The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/06/2010 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 080, 2010, CALLING DATE: July 6, 2010AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY STAFF: Darin Atteberry _ T COLLINS CITY COUNCIL Mike Freeman Second Reading of Ordinance No. 080,2010, Calling a Special Municipal Election to Be Held in Conjunction with the November 2, 2010 Larimer County General Election. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Ordinance, adopted on First Reading by a vote of 6-1 (nays: Kottwitz), calls a Special Municipal Election to be held in conjunction with the November 2, 2010 Larimer County General Election, and preserves the opportunity for Council to place initiated or referred issues on the November ballot. If Council decides to place any measures on the ballot it would need to do so no later than at its August 17 meeting. If Council does not take action by resolution before the statutory deadline (September 3)to certify ballot language to Larimer County, the election will be cancelled and the provisions of this Ordinance will be of no further force and effect. This Ordinance does not submit a specific measure to the November 2, 2010 ballot. However, for the past several months City staff has been conducting a community dialogue about how to address pressing,unfunded needs in street maintenance, police, fire, parks and recreation. Staff recommends that voters have an opportunity to decide via an election. Adoption of this Ordinance is a required step in preserving the option for City Council to submit a sales tax increase to the voters should they so choose. Pursuantto Council direction on June 15,a Whereas clause has been added to the ordinance to indicate the possibility of placing a measure on the November 2 ballot that would seek an increase in the City's sales and use tax rate. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. ATTACHMENTS 1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary-June 15, 2010 (w/o attachments) ATTACHMENT DATE: June 15, 2010 A . STAFF: Darin Atteberry Mike Freeman First Reading of Ordinance No. 080, 2010, Calling a Special Municipal Election to Be Held in Conjunction with the November 2, 2010 Larimer County General Election. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY �� r- ,, X-\ ,7 This Ordinance calls a Special Municipal Election nc.to be held in conjunction wit the November 2,2010 Larimer County General Election, and preserves the\opportunity\for CouilAo place initiated or referred issues on the November id ballot. If Council decides to place any�measures�on the ballot it would need to do so no later than at its August 17 meeting. If Council does not take action by resolution before the statutory deadline (September 3) to certify ballot language to Larimer County, the election will be cancelled and the provisions of this Ordinance will be of no further force and effect. This Ordinance does not submit a specific measure to the November 2, 2010 ballot. However, for the past several months City staff has been conducting a community dialogue about how to address pressing,unfunded needs in street maintenance, police, fire, parks and recreation. Staff recommends that voters have an opportunity to decide via an election. Adoption of this Ordinance is a required step in preserving the option for City Council to submit a sales tax increase to the voters should they so choose. P) r� nl BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION\ At the City Council Work Session held on March 23,2010,staff presented information about pressing,unfunded needs in street maintenance, police, fire, parks and recreation. City Council feedback was to proceed with a community dialogue about Resourcing Our Future. The dialogue was structured around three key questions: • How should the community address the pressing, unfunded needs in street maintenance, police, fire, parks and recreation? • Do we cut more services? If so, which ones? • Do we add more resources? If so, which option? G� n Staff has identified and thoroughly docum/ented informa�1tion a Ibou-�tt�he immediate needs foradditional resources in four key areas of local government. U' " U LJ STREET MAINTENANCE Additional resources are needed to maintain streets, fill potholes and make basic repairs. The need for street maintenance to maintain current pavement quality is approximately $6.5 million annually above the 2010 adopted budget level of$7.1 million. This cost does not include resources to meet other pressing transportation needs, such as bridge repair and replacement; new roads, interchanges and other capital improvements; improvements in safety at school zones; neighborhood traffic calming; new bike lanes and sidewalks; and transit service. Impact to community: • Overall pavement conditions are deteriorating;more�pootholes are prevalent and structural roadway concerns �--�� N will soon begin to show. Funding for%street mainttenancce was redduuccA by more than $2 million in 2010. • As conditions continue to detLioratte clf ue to delayeld maintenance, replacement and repair costs become significantly more expensive."`��J June 15, 2010 -2- ITEM 26 POLICE SERVICES Additional resources are needed for City Police Services to maintain current levels of service and make minimal enhancements. An additional 33 officers and 15 civilians are needed to provide the level of service expected by the community. The need is approximately$4.6 million per year. Impact to community: • Capacity for response to non-emergent crimes(e.g.,car break-ins)and proactive problem-solving continues to deteriorate • Difficult to maintain appropriate-staffing levels-for basic_police�protection and dispatch • New resources are needed to�aintain existing sen iee�els and make minimum improvements in these areas: ( 1 o More neighborhood 1patrolling U Increased traffic patrols LJ More party and noise enforcement o Safer Downtown during day and evening POUDRE FIRE AUTHORITY Additional resources for Poudre Fire Authority are needed to serve growing demands in south Fort Collins, as well as enhanced Emergency Management. The need is approximately$3.2 million per year. Impact to community: • Additional funds will be used to maintain appropriate staffing and�make limited improvements o Reduced response times to emergencies) .r` o Improved emergency scene ma\gemeI tl.better protec citizens, businesses and property \Zio Help to maintain Insurance Services`Office(ISO) ratings,which in turn helps minimize increases in insurance costs for residents and businesses. The ISO recently reduced PFA's rating from a 3 to a 4(1 =best, 10=worst). PFA estimates this rating change will cost Fort Collins home and business owners an estimated $3.5 million due to increased premium costs. 0 Increased ability to respond to simultaneous alarms Increased preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery for emergencies, threats and disasters 0 Improved firefighter safety through better safety oversight and emergency coordination PARKS AND RECREATION Additional resources are needed fo p maintenance;a`nd"to presery 7recreation services. The need is approximately$2 million per year($1-million forlplarks rAintenance'and`$,1Gillion for recreation). Impact to community: Because of ongoing cuts to Park Maintenance funds, City parks are beginning to deteriorate; additional resources are needed to keep our parks clean and well maintained (e.g., replacing play equipment, keeping parks litter-free, weed control). • The City is currently using$900,000 of reserves to fund Recreation,which will run out in 2013. If General Fund support for Recreation is not restored,service levels will be severely impacted. Either a major facility, like the Senior Center, the Northside Aztlan Community Center, or Edora Pool Ice Center, (EPIC)will need to close entirely, or staffing and programming will need to be drastically cut and hours of operation at facilities dramatically reduced. Cuts would be made to the programs that receive the greatest General Fund support. �� n /7 There are several key dates that should ept�n mind if the CitylGouncil chooses to pursue a special election in November seeking an increase in the(City's base sales tax rate.,,/ V J7 � � • June 15 First Reading,of an:ordinance.calling.a special election for November 2. Article VIII, Section 2 of the City Charter requires that a special election be called by ordinance. In order to meet the statutory deadline to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Larimer County for June 15, 2010 -3- ITEM 26 the conduct of the election, this Ordinance must be adopted prior to August 24, 2010. • July 6 Second Reading of the ordinance calling the special election. • August 17 Council considers Resolution to submit measure to the ballot with final ballot language • October 12 (approximately) First date ballots will be mailed • November 2 Election Day FINANCIAL/ ECONOMIC IMPACTS, T_\ r7 A 1%increase in the City's base sales11tax rate,which would not:apply to groceries or prescription drugs,will generate approximately$20.5 million in fiscal year 01 ?(Janu�ar/��2011 to December 31, 2011). The documented needs in street maintenance, police, fire, parks and-recreation-total$16.5 million. Staffs recommendation is that those needs be funded by a 1% increase and that the remaining revenues from the increase be used to fund other priority community needs. Approximately 25%of sales tax collections come from visitors and people who live outside the city limits. The City's total sales tax rate is currently 6.7%. An increase of 1%would raise the rate to 7.7%, keeping Fort Collins the fourth lowestwhen compared to other major cities in the Colorado Front Range,slightly higherthan Colorado Springs(7.4%), Loveland (6.7%) and Greeley (6.36%) (see Attachment 1, page 4). ' ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS �I }/( 1\ r `'� ) f•I� There are no obvious environmental imp�from t�opo�ed action. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION City staff presented information about Resounding Ourtifuture to the ransportation Board and the Parks and Recreation Board. The Transportation Board voted 7-0 to' recommend thatjthe issue be placed on the ballot and that the ballot language specify at least 40%,ofthe revel a would]be dedicated to transportation needs. A letter with its complete recommendation is attached(see Attachment 2). The Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors also adopted a Resolution in support of placing this measure on the November, 2010 ballot. A letter of support is attached (see Attachment 3). PUBLIC OUTREACH City staff conducted a multi-faceted public outreach to engage the community in a dialogue about Resourcing Our Future. In conjunction with City Councilmembers, staff hosted,seven meetings over a period of two weeks(April 21 — May 2). The City Manager sent a letter('see attachment 5)[to more than 35 service clubs and community groups i,. f3 � it �r asking to present Res including: Our Futurematio gath put. The,effort resulted in City staff presenting to a variety of audiences including: lu( • Overland Sertoma Club • Board of Realtors Government Affairs Committee June 15, 2010 -4- ITEM 26 • First National Bank • Downtown Development Authority Board • Eyeopeners Kiwanis Club • City of Fort Collins Knowledge Pot • Downtown Business Association Membership Meeting Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau • Lions Club • Rotary Club • CityWorks 101 Alumni Forum • Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee • Larimer County Republicans Breakfast Some key themes that emerged during t:hcommunity 1ialogue' • This decision should be up6'- ot�( th m a choice of whether or not to further invest in our community. • Many people have questions about how to structure the ballot language(i.e.,dedicated for specific purposes or general; 1% or less; in perpetuity or shorter amount of time). Opinions on these topics are mixed. • Continue to trim costs and find efficiencies. The City has done a good job of cutting costs, but should not become complacent. • People appreciate their quality of life and don't want it to decline. At the same.time, they want the City to remain focused on the highest priority services, including transportation and the economy. • Public safety is a priority, yet people feel safe and are looking for more compelling information about why additional resources are needed in this area. • Keep working to spread the word; people need information to make informed choices. ATTACHMENTS r.. n P Y �y �J u u 1. Resourcing our Future Overview 2. Transportation Board Letter of Recommendation 3. Downtown Development Authority Board Letter of Recommendation 4. Public Involvement Summary 5. Example of the Letter sent to Service Clubs and Community Organizations 6. PowerPoint presentation COP COPY ORDINANCE NO . 080, 2010 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS CALLING A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NOVEMBER 2, 2010 LARIMER COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION WHEREAS , the City Council may wish to place one or more ballot measures before the voters in November at a special election to be held on November 2, 2010 , in conjunction with the Larimer County General Election; and WHEREAS , in particular, the City Council has discussed placing on the November, 2010 ballot for the voters ' consideration a possible increase in the City ' s sales and use tax rate ; and WHEREAS , while the City Council may, by resolution, submit any question or proposed ordinance or resolution, or submit any initiative or referendum measure, to a vote of the people at a regular or special election at any time prior to the statutory deadline to certify ballot content to the County Clerk, the decision to call a special election must be made by ordinance at an earlier date; and WHEREAS , for the foregoing reasons, the City Council wishes to call a special municipal election on November 2, 2010, to be held in conjunction with the Larimer County General Election, for the purpose of submitting to the electorate of the City any ballot issues approved by the City Council prior to the deadline for certifying ballot content to the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows : Section 1 . That a Special Municipal Election in the City is hereby called for Tuesday, November 2, 2010, which shall be held in conjunction with the Larimer County General Election and conducted in such form as shall be determined by the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder. Section 2 . That the provisions of the Uniform Election Code of 1992 are hereby adopted with respect to the conduct of said election in lieu of the provisions of the Municipal Election Code of 1965 . Section 3 . That, notwithstanding any provision in the State Statutes to the contrary, the City Council may, by resolution, submit to the voters at said election any citizen-initiated or City- initiated measure that complies with the requirements of the City Charter, irrespective of the nature of such measure. Section 4. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to certify the ballot content for the Special Municipal Election to the Larimer County Clerk no later than September 3 , 2010 . Section 5 . That the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Larimer County for conduct of the election, pursuant to Section 1 -7- 116(2) of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Section 6 . In the event that the City Council does not take action by resolution prior to September 3 , 2010 to submit any ballot measures to the voters at the November 2 , 2010 Larimer County General Election, the election provided for herein shall be cancelled and the provisions of this Ordinance shall be of no further force and effect. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 15th day of June, A.D . 2010, and to be presented for final passage on the 6th day of July, A.D . 2010 . Mayor ATTEST : City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 6th day of July, A.D . 2010 . Mayor ATTEST : City Clerk