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.
? Exempt Military Retiree Pay From Georgia Taxes; Of The Five States Bordering
Georgia, Four Do Not Tax Military Retiree Pay.
? Border Cities Are At A Competitive Disadvantage To Attract Veterans To Area.
Item # 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.
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
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