HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - Economic Advisory Commission - Annual ReportEconomic Advisory Commission
2008 Annual Report
The EAC consists of nine members meeting regularly the first Wednesday of every
month. The board receives regular updates from staff and advises City Council on matters
pertaining to the economic health and sustainability of the city. The board continues to
gather community input on economic issues and represent the ideas expressed.
Members who served in 2008 include Chair, Christophe Febvre, Vice -chair, Kevin Shaw,
Beena Bawa, Blue Hovatter, Stu MacMillan, Jim Clark, Bill Timpson, Sarah Hach and
Rick Price. Tom Clevenger was the newly appointed member taking the place of Sarah
Hach.
2008 Year in Review:
The following are items the Economic Advisory Commission was briefed upon with
formal action:
Climate Task Force:
On two different occasions, staff presented an update on the Climate Action Plan.
Following is the recommendation provided:
The EAC sees great potential for these ideas to assist in the marketing of our
community's values to the community, nation, and the world, as our community has
consistently prided itself and marketed itself as a community that acts progressively
when it comes to issues of sustainability.
By in large most of the recommendations do not directly affect businesses and the
economy. The main areas where the EAC sees direct effect are in the Energy Supply
Policy and Natural Gas Franchise Fee recommendations. These issues should not be
handled in a vacuum, but rather looked at in conjunction with each other.
Consider adding the importance of a marketing/education component especially for
items that involve the most impact to business and/or citizens.
Mason Corridor Economic Analysis
Staff presented a summary of the economic analysis for the Mason Corridor focusing on
the redevelopment sites that were identified in the study and some of the initial ideas for
how to stimulate redevelopment along the corridor. Following is the recommendation
provided:
The EAC has reviewed the City's Mason Corridor Economic Analysis findings. One
of the significant points of conversation has been to what extent the City encourages
and is proactive in fostering the redevelopment of significant sites along the corridor.
The feeling of the EAC is that there is a role for the City to play in placing an
emphasis on the corridor given the importance of this transportation and development
corridor to the City. The EAC recommends that the City Council play a proactive
role in fostering redevelopment along the corridor and determining what kinds of
support and assistance can be provided to encourage timelier redevelopment of key
sites throughout the corridor.
Parks Plan
The EAC requested that staff provide an update on the Parks Plan to evaluate if economic
development considerations and impacts are addressed in that study. This report is going
to City Council for final review in the first part of 2009. EAC will provide a
recommendation on this plan to City Council.
The following are items that the Economic Advisory Commission was briefed upon but
did not take any formal action on:
Target Industries
Over the course of the year, the EAC was briefed on the four major target industry
groups: biotechnology, clean energy, software, the Be Local program, and arts and
culture.
Fiscal Year 2007 Financial Review
Staff provided an overview of the City's 2007 financial performance. Major revenues
were discussed and their relation to economic health.
Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative (RMI2)
RMI2 staff presented an overview of the program, services provided and benefits to the
start up business community. Focus was also placed on explaining the relationship of
RMI2 to the City's target industry groups.
H WY392/I-25 Interchange
Staff presented an overview of the partnership between the City of Fort Collins and the
Town of Windsor on the analysis and planning for a new interchange at 392/I-25. The
presentation focused on the process and the recommendations that are emerging for how
to begin the redevelopment process for the interchange.