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ChatGPTClaudePerplexity· Related development
Staff presents proposed 2027 legislative priorities; council adds opposition to energy code increases
Acting City Manager Andrew Freeman presented proposed changes to the City's state and federal legislative priorities ahead of the 2027 session (item 5.3). The state agenda would continue to oppose unfunded mandates and limits on local authority and add or refine positions on municipal utility financial management, modeled on the Texas Municipal League's agenda; sales tax in Chapter 387 county assistance districts, since Potter County keeps its 2-cent tax in areas the City annexes and serves; property removed from the tax rolls; local control over lot sizes, parking, short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units, manufactured housing, data centers and impact fees; a Panhandle joint operations and information center; laws on sexual offenses against children; and state funding for water and wastewater infrastructure. The federal agenda would add support for relocating NNSA operations on airport property and for national security and defense investment, and drop rare earth minerals. Mayor Cole Stanley asked to add opposition to any increase in the International Energy Conservation Code from the 2015 edition the City uses, saying engineering studies showed large cost increases; the council agreed. In public comment a resident criticized the utility financial management language. The resolution is to come back for adoption.[1][2]
