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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 - Economic Advisory Commission - Annual Report1 Economic Advisory Commission 2011 Annual Report The EAC consists of nine members meeting regularly on the third 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 2011 include Chair, Bill Timpson, Vice-chair, Blue Hovatter, Channing Arndt, Christophe Febvre, Stu MacMillan, Jim Clark, Kevin Shaw, Michael Kulisheck, and Rick Price. 2011 Year in Review: The following are items the Economic Advisory Commission were briefed upon, and formal action was taken with a recommendation forwarded to the City Council: Recommendation on Green Building Code Amendments The Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) has reviewed the Green Building Code Amendments, including the benefit and cost analysis, and received several updates from staff. The EAC, by unanimous approval (six in favor, three absent), makes the following recommendation to City Council: The Economic Advisory Commission has evaluated the benefit and cost analysis of the Green Building Code Amendments and recommends the proposed building code green amendments for residential and commercial construction be adopted by Council. In addition, the EAC recommends that staff continue to push the envelope to make Fort Collins a leader in this area. Recommendation on City Tax and Revenue Fees Toward More Diversified, Equitable, and Sustainable City Tax and Fee Revenues A Motion for consideration by the Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) William M. Timpson and Christophe Febvre It is occasionally a reasonable and necessary task for city governments to evaluate their revenue stream to ascertain that they are aligned with needs, values, and outcomes-based policy directions. The Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) has been meeting for several years and has been considering numerous and varied issues directly and indirectly pertinent to the City’s economic vitality and long-term sustainability as well as its alignment to the City’s resources and values. City revenues, employment, services, and tax policy are each individually, and as a whole, a major component of the City’s economy. The EAC notes that the way in which the City is able to serve its varied population, foster its economy, promote jobs, culture, and quality of life, affect policy, and promote specific objectives is significantly affected by the City’s tax and fee structure and by the stability of the City’s revenues. 2 The EAC is fully aware and acknowledges that the question of taxes and fees is not only one of necessity but also one of policy and politics at several levels of government. However, taxes and fees are collected in a dynamic and evolving environment in which changing needs and contemporary ideas should be aligned with revenue generation to promote fairness, sustainability, and a consistently high level of government accountability and citizen accord. It is for these reasons that it is important and consistent with the mission of the City’s government to occasionally re-evaluate the mechanisms and policies that generate its own working revenues. As members of the Economic Advisory Commission, we offer the following recommendation: 1. In order to achieve a more stable revenue source; 2. Open a discourse on tax policy and community values about fairness, in particular; 3. Examine how revenue issues intersect with concerns about environmental, societal, and economic health, and; 4. Consider how all this impacts the City’s other policy objectives. The EAC recommends that City Council explore ways to make City tax and revenue fees efficient, diversified, equitable, and sustainable. Recommendation on Midtown Urban Renewal Plan In May and June 2011, the Economic Advisory Commission reviewed information regarding the proposed Urban Renewal Plan for Midtown including Plan objectives, authorized activities, tax increment districts, project financing, and conformance with City Plan. Blight factors, current economy, and timing were discussed in depth and feedback was provided by the South Fort Collins Business Association (SFCBA). After thorough discussion, the Economic Advisory Commission developed the following recommendation for your consideration. Kevin Shaw moved and Stu MacMillan seconded the following motion: The Economic Advisory Commission recommends to City Council approval of the Midtown Urban Renewal Plan to create a new urban renewal plan area within the City of Fort Collins. Motion passed 5 - 0 Recommendation on Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) for Midtown URA In July and August 2011, the Economic Advisory Commission reviewed four (4) options proposed by staff for a Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) for the Midtown URA. Feedback was given from the South Fort Collins Business Association (SFCBA) and additional information was reviewed including CAG history, URA evolution, and citizen involvement. After thorough 3 discussion, the Economic Advisory Commission developed the following recommendation for your consideration. Motion by Rick Price, seconded by Stu MacMillan After thoughtful consideration, the Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) recommends Staff Option 3 to establish an official recommending board, or some variation of that, for all URA activities in the community. Motion passed unanimously. Recommendation on Building Permit and Plan Fee Check Proposal In June and August 2011, the Economic Advisory Commission reviewed information regarding the proposed Development Review Fees & Building Permit Fees changes including results from the Fee Study, Phase 1 details, and Phase 2 summary information. After thorough discussion, the Economic Advisory Commission developed the following recommendation for your consideration. Stu MacMillan moved and Jim Clark seconded the following motion: The Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) reviewed the proposed Development Review Fees &Building Permit Fees changes and agrees with the philosophy of cost recovery as articulated in the Building Permit and Plan Fee Check Proposal. The commission does not believe that there will be a significant economic impact from its implementation. Motion passed unanimously Recommendation on Bike Library Feasibility Study On October 19, 2011, the Economic Advisory Commission reviewed information regarding the City of Fort Collins Bike Library. Details regarding current stations, patrons served, miles, and CO2 savings as well as a summary of the current funding of the Bike Library through 2012 were provided. In addition, sustainable options for the Bike Library for 2013 and beyond were also presented and included a “No user Fee” option, a “User Fee” option, alternatives to a Bike Library (automated stations/service), and privatizing the service. The EAC members agreed that a clear mission statement is needed and that a study to determine if the service would benefit in a privatized way, in a public/transit way, or a hybrid of the two would be beneficial. Additional discussion occurred regarding the cost of a feasibility study; Bill Timpson suggested local talent might be available (graduate students, local experts) that may be able to provide the service at a lower cost. After thorough discussion, the Economic Advisory Commission developed the following recommendation for your consideration. 4 Rick Price moved and Bill Timpson seconded the following motion: The Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) recommends that the City undertake a serious study on the future of the Fort Collins Bike Library and its economic benefit to the community. Motion passed 7-0