HomeMy WebLinkAboutEconomic Advisory Commission - Minutes - 08/15/20121
Minutes
City of Fort Collins
Economic Advisory Commission
Regular Meeting
300 LaPorte Ave
City Hall
August 15, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
For Reference:
Bill Timpson, Chair 493-3673
Council Liaison Wade Troxell
Josh Birks, Staff Liaison 416-6324
Wendy Bricher, Minutes 221-6506
Commission members present: Commission members absent:
Sam Solt Daniel Lenskold
Christophe Febvre
Jim Clark
Michael Kulisheck
Blue Hovatter
Stu MacMillan
Channing Arndt
Bill Timpson
Guests:
Ann Hutchison, FC Chamber of Commerce
Dale Adamy
Staff Present:
Wendy Bricher, Minutes
Josh Birks, Economic Health Director
Megan Bolin, Economic Health Analyst
Jessica Ping-Small, Sales Tax Manager
SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health Analyst
Agenda Item 1: Meeting called to order
Meeting called to order at 11:04 a.m.
Agenda Item 2: Approval of Minutes
Unanimous approval of minutes dated 6/20/12
Agenda Item 3: Public Comment
Kim Marino, Local Business Owner, would like to propose that the City of Fort Collins consider
implementing a program similar to the Platform to Employment Program, which aired on 60 Minutes last
weekend. The Program is an effort to get 50+ professionals back in the workforce working
professionally. The program provides salary funding for during a 3-month trial period. At that time, the
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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employer then has a choice to hire the individual or not. The current program started with 100
professionals in which 70 were hired long term after the trial period.
Mike Pruznick provided information regarding the upcoming Bridges Conference and Circles Orientation
and encouraged the EAC members to attend. Both events focus on education and information regarding
Poverty and low income families programs within Northern Colorado.
Agenda Item 4: Follow-up Discussion Regarding Previous Meetings
None
Agenda Item 5: Member Updates/Future Agenda Items Discussion
Christophe Febvre and Sam Solt provided an update regarding their liaison roles to the Oil and Gas
Board. The first meeting was held on August 1. Dan Weinheimer and Ginny Sawyer are the City’s staff
liaisons. The goal is to evaluate the oil and gas industry in our area and make a recommendation to
Council in December. Items to be discussed over the next several months include, but are not limited to,
conflict between State and City jurisdiction, water consumption, groundwater contamination, air
pollution, revenues vs. costs, and mineral rights vs. surface rights.
Jessica Ping-Small, Sales Tax Manager, provided an update regarding June sales tax collections
Overall, the City is up 5.8% for July and up 11.8% for the 2012 total net taxable. Revenues were slight
lower than previous months possible due to the fire.
Agenda items for next month include a continued discussion of the Midtown Corridor, Midtown Urban
Design Plan, and financing for young, local companies.
Agenda Item 6: Midtown Corridor/Foothills Mall – Sam Solt
Postponed until September.
Agenda Item 7: Local Independent Business – Elizabeth Moser & Blue Hovatter
Elizabeth Moser, local business owner, spoke with the EAC about the struggles of securing financing for
a start-up business. Her businesses include Lyric, a locally independent movie theatre and Loco Food
distribution. She believes the city could be a good partner in helping her find/offer different funding
options such as a revolving loan fund for capital and/or new ideas/rules for citizens financing businesses
in our community (encouragement and education). Josh Birk’s indicated that a revolving loan fund offer
was put forward in the BFO process this year, but he believed at this time, it would not be funded.
Channing Arndt commented that perhaps a partnership with a local bank could limit the City’s liability
while still offering the needed funding for start-up businesses in our community.
Agenda Item 8: Forney Industries Package
SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health Analyst, provided information regarding the Forney Industries
Assistance Package. Details covered included Forney History in our community, employees, costs
association with annexation, and results of the annexation. The package would include a sales tax rebate
of 15K annually for three years, a personal property tax rebate of 399.00 annually for 10 years, and a real
property tax rebate of 2,672 annually for 10 years. The rebates would be intended to offset the costs of
annexing into the City and direct revenues for the city would be approximately 300K in the next 10 years.
Sam Solt commented that he believed this was a normal part of doing business, did not qualify, and may
set a precedent. He believes their capital commitment was not high enough to warrant support;
Christophe Febvre commented that Forney is not required to annex and their role as a business is to find
the cheapest options available. He believes their commitment to stay in Fort Collins provides long-term
benefits to the City and should be supported.
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After thorough consideration and discussion, the EAC developed the following recommendation
to the Fort Collins City Council.
Christophe Febvre moved and Stu MacMillan seconded:
The Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) supports the Forney Industries Package as written and
recommends Council approve it on first reading.
Motion passed 7 – 1 (nay Sam Solt)
Agenda Item 9: Midtown Urban Design Plan
Megan Bolin, Economic Health Analyst, provided information regarding the Midtown Urban Design Plan
including plan area, why we need this plan, goals, and timeline. Questions to be discussed at the next
EAC meeting include 1) What are the biggest opportunities and challenges for redevelopment in
Midtown; 2) What improvements are needed; and 3) What is your vision for Midtown?
Agenda Item 10: Project Updates
Josh Birk’s provided an update regarding the Foothills Mall. He stated that the new owners are moving
forward with Utilities and seeking citizen input and that the site will likely look very different from what
it does today. They are in active contact with the City and excited to be moving forward with this
project.
Meeting adjourned at 1:29p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled on September 19, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
CIC Room, City Hall