Agenda - 09-20-2007-2c - Laserfiche WebLink

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The North Carolina League of Municipalities Page 5 of 16 double-liner requirement for municipal solid waste landfills. Stormwater-A provision of the budget bill, HB 1473 (SL 2007-323), states new requirements for paved parking areas. Section 6.22 provides that any area designed for use as a vehicle parking area, except for covered or multilevel vehicle parking areas, cannot exceed 80% built-upon area. The remaining portion of the vehicle parking area must meet design requirements for a permeable pavement system under DENR guidance documents, or other design requirements for stormwater management approved by DENR such as the use of grass or bioretention ponds. It directs the Environmental Review Commission to study issues related to the use of pervious surfaces for vehicle parking areas. It is effective as to any area designed to be used for vehicular parking for which an application for a building pemut, a request for a zoning reclassification, or a subdivision plat is filed in the county or city in which the area is located on or after October 1, 2008. Wastewater Fees-Section 30.3(a) of the budget bill, HB 1473 (SL 2007-323), increased state fees for NPDES permits, water quality certifications, sewer system extensions, and other wastewater pernuts by 20%. The increases were effective August 1, 2007. Finance & Taxation Several pieces of legislation of importance to local government in the area of Finance and Taxation were acted upon this session. 911 Charges-The system for charging telephone customers for 911 services was overhauled this session. Currently, wireless enhanced 91 I is administered by the state Wireless•911 Board and wireline enhanced 911 is administered by local governments for their jurisdictions. Effective January 1, 2008, HB 1755 -Coordinate Statewide Er:har:ced 9Il System (SL 2007-383) consolidates the administration of 911 charges under a single state 911 Board. It standardizes all a-911 monthly service charges-both wireline and wireless-at 70 cents, or a lower amount set by the 911 Board. Charges will apply to each active voice communications service connection capable of accessing the 911 system, including VoIP. Proceeds are to be placed in a new 911 Fund, to be allocated for monthly distributions to primary public safety answering points (PSAPs), for PSAP grants, and for reimbursement of commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers. The bill holds each PSAP ham~less as to a-911 revenues at FY 2006-071evels. Distribution to PSAPs is calculated as a base amount (the amount the PSAP received in FY 2006-07) plus a per capita amount. Use of these funds is expanded to include in-state training of 911 personnel. Any wireline fund balance that exists prior to the bill's effective date is transferred to the local government's general fund, to be used for any lawful purpose. The bill expressly notes that revenues in the 911 Fund are not state expenditures under the state constitution and may not be withheld or reduced by the Governor. Cable/PEG Channels-Section 28 of SB 540 - Reverrue Laws Teclrr:ical Changes resolves a problem under the current video programming statute (G.S. 105-164.44I) of local governments not having a mechanism to correct errors in their March 15, 2007 certification of cable television revenues. Such corrections are most likely to come to light through audits that could not be completed by the due date for submitting the information. Under SB 540, if a city or county determines that the amount of cable franchise tax it imposed during the first six months of FY 2006-07 differs from the amount certified to the Secretary of Revenue, .the city or county may submit a new certification revising the amount. Revised cert~cations must be submitted on or before April 1, 2008 to adjust the local government's base amount. Since the future distributions of video programming revenues to cities and counties are initially based on these certified amounts, ensuring that they are accurate means a fairer allocation of funds to all. SB 1068 - E-NClnternet Connectivity/PEG C/iar:uel passed the Senate and was in the House Appropriations Committee at the end of the session. The current version of the bill removes the sunset on the e-NC Authority and increases the distribution to local governments of the sales tax on telecommunications and video programming services for PEG channel support. The League will continue to support the bill in the short session. Economic Development It was a relatively quiet session for economic development. The budget bill, HB I473 (SL 2007-323), appropriates $45 million in community development block grants.for housing, economic development, and community revitalization. The budget also establishes the NC Green Business Fund in the Department of Commerce to make grants to local governments, state agencies, nonprofits, and small businesses to encourage the expansion of small to medium size businesses to help grow a green economy in the state. The fund is to focus on the biofuels industry, the green building industry, and environmentally conscious clean technology and renewable energy products. Some of the other legislation that was ratified included HB IS95-Economic Development Modificatiorss to correct some errors in how Urban Progress Zones are drawn, making the designation of zones more consistent with local zoning for non-residential tracts. It also requires local economic http://www.nclm.org/LegaUBulletin/2007/08-24-07.htm 8/28/2007