CONSIDERATION OF BILLS
SB 1084 – enduring freedom
memorial; extension
S/E:
cactus league baseball - DO PASS AMENDED S/E
Vice-Chairman
Crandall moved that SB 1084 do pass.
Vice-Chairman
Crandall moved that the proposed nineteen-page Reagan S/E amendment to SB 1084
dated 06/24/08 (Attachment 1) be adopted.
Kitty Decker, Majority
Research Analyst/Senior Economist, explained that the S/E amendment to SB
1084 (Attachment 2) allows the County Board of Supervisors in any county with a
population of more than 300,000 but less than 2 million to form a Sports
Authority District and ask voters to approve taxing and bonding authority for the
purposes of building and financing a mulipurpose facility. She responded to
questions regarding similar programs.
Vice-Chairman
Crandall moved that the proposed ten-line Reagan amendment dated 6/25/08
(Attachment 3) to the S/E amendment to SB 1084 be adopted.
Ms. Decker explained that the
proposed ten-line Reagan amendment ensures that the tax would be applied just
within the district of Pima County.
Question was
called on the motion that the proposed ten-line Reagan amendment dated 6/25/08
(Attachment 3) to the S/E amendment to SB 1084 be adopted. The motion carried.
Mr. Konopnicki proposed that the
Commerce Committee suspend the rules and let the consideration of his amendment
be allowed.
Chairman Reagan
moved that the Commerce Committee suspend the rules and let consideration of
Mr. Konopnicki’s amendment be allowed. The motion carried.
Mr. Konopnicki
moved that his proposed twenty-two-line amendment to the Reagan S/E amendment
dated 6/26/08 (Attachment 4) be adopted.
Ms. Decker explained that the
twenty-two-line Konopnicki amendment strikes the language that puts a tax just
on the car rentals, transient lodging, restaurant and bars and the professional
sports facilities that the district owns and instead applies a three-quarter
percent tax on all the taxable activities within the district.
Mr. Konopnicki further explained
his bill and responded to questions.
Kevin DeMenna, Arizona Cactus
League Coalition, spoke in favor of SB 1084, stating that without
legislative action there is no way to save Pima County Cactus League which is
the goal. Mr. DeMenna encouraged members to defer the Konopnicki amendment to
Floor for debate. Discussion ensued.
Steve Chucri, Arizona
Restaurant Association, spoke against SB 1084. Discussion ensued regarding
benefits and disadvantages of the proposed sales tax.
Senator Robert Blendu, Sponsor,
explained SB 1084. He answered questions regarding the Pima County citizens’ opportunity to decide for themselves what the tax might be.
Rick Grinnell, Metro
Restaurants, spoke in support of SB 1084.
Barry Aarons, Tucson Convention
and Visitors Bureau, yeilded his time to Vince Trinidad.
Vincent Trinidad, Tucson Convention
and Visitors Bureau, in favor of SB 1084, stated that the Sports Authority
bill gives them a way to invest in their community, upgrade existing facilities
and create new facilities for youth and adult amateur athletic programs.
Tom Tracey, Southern Arizona
Lodging & Resort Association, spoke in favor of SB 1084 stating that
nonaction will cause Spring Training in Tucson to not exist beyond 2010/2011. Discussion
ensued regarding benefits and setbacks of broad-based support.
Jeff Schaufel, Arizona Restaurant
Association, addressed the Committee in oppositin to the bill, stating that
they are not against Spring Training but that this bill would put the bulk of
the tax on the restaurant customers’ backs.
Steve Johnson, owner of Macayo’s
Restaurants, Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, spoke against SB 1084 stating
that this tax was not fair to families and youth in particular.
Matt McMahon, owner, Outback
Steakhouse, Arizona, testified against SB 1084. He responded to comments
regarding the segragation of the restaurant industry in this matter.
Persons recognized by the Vice-Chair who signed up in
support of SB 1084 but did not speak:
Ed Casper, respresenting self
Tom Moulton, Souther Arizona Attraction Alliance
Mitch Menlove, Arizona Cactus
League Coalition
Lori Lustig, Southern Arizona
Chamber of Commerce Alliance
Persons recognized by the Vice-Chair who signed up in
opposition to SB 1084 not speaking:
Don Isaacson, Arizona Licensed
Beveragae Association
Marcus Osborn, Yum Brands
Restaurants
Steve Voeller, Arizona Free Enterprise Club
Bill Weigele, Arizona Licensed
Beverage Association
Dan Jacob, Self
Suzanne Elefante, Self
Question was
called on the motion that the proposed twenty-two-line Konopnicki
amendment to the Reagan S/E amendment to SB 1084 dated 6/26/08 (Attachment 4)
be adopted. The motion carried.
Vice-Chairman
Crandall moved that the S/E amendment to SB 1084 as amended be adopted. The motion
carried.
Vice-Chairman
Crandall moved that SB 1084 as amended do pass. The motion carried by a roll
call vote of 7-2-0-1 (Attachment 5).
Without objection, the meeting
adjourned at 12:01 p.m.
__________________________________________
Sarah Griffith, Committee Secretary
July 02, 2008
(Original minutes, attachments
and audio on file in the Office of the Chief Clerk; video archives available
at http://www.azleg.gov/)
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COMMITTEE
ON COMMERCE
5
January
31, 2007
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