HomeMy WebLinkAboutEconomic Advisory Commission - Minutes - 09/21/20111
Minutes
City of Fort Collins
Economic Advisory Commission
Regular Meeting
300 LaPorte Ave
City Hall
September 21, 2011
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
For Reference:
Bill Timpson, Chair 493-3673
Council Liaison Wade Troxell
Josh Birks, Staff Liaison 221-6324
Wendy Bricher, Minutes 221-6506
Commission members present: Commission members absent:
Michael Kulisheck Stu MacMillan
Christophe Febvre Kevin Shaw
Bill Timpson, Chair Jim Clark
Channing Arndt
Blue Hovatter, Vice-Chair
Rick Price
Guests:
Dale Adamy, Citizen
Michael Pruznick, Citizen
Eric Sutherland, Thunderbolt Lobber (Self Identified)
Dan Lenskold, Citizen
Ann Hutchison, FC Chamber of Commerce
Bryce Hach, Presenter of Homeward 2020
Staff Present:
Emily Wilson, Minutes
Josh Birks, Economic Advisor
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 08/17/11
Agenda Item 3: Public Comment
First public comment: Eric Sutherland. Mr. Sutherland presented a bullet point handout and expressed his
concerns with public money being spent to pay back buildings such as the RMI building on East Vine. He
expressed his concerns with the former City CFO being able to take “ownership” of the Innosphere.
Furthermore, Mr. Sutherland is upset with the City Utilities department, as the employees are not capable
of doing their work correctly.
Financial Services
300 LaPorte Ave
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
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Second public comment: Michael Pruznick. Mr. Pruznick passed around a handout, which he clarified,
was not completely up to date. He shared his opinions with this commission because this is the only
commission whose charter specifically includes responsibility for sustainability. He was here for two
reasons: 1) to share his philosophies on Comprehensive Sustainability in the hopes EAC will embrace
them and 2) to tell EAC he is interested in being more involved in his local government. He wants to find
out more about the Economic Action Plan and how he can be involved.
Agenda Item 4: Follow-up Discussion Regarding Previous Meetings
Postponed - FCRP – Motion for Review (Steve Catanach)
Agenda Item 5: Member Updates/Future Agenda Items Discussion
6 month planning calendar discussion. Rick Price expressed wanting a discussion and presentation on the
philosophy of TIF and the RMI building before making a decision on whether the funds are being used
appropriately. It was discussed that at next month’s meeting there is an agenda item of “TIF/Incentive
Strategy” where this issues could possibly be addressed.
On the October agenda, there is the agenda item of the Bike Library and Economic Impact Study.
Questions were raised as to if this presentation will just be on the Bike Library, or if it will be on the
actual Bike Study. Or, will the presentation be on the Economic Impact of the Bike Library? The
Economic Advisory Commission decided they do not need a presentation on what the Bike Library is, but
they would want a presentation to come from an economic standpoint, so that the EAC can provide
direction and input to David Kemp.
On the December agenda, the Economic Advisory Commission would like a featured agenda item to be
on Utility Rates. Furthermore, the EAC could like to have these materials on this agenda item in advance
of the meeting in order to be prepared for the conversation.
Secretary Note: In regards to this conversation on having Utility Rates on the December agenda,
Channing Arndt sent an email to the EAC members the day after this meeting which stated the following:
Dear EAC members:
This follows the idea of inviting someone to speak on utilities to the EAC.
A suggestion was made that the session could be more productive if we provided some questions
or areas of interest in advance. This is an incomplete and perhaps imperfect list designed to get
the ball rolling.
Potential areas of interest:
1) Utility rate structure now and in the future.
-Prices compared to other metropolitan areas.
-Differentiated rate structures across different consumers.
-Is it possible to differentiate utility rates in accordance with indicators of wealth such as
property tax values?
2) Value of profits from utility operations and importance (as well as potential importance) to the
City as a revenue source.
3) Investment programs and plans.
-production
-distribution
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4) Implications of a (say) $50 per ton carbon tax on utility rates.
5) Implications of a large scale shift towards plug in vehicles over the next 15-20 years.
6) Base load, peak load, and the future role of renewables.
Agenda Item 6: Homeward 2020 – Bryce Hach
Presenter Bryce Hach provided a handout and presented his PowerPoint to the group. For the economic
and social well-being of the community, the end goal of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness is to
have a flexible and rapid responding network of necessary housing and complementary services so that
homelessness is rare, short-lived and non-reoccurring in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Initial funding for this program was $100,000 to launch.
5% of those who become homeless will be that way for 30 days or less and will then not be homeless
again in their lives. 1,021 kids in the Poudre School District are homeless at one point or another. This
form of homelessness is episodic. It costs Fort Collins $28,795 to keep homeless people on the street.
There are 5 goals of Homeward 2020:
1. Clarify Demand (2010)
2. Line Up Supply and Services (Current)
3. Literally Move People Into Housing (2012-2014)
4. Help People Stay in Housing (2012-2014)
5. Necessary Sustainability Efforts to End Chronic Homelessness in Fort Collins (2011-2014)
Discussion followed the presentation of Homeward 2020. Question: How do we facilitate employment?
The answer to this question centered on working with Larimer County Workforce, working with the
Youth Conservation Core and working with CSU. Needing to give people a stable situation, look at their
needs and then move forward. There is a combination of services provided to meet the individual’s
specific needs. Discussion on needing to create political will and addressing what gets put into place to
make the political will sustainable.
Mr. Hach proposed that EAC can be a mouthpiece for the 10 year plan to end homelessness. It is not
Homeward 2020 that should get the attention, it is all of the organizations which are working toward the
common goal of ending homelessness.
Agenda Item 7: Economic Strategic Plan – TIP Strategies
Caroline Alexander and Jon Roberts (TIP Strategies)
The “Discovery Phase” is nearly wrapped up and now they are onto the “Opportunity Phase.” TIP asked
the group how they felt about a community survey, and if they would see a benefit in putting one
together. They also asked the question of how do we take the assessments and translate them into
opportunities, and what else is happening in the economy?
Proposed Vision:
TIP Strategies has proposed the following vision to serve as the foundation for the strategic plan:
“Fort Collins will be a living laboratory for sustainable cities. Under this vision, we will build economic
value through the development and application of innovative systems, focusing on energy, water,
transportation, health. This vision represents the integration of sustainability initiatives and economic
health. In other words, we will work to diversify tax base and create more & better economic opportunity
for residents with triple bottom line approach.”
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Opportunity Themes:
The discussion of opportunities will center around three themes:
1. Innovation ecosystem and economy: Tech transfer, commercialization, access to capital, technical
assistance, and business formation, retention & climate.
2. Talent management: Education, workforce development, talent retention and attraction
3. Community assets and infrastructure: Quality of place, economic development organizations &
stakeholders, development & redevelopment centers, commercial and industrial sites
Discussion of a “Conference Strategy” where people come into your community, spend money, and then
leave with knowledge about your community. TIP proposed that the City of Fort Collins needs a retention
strategy.
In discussing the “Innovation Ecosystem and Economy,” questions were brought up about an advanced
manufacturing facility for early stage production and prototyping. Job Shops were discussed and TIP
Strategies answered questions about making prototypes and how that can translate into jobs and retaining
businesses so they do not leave Fort Collins. Members of EAC liked the “living laboratory” concept and
liked the idea of having the link between all CSU departments and the City to close gaps and provide
more opportunities for businesses to end up in incubation facilities such as RMI.
No motions or recommendations to Council were made at this meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 1:36 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled on October 19, 2011 from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
CIC Room, City Hall