Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.005-85RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves RESOLUTION NO. ~- (Series of 1985) A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE COLORADO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE URGING THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ACT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ADOPT LEGISLATION PROTECTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR TAXPAYERS FROM EXPENSIVE ANTITRUST LITIGATION AN LIABILITY WHEREAS, the State of Colorado relies upon local governments to carry out many licensing and regulatory activities and should provide local governments and their taxpayers with sufficient pro- tection to exercise that responsibility without the fear of expen- sive antitrust litigation and liability; and WHEREAS, the exposure of municipalities in Colorado and throughout the country to antitrust lawsuits has been expanded as a result of recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court; and WHEREAS, the potential for damage awards and the substantial expense of defending antitrust litigation, even if successful, may inhibit municipalities from enacting or enforcing regulations which protect the public health, safety and welfare, but which also may be deemed to restrict competition; and WHEREAS, at least City of Aspen, already and with and five Colorado municipalities, including the have been sued under the antitrust laws; WHEREAS, other Colorado municipalities have been threatened antitrust lawsuits for licensing or regulatory decisions; WHEREAS, the cost to the taxpayers of Boulder, Colorado, in defending one federal antitrust lawsuit, which was settled prior to trial, was an estimated one-quarter million dollars; and WHEREAS, municipalities differ from private enterprise in that private enterprise is not charged with protecting the public health, safety and welfare through licensing and regulations; and RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves WHEREAS, numerous protections from municipal licensing and regulatory actions, other than damages under the antitrust laws, are available such as, public notice, public hearing, public meet- ing and public record requirements, court review of actions, peri- odic elections and the rights of initiative, referendum and recall, and the continuing authority of the General Assembly or the people of the State of Colorado to modify the statutory con- stitutional authority of Colorado's municipality. NOW, THEREFORE, BE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO: Section 1 That the IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE Colorado General Assembly should act as quickly as possible to adopt H.B. 1~4 in order to protect local govern- ments and their taxpayers from expensive antitrust litigation and liability for local licensing City of Aspen support efforts this regard. Dated: ~_ I, Kathryn S. and regulatory activity and that the of the Colorado Municipal League in , 1985. ~ St~'r~~ · Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do Council of the City of Aspen, // , 1985. Kathryn S/Koch, City Clerk resolution adopted by the City Colorado, at a meeting held on certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that