Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/27/2018

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General Government 2-D 911 Telephone Tax Public safety answering points (PSAPs) must be able to continue to rely on state 911 revenues to pay for upgrades and modifications to local 911 systems, maintenance and operational support and dispatcher training. Metro Cities supports state funding for technology and training necessary to provide the number and location of wireless and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls to 911 on computer screens and transmit that data to police, fire and first responders. 2-E 800 MHz Radio System Metro Cities urges the Legislature to provide cities with the financial means to obtain required infrastructure and subscriber equipment (portable and mobile radios) as well as provide funding for operating costs, since the prime purpose of this system is to allow public safety agencies and other units of government the ability to communicate effectively. Metro Cities supports the work of the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board (previously the Metropolitan Radio Board) in implementing and maintaining the 800 MHz radio system, as long as cities are not forced to modify their current systems or become a part of the 800 MHz Radio System unless they so choose. 2-F Building Codes Thousands of new housing units are constructed annually in the metro area. Structural and water intrusion problems have surfaced in many houses and commercial buildings built in the last 20 years resulting in dissatisfied homeowners and conflicts among the state, builders and cities. Metro Cities supports an equitable distribution of fees from the Construction Code Fund, with proportional distribution based on the area of enforcement where fees were received. Metro Cities further supports a joint effort by the state, cities and builders to collectively identify appropriate uses for the fund, including education, analysis of new materials and construction techniques, building code updating, building inspector training, and development of performance standards and identification of construction "best practices." Metro Cities supports including the International Green Construction Code as an `optional appendix' to the State Building Code to allow cities to utilize appropriate parts of those guidelines in their communities. Metro Cities also supports adopting the international energy conservation code to the state building code without amendments. Metro Cities does not support legislative solutions that fail to recognize the interrelationships among builders, state building codes and cities. Metro Cities supports efforts to increase awareness of the potential impacts and benefits of requiring sprinklers 2018 Legislative Policies 12