HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 12/07/2004 - RESOLUTION 2004-143 CONCERNING ALCOHOL ABUSE IN OU ITEM NUMBER: 28
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: December 7, 2004
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
STAFF: Darin Atteberry
SUBJECT
Resolution 2004-143 Concerning Alcohol Abuse in Our Community.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Resolution recognizes a growing concern in the Fort Collins community regarding student
alcohol abuse and its impact on the City and on Colorado State University, and directs the City
Manager to undertake certain measures to identify strategies the City could pursue to help curb
alcohol abuse in the community.
BACKGROUND
The tragedies involving student alcohol use that have occurred in the Fort Collins community and
throughout the state and nation have given rise to a call for change in the prominence of alcohol in
the culture of student life. Alcohol related incidents involving students impact City resources and
services as well as the quality of life of all citizens within the City. City staff and CSU have been
working collaboratively to examine and identify changes that might be made to address issues
involved with student alcohol abuse. CSU has implemented a multi-agency Drug and Alcohol Task
Force to examine and identify changes that might be made community-wide to alter the prominence
of alcohol in student culture and to enhance the quality of life for City citizens and students. This
Resolution supports those efforts and directs city staff to review City ordinances and policies in order
to identify any existing and future strategies that may be available to assist in this community-wide
effort.
RESOLUTION 2004-143
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
CONCERNING ALCOHOL ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, the City Council has a responsibility to lead in addressing critical issues of
health, safety and well being of citizens within the City; and
WHEREAS,alcohol abuse is a multi-faceted social problem with many causes,requiring the
efforts of the entire community to address; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins is not alone in experiencing the impacts of alcohol abuse, as
indicated by recent alcohol-related incidents in other Colorado communities and throughout the
nation; and
WHEREAS, leaders of Colorado State University("CSU") have re-committed to changing
the prominence of alcohol in the culture of student life and has implemented a multi-agency Drug
and Alcohol Task Force ("Task Force") to examine and identify changes that might be made
community-wide to alter the prominence of alcohol in student culture and to enhance the quality of
life for city citizens and students; and
WHEREAS, alcohol abuse impacts City resources in terms of Police Services, Court
Services, and other City services and departments; and
WHEREAS, alcohol abuse also impacts the reputation of both Fort Collins and CSU; and
WHEREAS,the Fort Collins community is committed to a high quality of life for its citizens
and for the students at CSU; and
WHEREAS, the Council supports the efforts of CSU and the Task Force and the City
Manager's participation in the Task Force, and wishes to explore additional ways in which the City
can help curb alcohol abuse in the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the Council recognizes and encourages CSU's commitment to changing
a culture among CSU students in which the high-risk use of alcohol is tragically too common.
Section 2. That the Council strongly supports the CSU Drug and Alcohol Task Force
(the "Task Force") and its efforts to change the prominence of alcohol in the culture of student life
by collaborating with CSU.
Section 3. That, as part of this community-wide effort, City staff is hereby directed to:
(a) undertake areview of City beverage licensing policies,code enforcement and zoning
and land use regulations in order to identify any strategies that may be available to
the City to help curb alcohol abuse in the Fort Collins community; and
(b) research policy and ordinance changes,if appropriate,to address identified concerns;
and
(c) review the impacts of past efforts to address alcohol abuse and underage alcohol use,
including an analysis of the unintended consequences of such efforts; and
(d) provide a written report of the findings and recommendations of the Task Force to
Council, together with a status report on the above-described measures to be
undertaken by the City Manager, within 30 days of the City's receipt of the findings
and recommendations from the Task Force.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 7th day of December,
A.D. 2004.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk