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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 - Economic Advisory Commission - Annual ReportEconomic Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 1 Overview: The Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) consists of nine appointed members, who represent a cross-section of the community and have experience in economics, business, or finance; and an interest in supporting economic health and sustainability. EAC meets on the third Wednesday of every month and is supported by Staff Liaison Josh Birks and Council Liaison Mayor Wade Troxell. 2018 Members include: Chair Sam Solt, Vice-chair Ted Settle, Denny Otsuga, Ann Hutchison, Linda Stanley, Aric Light, Craig Mueller, Connor Barry, and John Parks. The duties and functions of the Commission are: 1. To advise City Council on matters pertaining to the economic health and sustainability of the city, including, but not limited to, (a) events and trends occurring outside the Fort Collins community that may affect the local economy; (b) immediate and long-term threats to the local economy; (c) ways in which to enhance the City's competitive position in relation to other communities; and (d) possible partnerships with other public and private entities. 2. To recommend programs and strategies that may enhance the economic health and sustainability of the city. 3. To be aware of and coordinate with other City boards and commissions whose actions may affect the economic health and sustainability of the City. 4. To advise Council on existing or proposed policies, practices or regulations of the City that may affect the local economy. Economic Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 2 2018 goals and priorities: 1. Participate directly in the public engagement component of City Plan and the Transportation Master Plan process and evaluating the growth of community and the economic, environmental, and social impacts. 2. Review the existing Business Assistance Package Development Framework (specifically criteria to consider as part of the evaluation of future business assistance). 3. Evaluate an experiment to bring together Boards and Commissions representing the Triple Bottom Line from supported Sustainability Services. 4. Use the following topic areas to filter other City policy items that should be brought before the commission for input: • Triple Bottom Line integration (Social and Environmental) • Balancing act between the benefits and cost of growth • Economic sustainability and diversity • Infrastructure - Transportation and Utilities • Tax/revenue diversification • Build-out impacts and considerations • Innovation and the role of the knowledge economy • Housing • Workforce Key topics and action summary: 1. CITY PLAN Economic Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 3 • EAC received monthly updates on the City Plan as it related to the workgroups and overall process. • In June, Ryan Mounce provided an overview, update and next steps on the City Plan. Presentation highlighted the public engagement process and some of the key themes that were emerging through the ambassador conversations, community partner meetings ,and online questionnaire. • In November, Ryan Mounce returned to give an update on the City Plan Scenarios and summarized areas of agreement and concern that have been heard through community input. • In December, Ryan Mounce returned provided a deeper dive into the land use inventory, as it relates to City Plan. • ACTION: EAC requested to continue having Ryan provide monthly updates with the goal being to take action prior to it going to City Council in the Spring of 2019. 2. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS EXPERIMENT • EAC received monthly updates throughout the year on the development of this project. • Presented to the Futures Committee in May and the concept was well received. Action resulted in a memo to City Council for approval to move forward. • ACTION: EAC submitted memo to Council in support of the advancement of the Board Experiment in June. • In July Council passed a resolution to create joint meetings between all boards and commissions that support the Sustainability Service Area two times a year focused on topics determined by steering committee and those recommendations will then be presented to City Council. • In December the planning group decided to use the TBLS as the selected topic and will then test in on a topic such as e-bikes with the plan to meet in February. 3. BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CRITERIA • In January Josh Birks presented on the current Business Assistance Criteria and process and facilitated small group discussions on the positive and negative impacts of population growth and the value of diverse economies. Economic Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 4 • ACTION: None 4. TRIPPLE BOTTOM LINE SCAN • In January Jackie Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer, Lucinda Smith, Director, Environmental Services, Victoria Shaw, Senior Financial Analyst, Sustainability Services, and Alyssa Johnson, Graduate Management Assistant presented an overview of the Tripple Bottom Line scan tool, which included: the history, objectives, potential metrics, process, and next steps. • In April, EAC reviewed the TBL Scan Tool and Business Criteria and discussed the potential of using the TBLS as a tool to evaluate Business Assistance Packages. • ACTION: Consensus was that while the tool can help inform Business Assistance Packages, additional analysis is still needed which includes cost benefit analysis. 5. NATIONAL BUSINESS SURVEY • In March, Josh Birks presented the results from the National Business Survey which confirmed the idea that the City has two customer bases: residents and businesses. • Survey results indicate there is room for improvement on communicating and engaging with the business community. • ACTION: None 6. EMPLOYMENT LAND ANALYSIS • In March, Matt Prosser, from EPS provided an informational presentation on Employment Land analysis and highlighted that employment is growing steadily. • Presentation highlighted the following economic issues and potential threats: affordability, workforce concerns (employment growth has been outnumbering the growth in workforce, labor force is not expected to grow at the same rate that job openings, ¼ of the labor force in Larimer County is 55 years or older), greater reliance of workforce living outside Fort Collins, and an increased competition from region. • An opportunity exists to promote the region and not just Fort Collins. • ACTION: None 7. MONTAVA PROJECT Economic Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 5 • In March, Matt Prosser, with EPS gave an overview of the Montava Project and the proposed zoning changes within the project. Highlighted emerging trends and mix-used redevelopment. • ACTION: None 8. BUDGET AND STRATEGIC PLAN OVERVIEW • In May Shannon Hein provided an informational overview of the draft budget offers and timeline. • In November, Josh Birks provided an update on the proposed budget. Seen significant decline in Use Tax and Sales tax has slowed. Flat to modest revenue growth, though have seen significant cost issues. The process included making modifications to the initial budget assumptions, identifying a stop doing list and making discretionary reductions. • ACTION: None 9. INNOVATE FORT COLLINS • In May Katy McLaren provided an informational presentation on Innovate Fort Collins which provides seed money for pilot projects and leverages community expertise and passion to assist Climate Action Goals. • ACTION: EAC was represented on the panel for pitch night in August. 10. SIGN CODE UPDATE • In June Noah Beals provided an informational presentation on the proposed Sign Code changes. • ACTION: In July, EAC submitted a memo to Council recommending approval of the sign code updates. 11. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES • In July Ginny Sawyer provided an overview presentation on the Art in Public Places/ Broadband & Underground Project Update and facilitated a discussion for feedback. • ACTION: EAC was in favor of having the 1 percent for Art in Public Places be applied Economic Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 6 to Broadband and Underground projects with the idea that how the money is spent and on what could be further explored and expanded and included EAC meeting minutes in the Council packet. 12. KFCG • In July Ginny Sawyer provided an Informational overview on the KFCG sunset. • ACTION: None 13. METRO DISTRICT POLICY • In August, Josh Birks provided an informational presentation on the Metro District Policy update. • ACTION: EAC unanimously passed a motion to support the new policy framework and direction as presented. 14. 100% RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY RESOLUTION • In September, Lindsay Ex, Tim McCollough and John Phelan gave a presentation on the 100% Renewal Electricity Resolution that covered the history and background, how the Triple Bottom Line perspective is being applied, what metrics are used, what the engagement process has looked like and what trends have been observed. • The draft resolution was presented and discussed. Staff also sought input from EAC. • ACTION: EAC submitted a memo to Council recommending the adoption of the community-wide 100% Renewable Electricity goal with the priority of maintaining reliability at the current level or higher and that all costs are considered during implementation. 15. CAPITAL EXPANSION FEE • In October, Jennifer Poznanovic provided informational presentation on the background, scope and timeline on the Capital Expansion Fee project, the proposed updates, and next steps. • ACTION: EAC submitted a memo to Council highlighting EAC’s support of the process and interest in more frequent coordinated review of Impact Fees. Economic Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 7 16. BUILDING ENERGY SCORES • In October, Kirk Longstein provided a presentation on Building Energy Scoring and the three components which include benchmarking, reporting, and transparency. • ACTION: EAC agreed to have the minutes included in the Nov. 20th Council packet. 17. COLLEGE AND DRAKE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN • In December, Josh Birks presented on the Urban Renewal Authority and the new proposed plan area at College and Drake. Urban Renewal is the revitalization of urban areas and the removal of economic impediments. • ACTION: None