HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/19/1999 - RESOLUTION 99-11 AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 24
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: January 19, 1999STAFF•
Diane Jones
SUBJECT:
Resolution 99-11 Authorizing the Establishment of a Dialogue Regarding Significant Community
Issues.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Fort Collins is a dynamic and changing community. It's important to periodically listen to what's
on the minds of citizens and engage in an in-depth conversation about particular issues and/or
directions for the community.
The City Council Organizational Development Committee has recommended that staff develop and
facilitate a way to engage the community in a dialogue that may address topics such as City Plan and
the City-School District cooperative project(s)related to the voter-approved Building Community
Choices program.
Staff will organize at least one round of community dialogue within the first quarter of 1999,
BACKGROUND:
In January 1995,the City began a community visioning process. Five community forums were held
to gather thoughts and ideas from citizens on where the community should focus its efforts over the
coming years. Two-hundred and fifteen residents participated in the community forums and
deliberated with their neighbors to identify the qualitites of community life that were important to
them and to suggest areas that most needed attention in Fort Collins. The results indicated that
education, a strong local economy and transportation were community characteristics that needed
the most urgent attention.
During the remainder of 1995,community surveys were completed and additional forums were held.
Toward the end of the year, interest and participation began to wane. Several ongoing initiatives
such as City Plan, Healthier Communities, the Timberline extension project, the Parks and
Recreation Master Plan, etc. were drawing a significant number of citizens participating in these
efforts. In December the City Council agreed to suspend further work on the City Dialogue process.
The information that had been gathered and analyzed was to be summarized and woven into the
City's then current planning and program initiatives., e.g., City Plan.
DATE: January 19, 1999 2 ITEM NUMBER: 24
Since that time,the Council's Organizational Development Committee and the City Council have
expressed a desire to sponsor forums or gatherings where citizens could come together and discuss
community issues and future directions in a meaningful and respectful way.
What is proposed in Resolution 99-11 is to plan and conduct a series of forums to provide the
community with this opportunity.
RESOLUTION 99-11
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
DIALOGUE REGARDING SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ISSUES
WHEREAS, in 1995 the City conducted community forums and surveys to gather
information about the policy issues, future directions, and strategies that the City might employ in
resolving the problems it faces and moving the community forward; and
WHEREAS, these activities were part of a process to engage citizens in meaningful
discussions and a deliberative process of community decision making called City Dialogue; and
WHEREAS, in December of 1995 the City Council agreed to suspend further work on the
City Dialogue process, and the information that had been gathered and analyzed as part of City
Dialogue was to be summarized and woven into other programs and projects such as City Plan and
Building Community Choices; and
WHEREAS, in the course of discussions with the Council's Organizational Development
Committee and at the September 1998 Council Retreat, the Council has expressed interest in
continuing to engage the community in a meaningful and civil dialogue around significant
community issues.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Manager is directed to plan and carry out a series of forums that
enable community members to participate in meaningful and civil conversations related to
significant municipal issues that are pertinent to the Fort Collins community, including, without
limitation, issues relating to transportation, City Plan, affordable housing, City-School District
cooperative projects, and others.
Section 2. That the City Manager is to provide a report or the results of such forums to
the Council for its review and consideration on or before October 31, 1999.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 19th day of January,
A.D. 1999.
Mayor
ATTEST:
• City Clerk