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Home My WebLink AboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-01/13/2009-Work SessionTransportation Administration City of 281 N. College Ave. Fort ( Collinsox 580 Fort 80522 i`I 970.416.2029 16.20.9 970.416.2081 - fax fcgov.Com MEMORANDUM DATE: January 14, 2009 TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager — K. Diane Jones, Deputy City Manage Jeff Scheick, Executive Director, P ng Development and Transp� ,�ion FROM: Mark Jackson, Transportation Group Director Helen Migehelbrink, City Engineer Tracy Dyer, Chief Construction Inspector RE: January 13, 2009 Work Session Summary — Portable Signs ATTENDANCE The Mayor and all Council members were in attendance, with the exception of Diggs Brown, District 3. Staff members presenting included Mark Jackson, Transportation Group Director, Helen Migchelbrink, City Engineer and Tracy Dyer, Chief Construction Inspector. SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION The work session covered the issue of placement of portable sings in the rights of way. Staff presented to Council the option of returning to enforcement of current City code or considering a revision to City code that would allow placement of portable signs in the right-of-way with certain criteria and parameters. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Council supported the option of revising the City Code to allow portable signs in the downtown and requested that staff research the items below. Staff will report these findings to Council when they return to the Regular Session for first reading of proposed City Code amendments to allow portable signs in the right-of-way. 0 Staff will solicit input from the Commission on Disability �of t Collins • Staff will investigate the possibility of expanding the option of portable sign placement in other pedestrian oriented areas within Fort Collins. • Careful consideration and review will be given to the aesthetic, dimensional, placement and safety/stability standards that will apply to portable signs. Staff will also examine the criteria which would regulate the borders or appearance of the signs. • Staff will'work very closely with the City Attorney's office in reviewing the above mentioned criteria to establish Municipal Code language that allow the placement of portable signs in the right-of-way. • Staff will recommend a one to two year trial period that will place a sunset on the proposed code language and bring it back for Council review at a predetermined point in time. • Staff will explain how enforcement will be handled with the revised Code • Staff will clarify the ownership status of Old Town Square NEXT STEPS Staff obtained Council's direction to further proceed with option two of the AIS and to move forward with developing Code changes that would allow the placement of portable signs in the right-of-way based on the feedback from the work session. March 3, 2009, Regular Council Meeting • First Reading March 17, 2009, Regular Council Meeting • 2"d Reading City of F6rt,Collins TO: Mayor Hutchinson and City Councilmembers THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager a_'L Brian Janonis, Utilities Executive Dire orb, j FROM: Steve Catanach, Light and Power Manager v,%// Utilities electric - stormwater • wastewater - water 700 Wood Street PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6700 970.221.6619 — fax 970.224.6003 — TDD utilities@fcgov.com kgov.com/utilities CC: Patty Bigner, Utilities Customer and Employee Relations Manager Jenny Lopez-Filkins, Assistant City Attorney DATE: January 15, 2009 SUBJECT: January 13, 2009 Work Session Summary — Net Metering and proposed Service Code Change At the January 13, 2009 Work Session Staff presented information on Net Metering and a proposed Code change on electric service areas. The goal of the meeting was to receive guidance from Council with regard to several key policy issues. Those issues were: Net Metering: ■ What should the maximum generation level be for which net metering is automatically applied? • At what price should excess energy be purchased? • Should the rate contain a sunset provision or a requirement for re-evaluation after 3 to 5 years? • If there are infrastructure upgrades required, who should be responsible for those costs? Proposed Service Code change: • A question on whether or not language requiring recovery of all costs incurred by the City and Platte River due to the installation of 3`d party generation should remain in the code or should the individual items be addressed separately. Those issues are: o Collection of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTS); o Liability insurance requirements by the generator; o Infrastructure upgrade costs; ■ Should the -portion of the Code dealing with 3`d party generators be re-evaluated after 3 to 5 years? City of Collins F6rt��. Key Discussion Points During the work session specific guidance was provided for two of the items. Net metering will be provided automatically for generation up to 1 megawatt. The net metering rate and the third party generation component of the proposed Code change should be examined every three years or sooner if determined necessary by Staff. During the discussion regarding the other issues it was clearly communicated that a formal recommendation from pertinent Boards and Commissions should be provided. The recommendation should address the pros and cons associated with each issue. With respect to the other items for which Staff was seeking guidance additional information was requested to help provide clarity. The information requested is detailed below. Staff will return to the Electric Board and the Natural Resources Advisory Board for formal recommendations on each -of the policy elements in question and will follow up with the additional information requested. Next Steps Staff will provide additional information on the following: 1. How much generation is provided through net metering in the US? 2. Detail what other utilities are doing to in support of renewable generation development including net metering, excess generation purchases, rebates, REC purchases, constriction charges and credits and valuing system benefits. 3. Provide a set of detailed recommendations from the Electric Board including presentation of the pros and cons associated with each policy question. 4. Provide an analysis on what impact collection of Payment In Lieu of Taxes may have on a project. 5. Is there a way to determine the value of a project and apply a "benefit" credit towards any infrastructure upgrades that may be required to support the project? 6. Can Payments in Lieu of Taxes be waived for a period of time to allow a project to get off the ground? 7. Can a City Utility Customer really be "poached"? 8. Provide a brief on the structure of Payments in Lieu of Taxes, including a comparison with other communities.