Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 - Economic Advisory Commission - Annual ReportEconomic Advisory Commission 2017 Annual Report The Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) consists of nine members who meet 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 2017 include: Chair, Sam Solt, Vice-chair, Ted Settle, Denichiro “Denny” Otsuga, Ann Hutchison, Linda Stanley, Alan Curtis (partial year), Craig Mueller, Connor Barry, and John Parks 2017 Year in Review: The EAC decided to create focus in 2017 by choosing a limited number of items to emphasize, including: the growth of the community and its impacts on the economic, environmental and social aspects through the development of a Community Discussion Guide, participating directly in the City Plan and Transportation Development Master Plan process, and review the existing Business Assistance Package Development Framework (specifically criteria to consider as part of the evaluation of future business assistance). Summary of Presenters The EAC heard a number of staff presentations, below is a list of the departments, entities, and partners that presented to the Board on various topics in 2017:  Utilities Water Resources Division–Water Utility Cash-in-lieu & Raw Water Requirement Changes (Donnie Dustin, Water Resources Manager and Lance Smith, Utilities Strategic Finance Director)  Economic Health Office – Industry Cluster Grants, Climate Economy Overview and Climate Economy Action Plan, EAC’s Role in City Plan, Work Plan for Business Assistance Framework Criteria, Broadband, Periodic Review, Evaluation Criteria, Economic Impact Criteria, Business Engagement Action Plan (BEAP), Metro District Policy Update, Quality of Place  Environmental Services – Fort Collins Innovation Challenge, A CAP Pilot Project (Katy Bigner, Environmental Planner), Citywide Organics Composting (Caroline Mitchell, SR Environmental Planner)  Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce– Talent 2.0 Overview and Implementation (Ann Hutchison, Executive Vice President)  Planning, Development, & Transportation – Downtown Plan, City Plan  Airport Activities Update (Sean Keithly, Business Development Specialist with FC/LV Airport) Economic Health Definition The EAC has defined a healthy economy:  As vibrant, resilient, and integrates multiple interactions across many stakeholder groups (e.g., citizens representing multiple sub-communities, large and small companies, new and established companies, non-profit organizations, and local government), and  Provides diverse opportunities for development which acknowledge resource constraints and retain or improve the present quality of life in the city. Public Comment Summary The EAC heard from a number of citizens over the course of 2017. Specific comments can be found within the minutes of each meeting. A summary of the comments is provided below (months without public comments have been omitted): January  Dale Adamy: Reviewed the Downtown Plan draft with a triple bottom line lens and suggested that there should be more transparency on how public comments and community input is used in the decision-making process. February  Dale Adamy: Concerned about how Triple Bottom Line (TBL) is being applied and that the Downtown Plan is not addressing the issue of poverty by not including more policy/principles/actions in the social area. Recommended that EAC ask Council to delay the adoption of Downtown Plan until it is reviewed further by Social Sustainability. March  Mike Prusnick, Commented on City sustainability greenhouse gas report card and is concerned that since 2012 carbon emissions have increased—getting negative results.  Mike Prusnick, Expressed dissatisfaction with change in bus routes and would like to see more alternatives such as Segways, as well as wider sidewalks to better accommodate wheelchairs. April  Dale Adamy: Thanked the board for supporting getting social issues incorporated into the Downtown Plan. Appreciated the board carrying forward comments to Council. Would like to see Trible Bottom Line continue to be incorporated and have greater emphasis into city process. November  Eric Sutherland: Concerned that Broadband is using public money to subsidize retail residential development. The Mayoral race in the City of Loveland—described as referendum on the Mayor/practices. Stated all these projects are in receipt of tax rebates which are outside the bounds of Colorado law and that tax revenues to support governmental activities are needed across the board—Sales tax war is not doing anyone any good. Stated that we should not be giving away tax revenues for economic development and The City Attorney’s office screwed things up. December  Dale Adamy: Shared thoughts on the planning process for City Plan—Landbank. Would like to see TBL be incorporated in the plan where social is valued as much as environmental and economic. Stated homelessness is an issue that needs to be addressed. Recommended incorporating Sustainability Assessment tool into the City Plan as it relates to TBL. Landbank is focusing on housing affordability. Requested there be some comments/feedback from the board when a community citizen speaks during public comment. 2017 Actions Taken Summary: The following are items the EAC were briefed upon, and formal action was taken with a recommendation forwarded to the City Council: 1. Approval of Annual Report Linda Stanley moved and Ann Hutchison seconded: A motion to approve the Annual Report as drafted. Motion passed unanimously, (absent: Connor Barry) 2. Election of EAC Chair and Vice Chair Linda Stanley moved and Craig Mueller seconded: A motion to elect Sam Solt as Chair of the Economic Advisory Committee for 2017. Motion passed unanimously, (absent: Alan Curtis) Linda Stanley moved and Ann Hutchison seconded: A motion to elect Ted Settle as Vice Chair of the Economic Advisory Committee for 2017. Motion passed unanimously, (absent: Alan Curtis) 3. Downtown Plan Recommendation Board discussed the Downtown Plan as presented. Overall, was supportive of the plan, but sentiment was expressed that the City could do better in terms of parking—Need strategic plan for economically viable solutions to parking challenges. Businesses would like to build more structures, but cannot do it alone, and the City doesn’t have the funding to help. There was also acknowledgement of the need to address the needs of homeless. There has been a proposal for mental health detox facility at the county level that has failed. Time for the City to take this on. Identified the need to balance the level of detail of the plan and the flexibility over the term of implementation. Members provided edits to the draft recommendation. Linda Stanley moved to adopt the following recommendation. Connor Barry seconded: A motion that The Economic Advisory Commission feels that the Downtown Plan reflects the priorities of the board and recommends that City Council adopt the plan after addressing the following needs: —Social issues, including mental health, homeless and transient impacts and needs, and affordable housing. —More aggressive implementation of long term economically viable solutions to parking. —Balance the need for detail with flexibility over the long-term for implementation. Motion passed unanimously, (absent: Alan Curtis) 4. Submittal of Periodic Review The Economic Advisory Commission underwent its Periodic Review in 2017. Council has 27 boards and commissions to review. The new process is to schedule engagement with a handful each year to see how they align with City Strategic Plan and key outcome areas, how EAC work plan is aligned with the EAC mission/charter, Council liaison appraises how things are going. Includes a self- assessment and a meeting with Council Liaison. EAC should have a clear understanding of Council’s priorities that EHO will be working on with 4 or 5 priorities. Focus on metrics and industry shifts, intelligence gathering and consider refining the dashboard metrics. Members voiced that Economic Health hasn’t been in the forefront for council. Commitments— Mayor will attend quarterly. Collaborate with other commissions? Requested more direction from Council. Will also evaluate and bring topics. Will use the 6-month planning calendar as the foundation to our work. Big takeaways of the Periodic Review were: A. Improve communication with Commission and Council Liaison. B. Improve focus on TBL with emphasis on economic perspective. C. Collaborate more with commissions served by SSA. D. Growth topic continues to come up: Economic, Population, Both? Sam Solt moved and Linda Stanley seconded: A motion to accept the letter and forward it to appropriate contacts Motion passed, (absent Alan Curtis and Linda Stanley) 5. Proposal to proceed with experiment of using TBL and working with multiple Boards/Commissions: Ted Settle, Vice Chair. Discussion/Q & A:  Task is to write a memo to Council with the proposal.  General sense—Boards and Commissions can find better ways to be effective.  Boundary of the experiment is SSA for this purpose and would begin in early January if approved. Would use Council Priorities as the topics to consider. Linda Stanley moved and Ann Hutchison seconded: A motion to move ahead with the Proposal Motion passed, 9-0-0.