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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Full - Legislative Review Committee - 09/25/2017 -City Manager’s Office City Hall 300 LaPorte Ave. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6505 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov.com Legislative Review Committee Agenda September 25, 2017 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Commons Conference Room, City Hall, 300 LaPorte Ave., Building A 1. Agenda Review (3 minutes) 2. Approval of minutes from August 8, 2017 Meeting (3 minutes) Attached: August 8 Minutes 3.Update on agenda and talking points for September 27-29 lobbying trip (10 minutes) 4. Initial thoughts and review of suggested Legislative Policy Agenda and Federal/State Priorities changes (25 minutes) Attached: Draft Policy Agenda and Priorities Documents 5. CML ask to pass resolution in support of reauthorizing Colorado Lottery Division/Great Outdoor Colorado (GOCO) (5 minutes) 6.Other business (15 minutes) Mayor suggested items: o Dream Coalition membership Attached: Email strand highlighting asks and policy stances of group o Ask to have Mayor be coauthor of Op-Ed related to EV infrastructure Attached: Suggested Op-Ed by Ben Prochazka Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes August 8, 2017 4:00 p.m. Commons Conference Room Councilmembers Present: Ken Summers, Ray Martinez, and Bob Overbeck Staff Present: Judy Schmidt, Jeanne Sanford, Ginny Sawyer, Jeff Mihelich, Tyler Marr, Alyssa Johnson, Carrie Daggett, Carol Webb, Wanda Winkelman, Delynn Coldiron, Eric Potyondy, Rita Knoll, Talisa Gula-Yeast The meeting came to order at 4:01 pm. Approval of Minutes LRC discussed that the July 11th minutes should be modified to reflect the vote on a moratorium. With modification, Martinez moved to approve minutes. Summers seconded. Minutes approved unanimously. Selection of Chair Councilmember Martinez nominated Councilmember Summers as chair. Councilmember Overbeck seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Summers is LRC chair. Potential State Legislative Efforts to Facilitate Water Sharing in the GMA Carol Webb presented to LRC on the Colorado water laws which limit the ability to use water outside of the service area. There is potential for legislation to allow water-sharing across the GMA. Background: The GMA is served by Fort Collins Utilities and other water districts (East Larimer County water district and Fort Collins Loveland water district). Dialogue began in 2014 or 2015 regarding the cost differences in development in those districts related to water supply, water development fees, and the differing service levels. o Regional Water Collaboration Committee formed out of that discussion which consists of 2 representatives from each district, 2 councilmembers, 2 members from both boards, and water managers from each entity. o They discuss common challenges they all face, including: (1) water conservation, (2) water supply and drought planning, (3) water supply and demand policy The Regional Water Collaboration Committee has been engaged in developing strategies and tactics to ensure that they have supplies to meet demand in GMA and in line with land-use policies. Water sharing agreements have been discussed, but Colorado water laws limit ability to use water outside of service area. Potential for legislation for water-sharing across the GMA where combined water portfolios could be utilized. Proposed legislation: This approach allows water sharing under certain circumstances without having to go to water court. This would be lowering one barrier to potential sharing, but wouldn’t mandate sharing. Additionally, IGAs would also be created. But this legislation would remove the one large legal barrier that would pave the way for the agreement(s) to be made. This legislation is only discussing municipal use with inter-connected systems and does not address the creation of reservoirs. The legislation does not have much to do with financing; it only deals with substantive issues of water rights. Next steps: Contact Representative Arndt. o Senator Sonnenberg and Rep Arndt carry and sponsor most of major water bills together. Staff and lobbyists will explore potential sponsors. Senator Kefalas may be a co-sponsor as well. Marr and Webb to work with lobbyists, special water districts, and legislators. Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the next steps on this. Councilmember Summers seconded the motion, was approved unanimously. Potential Medical Marijuana Related Ballot Initiative This ballot initiative was discussed at LRC to gather LRC’s perspective on the legislation at the state level and how it impacts our set of voter-approved measures. Wanda Winkelman described that voters approved an ordinance that is currently on the code. Any change to those rules will have to be by citizen vote. The proposed initiative would allow for Council to add new license types, but does not change the way that licenses currently operate. It essentially allows voters to grant Council some flexibility to make additions and changes to the code language to keep up with state law without superseding the statute that was enacted in 2012. Staff would bring all proposed changes to Council, but Council can reject changes. Councilmember Martinez expressed concern that this initiative is essentially asking voters if they are willing to give up their right to vote on certain aspects of the law concerning medical marijuana. Request was made for staff to research the impacts of the 2012 legislation to date, especially with recreational marijuana. A concern was expressed that we should be sure that recreational marijuana guidelines are in-line with medical. Councilmember Martinez advised to include language about asking voters if they want to limit themselves or if they want Council to have the right to make the decisions quicker. o Councilmember Overbeck agreed. Councilmember Summers made suggestion that this gets forwarded to LPT, was agreed to by others. Noted this was already on the August 15th Agenda. Update on Staff Approach to Small Cell Infrastructure Bill Two paths are being pursued related to regulation facilities: o (1) Change to land use and city codes. Process for receiving applications for these facilities in the right-of-way Aesthetic standards are being explored o (2) Staff continuing to pursue relationships with companies using master lease agreements. Staff has met with Verizon; Mobilitie will meet with staff later this week. Light structures outside of the right-of-way: o Sometimes small cells are permitted on buildings and we possess processes to address facilities being constructed on buildings. o We don’t currently have guidelines in place for companies constructing their own poles in rights-of-way Under state law, we have limited ability to say no to providers. We have some obligations to treat everyone equally and we are obligated to process things quickly and do them in big batches if a provider comes along and submits an application. As a show of good will, staff is maintaining ability for companies to install these facilities during the moratorium if they agree to a Master Lease Agreement with the City Potential topics and agency visits for September trip to Washington, D.C. September 27-29 is recommended based on congressional calendars and Council availability. Recommendations: o Department of Justice program for police orientations o FRA o USDA Jeff Steiner – former Agricultural Dean at CSU now working in research at USDA in D.C. o Water – relation to Halogen reservoir o Transportation and highway planning Suggestion to have ability to discuss talking points prior to trip. Other Business Policy agenda update: Marr and Sawyer will update that document for approval this fall – draft likely coming in September meetings LRC date change: Monday from 3-4 PM o Overall agreement among committee members to change date, staff will make the changes on the calendar Adjourned at 5:08 PM 2018 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA Adopted: 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPIC PAGE INTRODUCTION 3 FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE 4 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS 4 2016 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 5-12 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS 13-35 COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY 14-16 AFFORDABLE HOUSING 13 DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND INSPECTION 13 PLANNING AND LAND USE 14 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 14 URBAN AGRICULTURE 15 CULTURE AND RECREATION 17 CULTURAL SERVICES 17 PARKS AND RECREATION 17 ECONOMIC HEALTH 18-19 FINANCE 18 INVESTMENTS 18 PRIVATIZATION 19 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 19 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 20-25 AIR QUALITY 20 CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 21 NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN LANDS 21 OIL AND GAS 22 RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE 23 UTILITY SERVICES 23 ENERGY 24 WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 25 HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT 26-28 HOME RULE 26 HUMAN RESOURCES 26 RISK MANAGEMENT 27 SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY 28 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 28 SAFETY 29-31 FIRE PROTECTION 29 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT 29 MARIJUANA 30 MUNICIPAL COURT 31 PUBLIC SAFETY 31 TRANSPORTATION 33 TRANSPORTATION 33 3 CITY LEGISLATIVE STAFF 35-36 4 INTRODUCTION Fort Collins is a community of 161,000 residents. Incorporated in 1873, the City has grown to become the commercial, educational and cultural hub of Northern Colorado. The City adopted a home rule charter in 1954 and operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City is a data-driven municipal organization that strives to fulfill its mission, “Exceptional service for an exceptional community”, through a vision of providing world-class municipal services through operational excellence and a culture of innovation. City leaders seek innovative solutions to issues facing the community and are often willing to leverage emerging technologies. The Fort Collins City Council annually adopts a Legislative Priorities and Policy Agenda ahead of the upcoming Colorado general Assembly session for the purpose of guiding legislators and staff in supporting community goals. The Legislative Priorities are broad issues Fort Collins is focused on during the Colorado General Assembly and United States Congress sessions. The Priorities may carry over year to year since they are larger, more challenging issues that may take multi-year work to influence. The Policy Agenda is broad set of policy statements meant to convey positions on issues that affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. It is structured to address areas of local concern and to also reflect the strategic planning that guides City of Fort Collins organizational resource allocation and decision making. Fort Collins welcomes opportunities to work in partnership to leverage additional resources and participate in regional dialogue to achieve shared outcomes. The City has identified seven outcome areas to ensure appropriate and effective resource allocation supporting the community’s priorities. Outcome areas include Culture and Recreation; Economic Health; Environmental Health; High Performing Government; Neighborhood Livability and Social Health; Safe Community; and Transportation and Mobility. The Policy Agenda identifies this alignment as it is important for City staff to ensure that advocacy supports specific desired outcomes. 5 CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE The Legislative Review Committee (LRC) is a representative group of Council members that reviews and reacts to proposed legislation on behalf of City Council and the City. In taking a position on particular bills, the LRC interprets and applies the various policies that are included in the Legislative Policy Agenda. Council Members presently serving on the Legislative Review Committee are: Councilmember Ken Summers Councilmember Bob Overbeck Councilmember Ray Martinez LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS Bills introduced in the Colorado General Assembly, United States Congress and federal, state or county regulations or rulemakings are reviewed by City staff or the City’s contract lobbyist. Bills, regulations and rules that are identified as having a potential impact on the City will be brought to the LRC for discussion. If LRC adopts a position, staff and/or lobbyists will convey that information to the appropriate state or federal representative and advocate for the adopted position. Due to the time-sensitive nature of the General Assembly, if a bill’s subject matter is explicitly addressed in this Policy Agenda, staff will proactively work with state and federal representatives to advance the City’s position as expressed in this legislative policy agenda and other Council-adopted plans and policies, while updating the LRC until such time that LRC may take a position. Staff liaisons support the LRC by contributing expertise in various areas of municipal service. The City Attorney’s Office also reviews selected bills and may provide confidential legal analysis. The input offered by staff and the City’s attorneys is invaluable in analyzing impacts of legislative, regulatory and rulemaking proposals to Fort Collins operations and the community. Fort Collins also works with community partners to support local projects and staff collaborates with representatives of other municipalities on mutually-held priorities. Fort Collins actively seeks innovative partnerships to leverage positive outcomes for residents. The City works closely with the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and the National League of Cities (NLC) on many legislative items facing cities. Fort Collins maintains membership with Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) which represents 29 municipal utilities throughout the state on utility issues , Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) which represents municipalities on climate issues. In addition, Fort Collins actively participates in various trade organizations which represent specific areas of interest to City operations. In 2018, Fort Collins will partner again with Bowditch and Cassell to maintain a fulltime presence at the state capitol. 6 7 2018 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS HOME RULE AND LOCAL CONTROL In order to consider and manage local conditions and desires, community issues and needs should be addressed locally. For this reason, home rule authority is of utmost importance to the City of Fort Collins. The City must be free to regulate local activities that primarily impact the area within the City's boundaries, such as the speed of local traffic or the effects of particular land use developments. The City also understands the cumulative effect of these and other activities ha ve statewide ramifications that may call for statewide regulation, to effectively manage such things as overall growth and development in the state, traffic congestion in major transportation corridors and environmental quality. Therefore, the City: 1. Supports strengthening and preserving home rule authority of municipal governments 2. Opposes State or Federal intervention in matters of local concern or matters that unnecessarily or adversely affect the City’s ability to manage and operate pursuant to its home rule authority. 3. Opposes changes that increase (and support changes that lessen) the burdens on municipalities associated with public or other government records, establishment of ethics standards and procedures, operation of municipal courts, and other matters of municipal operations or authority. 4. Supports enabling cities to choose the provision of services through private enterprise in a manner that fosters cost effective, sustainable, quality services. 5. Supports local control of the awarding of contracts and the accountability of local officials for those actions. 6. Opposes mandates that increase the complexity and cost of services without improving those services. AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY AND SOCIAL HEALTH The City recognizes that the affordability and availability of decent housing is critical to a vibrant and diverse community. Therefore, the City: 8 1. Supports maintaining or enhancing current levels of funding for affordable housing throughout Colorado, including expanding the State Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. 2. Supports increasing local government’s ability to regulate, manage or generate alternative sources of funding for affordable housing, including public-private partnerships. 3. Supports stronger amendments to construction defect laws to promote the construction of owner occupied-attached housing. 4. Supports creating an adequate supply of housing for all income levels and continued public and private sector support for these efforts AIR QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The City’s Air Quality Plan establishes a strong overall goal to “continually improve Fort Collins air quality.” Therefore, the City: 1. Supports programs and policies that improve public health and air quality, and support rapid attainment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, including ozone. 2. Supports local government authority to improve air quality beyond minimum State or Federal requirements. 3. Supports adequate authority and resource at all levels of government to enforce air quality regulations. 4. Supports economic incentives, disincentives and other market approaches that promote lower emissions, and fewer carbon-based fuels and related infrastructure. 5. Supports strengthening standards for tailpipe emissions, aggregate vehicle emissions and/or fuel economy for all vehicles. Supports programs and policies that promote the use of electric vehicles and the development of infrastructure needed to support the use of those vehicles. BEER AND LIQUOR SAFE COMMUNITY The City issues and renews liquor licenses, enforces license rules, and holds hearings for liquor license violations. 9 Therefore, the City: 1. Supports clarifying the qualifications for what types and purposes a business may obtain and use a state liquor license. 2. Supports definition of a “meal” when calculating the percentage of meals served for a liquor license. BROADBAND AND CABLE ECONOMIC HEALTH Reliable, high-speed, and affordable access to broadband and cable programming throughout the community remains a priority and a long-term goal for the City to ensure our economic vitality and allow for equal access for all residents and businesses. Therefore, the City: 1. Supports maintaining local franchising authority to preserve local governments’ ability to negotiate in the public interest for cable channel space, institutional networks and public education and government programming. 2. Supports allowing communities to offer and/or partner to offer high speed internet, Wi-Fi and other enhanced telecommunication services to residents, schools, academic institutions and businesses. 3. Opposes restrictions on providing telecommunication services within City- owned facilities and on City property. 4. Opposes infringement on municipalities’ ability to compete in the broadband marketplace. 5. Opposes right of way use contrary to existing aesthetic policies and practices, including the addition of any above ground cabling. CLIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Making communities more resilient to disaster and the effects of a changing climate has become more important to Colorado communities over the last several years as natural disasters have caused significant human and property loss. Fort Collins has adopted aggressive emission reduction goals and supports policies and legislation helping communities and the state to achieve these goals and enhance the environment as detailed in the Climate Action Plan. Therefore the City: 10 1.Supports greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, planning, and implementation at all levels of government. 2.Supports market-based mechanisms to reduce emissions, including incentives, enabling legislation, and other mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions and increase resiliency in energy, waste reduction, transportation, and water sectors. 3.Supports protection of the Colorado self-audit law. 4.Supports reducing the emission of criteria pollutants. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND LAND USE PLANNING ECONOMIC HEALTH, NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY AND SOCIAL HEALTH Fort Collins has a well-established development review process, land use and building code; all of which align with local priorities. Therefore, the City: 1.Supports financially compensation for additional work of inspectors through fees or other means. 2.Opposes additional mandated inspection work. 3.Supports local governments’ authority to determine development review and inspection timelines. 4.Encourages regional cooperation in land use and transportation planning, and foster sustainable development. 5.Supports prohibition to the annexation of land that is located within the boundaries of a Growth Management Area that was legally established by an intergovernmental agreement between a municipality and a county by any municipality not a party to the agreement. 6.Supports municipal discretion concerning the imposition of development fees and requirements. ELECTIONS HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT 11 ENERGY ECONOMIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH As a municipally-owned electric utility, the City is committed to providing affordable, reliable, and clean energy services to residents and businesses, as detailed in the Energy Policy. Therefore, the City: 1. Supports all efforts that promote energy affordability, safety, and reductions in fossil-fuel generated consumption for residents, businesses and institutions 2. Supports reductions in environmental damage caused by energy extraction and production. 3. Supports opportunities for energy efficiency, production, and operation in local economies. 4. Opposes barriers to coordinating integrated planning for energy supply and demands. 5. Supports state and federal funding for resilience efforts to mitigate potential energy and climate related disruptions. 6. Supports federal and state incentives for renewable energy production, including wind power, and provide for “State Implementation Plan” credits for renewable energy (excluding residential wood burning and corn -based ethanol) and energy efficiency. 7. Opposes attempts to prevent or inhibit provision of municipal electric service in newly annexed areas. 8. Supports smart grid technology adoption and grid modernization. FINANCE HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT Strong fiscal planning, prudent debt management and investment policies, and preservation of the City’s revenue base are vital in maintaining and improving the City’s financial health. Considering the known impacts of legislation on the City’s business community can help foster a stronger tax base and retain a strong quality of life. 12 Therefore, the City: 1.Supports expanding municipal authority to establish alternative funding mechanisms, including financing tools such as public improvement fees (PIF) and certificates of participation (COP). 2.Supports increased funding for K-12 and higher education, specifically Colorado State University and Front Range Community College. 3.Encourages the equitable treatment of sales and use taxes to residents and corporations residing or doing business in Colorado by limiting exemptions. 4.Supports the equitable distribution sales tax collections on e-commerce transactions. 5.Opposes efforts that inhibit the City’s ability to increase its revenue base (sales, use and property taxes). 6.Supports protections that do not unnecessarily restrict the investments of government entities. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SAFE COMMUNITY; ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH It is an important concern of the City to safeguard Fort Collins’ health and environmental safety by reducing risks from the unauthorized release of hazardous materials or hazardous waste. Therefore, the City: 1.Supports strengthening the enforcement of hazardous materials regulations. 2.Supports increasing diversion of hazardous waste from landfills. 3.Supports greater flexibility and more options for local government in the management of publicly-owned areas thought to have asbestos-containing soils while maintaining responsible site management practices. 4.Support City’s ability to review and approve locations of facilities that use or store hazardous materials or hazardous waste. HOMELESSNESS NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY AND SOCIAL HEALTH Homelessness and transient populations are persistent challenges in Fort Collins and other communities. Fort Collins works to address homelessness through 13 partnering and supporting many community service providers and has a goal of making homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring. The resource resistant populations are those that occupy public spaces and are not interested in housing or other community services offered. In this arena, the City supports efforts to address public safety concerns, enforce existing local laws, and maintain a welcoming environment for all. Therefore, the City: 1.Opposes efforts to undermine local control or enforcement of activities on public property. 2.Supports maintaining or increasing the funds available through the state and federal government for community-focused non-profits to provide human services and housing support. 3.Supports providing communities with resources to address chronic homelessness, supportive housing, mental health, and substance abuse. 4.Supports a standardized statewide approach to addressing homelessness. HUMAN RESOURCES HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT The City of Fort Collins is committed to the health, safety and well-being of its employees. The City works diligently to be efficient and responsible stewards of tax dollars ensuring that employee compensation and benefits are fair, market- based, and competitive. The City believes that its citizens, through their elected representatives on City Council, are in the best position to determine appropriate City employee compensation, benefits, appeal rights related to disciplinary action and policies. Therefore, the City: 1.Supports the City’s ability to make decisions on employment issues, including collective bargaining, arbitration, compensation, appeal rights related to disciplinary action and benefits to further an equitable work environment. 2.Supports expansion to the City’s ability to determine how best to manage health, welfare and wellness services for employees. 3.Supports current state funding levels for police officer death and disability benefits. 14 4.Opposes proposals that would allow employees and/or retirees with defined contribution plans to move into defined benefit plans if there is a cost to local government. 5.Opposes proposals that would limit the City’s ability to test job applicants or employees at work for impairment due to consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or other controlled substances or to set limits related to such testing. MARIJUANA SAFE COMMUNITY Colorado voters have approved legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. The City of Fort Collins has a licensing program that supports the state dual- licensing system for medical and recreational marijuana businesses. Therefore, the City: 1.Supports aligning federal marijuana law with the Colorado Constitution. 2.Supports communities’ ability to raise necessary funds to maintain public safety and enforce marijuana possession laws. 3.Opposes under-21 access to marijuana. 4.Supports additional state marijuana enforcement resources, especially for field enforcement. MUNICIPAL COURT SAFE COMMUNITY; HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT The Fort Collins Municipal Court is responsible for administering the operations of the judicial branch of City government according to the ordinances adopted by City Council. Cases adjudicated in Municipal Court include traffic violations, misdemeanors, and civil infractions. Generally, cases are brought to Municipal Court by the Fort Collins Police Services, Colorado State University Police Department, Animal Control, other City departments, and private residents. Therefore, the City: 1.Opposes limitations on the authority of municipalities to enforce their own ordinances in municipal courts. 2.Opposes imposition of state surcharges on municipal court fines for the purpose of funding state programs. OIL AND GAS 15 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Oil and gas extraction activity and associated health and environmental impacts are a concern for Fort Collins. . Fort Collins residents have expressed continuing concern about the human and environmental health impacts from oil and gas operations, particularly from the hydraulic fracturing treatment used on most Colorado wells. In November 2013, voters approved a five-year moratorium on oil and gas extraction in order to study its property value and human health impacts but this was overturned by the State Supreme Court in 2016. Additionally, transported emissions from oil and gas operations outside of City limits have been demonstrated to contribute to ozone formation. Therefore, the City: 1.Supports greater local authority to regulate oil and gas exploration activities within municipal boundaries, including ability to inspect sites, ensure operator compliance, and regulate location of extraction, storage and transmission activities. 2.Supports state, federal, and academic studies evaluating impacts of oil and gas operations on human health and property values. 3.Supports air pollution monitoring, emission characterization and modeling studies to better understand the contributions of the oil and gas industry to air pollution. 4.Supports the current formula allocation of severance tax to impacted jurisdictions so that they might address impacts from resource extraction. 5.Supports industry information sharing and collaboration with local governments on the planned development of resources within communities’ Growth Management Areas. OPEN RECORDS AND DATA MANAGEMENT HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH; CULTURE AND RECREATION The City is committed to providing the community with excellent parks and recreation services and facilities. Our citizens enjoy a better quality of life, improved health, less crime and a greater sense of community because of our quality parks and recreation programs. 16 Therefore, the City: 1.Supports maintaining or enhancing funding for parks, trails, forestry, horticulture and recreation services and facilities. 2.Supports local discretion to use Great Outdoors Colorado and other sources for funding municipal government projects addressing local needs and priorities. 3.Supports equal or greater funding levels of Great Outdoors Colorado grants awarded to municipalities 4.Supports maintaining or enhancing tax incentives to private landowners for voluntary land conservation. 5.Supports additional funding for conservation programs, including reinstating Colorado Parks and Wildlife license fees to at least 2005 levels. 6.Supports protection of the Cache la Poudre River and local urban streams. PUBLIC SAFETY SAFE COMMUNITY The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining public safety, providing a safe environment, and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Fort Collins on a daily basis as well as through preparedness and resilency planning efforts.. Therefore, the City: 1.Supports greater protections to victims of crime. 2.Supports the City’s right to use camera enforcement of traffic laws, reduce operational restrictions on the use of camera enforcement, and increases the fines associated with violations. 3.Supports protocols and funding for shared, statewide emergency response communications, including supporting Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority (LETA) and other efforts to resolve the 911 redundancy issue. 4.Opposes initiatives that have the potential to compromise officer safety. 5.Supports minimum training criteria and professional mediator certification that formally legitimizes the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). 6.Supports maintenance of a statewide database of concealed weapons permits. 17 7.Opposes municipal liability for prisoners’ self-inflicted wounds while in police custody or detention facilities. 8.Supports a state fire code, the code of choice being the International Building and Fire Code, and allowing municipalities to adopt their own amendments. 9.Opposes limits to local enforcement of the International Fire Code as adopted with local amendments, imposing inspection requirements or preventing collection of permit or inspection fees as required by the local jurisdiction. 10. Opposes restricting any local jurisdiction from requiring the installation of fire sprinklers. 11. Supports the City’s ability to prohibit the use and sale of fireworks and allow counties and fire districts to prohibit and otherwise control fireworks within City boundaries 12. Supports efforts to reduce abuse and improper disposal of prescription drugs. 13. Supports exclusive digital communication networks for public safety personnel during emergencies. RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE REDUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The City of Fort Collins endorses a multi-pronged approach to waste minimization that includes recycling, re-use, composting, and source reduction, and which also applies Sustainable Materials Management principles such as redesigning systems to reduce pollution and waste. Additionally, the City has adopted a goal of diverting 75 percent of community waste by 2020; 90 percent by 2025, and 100 percent by 2030. Therefore, the City: 1.Encourages integrated waste management planning and implementation, including but not limited to the creation of a state waste diversion goal. 2.Supports a regulatory authority role for local government to ensure the efficient management of recyclable material and solid waste. 3.Encourages “buy recycled” or “environmentally preferable purchasing” policies for government agency procurement. 4.Supports incentives and funding for programs that promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling, and development of related infrastructure. 18 5.Supports continued or increased funding for programs to collect and monitor data on trash volumes, rates of diversion from landfill disposal and economic impacts of recycling. 6.Supports greater producer responsibility initiatives, such as “take back” regulations that assist consumers to appropriately recycle packaging materials or certain products (e.g., electronic equipment or mattresses) 7.Opposes CRS Section 25-17-104, which currently limits local authority to regulate packaging materials (e.g., single-use plastic bags). 8.Supports establishing deposit fee on beverage containers and that would be used to pay for recycling programs. RISK MANAGEMENT AND LIABILITY HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT The City of Fort Collins recognizes the dual purpose of the workers’ compensation system – providing benefits promptly to injured employees in a cost-effective manner and minimizing costly litigation. Council also recognizes that the City’s self-insurance program is a cost-efficient method to insure workers’ compensation and that government intervention or taxation can negatively impact the City. Therefore, the City: 1.Supports improving administrative efficiency of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. 2.Opposes increased insurance premium costs to employers. 3.Opposes administrative burdens or taxes to self-insurance programs. 4.Supports limits to insurance claim litigation. 5.Opposes limiting the City’s options and ability to manage workers’ compensation claims; including actions like removing existing off-sets to workers’ compensation benefits or limiting the City’s ability to designate treating physicians. 6.Opposes efforts to presumptively expand workers’ compensation coverage to illnesses or injuries that are not work related. TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY 19 The City actively promotes the safety and ease of traveling to, from and throughout the community using a variety of modes of transportation. Additionally, the City’s policy is to encourage the use of alternative transportation whenever appropriate. Therefore, the City: 1.Opposes reductions to the present allocation formula of 60 percent state, 22 percent counties, and 18 percent municipalities for Highway User Tax Fund (HUTF) or any appropriations from the state using the same formula. 2.Supports alternative methods of funding transportation infrastructure needs. 3.Support funding the analysis and implementation of inter- and intra-regional transit linkages, including future commuter rail connectivity. 4.Encourages flexibility in federal funding and regulations in order to better meet the needs of small to medium-size communities. 5.Supports guaranteed levels of federal funding for transportation and allocation of all federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust funds for their intended transportation purposes. 6.Supports broadening the definition of the gasoline tax to a “fuel tax” that encompasses other fuel options as they become more prevalent. 7.Supports enhanced ability to implement railroad quiet zones in municipalities and a reduction in train horn decibel and duration requirements. 8.Opposes divesting highway roads in urban areas from the state and making them the sole responsibility of local jurisdictions. 9.Supports safe operation of railroads through timely track inspections, joint training and communication between railroad and emergency personnel, and the use of safe equipment. 10. Supports funding for the build out of Interstate 25 improvements, which may include a ballot measure. 11. Opposes reductions in federal dollars for alternate travel modes. URBAN RENEWAL AND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC HEALTH The state of Colorado has empowered local authorities to use Urban Renewal Authorities to encourage revitalization and the elimination of blight. The main funding tool for URA is Tax Increment Financing (TIF) generated through property taxes. In its best intention, 20 urban renewal restores economic vitality and improves the safety of a designated area , with limited financial impact to other government jurisdictions Therefore, the City: 1. Opposes limitations on municipalities’ ability to utilize financing mechanisms such as TIF or Metro Districts. 2. Opposes efforts to allow non-City jurisdictions to have influence over the use of TIF within City limits 3. Supports maintaining the ability of downtown development authorities to utilize urban renewal tools. WATER, WASTEWATER, AND STORMWATER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH; SAFE COMMUNITY The City operates a water, wastewater, and stormwater utility in a financially sound, reliable, safe, and environmentally acceptable manner. The availability of water supplies is critical to this mission and is managed by both the Water Demand and Supply Policy, and the Water Efficiency Plan. Therefore, the City: 1. Supports expanding the authority delegated to the state to administer federally mandated water, stormwater and wastewater environmental regulatory programs . 2. Supports reasonable water quality regulations that are cost effective and can show identifiable benefits. 3. Supports municipal flexibility to manage in-stream flows to preserve or improve the natural environment of the stream while protecting the integrity of Colorado’s appropriation doctrine and City water supply. 4. Opposes unfunded mandates 5. Opposes barriers to financing for water conservation projects. 6. Supports funding for the recovery and treatment of the Cache la Poudre and other waterways impacted by natural disasters. 7. Supports enhanced municipal authority to protect and increase the flexibility and resiliency of its water supply under Colorado’s appropriation doctrine without adversely affecting in-stream flows or the natural environment of the stream. 8. Supports streamlining federal and state permitting requirements for water development projects that increase coordination between permitting agencies, reduces administrative and financial burdens on permit applicants, and ensures robust and enforceable environmental protections. 21 9.Supports the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir as a common-sense, cost-effective, and environmentally beneficial approach to meet Fort Collins’ future water supply needs. 22 CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS Legislative Review Committee Name District/Title Email Phone Councilmember Ken Summers District 3 ksummers@fcgov.com (970) 221-6878 Councilmember Bob Overbeck District 1 boverbeck@fcgov.com (970) 221-6917 Councilmember Ray Martinez District 2 raymartinez@fcgov.com (970) 690 3686 Wendy Williams Assistant City Manager wwilliams@fcgov.com (970) 416-2899 Carrie Daggett City Attorney cdaggett@fcgov.com (970) 416-2463 Ginny Sawyer Tyler Marr Legislative Staff gsawyer@fcgov.com tmarr@fcgov.com (970) 224-6094 (970) 416-4205 Legislative Staff Liaison Members Topic Area Name Title Email Phone Affordable Housing and Social Sustainability Beth Sowder Social Sustainability Director bsowder@fcgov.com (970) 221-6752 Air Quality Cassie Archuleta Environmental Program Manager carchuleta@fcgov.com Cable Television Franchise Carson Hamlin Cable Television Manager chamlin@fcgov.com (970) 221-6510 Climate Lindsay Ex Environmental Program Manager lex@fcgov.com (970)224-6143 Environmental Protection Lucinda Smith Environmental Services Director lsmith@fcgov.com (970) 224-6085 Elections, Liquor and Marijuana Licensing Delynn Coldiron Interim City Clerk dcoldiron@fcgov.com (970) 416-2995 Cultural Services, Parks and Recreation Mike Calhoon Director of Parks mcalhoon@fcgov.com (970) 416-2079 Energy Tim McCollough John Phelan Light and Power Operations Manager Resource Conservation Manager tmccollough@fcgov.com jphelan@fcgov.com (970) 416-2622 (970) 416-2539 Finance Mike Beckstead Chief Financial Officer mbeckstead@fcgov.com (970) 221-6795 Economic Health Josh Birks Economic Health Director jbirks@fcgov.com (970) 221-6324 Fire Protection and Hazardous Bob Poncelow Division Chief, Poudre Fire Authority bponcelow@poudre- fire.org (970) 416-2871 23 Materials Mgmt Legislative Staff Liaison Members Human Resources Janet Miller Assistant Human Resources Director jamiller@fcgov.com (970) 221-6826 Legal Carrie Daggett City Attorney cdaggett@fcgov.com (970) 416-2463 Natural Areas, Open Lands and Cache la Poudre River Issues John Stokes Natural Resources Director jstokes@fcgov.com (970) 221-6263 Building Services Russ Hovland Chief Building Official rhovland@fcgov.com (970) 416-2341 Planning and Land Use Tom Leeson Community Development and Neighborhood Services Director tleeson@fcgov.com (970) 221-6287 Public Safety Greg Yeager Deputy Chief dyeager@fcgov.com (970) 416-2185 Recycling and Solid Waste Susie Gordon Environmental Program Manager sgordon@fcgov.com (970) 221-6265 Risk Management Kelly Bernish Safety, Security, and Risk Management Director kbernish@fcgov.com (970) 221-6774 Stormwater Ken Sampley Water Systems Engineering Manager ksampley@fcgov.com (970) 224-6021 Transportation Mark Jackson Planning, Development and Transportation Deputy Director mjackson@fcgov.com (970) 416-2029 Utilities Customer Service Lisa Rosintoski Utility Customer Connections Manager lrosintoski@fcgov.com (970) 416-2432 Water Supply and Quality Carol Webb Water Resource and Treatment Operations Manager cwebb@fcgov.com (970) 221-6231 Federal Priorities The Fort Collins City Council annually adopts Legislative Priorities and a Legislative Policy Agenda ahead of the upcoming United States Congress session for the purpose of guiding legislators and staff in supporting community goals. The City’s Legislative Priorities are broad issues Fort Collins is focused on during the Congressional session. The Priorities may carry over year to year since they are larger, more challenging issues that may take multi-year work to influence. The Legislative Review Committee (LRC) is a representative group of Council members that reviews and reacts to proposed legislation on behalf of City Council and the City. In taking a position on particular bills, the LRC interprets and applies the various policies that are included in the Legislative Policy Agenda. Council Members presently serving on the Legislative Review Committee are: Councilmember Ken Summers, Chair Councilmember Ray Martinez Councilmember Bob Overbeck Bills are reviewed by City staff. Bills, regulation and rules addressing a stated legislative priority, or adopted policy position, may be brought to the LRC for discussion of an official City position. Once a position is adopted on a bill, staff conveys that information to the appropriate state representative and advocates for the City’s adopted position. The City works closely with the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and the National League of Cities (NLC) on many legislative items facing cities. Objective: Advocate solutions to nuisance and safety issues related to railroad proximity Issue: Communities throughout the United States are wrestling with issues related to railroad proximity including blockages of community intersections, transport of hazardous materials, train horn noise, and transparency related to rail cargo and train switching. These issues impact quality of life for residents and businesses and can pose true safety hazards. Fort Collins has two active railroad corridors and three rail companies servicing the community. Trains have regained preference for transporting goods and materials. The increased use of rail has added pressure to the system and increased safety and nuisance concerns. Fort Collins has worked with the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and National League of Cities (NLC), to raise the profile of these rail proximity issues and has fostered relationships with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Great Western Railway (GWR) and Union Pacific (UP) railroad companies. The City has also cultivated a relationship with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). As communities work to, and are encouraged to, bring residents closer to transit lines so that they can use mass transportation, and so that downtown revitalization can occur, the rail proximity issues need to be addressed in new and more innovative ways. The FRA train horn rule is a prime example as it is currently discouraging the development community and residents from locating around transit. Reform is needed. Fort Collins is actively seeking national level assistance in our efforts to: Engage with railroad companies Develop a “proximity issues” dialogue between railroad and local governments on a broad suite of topics Obtain notifications about hazardous material shipments passing through communities Ensure track maintenance and train car safety Collaborate with railroads to train local emergency personnel Develop solutions, technology and innovations to improve conflict areas Improve existing federal regulations to identify reasonable safety protections Objective: Participate in federal efforts to foster resilient communities and achieve Climate Action Plan goals Issue: Making communities more resilient to disaster and the effects of a changing climate has become more important to Colorado communities over the last several years as natural disasters have caused significant human and property loss. Making Fort Collins and Northern Colorado more resilient involves providing decision- makers hazard mitigation analysis and scientific data and using that information to effectively invest resources. Our experience has shown that resilience must be a regional effort that pays off through coordinated advanced planning and investment. Resiliency efforts impact a broad set of critical services including: Land use Utility operations Transportation infrastructure Health & Safety Emergency Response Disaster recovery Fort Collins has adopted aggressive emission reduction goals and supports policies and legislation that help to achieve these goals, gather scientific data related to the goals and investments in infrastructure to ensure a clean energy future. Objective: Support transportation infrastructure connectivity with an emphasis on funding an integrated, multi-modal system Issue: Funding for vital transportation infrastructure will continue to be a high priority for the City of Fort Collins. Transportation infrastructure is a critical element to supporting community and regional economic health, safety and quality of life. The City supports Congress’s recent long-term reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation law with a focus on transit, livable community planning, comprehensive regional investments, revitalization of existing infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and approaches that decrease petroleum consumption and reduce carbon pollution. We strongly support preservation or increase of federal levels of funding and allocation of all federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust funds for their intended purposes. In addition, we urge development of a new, more stable, long range transportation funding mechanism that doesn’t rely upon fuel tax revenues. Fuel tax is no longer a sustainable method of funding the nation’s transportation infrastructure needs. If there is no way to raise/index the fuel tax to reflect current economic realities, then new funding mechanisms must be identified. Fort Collins seeks a solution to secure critical funding of the nation’s highway and bridge projects. Allowing the Highway Trust Fund to become insolvent would be devastating to the City’s transportation infrastructure and have impacts throughout the Northern Colorado economy. A key transportation funding priority for Fort Collins is Interstate 25 (I-25) in Northern Colorado. The highway has become a pinch point in the regional transportation inventory that limits access to and from Fort Collins for residents, visitors, and the delivery of goods and services. Immediate funding to widen north I-25 is needed to sustain the region’s economic growth. The City is an active part of the I-25 Coalition whose primary goal is to accelerate construction of a third lane in each direction of I-25 as identified in the I-25 North Project (from State Highway 6 to State Highway 14). Colorado Department of Transportation recently received $15 million in TIGER grant funding for I-25 improvements. This, in combination with $25 million in local match commitments and private sector funds, as well as other scheduled funds for improvements, has accelerated improvements in Northern Colorado by fifteen years. Improvements include a third, managed (toll) lane in each direction plus three bridge improvements and regional bicycle trail connections and are scheduled to be completed in 2020. Improvements will be between SH-14 and SH-402. While these are critical improvements for Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, sizeable funding gaps remain in terms of needed I-25 improvements between SH-402 and SH-66. Actions that may expedite the continued improvement and expansion of northern sections of I-25 include: A Transportation Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANS) bond II ballot initiative (TRANS bonds were previously used to help fund the $1.67 billion T-REX I-25 improvements in the south Denver Metro area) State of Colorado General Fund dollars going to transportation (maintenance & capital construction) Tax credit legislation for specific highway projects Objective: Support the innovation economy (turn to narrative) Issue: Innovation is a key attribute of the City organization and is also important to the community. Fort Collins has numerous drivers of innovation, intellectual property and inventions with an educated resident base, Colorado State University, federal research labs, and a long list of innovative companies. As a result, Fort Collins has a culture and support system that nurtures an innovation economy with the City often serving as a living laboratory for ideas and new technologies. The City will maintain and enhance its innovation economy through: Supporting efforts to simplify the commercialization of intellectual property Efforts to increase the available capital to support innovation and new business formation Efforts that support the spin-off and development of intellectual property from research institutes, private business, and higher education Efforts to encourage the retention of new and innovative businesses in the community Supporting business incubation, primarily through the commercialization of intellectual property, with strong partnerships Application of innovative technologies and approaches to improve City programs and services Remote Tower Federal Housing /Community Development Preserve and enhance existing dollars Water Halligan/storage, State Priorities The Fort Collins City Council annually adopts Legislative Priorities and a Legislative Policy Agenda ahead of the upcoming Colorado general Assembly session for the purpose of guiding legislators and staff in supporting community goals. The City’s Legislative Priorities are broad issues Fort Collins is focused on during the Colorado General Assembly session. The Priorities may carry over year to year since they are larger, more challenging issues that may take multi-year work to influence. The Legislative Review Committee (LRC) is a representative group of Council members that reviews and reacts to proposed legislation on behalf of City Council and the City. In taki ng a position on particular bills, the LRC interprets and applies the various policies that are included in the Legislative Policy Agenda. Council Members presently serving on the Legislative Review Committee are: Councilmember Ken Summers, Chair Councilmember Ray Martinez Councilmember Bob Overbeck Bills introduced in the Colorado General Assembly are reviewed by City staff. Bills, regulation and rules addressing a stated legislative priority, or adopted policy position, may be brought to the LRC for discussion of an official City position. Once a position is adopted on a bill, staff conveys that information to the appropriate state representative and advocates for the City’s adopted position. The City works closely with the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and the National League of Cities (NLC) on many legislative items facing cities. Fort Collins also works with Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) which represents 29 municipal utilities throughout the state on utility issues. In addition, Fort Collins actively participates in the Colorado Water Congress State Affairs Committee to address water-related issues. Objective: Support local control of oil and gas operations Issue: Fort Collins, like many other Colorado communities, has taken steps to address oil and gas extraction. Those efforts have been limited by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) rules. Fort Collins supports studying and better understanding and mitigating the health and community impacts of oil and gas extraction. Fort Collins seeks the following: Increased local flexibility to regulate oil and gas activity within its incorporated borders Limiting the proximity of large-scale oil and gas sites to the City limits in order to minimize community impacts Mitigation measures that balance developing oil and gas resources with community environmental and human health Additional information about the chemicals being injected into the ground, especially during hydraulic fracturing Greater knowledge and control of air emissions from extraction processes and production equipment; including air emissions transported from outside of our community Enhanced right for communities to regulate oil and gas as an industrial practice and therefore apply local zoning practices to operators Better balance between surface land ownership and mineral right ownership Objective: Participate in federal, state and regional efforts to foster resilient communities and achieve Climate Action Plan goals Issue: Making communities more resilient to disaster and the effects of a changing climate has become more important to Colorado communities over the last several years as natural disasters have caused significant human and property loss. Making Fort Collins and Northern Colorado more resilient involves providing decision- makers hazard mitigation analysis and scientific data to inform effective investment in complementary infrastructure systems. Resilience must be a regional effort that pays off through coordinated advanced planning and investment. Resiliency efforts impact a broad set of critical services including: Land use Utility operations Transportation infrastructure Health & Safety Emergency Response Disaster recovery Fort Collins has adopted aggressive emission reduction goals and supports policies and legislation that help achieve these goals, gather scientific data and investments in needed infrastructure to ensure a clean energy future. Achieving Climate Action Plan goals may be assisted and promoted through legislative and regulatory actions and through enhanced partnership with communities that have adopted similarly aggressive climate action and adaptation goals. The City is partnering with Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) to advocate for these efforts at a state level. Action in the transportation and energy sectors will be important drivers for reducing emissions and achieving both the Climate Action Plan and resilience goals. The City acknowledges these partnerships and interdependence, and the role that state legislation can, and should, play in applying broad measures such as setting a state waste diversion goal and helping to support related strategies, which could also serve to reduce carbon emissions and create opportunities for waste-to-energy applications when ultra- low pollution conversion technology is used. Objective: Support transportation infrastructure connectivity with an emphasis on funding an integrated, multi-modal system Issue: Funding for vital transportation infrastructure will continue to be a high priority for the City of Fort Collins. Transportation infrastructure is a critical element to supporting community and regional economic health, safety and quality of life. The City supports Congress’s recent long-term reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation law with a focus on transit, livable community planning, comprehensive regional investments, revitalization of existing infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and approaches that decrease petroleum consumption and reduce carbon pollution. We strongly support preservation or increase of federal levels of funding and allocation of all federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust funds for their intended purposes. In addition, we urge development of a new, more stable, long range transportation funding mechanism that doesn’t rely upon fuel tax revenues. Fuel tax is no longer a sustainable method of funding the nation’s transportation infrastructure needs. . If there is no way to raise/index the fuel tax to reflect current economic realities, then new funding mechanisms become critically important. Fort Collins seeks a solution to secure critical funding of the nation’s highway and bridge projects. Allowing the Highway Trust Fund to become insolvent would be devastating to the City’s transportation infrastructure and have impacts throughout the Northern Colorado economy. A key transportation funding priority for Fort Collins is Interstate 25 (I-25) in Northern Colorado. The highway has become a pinch point in the regional transportation inventory that limits access to and from Fort Collins for residents, visitors, and the delivery of goods and services. Immediate funding to widen north I-25 is needed to sustain the region’s economic growth. The City is an active part of the I-25 Coalition whose primary goal is to accelerate construction of a third lane in each direction of I-25 as identified in the I-25 North Project (from State Highway 6 to State Highway 14). PR I O R I T I E S Colorado Department of Transportation recently received $15 million in TIGER grant funding for I-25 improvements. This, in combination with $25 million in local match commitments and private sector funds, as well as other scheduled funds for improvements, have accelerated improvements in Northern Colorado by fifteen years. Improvements include a third, managed (toll) lane in each direction plus three bridge improvements and regional bicycle trail connections and are scheduled to be completed in 2020. Improvements will be between SH-14 and SH-402. While these are critical improvements for Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, sizeable funding gaps remain in terms of needed I-25 improvements between SH-402 and SH-66. Actions that may expedite the continued improvement and expansion of northern sections of I-25 include: A Transportation Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANS) bond II ballot initiative (TRANS bonds were previously used to help fund the $1.67 billion T-REX I-25 improvements in the south Denver Metro area) State of Colorado General Fund dollars going to transportation (maintenance & capital construction) Tax credit legislation for specific highway projects Objective: Support comprehensive water resource management Issue: Water resources in Colorado and throughout the West are stressed by many factors – environmental, population growth and aging infrastructure. Local water resource planning efforts ensure adequate supply to residents through managing the City’s water rights portfolio, encouraging increased efficiency and expanding storage. Fort Collins will support efforts to address local and regional water needs, preserve its water rights portfolio, and to encourage conservation of water resources based on the 2016 adoption of the Water Efficiency Plan. The conservation of water resources extends to support for Cache la Poudre River restoration projects. Fort Collins will participate in implementation of the Colorado Water Plan by the Legislature and any State agencies, rulemakings by water-related State agencies (such as, by way of example, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Division of Water Resources, the Colorado Water Conservation Board), and the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ and Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rulemakings affecting water storage, use, quality and conservation. Objective: Support a comprehensive approach to reduce the impacts of poverty and housing affordability Issue: Poverty and lack of affordable housing are persistent issues in Fort Collins and across Colorado. The City is interested in developing local and regional solutions to these PR I O R I T I E S persistent problems through collaboration and innovation. The City plays both a convening and leadership role among the many community service providers – seeking to foster sustainable solutions to complex social issues through a combination of City involvement and leadership. Fort Collins supports solutions to address poverty within the community such as: Fully resource a state affordable housing fund Implement funding for the Earned Income Tax Credit Develop or expand programs that ensure a smooth transition from foster care to independence Increase funding for mental and behavioral health care/programs Increase development of condominiums by addressing construction defect law reform Pilot innovative programs to address housing Objective: Support Efforts to Address both Homelessness and Resource Resistant Populations Issue: Homelessness and transient populations are persistent challenges in Fort Collins and other communities. Fort Collins works to address homelessness through partnering and supporting many community service providers and has a goal of making homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring. The resource resistant populations are those that occupy public spaces and are not interested in housing or other community services offered. In this arena, the City supports efforts to address public safety concerns, enforce existing local laws, and maintain a welcoming environment for all. The City opposes efforts to undermine local control or enforcement of activities on public property. The City supports efforts to increase permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing efforts to be funded with the $15.3 million from the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund now known as the Homeless Solutions Program. These funds are intended to provide permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing assistance for individuals with behavioral health needs, and/or people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. 1 Sarah Kane From:Sarah Kane Sent:Thursday, August 31, 2017 5:40 PM To:'Robin Reck'; Meridith Webster; Wade Troxell Cc:Amanda King; Marshall Cohen; Tyler Marr; Ginny Sawyer Subject:RE: Dream Coalition Mayor Troxell is planning to refer this to the Legislative Review Committee for their perspectives. As such, he will not be personally able to take action at this time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SARAH KANE Executive Administrative Assistant to Deputy City Manager Jeff Mihelich and Mayor Wade Troxell City Manager’s Office City of Fort Collins 970-416-2447 office Click Here to Tell Me About My Service...I Want to Know! From: Robin Reck [mailto:Robin@theinciteagency.com] Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2017 2:17 PM To: Meridith Webster; Wade Troxell Cc: Sarah Kane; Amanda King; Marshall Cohen Subject: Re: Dream Coalition Hi All, Just following up on my email below. Please let me know if you have time to talk tomorrow or early next week as we're hearing DACA could be rescinded in the next day. Very best, Robin From: Robin Reck Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2017 12:41 PM To: Meridith Webster; wtroxell@fcgov.com Cc: skane@fcgov.com; aking@fcgov.com; Marshall Cohen Subject: Re: Dream Coalition Thanks, Meridith and hi team Fort Collins. I wanted to make sure you saw a new report detailing the clear benefits of protecting young undocumented immigrants – and the devastating economic impacts if DACA is repealed. As Meridith noted, over 800,000 young immigrants have gained protection from deportation under DACA – and because of DACA, over 91% of recipients are currently in the workforce. As the data shows, DACA has provided young people the certainty and security to begin investment in their futures – since receiving DACA, 2/3 of recipients reported getting higher wages, which they put back into the economy with big-ticket purchases like cars and homes. 2 Why we need to keep DACA is clear – as is why we need your voice to speak out against repeal. We hope you’ll join us in The Dream Coalition to protect our young people, our communities, and our economy. Would you be able to hop on a call later today or tomorrow to discuss further? Best, Robin From: Meridith Webster <meridith@emersoncollective.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2017 12:26 PM To: wtroxell@fcgov.com Cc: skane@fcgov.com; aking@fcgov.com; Robin Reck; Marshall Cohen Subject: Re: Dream Coalition Good morning-- Wanted to follow up on our recent email. Laurene is launching a new initiative, the “Dream Coalition,” to enact a robust communications and public affairs campaign for Dreamers and The Dream Act. This coalition will include mayors, governors, CEOs, military leaders, faith leaders etc. We would love to see if the Mayor would be willing to join us to explain the importance and impact Dreamers have in your community and the need to preserve DACA until Congress passes The Dream Act. Given the recent press rumors that Trump may terminate DACA as early as this week, we are hoping to mobilize as quickly as possible and formally launch the Dream Coalition in the coming week. My team (Robin and Marshall cc’d here) can assist you and your communications office amplify your current efforts (especially for tomorrow), and/or help prepare additional materials (e.g. press releases, op-eds, social content, statements etc) and book the Mayor at the local, regional and national level. (if this is of interest) We are also contemplating an event in DC on Monday, September 18 featuring Mayors and Dreamers. Would love to discuss if this might be of interest? Would you be able to hop on the phone in the next day or two to discuss in greater detail? Many thanks, Meridith Webster From: Laurene Powell Jobs <emersoncollective@me.com> Reply-To: Laurene Powell Jobs <emersoncollective@me.com>, Meridith Webster <meridith@emersoncollective.com> Date: Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 8:04 PM To: "wtroxell@fcgov.com" <wtroxell@fcgov.com> Cc: "skane@fcgov.com" <skane@fcgov.com>, "aking@fcgov.com" <aking@fcgov.com>, Meridith Webster <meridith@emersoncollective.com> Subject: Dream Coalition 3 August 27, 2017 Dear Mayor Troxell, More than ever, we need the contributions of every American—including immigrants to our country—to power our next era of growth. Hundreds of thousands of Dreamers, immigrants brought to the United States as children and American in every way but lack documentation, are under threat. I’m writing today to ask for your help in protecting them. Throughout my life, I have had the pleasure of working with thousands of bright, talented, and driven young people through a national college completion program called College Track. There are no people more inspiring than the young immigrants I’ve had the honor of mentoring. Over the last 15 years, I have advocated for Dreamers who are committed to getting a good education, going to college, and becoming productive members of our communities and economy. There are approximately 2 million Dreamers living in the United States who are making invaluable contributions to our workforce, economy, and society every single day. Under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, 800,000 of these Dreamers have been able to study and work lawfully without the threat of deportation. As you know, the DACA protections are at imminent risk, and Dreamers could lose their protected status, their ability to hold a job, and for many, the opportunity to pursue and complete their education. Ending DACA would result in a loss of over $460 billion from the national GDP over the next decade and would remove an estimated 685,000 workers from the nation’s economy. As a mayor, I’m sure you have met and understand better than most the Dreamers’ plight. That’s why I’m asking mayors from around the country to join a new initiative, the “Dream Coalition.” Working together, the Coalition will enact a robust communications and public affairs campaign to build broad-based support for Dreamers. In particular, your advocacy is critical to explaining the importance and impact Dreamers have in our communities and the need to preserve DACA until Congress passes The Dream Act. Our mission is simple. We must: · Urge the Administration to preserve DACA and protect the 800,000 young people it serves; · Call on Congress to pass the Dream Act; · Use our voices and platform individually, and alongside other leaders, to fight for our country’s young immigrants and our collective future. My colleague, Meridith Webster, will follow up with you to discuss next steps. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly or to Meridith with any questions at 202-302-5626 or Meridith@emersoncollective.com. I hope to have the honor to work alongside you on behalf of Dreamers, our communities, and our future. Sincerely, 4 Laurene Powell Jobs DRAFT OP-ED: Colorado’s EV Boom Could Be Busted by Federal Tax Reform From supportive state policies to groundbreaking community initiatives, Colorado has emerged as a national leader in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. As battery costs fall and ranges rise, our state has gone far to provide genuine fuel choice to motorists. Central to Colorado’s early adoption is the federal tax credit, which has brought over $75 million in benefits to Colorado over the past five years. . Yet as tax reform efforts begin in Washington, this key incentive could become threatened if Senators Bennet and Gardner vote for its repeal. The timing couldn’t be worse: Analysts see EVs approaching a tipping point where this credit is no longer necessary within just a few years. EV adoption is key to reducing our oil dependence. Oil dependence leaves the country vulnerable to oil price shocks, burdens the military to the tune of $67.5 billion every year in securing oil supply routes, makes addressing environmental issues more difficult, and sends American dollars to petrostates that don’t share our interests or values. EVs are also key to meeting federal ozone standards in the Front Range. If Congress takes this tax credit away, Coloradoans will lose the fuel choice they want, and the state’s leadership in this growing industry will be lost. With favorable local and state policies, and cutting-edge research facilities, Colorado has already created a culture of EV adoption. Today, there are more than 10,000 EVs on Colorado’s roads compared with less than 100 in 2011. Colorado and Denver are the fourth-fastest growing EV markets in the country. Supportive EV policies have placed the state at the leading edge of advocacy and adoption—a great example of this is the 2013 launch of Drive Electric Northern Colorado (DENC) spurred by the Electrification Coalition (EC). This first-of-its-kind community initiative created partnerships with the cities of Loveland and Fort Collins, Colorado State University and the EC, aimed at creating a model system to spur widespread EV adoption at a local level that can be replicated across the U.S. The project turned Northern Colorado into a thriving living-laboratory, with EV adoption rates three times the national average. In addition, the state government plays a leading role in installing and improving EV charging infrastructure in Colorado and around the region. In partnership with Utah and Nevada, Colorado is developing a charging network across key highways including the I-70, I-76 and I-25. Within the state itself, authorities have launched Charge Ahead Colorado to provide financial support for EVs and other charging equipment. Just this week Denver announced plans for 300 more charging stations: activity that creates jobs and lessens our dependence on foreign oil, and the City of Aurora was recently honored with a Wired Workplace Award by the Colorado Energy Office for its proactive programs related to development of charging stations for electric vehicles. Removal of the federal tax credit would be a bitter blow to Colorado’s continued market growth and EV leadership. We must not let Washington hurt Colorado’s competitive advantage in this space. Colorado has already demonstrated leadership with smart incentives and policies to support EV adoption. The state provides an up to $5,000 point-of-sale state tax credit, the best in the country, and when combined with the federal $7,500 tax credit can save Colorado car buyers as much as $12,500. These credits help Coloradoans choose vehicles that are clean, innovative, and save them money at the pump. As the Congress pivots to tax reform, let’s keep Colorado on the cutting edge of this industry and make sure EV tax credits aren’t on the chopping block. Now is the time to tell Senators Gardner and Bennet that losing the EV tax credit would hurt Colorado’s businesses, communities, and energy leadership.