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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/23/2004 - UPDATE REGARDING THE COMMUNITY CAPITAL PROGRAM DATE: March 23, 2004 STUDY SESSION ITEM STAFF: Diane Jones FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Update Regarding the Community Capital Program. BACKGROUND The purpose of this item is to provide an update to Council regarding the renewal of the Building Community Choices capital sales taxes. In December 2003,Council held a Study Session regarding the renewal of two one-quarter cent sales taxes(Building Community Choices)that are set to expire in 2005. Council provided staff with direction to proceed to develop a proposal for voter consideration on the April 2005 municipal election ballot. The details of Council's discussion at the December 9 Study Session are included in Attachment A . Since December, staff has accomplished several tasks in the renewal program, including: • Finalized project descriptions for projects to be considered for funding (primarily the 10- year capital inventory list of projects), • Gathered Board and Commission input on priorities for funding, • Began the development of a staff recommendation on priorities, and • Laid out a detailed plan for citizen involvement and information sharing throughout the coming year. Staff has worked with a number of Boards and Commissions to begin their involvement in the process of narrowing down the list of projects to be funded. Input has been solicited from those boards with direct involvement in proposed projects, as well as the Planning and Zoning Board, which has a role in capital planning by City code. Included are Parks and Recreation Board, Transportation Board, Library Board, Cultural Resources Board, Senior Advisory Board, Youth Advisory Board, and Natural Resource Advisory Board. Staff continues to gather and compile the board input and will provide that information to City Council at the next capital planning study session scheduled for May. Included in this packet of information is a list of activities which staff will conduct during the remainder of 2004 in order to both gather input from citizens and build awareness of the proposal among interested citizens. Outreach functions will take place throughout the spring and summer. Staff will rely on a variety of tools,including public meetings, speaking opportunities, Channel 27 programming,City News,Neighborhood News,and the City' s Web site. Throughout this outreach and information sharing process, staff will collect input via "listening logs" and other informal sources so that detailed information on citizen comments can be provided to City Council. Late summer, staff plans to conduct a formal, statistically valid survey to gather additional information. March 23, 2004 Page 2 GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED • Does City Council have any additional direction to provide staff regarding the direction of the project? • Does City Council have any questions or comments regarding the outreach and education process being conducted by staff? ATTACHMENTS A. Copy December 10 Memorandum, Study Session Follow-up: Capital Sales Tax Renewal Planning B. Information and Outreach Campaign Actions C. Summary Project Schedule, Capital Planning Renewal • ATTACHMENT "A" MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council Members From: Diane Jones,Deputy City Manager Thru: John Fischbach, City Manager Re: Study Session Follow-up: Capital Sales Tax Renewal Planning Date: December 10, 2003 On December 9, 2003, City Council and staff met in Study Session to discuss the possible renewal of two Building Community Choices sales taxes set to expire in 2005. Discussion focused on three main questions. 1. Should the Streets and Transportation sales tax be renewed for the Pavement • Management Program? When? What term? Council was supportive of renewing the Streets and Transportation sales tax for funding the Pavement Management Program. The Council acknowledged that this is an essential funding source for a core City service, so renewal is an important strategic goal. All Council Members present agreed that the April 2005 election should be targeted for seeking the renewal. There was no consensus on the term of the tax, with views ranging from 5 years to 20 years. None favored asking for a permanent extension at this time. 2. Should the Community Enhancements sales tax be renewed for high priority capital improvements? When? What term? In 1997, voters approved a sales tax in the Building Community Choices package which was titled "Community Enhancements." The package included a variety of projects, including street projects, land acquisitions and recreation projects. With the tax set to expire in December 2005, the opportunity to renew the tax raises the question of what capital needs should be funded with a successful renewal. At the Study Session, most Council Members were willing to consider renewal of the • tax. Council offered a variety of opinions regarding the possible uses for the revenue, including earmarking the entire amount for specific transportation projects, using the City Council Members Re: Study Session Follow-up: Capital Sales Tax Renewal Planning December 10, 2003 Page 2 funds to leverage DDA and private funds for cultural facilities in the downtown area, or a combination of projects. Several Council Members emphasized the need to focus theses funds on primary or core services. Staff was also cautioned to consider operation and maintenance costs of any projects constructed and the ability of the City to meet those needs from ongoing funding sources. Two Council Members also suggested that the Mason Transportation Corridor project might be best considered separate from other projects. Council was supportive of asking voters to consider the renewal at the April 2005 Municipal Election. There was no consensus on the term of the tax, with views ranging from 5 years to 20 years. 3. Should City Council ask voters to add an additional sales tax for other high priority capital needs or community enhancements? When?What term? No consensus was apparent regarding the question of whether to consider asking voters to add an additional sales tax to provide additional funding for high priority capital needs. Some Council Members supported the idea of asking for additional funds for secondary service projects, especially if other funds could be leveraged with a City contribution (i.e. the DDA proposal currently under consideration). Other Council Members were opposed to asking voters to increase taxes. Renewal Process: City Council also reviewed the staff proposal for conducting the renewal process. Members were supportive of using a process similar to that used for the Building Community Choices program. Council Members were interested in using statistically valid survey methods for gauging voter interests, and were supportive of working with stakeholders to define priorities. Staff will proceed with the outreach and project development process outlined in the Study Session materials with the goal of presenting voters with a package for their consideration at the April 2005 Municipal Election. ss followup 120903 copy.d" ATTACHMENT `B" Information and Outreach Campaign Actions • Capital Renewal Program March 10,2004 Identity branding Written Materials: • Web site • Brochure (distribute at public events,Library, meetings, speaking engagements, etc.) • City News • Speaker's bureau • Boards and Commissions • Neighborhood News • Fort Shorts • Video • Press packet Speaker's Bureau • Chamber(LLAC,Transportation Committee) • Editorial Board—Coloradoan • • Service Clubs • Fort Collins Weekly • "Friends" groups • Issues and Answers—After May SS and in fall • Primary or involved B&C (T-board, P&R, etc) • Stakeholder meetings • Employers: HP, CSU, PSD, County, ASCSU, • North Forty News • Fort Collins Forum • Bullhorn Press Tour • Formal Survey lost printed 311 5120 04 1:2X hWEErINGvSS 2004\0323Vnfornuttion and Outreach Campaign plarming artachemnr March 23.doc Channel 27 programs • City at a Glance • Showcase Fort Collins • Video • Studio show—shorter lead time • Call-in program,panelists to answer questions Open House/Outreach Meetings Stakeholder Meetings Informal "Survey"/Listening Log last printed 311512004/:X2 LWEMNGAgS 200M323Vnfonwtion and Outreach Campaign planning attachrmnt March 23.doc ATTACHMENT"C ' ] ! k \ r----J § /\| p 0 f ) �!/! 0/ 0/ ! 75 \ \ \ \ c: ! \. k \ 0 0Z { - / a � - [ 0 E m i {� # ( f 2 � ( ) t \ mD} 0 0 t ; \ 3 } CD0 \ I E ƒ ! � � 0 \ ® � �i ; 2 j { a { i \ ou § tee - § - e _ � ƒ ) / \ \ \ � { / ; § }) ) { , ! k � \ § '