirement System to be soundly funded, and continues to allow member cities the ability to establish their own benefit design for competitive recruitment and retention; The PEDC will oppose legislation that: 1. impedes the Town of Prosper's ability to pledge revenue from the municipal hotel occupancy tax for the payment of obligations related to hotel projects; 2. lowers the current appraisal cap for Texas taxing entities; 3. ' imposes revenue caps for Texas taxing entities; 4. lowers the rollback rate, or reduces the rollback petition requirements for Texas taxing entities; 5. imposes a mandatory tax rate ratification election; 6. unnecessarily restricts or otherwise reduces the Town of Prosper's existing authority under State statute to issue debt; 7. prohibits a political subdivision or private entity who receives state funds from engaging in lobbying activities; 8. further reduces or restricts municipal authority to annex land or exercise eminent domain authority; 9. increases the Town of Prosper's cost of providing municipal services without an offsetting benefit, diminishes the current authority of municipalities to regulate development, or imposes unfunded mandates.