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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEconomic Advisory Commission - Minutes - 01/16/20131 Minutes City of Fort Collins Economic Advisory Commission Regular Meeting 300 LaPorte Ave City Hall January 16, 2013 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. For Reference: Blue Hovatter, Chair 493-3673 Council Liaison Wade Troxell Josh Birks, Staff Liaison 416-6324 Wendy Bricher, Minutes 221-6506 Commission members present: Commission members absent: Michael Kulisheck Jim Clark Christophe Febvre Daniel Lenskold Blue Hovatter Channing Arndt Sam Solt Anne Hutchison Glen Colton Guests: Karen Weitkunat, Mayor Mike Pruznick, Citizen Staff Present: Wendy Bricher, Minutes Josh Birks, Economic Health Director SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health Analyst Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager Julie Brewen, Housing Authority Chadrick Martinez, Housing Authority Agenda Item 1: Meeting called to order Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Agenda Item 2: Approval of Minutes Unanimous approval of minutes dated 12/19/12. Financial Services 300 LaPorte Ave PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6505 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov.com 2 Agenda Item 3: Public Comment Citizen Mike Pruznick provided a handout and his view on economics and jobs. He reminded that the EAC that their role is to advise Council, not just push through approval of items. He provided information on his own version of the triple bottom line and included information on urban self- sufficiency. He also encouraged the EAC to invite state legislators to their meetings on important topics they can help influence. Agenda Item 4: New Member Introduction The Economic Advisory Commission welcomed new members Anne Hutchison and Glen Colton. Blue Hovatter summarized the role of the EAC and that members are looking to get more involved and participate in more action oriented items moving forward. Agenda Item 5: Economic Health Strategic Plan – Focus Topics The Economic Health Strategic Plan has been developed and implementation plans are moving forward. The EAC took the opportunity to break out into working groups at this meeting to brainstorm ideas and priorities for Business Support & Talent Management as well as Innovation and Quality of Place. The goal was to identify four key priorities to move forward on in 2013. It was noted that the City is not alone in the process of sustaining an economic environment, but a partner in terms of actions and more aligned collaboration with partners citywide. At the end of the brainstorming session, each group presented their conclusions. Group one identified the following as important to Business Support: 1) define primary, secondary, major retailer, clusters 2) strengthen data/dissemination which leads to 3) events/use of data/relationships and 4) develop assistance/tools. They believed the recruitment responsibility should be the NCEDC, and Fort Collins should focus more on development/retention. The important key factors to consider within talent included: 1) understand under-employment 2) understand employer needs 3) Gap analysis – local labor market report and 5) relationships – gathering information and sharing with various resources. Group one believed talent management is not the City’s role, and that we need better understanding of 1,2,3,4,5. Group 2 found the key features for Innovation as follows:1) identify incubation as a whole including incubation for starts-ups 2) identifying gaps in the process – start-ups and innovation, what are they missing? Get gaps filled without having to leave community and 3) Access to capital – not the city’s role to find, but can tell its story and give vision of next 20 years. Allow outside entities to bring capital and invest their dollars. They also identified assets and infrastructure as important including the following:1) airport 2) Mason Corridor – building out the ribs and short term/long term financial planning and 3) Foothills Mall – vision of space, aging portion of population. Staff will consolidate tasks under these priorities and focus on how we start moving forward. These key conclusions will be discussed in more detail at the February meeting. Agenda Item 6: Housing Authority Fee Waivers Diane Jones, Julie Brewen, and Chadrick Martinez presented information regarding Housing Authority Fee Waivers. In 2011, with Care Housing, the City council approved a fee waiver in the amount of 557,378. Following this approval, it was determined that new options needed to be explored for future projects. Diane Jones presented four options including A) use of CDBG and Home funds to cover waived fees, B) a special affordable housing or human service tax or fee, C) defer fees to the end of a financial period, or D) limit fee waivers to certain types of projects. After considerable discussion and legal review, it was determined that D would be the best option moving forward. Exemptions for the projects will need to meet two criteria included projects for the homeless/disabled and projects for occupants with incomes that range from 0 – 30% of the adjusted median income. Anne Hutchison asked about the often they expected this to come forward in the next 20 years in which Julie Brewen replied about every four years or so. Christophe Febvre asked why we have a fee waiver in which staff replied that state statue and local ordinances states that fees will be waived and the goal is to keep developments affordable. The 3 Economic Advisory commission agreed to follow-up at the next meeting and submit a recommendation to Council as appropriate. The final recommendation will go to Council on March 5, 2013. Meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled on February 20, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. CIC Room, City Hall