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At the League Legislature to Host Field Hearings on Transportation Package The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization has announced a schedule of hearings and site visits throughout Oregon this summer. These factfinding meetings will be in preparation for the introduction of a comprehensive transportation funding and policy package in the 2017 session. The need for local input on this issue has been a recurring theme in recent discussions with legislative leadership. Therefore, it is critical that city officials participate in these meetings and describe local transportation needs by telling local stories. The League will assist by providing data and messaging in the coming weeks. However, it is testimony from city officials that will be the most impressive to the committee. Contact: Craig Honeyman, LOC Legislative Director – choneyman@orcities.org Joint Transportation Committee Public Hearings Schedule June 13, 5:00 p.m. Great Hall, Mount Tabor Building Portland Community College SE Campus 2305 SE 82nd Ave, Portland June 28, 5:00 p.m. Four Rivers Cultural Center Theater Treasure Valley Community College 676 College Blvd., Ontario June 29, 2:00 p.m. Hermiston High School Auditorium 600 South First Street, Hermiston July 20, 5:00 p.m. Prince Lucien Campbell Hall, Room 180 University of Oregon 1415 Kincaid Street, Eugene August 18, 5:30 p.m. Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center Central Oregon Community College 2600 NW College Way, Bend August 31, 5:00 p.m. Jackson County Library Medford Branch 205 S. Central Avenue, Medford September 15, 5:00 p.m. Ballroom, Embarcadero Hotel 1000 SE Bay Blvd, Newport September 19, 5:00 p.m. Shirley Huffman Auditorium Hillsboro Civic Center 150 E. Main Street, Hillsboro September Legislative Days To Be Determined Oregon State Capitol 900 Court Street NE, Salem New Marijuana Resources The League’s website has been updated with new guidance documents, model ordinances, FAQs and more – find it on the Marijuana page in the A-Z Index. www.orcities.org 6 LOCAL FOCUS | June 2016 www.orcities.org
AT THE LEAGUE Applications Sought for LOC Board Continuing the quality programs provided by the League depends on the involvement of city leaders. One avenue for involvement is service on the LOC Board of Directors. During the League’s Annual Conference in September, League members will elect four directors at large and a treasurer to the LOC Board for 2017. After one year, the treasurer becomes LOC Vice President, then LOC President the following year. According to the League’s bylaws, the treasurer position and three of the director positions shall be filled by an elected city official. One of the four director positions shall be filled by a city management employee, for which the LOC Nominating Committee will consider the recommendation of the Oregon City/County Management Association. For the first year of the three-year term, this city management position will be “director-elect” (non-voting). The League’s five-member Nominating Committee recommends candidates for open positions. During the annual business meeting on October 1 the entire membership will receive the recommendations of the Nominating Committee and make the final decision. How to Apply City officials interested in running for the LOC Board are asked to complete the application form on the League’s website (on the Board of Directors page, under About Us). Completed forms are due to the League office by Friday, August 19. Applicants will make a presentation to the Nominating Committee during the annual conference on Thursday, September 29. Serving on the LOC Board is an honor and a responsibility. The board has the final say on League policies, both in terms of legislative issues and in programs and services. A city official’s involvement on the board will help the League reflect the values which help cities provide quality of life for citizens. If you have any questions about the responsibilities of board service, please contact any current member of the board (see page 4). Supreme Court Rules for Local Governments Earlier this month, the Oregon Supreme Court issued two opinions that will have a substantial and beneficial impact on cities. In Northwest Natural Gas Company v. City of Gresham, the court upheld the city’s home rule authority to impose a privilege tax on private utilities. In this case, the city amended its license fee ordinance, increasing the fee from 5 to 7 percent. Revenues generated from the increase were targeted to city-wide services, including police, fire, parks and street lights, as opposed to costs related to rightof-way management. For this reason, the court characterized the 2 percent increase as a “tax” rather than a “fee,” and held that the city’s license fee ordinance was within its home rule authority. The court expressly left open the question of whether a city could rely on its home rule authority to tax another local government, in this case a people’s utility district (PUD) (see page 32). In Horton v. Oregon Health Sciences University, the court upheld the validity of the Oregon Tort Claims Act (OTCA), overturning prior cases that had held the OTCA unconstitutional. The court held that the OTCA’s $3 million liability cap on damages imposed against the state and its employees in personal injury actions does not violate the Oregon Constitution’s remedies or right to jury clauses. The court noted that its holding was limited to the circumstances of this case and stated that the decision “turns on the presence of the state’s constitutionally recognized interest in sovereign immunity, the quid pro quo that the OTCA provides, and the tort claims limits in this case.” The League participated substantially in both cases, filing amicus (friend of the court) briefs and assisting the parties with their briefs. The court specifically referenced the League’s brief favorably in the Gresham decision, a good indication that the League’s advocacy efforts are having an impact. Contact: Sean O'Day, LOC General Counsel – soday@ orcities.org www.orcities.org June 2016 | LOCAL FOCUS 7
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Page 9 and 10: Scholarships Available Tight budget
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