HomeMy WebLinkAboutEconomic Advisory Commission - Minutes - 05/11/20111
Minutes
City of Fort Collins
Economic Advisory Commission
Regular Meeting
300 LaPorte Ave
City Hall
May 11, 2011
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
For Reference:
Bill Timpson, Chair 493-3673
Pending, Council Liaison TBD
Mike Freeman, Staff Liaison 416-2259
Wendy Bricher, Minutes 221-6506
Commission members present:
Christophe Febvre
Michael Kulisheck
Jim Clark
Bill Timpson
Blue Hovatter
Commission members absent:
Rick Price
Kevin Shaw
Stu MacMillan
Channing Arndt
Guests:
David May, FC Chamber of Commerce
Mike Pruznick, citizen
Staff Present:
Mike Freeman, Chief Financial Officer
Josh Birks, Economic Advisor
Wendy Bricher, Minutes
Christina Vincent, Redevelopment Program Administrator
Steve Catanach, Light & Power Operations Manager
Claire Thomas, Publicity Marketing Specialist
Agenda Item 1: Meeting called to order
Meeting called to order at 11:03 a.m.
Agenda Item 2: Approval of Minutes
Unanimous approval of minutes 4/20/11
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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Agenda Item 3: Public Comment
Citizen Mike Pruznick provided his views and information regarding creating a Midtown URA; he is
asking the EAC to recommend that Council cease and desist any and all activity related to the formation
of a Midtown URA. Mr. Pruznick provided a handout for EAC’s review (attached).
Agenda Item 4: Midtown Existing Conditions Survey; TIF and Blight Presentation
Christina Vincent, Redevelopment Program Administrator, provided information regarding the Midtown
Existing Conditions Survey, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and blight conditions. Information covered
included the four steps in the redevelopment process, TIF explanation and process, Midtown Existing
Conditions Blight Study, blight factors, existing conditions in Mid-Town, next steps, timeline, and public
benefits. The basis of an Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is a public/private partnership and the plan
area lasts for 25 years. Clarification regarding a URA vs. a DDA was discussed noting that URA’s allow
property owners to opt out, and that there is no imposing of taxes or mill levy. Increment values are
estimated in advance through a partnership with the County when a suggested URA is considered. Mike
Kulisheck asked about URA financing and how the City benefits. Christina stated that in the infancy of
the project, the URA does borrow from a partner (City) until the TIF is at a level that supports the project.
The City benefits and recoups its expenses through Treasury bill rate loans. Additional revenue is
increased due to construction activity, use tax, employment, and development fees.
Legally, four of eleven factors must be found to determine blight, and City Council makes the
determination of blight, not the URA; seven factors were found in the Midtown Existing Conditions
Survey, and the study is available for review on www.renewfortcollins.com. A Council hearing will be
held on May 17, 2011 to declare blight and submit the Urban Renewal Plan (URP) to P&Z, PSD, and the
County. The Council hearing to approve/disprove the URP will be held on July 19, 2011. Christina
Vincent will prepare language for a motion regarding the Mid-Town URA for the EAC to
consider/deliberate at the June meeting.
Agenda Item 6: FCRP Presentation/Discussion – Steve Catanach
Steve Catanach, Light & Power Manager, presented information regarding the Fort Collins Solar Program
and other energy programs. Information presented included program goals, Renewable Energy Standards
(RES), features, Council direction, and options. Council has directed the City to purchase only bundled
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), and to develop local projects. In addition to Utilities scale
projects, the City is looking at local programs that would help us meet our RES; these include the Fort
Collins Solar Program and a spent grain biomass plant. Council direction is needed regarding the
recognition of multipliers and policy. Four options to meet the RES are being examined at this time.
Steve Catanach will prepare language for a motion regarding the Fort Collins Solar Program for the EAC
to consider/deliberate at the June meeting. The Economic Analysis report will be available for review
prior to the June meeting as well.
Agenda Item 7: Economic Health Action Plan – TIP Strategies
Consultants from TIP Strategies met with the EAC regarding the Economic Health Action Plan approved
by Council for 2011. Team members present included Jon Roberts (TIP Managing Partner), Caroline
Alexander (TIP Lead Analyst), Ben Wright (Atlas CEO), Peter Brown (Atlas Creative Director), Keeley
Sullivan (Atlas Account Manager), and Isaac Barchas (Austin Technology Incubator Director). The main
focus of this project is a long-term strategic plan and how to engage citizens, entrepreneurs, and others in
those activities to achieve the goals.
An overview of the project was presented including the scope of work, project goals, framework, and a
planning model. Within communications & marketing, entrepreneurship & tech commercialization, three
different phases were presented focusing on discovery, opportunity, and implementation. In addition,
economic context, the Economic Health Vision, SWOT Analysis and benchmarking were discussed.
The Economic Advisory Commission will be functioning as the steering committee for this project. TIP
Strategies will be seeking input; the discovery phase will include taking in all the information possible,
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learning everything about Fort Collins and our region, and then going back and synthesizing that into an
economic assessment and SWOT analysis. Using that information, TIP Strategies will prepare a list of
preliminary strategies to be implemented in Phase 3. Phase 3, or the implementation phase, will result in
an updated Economic Health Strategic Plan along with a plan for implementation and a communications
& marketing strategy. The EAC will be meeting with TIP Strategies several times over the next six
months (dates TBD). When the Discovery Phase is completed, information will be provided to the EAC
ahead of each meeting with dialogue and suggestions to follow/occur during the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled June 15, 2011 from 11:00a.m.–1:30p.m.
CIC Room, City Hall