The overview
City Council members signed off on the city’s legislative priorities during a Jan. 7 meeting, a week before the legislative session is scheduled to start. The city passes a legislative agenda before any legislature session and doesn’t change much between sessions, Assistant City Manager Jennifer Hibbs said.
“We like to focus on local control of local issues and maintaining that and avoiding unfunded mandates,” she said.
Once the agenda is approved, city officials share it with state legislators and use it as grounds to advocate on behalf of the city, according to a staff memo. This year’s agenda includes opposition against any legislation that would mandate minimum lot sizes, accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals, according to the memo.
“Those items are in our legislative agenda and we will work hard to communicate specifically on those items with our legislators,” Hibbs said.
Grapevine's legislative agenda includes 36 priorities related to policing, planning and zoning, tourism, economic development and more. The entire list of priorities can be viewed on the Jan. 7 meeting agenda.
Looking ahead
The 89th Texas Legislative session will begin Jan. 14. More than 2,400 bills have been filed as of Jan. 8, according to the Texas Legislature’s website. Officials expect about 10,000 bills in total will be filed before the March 14 deadline, Hibbs said.
For comparison, more than 13,000 bills were filed during the 88th regular session and the four special sessions that were called afterward.
Also on the agenda
Grapevine City Council’s Jan. 7 meeting included 11 items on the consent agenda which was approved. Several items authorized renewal of contracts and agreements with businesses and other cities for services. The full agenda can be viewed online.
- Approval of an agreement with Illumination Fireworks for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show.
- The action greenlights the purchase of a fireworks display for the Fourth of July show that will be displayed over Lake Grapevine. Illumination Fireworks has performed the fireworks show for the last three years.
- Cost: $69,761 (funded from the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau fund)
- Approval of funds for security and traffic control services during future special events in Grapevine.
- During special events such as Main Street Fest, GrapeFest and the Fourth of July, Grapevine Police officials solicit assistance from other law enforcement agencies nearby. Agencies include the Colleyville Police Department, Keller Police Department and Southlake Police Department.
- Cost: $185,000 (funded from the city’s crime control and prevention fund)
