Created on 11/10/2016

Agenda Item # 1

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

November 15, 2016

Agenda Report # 60

TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: 2016 Legislative Agenda

INITIATED BY: City Manager’s Office

Recommendation: Approval is requested of two (2) resolutions for the 2017 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly, which the Mayor and Council deem appropriate.

Background: Each year elected and appointed officials of the Columbus Consolidated Government develop a list of issues important to the citizens of Columbus that requires action by the Local Legislative Delegation. Once approved, a meeting will be held with the Delegation to explain the rationale behind these issues and to solicit their support. The Hometown Connection and Legislative Agenda meeting will be held November 17, 2016.

Analysis: Staff, elected and appointed officials were asked to present issues they felt were important to the operation of city government. Research and justification for these issues were presented to the city manager and a list was prepared for presentation to the mayor/council.

Financial Considerations: The City is expected to receive additional revenues if many of the issues are passed by the Georgia General Assembly.

Recommendations/Actions: Approve those resolutions, which the mayor and council deem appropriate.

COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT
2017 PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

CASINO GAMING REFERENDUM:

The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting the legislative delegation introduce and/or support legislation to authorize a referendum to allow Georgia citizens to vote as to whether they want to allow casino gaming in Georgia for the purpose of Hope Scholarship funding. (Requested by Mayor Pro Tem and Councilor Woodson)

Explanation:

To provide Hope Scholarships to college bound students to ensure that a lack of funding does not prevent them from going to college, staying in college and graduating from college.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES:

The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting that the legislative delegation to the Georgia General Assembly introduce general legislation at the 2017 Session to implement one or more of the recommendations. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)

Explanation:

1) Require all law enforcement agencies within the State of Georgia to meet best practices of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA.)

2) Require any future fatal officer-involved shooting within the State of Georgia to be investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

3) Require any future fatal officer-involved shooting within the State of Georgia to be reviewed and/or prosecuted by a District Attorney outside the jurisdiction of the shooting.

4) Require the compilation and maintenance of data on officer-involved shootings in all Georgia jurisdictions.

5) Require all incident video footage of any officer- involved shootings to be subject to the Georgia Open Records Act regardless of pending review or investigation, absent court order protection.

6) Convene a bi-partisan legislative commission to review and report on law enforcement immunity statutes in Georgia and the need for any legislative amendments or adjustments. (This item may be accomplished by any appropriate Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly.)

MILITARY RETIREE STATE TAX EXEMPTIONS: (Add-On)

The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting that the legislative delegation support efforts to exempt military retiree pay from state income tax in order to attract military retirees to Columbus, Georgia as recommended by the Greater Columbus, Georgia Chamber of Commerce. (Requested by The Greater Columbus, Georgia Chamber of Commerce)

Explanation:

Exempt Military Retiree Pay From Georgia Taxes.

Ite

m # 1

(A)

A RESOLUTION
NO.________

WHEREAS, this Council desires to facilitate the provision of Hope Scholarships to college bound students to insure that a lack of funding does not prevent them from going to college; and,

WHEREAS, additional funding sources are necessary to be able to fully implement the Hope Scholarship program.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

We hereby respectfully request that the local legislative delegation to the Georgia General Assembly introduce or support legislation to authorize a referendum to allow Georgia citizens to vote as to whether casino gaming should be allowed in Georgia for the purpose of Hope Scholarship funding. Let a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Clerk of Council to each member of the local delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.

______________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the _______ day of ___________ 2016, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ______ members of Council.

Councilor Allen voting _____________.
Councilor Baker voting _____________.
Councilor Barnes voting _____________.
Councilor Davis voting _____________.
Councilor Garrett voting _____________.
Councilor Henderson voting _____________.
Councilor Huff voting _____________.
Councilor Thomas voting _____________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting _____________.
Councilor Woodson voting _____________.

_______________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor

Item # 1(B)

A RESOLUTION

No._____

WHEREAS, events across the country have brought law enforcement encounters with citizens into focus and states and communities are studying such issues as policing, use of force policies, transparency and civic order;

WHEREAS, this Council desires that the Georgia General Assembly consider passage of statewide general legislation or appropriate Resolution to implement the following:

1. Require all law enforcement agencies within the State of Georgia to meet best practices of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA.)

2. Require any future fatal officer-involved shooting within the State of Georgia to be investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

3. Require any future fatal officer-involved shooting within the State of Georgia to be reviewed and/or prosecuted by a District Attorney outside the jurisdiction of the shooting.

4. Require the compilation and maintenance of data on officer-involved shootings in all Georgia jurisdictions.

5. Require all incident video footage of any officer- involved shootings to be subject to the Georgia Open Records Act regardless of pending review or investigation, absent court order protection.

6. Convene a bi-partisan legislative commission to review and report on law enforcement immunity statutes in Georgia and the need for any legislative amendments or adjustments. (This item may be accomplished by any appropriate Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly.)

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:

We hereby respectfully request that the local delegation to the Georgia General Assembly introduce general statewide legislation or any appropriate Resolution at the 2017 Session to implement the above-described recommendations. Let a copy of this resolution be forwarded by the Clerk of Council to each member of the local delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.

--------------

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the _______ day of ___________, 2016, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ______ members of Council.

Councilor Allen voting _____________.
Councilor Baker voting _____________.
Councilor Barnes voting _____________.
Councilor Davis voting _____________.
Councilor Garrett voting _____________.
Councilor Henderson voting _____________.
Councilor Huff voting _____________.
Councilor Thomas voting _____________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting _____________.
Councilor Woodson voting _____________.

_______________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor

Item # 1(C)

A RESOLUTION

No._____

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION INTRODUCE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW AN EXEMPTION SIMILAR TO THAT IN ALABAMA FROM STATE INCOME TAX FOR MILITARY RETIREES.

WHEREAS, this legislation will allow Columbus, Georgia to remain a competitive economic hub that continues to attract military families and retirees to our community; and,

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have discussed issues important to the efficient operation of the Columbus Consolidated Government and the quality of life for its citizens; and,

WHEREAS, this issues requires action in the 2017 General Assembly Session.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

We hereby respectfully request that the local delegation to the Georgia General Assemble introduce legislation at the 2017 General Assemble that would allow an exemption similar to that in Alabama from state income tax for military retirees to maintain Columbus, Georgia as a competitive economic hub that continues to attract military families and retirees to our community.

___________________

Introduce at a regular meeting of the council of Columbus, Georgia, held the ________ day of _________ 2016, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _______ members of Council.