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. . ~ . LAND USE & NATURAL ReSOURCES .\: _rowth Initiative Gets Public Hearing- Citing failure by the Legislature to act on the number one issue to most Coloradans, a group of environmental organizations is proposing a constirutional amendment on growth management, Proposal #256. The proposal, drafted by former Jefferson County Assistant County Attorney Claire Levy, Bill Myers, and photographer John Fielder, would place growth management requirements as a new article to the Colorado Constirution. Among other things, the measure would require cities and counties to prepare maps of future growth areas, and then submit those maps to local _ voters before building Can occur. _ Growth only can occur within areas where local governments can afford to build roads and central water systems within a 10-year period. Additionally, cities and counties mUSt describe growth impacts on schools, open space, traffic, air quality and water supplies. The initiative requires regional cooperation on growth areas, and prohibits overlap or inconsistency with adjacent growth areas. Counties with fewer than 10,000 people are exempt, and counties with less than 25,000 people can vote to exempt themselves. Legislative Council conducted a public hearing on April 4, 2000 after moving the hearing to a location other than the one listed on the tit public notice. After attending the hearing, most members of the public left with more 2 questions than answers. The purpose of the public hearing is to aid proponents in clarifying language in the proposal and to notify the public of the proponents' intent. Dead Electric Siting Bill Resurrected with Amendments- SB 00-197, by Sen. Dave Wattenberg, R- Walden, preempting local government siting authority over major electrical facilities, died on the Senate floor, but was brought back to life on a procedural motion by its sponsor. The bill allows utilities to appeal local decisions directly to the Colorado Public Utilities Conunission rather than to the courts. After the vote, proponents of the legislation accepted amendments by CCI and CML limiting the bill to time frames for review by local governments. With the amendments, local governments would have 90 days for review on preliminary applications and 120 days for review on final applications. Both CCI and CML recognize the need for additional electric utilities in Colorado, and offered to host meetings betWeen local elected officials and representatives from the electric utility industry. CCI A Force for Colorado Counties Colorado Water Partnership Proposed - Elected officials from Colorado's Front Range are . . proposlI1g a campaign to increase public awareness about water supply. At a press conference at the Capitol, the group said they would identify potential sources for 120,000 acre-feet of water needed to handle the growth anticipated to hit Colorado, and start building the necessary infrastructure. County Commissioner Marie Mackenzie (Arapahoe) was joined by Mayor Paul Tauer (Aurora), Mayor Don Parso~s (Northglenn), and Sens. John Evans, R-Parker, and John Andr~s, R-Englewood. Douglas County declined the invitation, citing concerns that the group's intentions may frustrate the intent of the Douglas County Water Resource Authority's partnership with the Colorado River Conservation District and the Denver Water Board on the kSouth Metro Water Supply Srudy." CCI Opposes Federal Takings Legislation A bill passed by the U.s. House of Representatives allows aggrieved property owners to bypass local courts in favor of going directly to federal court. Commissioners voted to oppose HR 2372 because CCl SUPPorted takings legislation in Colorado in 1997 and 1998 that provided for an accelerated process for plaintiffs alleging takings claims to access district court. CCl sent letters to our entire congressional delegation expressing our position. April 7, 2000