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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 11/18/2014 - RESOLUTION 2014-104 ADOPTING THE 2015 LEGISLATIVEAgenda Item 14 Item # 14 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY November 18, 2014 City Council STAFF Dan Weinheimer, Policy & Project Manager SUBJECT Resolution 2014-104 Adopting the 2015 Legislative Policy Agenda. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to adopt the City Council's 2015 Legislative Policy Agenda. Each year the Legislative Review Committee (LRC) develops a legislative agenda to assist in the analysis of pending legislation. The Legislative Policy Agenda is used as a guide by Council and staff to determine positions on legislation pending at the state and federal levels and as a general reference for state legislators and congressional delegation. This year, the Legislative Policy Agenda scope is expanded to allow consideration of county, state and federal regulatory matters by the LRC. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The Legislative Policy Agenda includes policies on issues that affect the quality of life and governance of our community. It is used as a guide by Council and staff to determine positions on pending legislation, and as a general reference for citizens, community organizations, state legislators and congressional delegation. The 2015 Agenda was developed with input from City staff and reviewed by the Legislative Review Committee. Fort Collins' Legislative Policy Agenda includes 2015 priorities - issues that are of immediate concern to the City Council and items that are expected come before the 2015 General Assembly session. The Legislative Policy Agenda also attempts to capture positions on wide-ranging issues that may impact City operations and community quality of life. These positions reflect a great deal of historical community input, discussion by City Council's Legislative Review Committee (LRC), the expertise of staff, and statewide policy discussions. FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS The Legislative Policy Agenda contains a number of policies that speak to economic impacts. The Finance section (page 15) contains several statements that address the need to protect the City’s revenue base. It also calls for support for legislation “that promotes sustainable economic development.” Other policies that support sound fiscal practices are imbedded throughout the document. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Several sections of the Legislative Policy Agenda directly address environmental impacts and support for legislation that will help the City forward its environmental goals. These include statements under the headings of Air Quality (page 17), Climate and Environmental Protection (page 18), Natural Areas and Open Lands (page 19), Oil and Gas (page 19), Recycling and Solid Waste (page 20), Energy (page 21), Water Supply and Quality (page 22), and Urban Agriculture (page 29). Agenda Item 14 Item # 14 Page 2 BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Staff has shared the draft Legislative Policy Agenda with the Chair and Vice-chair of each City board or commission, seeking input and comment. PUBLIC OUTREACH No public outreach was conducted on this document. ATTACHMENTS 1. 2015 Legislative Policy Agenda redline version (PDF) 1 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA 2014 2015 Adopted November 1918, 20134 ATTACHMENT 1 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPIC PAGE INTRODUCTION 4 ALIGNMENT 4 FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE 5 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS 5 2014 2015 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 6 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS 131 CULTURE, PARKS AND RECREATION CULTURAL SERVICES 1113 PARKS AND RECREATION 131 ECONOMIC HEALTH FINANCE 1215 INVESTMENTS 153 PRIVATIZATION 163 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 164 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AIR QUALITY 175 CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 1618 NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN LANDS 196 OIL AND GAS 197 RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE 2018 UTILITY SERVICES 21 ENERGY 21 WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 22 HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT HOME RULE 2319 HUMAN RESOURCES 2024 RISK MANAGEMENT 2024 SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY 2125 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2125 UTILITY SERVICES 22 ENERGY 22 WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 23 COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING 274 3 DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND INSPECTION 274 PLANNING AND LAND USE 285 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 295 URBAN AGRICULTURE 29 SAFE COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION 2630 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT 3127 MARIJUANA 2832 PUBLIC SAFETY 3228 TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION 340 CITY LEGISLATIVE STAFF 326 Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5" 4 INTRODUCTION Fort Collins is a community of 151155,000 residents located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains along Colorado’s Front Range. Incorporated in 1873, the City has grown to become the commercial, educational and cultural hub of northern Colorado. The City adopted a home rule charter in 1954 and operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Fort Collins City Council annually adopts a broad set of policy statements meant to convey positions on issues that affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. The 2014 City of Fort Collins Legislative Policy Agenda identifies issues of importance to the City of Fort Collins. The Agenda expresses policies and positions on issues that affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. Our policy agenda is structured to address areas of local concern and to also reflect the strategic planning that guides resource allocation and other decision making within the City organization. Fort CollinsThe City is a data-driven municipal organization that strives to fulfill its mission, “Exceptional service for an exceptional community”, through a vision of providing world-class municipal services through operational excellence and a culture of innovation. City leaders seek innovative solutions to issues facing the community and are often willing to leverage emerging technologies. The 2015 City of Fort Collins Legislative Policy Agenda identifies a broad range of important issues for the City of Fort Collins. The Agenda expresses policies and positions on issues that affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. Our policy agenda is structured to address areas of local concern and to also reflect the strategic planning that guides City of Fort Collins organizational resource allocation and decision making. The City’s Legislative Priorities are issues Fort Collins is focused on in the 2015 Colorado General Assembly and United States Congress. These priority topics, similar to the City’s overall policies, are reviewed and updated annually. Revisions to the policy agenda and priorities are adopted in November ahead of the Colorado General Assembly session. Partnership and interagency collaboration are important methods for achieving optimal legislative outcomes. On many federal and state issues, Fort Collins shares the concerns of others within the community, within the region and other communities statewide. In these cases, Fort Collins will seek opportunities to leverage additional resources and participate in regional dialogue to achieve shared outcomes. The City identified seven outcome areas to ensure appropriate and effective resource allocation supporting the community’s priorities. Fort Collins’ outcome areas include Culture and Recreation; Economic Health; Environmental Health; High Performing 5 Government; Neighborhood Livability; Safe Community; and Transportation. The Policy Agenda identifies specific City Council-adopted goals associated with the policy statements. This alignment is important for City staff to ensure that advocacy supports specific desired outcomes. We offer this Agenda to residents, the business community and our Legislators as a guide when considering legislation that impacts Fort Collins. We encourage Legislators to contact Fort Collins City Council Members and our Legislative Policy Manager should they have specific questions regarding our policy positions when considering specific legislation. Alignment The 2014 City of Fort Collins Legislative Policy Agenda identifies issues of importance to the City of Fort Collins. The Agenda expresses policies and positions on issues that affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. Our policy agenda is structured to address areas of local concern and to also reflect the strategic planning that guides City of Fort Collins organizational resource allocation and decision making. Seven outcome areas have been identified by the City to ensure appropriate and effective resource allocation to support the community’s priorities. Fort Collins’ outcome areas include High Performing Government, Transportation, Culture, Parks and Recreation, Economic Health, Neighborhood Livability, Environmental Health, and Safe Community. The Policy Agenda identifies specific City Council-adopted goals associated with the policy statements. This alignment is important for City staff to ensure that advocacy supports specific desired outcomes. CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE The Legislative Review Committee (LRC) is a representative group of Council members that reviews and reacts to proposed legislation on behalf of City Council and the City. In taking a position on particular bills, the LRC interprets and applies the various policies that are included in the Legislative Policy Agenda. The policies are written in terms of supporting or opposing particular kinds of legislation; however, the policies are intended to guide positions of either support or opposition, depending upon how a bill is written and whether the LRC believes that, if approved, the bill would advance or impede the City’s interests. If a bill is governed by two or more competing policies, then the LRC may decide how to balance those policies in taking a position. If a bill falls outside of the Legislative Policy Agenda, the LRC refers the bill to the full Council for consideration before a position is taken on behalf of the City. Council Members presently serving on the Legislative Review Committee are: 6  Councilmember Wade Troxell, Chair  Councilmember Lisa Poppaw  Councilmember Ross Cunniff LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS This document may be used as a guide to assess City positions onB bills offered duringintroduced in the Colorado General Assembly, United States Congress and federal, state or county regulations or rulemakings are reviewed by the Legislative Policy Manager. Bills, regulation and rules addressing session and in the United States Congressa stated legislative priority, or adopted policy position, may be brought to the LRC for discussion of an official City position. Positions are adopted that reflect the community and approved by City Council prior to the start of the General Assembly session. Bills introduced in the Colorado General Assembly are reviewed by the Legislative Policy Manager and brought to the Legislative Review Committee (LRC) for discussion of an official City position. Once a position is adopted on a bill, the Legislative Policy Manager will conveys that information to the appropriate state or federal representative and will also advocates for the City’s adopted position. Staff liaisons support the LRC by contributing expertise in various areas of municipal service. The input offered by staff experts is invaluable in analyzing impacts of legislative, regulatory and rulemaking proposals to Fort Collins operations and the community. Fort Collins also works with community partners to support local projects and staff collaborates with representatives of other municipalities on mutually-held priorities. Fort Collins actively seeks innovative partnerships to leverage positive outcomes for residents. The City works closely with the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and the National League of Cities (NLC) on many legislative items facing cities. Fort Collins works with Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) which represents 29 municipal utilities throughout the state on utility issues. Fort Collins actively participates in the Colorado Water Congress State Affairs Committee to address water-related issues. 7 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES Objective: Cooperate with stakeholders on refinement of Urban Renewal Authority laws Support retention of Urban Renewal Authority Issue: An Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is a statewide tool in place to identify and revitalize areas of the city deemed blighted and provide a funding mechanism to encourage redevelopment. The main funding tool for URA is Tax Increment Financing (TIF) generated through property taxes. In its best intention, urban renewal restores economic vitality and improves the safety of a designated area. Redeveloping urban areas is much harder and more expensive than new development in “greenfield sites”, thus responds to larger, more costly infrastructure needs. The state of Colorado has empowered local authorities to use Urban Renewal Authorities to encourage revitalization and the elimination of blight in these areas. URA law has been frequently modified by the General Assembly, including many changes supported by the City. This year it is anticipated that several bills could be introduced to further modify the use of URA and TIF.Fort Collins supports dialogue on URA refinement but does not support bills that would eliminate the use of URA or TIF. Fort Collins attempts to use URA and TIF judiciously but also recognizes the concerns raised by counties, special districts and school districts about the use of TIF. URA is an important and useful tool for Fort Collins in addressing community blight and encouraging redevelopment rather than sprawl. Fort Collins supports dialogue on URA enhancements but does not support bills that would eliminate the use of URA or TIF. Objective: Support increasing local control of oil and gas operations Issue: Fort Collins, like many other Colorado communities, has taken steps to address oil and gas extraction. Those efforts have been limited by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) rules. Fort Collins supports studying and better understanding the health and community impacts of oil and gas extraction. that limit restrictions communities can impose and the information available to residents about potentially harmful practices. Fort Collins seeks the following:  Increased local flexibility to regulate oil and gas activity within its incorporated borders  Additional information about the chemicals being injected into the ground, especially during hydraulic fracturing  Greater knowledge and control of air emissions from extraction processes and production equipment 8  Enhanced right for communities to regulate oil and gas as an industrial practice and therefore apply local zoning practices to operators  Better balance between surface land ownership and mineral right ownership Fort Collins intends to use existing programs like the Local Government Designee (LGD) to their fullest potential but will also seek legislative remedies to areas of greatest concern. Fort Collins will also work with other interested communities to address oil and gas operation concerns. The City is monitoring the work of the Governor’s appointed Oil and Gas Task Force and will provide comments as permitted. Objective: Advocate solutions to nuisance and safety issues related to railroad proximity Implement solutions for railroad horn noise Issue: Communities throughout the United States are wrestling with issues related to railroad proximity – these include the transport of hazardous materials, rail car safety, train horn noise, transparency related to rail cargo and train switching. These issues affect quality of life for residents and business owners and can result in catastrophic disasters in cases of derailment. Fort Collins has two active railroad corridors and is working regionally, through the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and National League of Cities (NLC), to raise the profile of rail proximity issues. In addressing rail safety and rail proximity issues, the City has active relationships with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) railroad companies and has cultivated a relationship with the federal regulatory body – the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). In June 2005 the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) implemented a new federal Train Horn Rule that significantly increased the duration, frequency and volume level of train horns at all public grade crossings. Fort Collins is one of many communities across Colorado and the United States that was built along rail lines. The increased noise from the horns has resulted in mounting citizens’ complaints and threatens the economic viability of our community. “Quiet Zones” are offered as a way to mitigate the loud horn noise however studies and mitigation actions are costing many hundreds of thousands of dollars. In order to clean our air, reduce auto congestion and improve quality of life, several federal agencies including the EPA, HUD and the Federal Transit Administration are encouraging Transit Oriented Development. The Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit, which will begin operation in 2014, is one example and we very much appreciate federal support of this project. The idea behind Transit Oriented Development is to bring residents closer to mass transit lines so that they can use mass transportation, and so that downtown revitalization can occur. The Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit, which began operation in 2014, is one example. At the same time, the FRA train horn rule in effect is discouraging the development community and residents from locating around transit. Reform is needed. 9 Trains have regained preference for transporting goods and materials. The increased use of rail has added pressure to the system and identified several safety concerns – track maintenance, tanker car safety, and notification of hazardous materials to public safety leaders. Fort Collins will work to the following goals at a state and national level:  Engagement with railroad companies  Development of a “proximity issues” dialogue between railroad and local governments on a broad suite of topics  Notification about hazardous material shipments passing through communities  Ensuring track maintenance and train car safety  Collaborate with railroads to train local emergency personnel FRA has discussed the rule in terms of ensuring automobile safety – that blasting a horn as the train nears an intersection will prevent accidents. The alternative is expensive quiet zones or approved countermeasures. Fort Collins accident data along Mason Street in Downtown demonstrates that accidents are rare and typically involve risk-taking behavior. Objective: Support allowing local governments to provide broadband and enhanced communication services Issue: In 2005, the Colorado General Assembly passed SB 152, “Competition in Utility and Entertainment Services.” The legislature’s stated intent behind the act was predictability, uniformity, and fairness in the cable television, telecommunications, and high-speed Internet access industries, especially where affected by municipal actions. SB 152 prohibits local governments from directly or indirectly providing cable television service, telecommunications service, or advanced service. “Advanced service” is defined as “high-speed internet access capability in excess of two hundred fifty six kilobits per second both upstream and downstream.” Wired and wireless broadband services are included in this category. Fort Collins Information Technology Department can provide wired and wireless broadband services to City offices and City-owned facilities but is precluded from doing so. The City supports modifying or repealing the provisions of SB05-152 to allow municipalities to provide this “advanced service” in their own buildings and facilities. Objective: Support marijuana law clarifications and alignment with Colorado Constitution Support clarity and consistency between state and federal marijuana laws Issue: The passage and implementation of Amendment 64 legalized adult use marijuana in Colorado. Fort Collins City Council approved limited adult use marijuana businesses and sales in addition to existing medical marijuana businesses. Fort Collins seeks clarification on the following items: 10  Conflicts exist between state and federal laws regarding marijuana possession  The extent communities can regulate and tax marijuana  Enforcement of the new law and its impacts on local staff and public safety resources  Rules pertaining to packaging and labeling marijuana and products containing marijuana  The amount and portion shared locally of sales and excise taxes  Hours and standards for operation for marijuana businesses  Effectively funding prevention of under-21 possession and use  Community public safety  Limiting THC content per serving size and restrict packaging to a single serving In addition to adult use marijuana, communities across the United States that have authorized medical marijuana are struggling with implementation and the need for a single, viable distribution system. At the core of the issues with both medical and adult use marijuana is the classification of the drug. Because mMarijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug, , this designation means it cannot be researched, prescribedbe prescribed by a doctor or handled through the same distribution channels as other prescribed drugs. As a result, different states have adopted different approaches and experiencein conflicts with federal laws. In Colorado, medical marijuana is may be recommended by a doctor but not prescribed. Work is needed at the federal level to clarify this issue. The federal classification should be re-evaluated to and possibly changed in order toconsider allowing more medical research. If it is determined that marijuana fits one of the other classifications and does have medical benefits, it could be included in the existing drug delivery system. Objective: Participate in federal, state and regional efforts to foster resilient communities Support necessary resources to aid Northern Colorado recovery from 2013 flooding Issue: Making communities more resilient to disaster and the effects of a changing climate has become more important to Colorado communities over the last several years as natural disasters have caused significant human and property loss. Resilience has become a term used to describe hardening vulnerable community infrastructure and preparing for predictable hazards in order to soften the blow on citizens and infrastructure. Making Fort Collins and Northern Colorado more resilient involves providing decision- makers hazard mitigation analysis and scientific data, then using that information to invest in complementary systems. Northern Colorado’s experience is that resilience must be a regional effort that pays off through coordinated advanced planning and investment. Resiliency efforts are important because they impact a broad set of critical services including:  Land use Formatted: Indent: Left: 0" 11  Utility operations  Transportation infrastructure  Sustainability services  Health  Safety  Emergency Response Disaster recoveryNorthern Colorado sustained significant flooding that left many people dead, thousands displaced, and infrastructure severely compromised. Fort Collins and its regional partners will seek funding to rebuild infrastructure. Roads, bridges, stormwater and wastewater systems were damaged in many communities throughout Northern Colorado. Residents need to have transportation, sanitary systems and safe housing. Rebuilding the roads and bridges is also critical to restoring tourism and access to the environmental assets of the region. Fort Collins stands alongside its neighbors in supporting funding needed to replace or repair needed systems. Objective: Support funding for transportation infrastructure connectivity with an emphasis on buildfunding an integrated, multi-modal system Issue: Funding for vital transportation infrastructure will continue to be a high priority for the City of Fort Collins. Transportation infrastructure is a critical element to supporting community and regional economic health, safety and quality of life. We strongly support preservation of federal levels of funding and allocation of all federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust funds for their intended purposes. In addition, we urge development of a new, more stable, long range transportation funding mechanism that doesn’t rely upon fuel tax revenues. Fuel tax is no longer a sustainable method of funding the nation’s transportation infrastructure needs.This is no longer a sustainable method of funding the nation’s transportation infrastructure needs. Fort Collins seeks a solution to secure critical funding of the nation’s highway and bridge projects. Allowing the Highway Trust Fund to become insolvent would be devastating to the City’s transportation infrastructure and have impacts throughout the Northern Colorado economy. The City supports a long-term reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation law with a focus on transit, livable community planning, comprehensive regional investments, revitalization of existing infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and approaches that decrease petroleum consumption and reduce carbon pollution. The City applauds the reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation law with a focus on transit, livable communities, comprehensive regional planning, revitalization of existing infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and other approaches that decrease petroleum consumption and reduce carbon pollution. S.1813 – Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP 21) – has many positive attributes however more 12 work is needed to ensure that funding for transit, bicycling, and walking is protected and enhanced, especially at the local level. While MAP-21 provides funding for many Federal and State programs and needs, it appears to further localize the cost of many multi-modal projects and programs. Objective: Pursue federal policies and resources needed to attain City-adopted climate action goals Emphasize federal policies and resources needed to sustain local cleaner energy progress Issue: Fort Collins has adopted aggressive climate action and greenhouse gas reduction goals. The City supports policies and legislation helping communities to achieve specific greenhouse gas reductions, gather scientific data supporting climate actions and to invest in needed infrastructure to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The "Empowering Local Clean Energy Action" federal policy agenda identifies key policies and resources needed for local governments to sustain cleaner energy progress. These include investments in federal programs such as the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, EPA's Climate Showcase Communities, HUD's Sustainable Communities, and other programs that provide direct support for local sustainability initiatives. Fort Collins supports clarification at the federal and state levels of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs. PACE financing, an alternative to a loan, is designed to encourage the installation of renewable-energy systems and improve energy efficiency by helping property owners overcome the barrier of high up-front energy equipment and installation costs. Home energy efficiency can be a significant contributor to community energy efficiency and GHG-reduction goals. Objective: Support comprehensive water resource management Issue: Water resources from the Mountain West to California are stressed by many factors – environmental, population growth and aging infrastructure. Local water resource planning efforts ensure adequate supply to residents through managing the City’s water rights portfolio, encouraging increased efficiency and expanding storage. Fort Collins will support efforts to address water needs, preserve its water rights portfolio, and to encourage conservation of water resources. The conservation of water resources extends to support for Cache la Poudre River restoration projects. Fort Collins will participate in the development of the Colorado Water Plan and the development of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the United States rulemaking. Support integrated waste management planning, including the potential for waste- to-energy benefits 13 Objective: Support waste stream management, reduction and resource strategies Issue: The Fort Collins community is just one member of a regional “waste shed” in Northern Colorado. The City acknowledges this interdependence, and the role that state legislation can, and should, play in applying broad measures such as setting a state waste diversion goal and helping to support related strategies, which could also serve to reduce carbon emissions and create opportunities for waste-to-energy applications when ultra-low pollution conversion technology is used. The City relies on regional and state-wide infrastructure and systems for conventional landfill disposal alternatives such as commercial-scale composting, bio-digesters, recycled-content manufacturers, and specialty landfills. We can only be effective at meeting the community’s waste reduction goals if facility managers have confidence to develop and expand in Colorado, guided by new legislation that drives waste diversion. HB07-1288, the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Act, will sunset in 2017. The City supports extending the provisions of this bill, which established a grant fund for recycling projects using revenue from a seven-cents/ton surcharge on trash placed in Colorado landfills. The City supports the grant program and further seeks steps to increase funding for this high-performing recycling program. Objective: Support a comprehensive approach to reduce the impacts of poverty, housing affordability and homelessness Issue: Poverty and homelessness are persistent issues in Fort Collins and across Colorado. Fort Collins is committed to making homelessness rare, short-lived and non- recurring. The City is interested in developing local solutions to these persistent problems through collaboration and innovation. The City plays both a convening and leadership role among the many community service providers – seeking to foster sustainable solutions to complex social issues through a combination of City involvement and leadership. Fort Collins supports solutions to address poverty within the community such as:  Create an affordable housing fund  Implement the Earned Income Tax Credit  Fix the Child Care Tax Credit  Develop or expand programs that ensure a smooth transition from foster care to independence  Increase funding for mental health care/programs  Increase development of condominiums by addressing construction defect law Objective: Support the innovation economy 14 Issue: Innovation is a key attribute of the City organization and is also important to the community. Fort Collins has numerous drivers of innovation, intellectual property and inventions with an educated resident base, Colorado State University, federal research labs, and a long list of innovative companies. As a result, Fort Collins has a culture and support system that nurtures an innovation economy with the City often serving as a living laboratory for ideas and new technologies. The City will maintain and enhance its innovation economy through:  Supporting efforts to simplify the commercialization of intellectual property  Efforts to increase the available capital to support innovation and new business formation  Efforts that support the spin-off and development of intellectual property from research institutes, private business, and higher education  Efforts to encourage the retention of new and innovative businesses in the community  Supporting business incubation, primarily through the commercialization of intellectual property, with strong partnerships  Application of innovative technologies and approaches to improve city programs and services 15 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS Cultural, Parks and Recreation Strategic Outcome Fort Collins provides diverse cultural and recreational amenities Strategic Objectives 1. Improve low and moderate income citizen access to, and participation in, City programs and facilities 2. Develop effective marketing strategies that drive optimal attendance and revenue 3. Develop effective Operation and Maintenance (O&M) funding alternatives for City subsidized facilities and programs 4. Maintain and enhance the current culture, recreation and parks systems 5. Plan, design and implement citywide park, recreation and trail improvements 6. Develop a clear strategic definition and description of the City’s role in the culture and arts while leveraging partnerships with other community organizations 7. Promote a healthy community and responsible access to nature 1. Provide exceptional programs and facilities that contribute to the health and cultural vibrancy of the community 2. Provide outstanding customer service and operational excellence 3. Provide programs that are diverse, innovative and tailored to our unique community 4. Maintain and enhance a world class regional interconnected system of parks, trails and open lands 5. Promote the arts and make Fort Collins the cultural destination in northern Colorado CULTURAL SERVICES The City recognizes that art and culture are vitally important to the quality of life in our community and is committed to providing the citizens of Fort Collins with excellent cultural services. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support fFunding for cultural services activities promotingfor the education, entertainment and enrichment of the community. 2. Support legislation thatF facilitates the creation, performance and presentation of the arts. 16 3. Support legislation that Pprotects and preserves our cultural heritage. 4. Expand access and inclusion for all citizens to cultural events. 3. PARKS AND RECREATION The City is committed to providing the community with excellent parks and recreation services and facilities. Our citizens enjoy a better quality of life, improved health, less crime and a greater sense of community because of our quality parks and recreation programs. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that mMaintains or enhances funding for parks, trails, forestry, horticulture and recreation services and facilities. 2. Provide maximum local discretion to Support use of Great Outdoors Colorado and other sources for full funding of municipal government projects, with maximum local discretion regarding addressing local needs and priorities. 3. Support Sustain continued availability of Great Outdoors Colorado grants to municipalities in equal or greater funding levels. 4. Support legislation that eEnhances the City’s ability to provide quality parks and recreation services and facilities for its citizens. 5. Support measures that offer enhancedEnhance the protection forof community trees and natural assets against invasive species, pests and other threats. 5.6.Expand access and inclusion for all citizens to community recreational opportunities. ECONOMIC HEALTH Strategic Outcome Promote a healthy, sustainable economy reflecting community values Strategic Objectives 1. Align economic health goals and strategy across all levels of the organization and refine and agree upon the economic tools the City uses 2. Improve policies and programs to retain, expand, incubate and attract primary employers where consistent with City goals Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or numbering Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 17 3. Support workforce development and community amenities initiatives that meet the needs of employers within the City 4. Improve effectiveness through collaboration with economic-health oriented regional partners 5. Sustain high water quality to support the community and water-dependent businesses 6. Maintain utility systems and services; infrastructure integrity; and stable, competitive rates 7. Support sustainable infill and redevelopment to meet climate action strategies 8. Preserve the City’s sense of place 9. Provide transparent, predictable and efficient processes for citizens and businesses interacting with the City 10. Address Downtown parking issues identified in the adopted Parking Plan, including funding, convenient access, and integrated transit and alternative mode solutions 11. Encourage the development of reliable, ultra-high speed internet services throughout the community 1. Enhance opportunities for both businesses and the local workforce 2. Foster a diverse mix of employment and retail opportunities 3. Focus and invest in the downtown area, river district, Lincoln triangle and midtown corridor 4. Ensure adequate staff to provide timely review and critique of development opportunities 5. Revitalize and strengthen business centers FINANCE As a municipality, the City of Fort Collins faces many complex financial issues. Strong fiscal planning, prudent debt management and preservation of the City’s revenue base are vital in maintaining and improving the City’s financial health. Considering the known impacts of legislation on the City’s business community can help foster a stronger tax base and retain a strong quality of life. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that maintainMaintains or expands municipal authority to establish alternative funding mechanisms, including financing tools such as public improvement fees (PIF) and certificates of participation (COP). 18 2. Support iIncreased funding and budgetary autonomy for higher education, specifically Colorado State University and Front Range Community College. 3. Support legislation pPromotinge the equitable treatment of sales and use taxes to residents and corporations residing or doing business in Colorado by limiting exemptions. The City strongly recommends that taxes be as broad-based as possible and that exemptions be limited. 4. Support federal legislation that rRecognizes the importance of sales and use tax to local, self-collecting municipalities and equitably distributes sales tax collections on e-commerce transactions. 5. Support legislation that would maMaintain or increase the City’s revenue base (sales, use and property tax). INVESTMENTS The Fort Collins City Council has adopted investment polices to be used by the City. The policies are reviewed and update periodically to ensure the safety and quality of the portfolio to maintain liquidity and to maximize portfolio earnings. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. PSupport legislation designed to protect, without unnecessarily restricting, the investments of government entities. 2. Support legislation that pProvides for adequate transparency of the City’s investment activity. 3. Support legislation that would pProvide municipalities freedom to participate in investments that meet their strategic objectives. 4. Oppose reDo not restrictions on the City’scities’ ability to adopt itstheir own investment policies. PRIVATIZATION The City of Fort Collins utilizes outside contracts for procurement of many goods and services. This practice of privatization provides citizens with a balance of quality and cost efficiency. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation eEnableing cities to choose the provision of services through private enterprise in a manner that fosters cost effective, sustainable, quality services. 19 2. MaintainSupport local control of the awarding of contracts and the accountability of local officials for those actions. 3. RejectOppose mandates that increase the complexity and cost of services without improving those services. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Fort Collins seeks to maintain a healthy and resilient economic base of businesses. The City works closely with businesses to retain and invest in alignment with the Council’s Action Plan. A healthy and resilient economy for Fort Collins will include:  Diverse jobs that enable citizens and businesses to thrive.  Reflects the values of our unique community in a changing world.  An innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial atmosphere.  Strong partnerships and collaboration with the private sector, educational institutions, and other organizations. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation thatP promotes sustainable economic development. 2. Support rRetaining local governments’ use of tax increment financing as a tool to support Downtown Development Authorities and Urban Renewal Authorities, taking into consideration the land use impacts of such legislation (e.g., sprawl) and the compelling interests and concerns of other taxing entities. 3. Encourage Support adopting innovative solutions to programs and policies that apply innovative solutions to governmental and community problems. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Strategic Outcome Promote, protect and enhance a healthy and sustainable environment Strategic Objectives 1. Improve and protect wildlife habitat and the ecosystems of the Poudre River and other urban streams 2. Achieve environmental goals using the Sustainability Assessment framework 3. Implement indoor and outdoor air quality improvement initiatives 4. Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by creating a built environment focused on green building and mobile emission reductions 20 5. Demonstrate progress toward achieving net zero energy within the community and the City organization using a systems approach 6. Engage citizens in a way to educate and change behavior toward more sustainable living practices 7. Increase the community’s resiliency and preparedness for changes in climate, weather and resource availability 8. Protect and monitor water quality, and implement appropriate conservation efforts and long-term water storage capability 9. Meet or exceed all environmental regulations 10. Conserve and restore biodiversity and habitat 11. Demonstrate progress toward achieving zero waste within the community and the City organization 1. Maintain and improve air and water quality 2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 3. Conserve and restore natural habitat and promote biological health and diversity 4. Reduce waste and resource consumption 5. Increase energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy 6. Align water quantity with storage and conservation policies AIR QUALITY The City’s Air Quality Plan establishes a strong overall goal to “continually improve Fort Collins air quality.” Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation and regulations aAdopting programs and policies that improve public health and air quality. 2. Support legislation that maintains or increases the stringency of airEnsure air quality standards are protective of public health and welfare. 3. Support legislation that eEnhances local government authority to improve air quality beyond minimum State or Federal requirements. 4. Support legislation that pPromotes strategies to improve regional improvement of air quality, recognizing that air pollution does not follow jurisdictional boundaries. 21 5. Support legislation to Aassure that Federal, State and County agencies have adequate authority and resources (funding and personnel) to enforce air quality regulations. 6. Support legislation that removes barriers and pPromotes voluntary actions to reduce air pollution. 7. Support legislation and regulations that rReduce vehicle emissions by:  Using the price mechanisms of the free market to shift citizen and business travel behavior toward actions that reduce vehicle emissions and vehicle miles of travel, including removing hidden cost subsidies to motor vehicle users  Employing economic incentives and disincentives and other market approaches that support clean air  Encouraging behavior changes, such as limiting unnecessaryreducing idling of vehicles  Implementing State motor vehicle emissions testing programs consistent with City air quality goals 8. Support legislation and regulations that pProvide authority for local governments to implement vehicle emissions reductions programs. 9. Support legislation and regulations that makeStrengthen tailpipe emissions and fuel economy standards more stringent for all vehicles. 10. Promote advanced low emission vehicle technology. 10. Support programs and policies that promote advanced low emission vehicle technology; and encourage or promote alternative fuels such as biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol, hydrogen and compressed natural gas. 11. Encourage or promote lower carbon alternative fuels. 11.12. Support legislation and regulations that rReduce or eliminate residential wood smoke emissions in order to achieve compliance with air quality standards. 12.13. Support legislation that helps to rReduce fossil fuel consumption in the transportation and building sector. CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The City of Fort Collins encourages local, state and national efforts to protect and enhance our environment. Additionally, the City has a policy goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 100% below 2005 levels by 2050. The goals call for Fort Collins to be carbon neutral by 2050. 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050. 22 Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation and regulation that reduceEnhance Fort Collins’ vulnerabilityresilience to impacts of climate change impacts. 2. Support legislation that eEstablishes greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions. 3. Support legislation that eEstablishes market-based mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including providing incentives to business and citizens to reduce emissions and for green building and sustainable design. 4. Support legislation and regulations to promoteDevelop strategies to prevent pollution prevention. 5. Maintain and protectSupport the Colorado self-audit law. 6. Evaluate and address impacts of climate change on water demand and supply. 5. NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN LANDS The City has a vigorous program to protect natural areas and other important open lands within Fort Collins, within our Community Growth Management Area, and regionally. The City works in partnership with other communities, Larimer County, private land trusts, Great Outdoors Colorado, community groups, and state and federal agencies to achieve community and regional conservation goals. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that Mmaintains or enhances tax incentives to private landowners for voluntary land conservation by private landowners. 2. Support legislation that eExpands the effectiveness of existing protection for wetlands, wildlife habitats, and other sensitive natural areas. 3. SupportProvide additional funding for land conservation programs. 4. Support legislation pProtecting the Cache la Poudre River. 5. Support legislation that would iIncrease the availability of Great Outdoors Colorado grants to municipalities in amounts equal to or greater than are currently offered. OIL AND GAS Formatted: Underline Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or numbering 23 Oil and gas extraction activity and associated health and environmental impacts are a concern for Fort Collins and many communities in the Front Range of Colorado. Fort Collins has a portion of a small oil field within its incorporated boundaries and has entered into an Operator Agreement or Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that stipulates the operations, maintenance and inspection process for that operator’s local holdings. Citizens in Fort Collins have expressed continuing concern about the human and environmental health impacts from oil and gas operations and particularly from the hydraulic fracturing treatment used on most Colorado wells. In November 2013, voters approved a five-year moratorium on oil and gas extraction in order to study its property value and human health impacts. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Supports tEncourage state, federal and academic studies evaluating he development and execution ofimpacts of oil and gas operations on human health impact studies of oil and gas operationsand property values. 2. Support programs and policies that allow local officials to establishEstablish baseline air pollutant levels and understand the ongoing contributions of the oil and gas industry to air pollution. 3. Support legislation that Pprovides local government the authority to inspect oil and gas sites and ensure operator compliance through enforcement of federal, state and local regulations. 4. Support programs and policies that aAllow communities to understand impacts of oil and gas on water quality. Specifically provide disposition of produced water, and clearly understand the ongoing impacts of the oil and gas industry to water quality. 5.4. Support legislation aAllowing greater local regulation of oil and gas exploration activities within municipal boundaries. 5. Support legislation to bBetter balance surface ownership with mineral right ownership. 6. Allow local governments the ability to apply municipal zoning on oil and gas extraction and storage activities. 7. Maintain the current formula allocation of severance tax to impacted jurisdictions so that they might address impacts from resource extraction. 6. RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: 1, 2, 3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or numbering 24 The City of Fort Collins endorses a multi-pronged approach to waste minimization that includes recycling, re-use, composting and source reduction. Additionally, the City has adopted a goal of diverting 75% of community waste by 2020; 90% by 2025 and 100% by 2030. adopted a goal of diverting 50% of the community’s waste stream from landfill disposal. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that cClarifyies and broadens the regulatory authority of local government to ensure the efficient management of recyclable material and solid waste. 2. Support legislation that eEncourages integrated waste management planning and implementation, including but not limited to creation of a State waste diversion goal. 3. Support legislation that Pprovides incentives and funding for programs that promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling and development of related infrastructure. 4. Support legislation that Eenables “buy recycled” or “environmentally preferable purchasing” policies for government agency procurement. 5. Support legislation that cContinues or increases funding for programs to collect and monitor data on trash volumes, rates of diversion from landfill disposal and economic impacts of recycling. 6. Support legislation to rRequire greater producer responsibility, such as “take back” regulations that assist consumers to appropriately recycle electronic equipment (e-waste.) 7. Support legislation that eEstablishes a deposit fee on beverage containers and that would be used to pay for recycling programs. 8. Support legislation that sStrengthens the “renewable energy” standard; oppose expanding the definition to include pyrolysis (burning of materials). 8.9.Minimize waste by developing methods to use waste as an asset. UTILITY SERVICES It is critical that the City operate its electric distribution, drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services in a financially sound, reliable, safe and environmentally acceptable Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 25 manner. Like other municipal utilities across the country, Fort Collins is faced with many new and evolving challenges associated with changes in the industry, the age and security of its infrastructure and the necessity of managing a changing workforce. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: ENERGY 1. Maintain infrastructure security while minimizing restriction to the Utility’s ability to manage security as an integral part of the system. 2. Provide assistance to local government that balances local design and implementation of greenhouse gas reduction strategies. 3. Establish uniform standards for the reduction of carbon emissions. 4. Remove barriers to financing for energy efficiency, and encourages and funds energy efficiency and conservation while allowing local customization of the programs. 5. Reduce community energy use and net energy use of existing buildings. 6. Incent renewable energy production, including wind power, and provide for “State Implementation Plan” credits for renewable energy (excluding residential wood burning and corn-based ethanol) and energy efficiency. 7. Reject attempts to prevent or inhibit provision of municipal electric service in newly annexed areas. 8. Foster smart grid technology adoption and grid modernization. WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 1. Maintain or expand the authority delegated to the State to administer federally mandated water, stormwater and wastewater environmental regulatory programs (primacy). 2. Enact reasonable water quality regulations that are cost effective and can show identifiable benefits. 3. Enable local watershed protection planning. 4. Provide cities the flexibility to enhance in-stream flows to preserve or improve the natural environment of the stream while protecting the integrity of Colorado’s appropriation doctrine and City water supply. 26 5. Recognize the importance of infrastructure security while minimizing restriction to the Utility’s ability to manage security as an integral part of the system. 6. Stipulate adequate funding for local governments to implement mandated programs. 7. Remove barriers to financing for water conservation projects. 8. Fund recovery and treatment of Cache la Poudre and other waterways impacted by natural disasters. 9. Enable the City to develop and protect its water supply under Colorado’s appropriation doctrine without adversely affecting in-stream flows or the natural environment of the stream. High Performing Government Strategic Outcome Deliver an efficient, innovative, transparent, effective and collaborative city government Strategic Objectives 1. Improve organizational capability and effectiveness – professional development, leadership, change management, strategic thinking, fiscal literacy and staff engagement. 2. Improve core Human Resources systems and develop a total reward system. 3. Align similar jobs and skill sets across the organization to address succession planning and career progression. 4. Strengthen methods of public engagement and reach all segments of the community. 5. Optimize the use of technology to drive efficiency and productivity, and to improve services. 6. Enhance the use of performance metrics to assess results. 7. Develop and implement enterprise-wide processes in appropriate areas – “Plan, Do, Check, Act” process improvement tool, safety, strategic planning, council and strategic plan tracking tool, budgeting, project management. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering, Tab stops: Not at 0.5" 27 8. Assess effectiveness of safety initiatives, develop and implement safety initiatives to achieve safety goals, and continue to focus on employee health and wellness. 9. Improve productivity, efficiency, effectiveness, customer service and citizen satisfaction in all areas of the municipal organization. 10. Implement leading-edge and innovative practices that drive performance excellence and quality improvements across all Service Areas. 11. Proactively influence policy at other levels of government regulation. 12. Promote a values-driven organizational culture that reinforces ethical behavior, exercises transparency and maintains the public trust. 13. Continuously improve the City’s governance process. 1. Improve leadership capability and increase leadership effectiveness 2. Improve organizational fiscal literacy, financial management & fiscal strength 3. Implement a systematic approach to identify, organize, & communicate performance measures 4. Attract, engage and retain a high quality, creative workforce with a diverse set of skills 5. Promote and invest in employee health and safety 6. Develop and foster key community partnerships 7. Establish a culture of exceptional customer service and deliver services that exceed community expectations. HOME RULE The City of Fort Collins is a home rule municipality under Article XX (Article 20) of the Colorado Constitution, which grants home rule municipalities “full right of self- government in local and municipal matters.” Home rule authority affords the citizens of Fort Collins greater access to government and increased opportunity for participation and contribution to the decision making process. Home rule is of utmost importance to the City of Fort Collins. The City recognizes, however, that there are particular areas in which insistence on local control may be untimely or unwise. Therefore, proposed legislation must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine when it is in the City's best interest to assert home rule authority and when the City should support statewide intervention. For example, the City must be free to regulate local activities that primarily impact the area within the City's boundaries, such as the speed of local traffic or the effects of particular land use developments. On the other hand, the cumulative effect of these and other activities has substantial statewide ramifications which may call for statewide regulation, so that, for example, state regulation may be needed to effectively manage overall growth and development in the state, traffic congestion in major transportation corridors and environmental quality. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 28 1. Support legislative efforts toS strengthen home rule authority of municipal governments. 2. OpposeReject legislation that requires State or Federal intervention in matters of local concern and which unnecessarily or adversely affect the City’s ability to manage pursuant to its home rule authority. HUMAN RESOURCES The City of Fort Collins is committed to the safety and well-being of its employees. The City works diligently to be an efficient and responsible steward of tax dollars while ensuring that employees receive fair and competitive compensation and benefits. The City believes that its citizens, through their elected representatives on City Council, are in the best position to determine appropriate City employee compensation, benefits, and policies. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation thatE enhances the City’s ability to decide employment issues, including collective bargaining, arbitration, compensation, benefits and leaves. 2. Support legislation that eExpands the City’s ability to offer health, welfare and wellness services for employees. 3. Support legislation that mMaintains current state funding for police officer death and disability benefits. 4. Reject Oppose legislation that would permitreturning employees with defined contribution plans to return to definedto defined benefit plans if there is a cost to local government. RISK MANAGEMENT The City of Fort Collins recognizes the dual purpose of the workers’ compensation system – providing benefits promptly to injured employees in a cost-effective manner and minimizing costly litigation. Council also recognizes that the City’s self-insurance program is a cost efficient method to insure workers’ compensation and that government intervention or taxation can negatively impact the City. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that improvesImprove administrative efficiency of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. 29 2. Support legislation that preventsResist increased insurance premium costs to employers. 3. Support legislation that would limitLimit or reduce administrative burdens or taxes to self-insurance programs. 4. Support legislation that would cLimitheck insurance claim litigation. 5. Support legislation that Iincreases the City’s options and ability to manage workers’ compensation claims; oppose actions like removing existing off-sets to workers’ compensation benefits or limiting the City’s ability to designate treating physicians. 6. Reject Oppose legislation thatefforts to presumptively expands workers compensation coverage to illnesses or injuries that are not work related. SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY The Fort Collins City Council recognizes that the complexity and diversity of City operations and services required to meet the needs of the citizens of Fort Collins may expose the City and its officers and employees to liability for damage and injury. The Council further recognizes that City officers and employees must be confident that they have the City’s support in the lawful and proper performance of their assigned duties and responsibilities. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that prProtects the interests of municipalities and their officers and employees in the lawful and proper performance of their duties and responsibilities. 2. Support legislation that dDiscourages baseless and frivolous claims and demands made against municipalities, their officers and employees. 3. Support legislation that Maintain or enhancelimits or enhances municipal liability protections, or expandsand municipal immunity. TELECOMMUNICATIONS The City of Fort Collins encourages a competitive, open market for cable and telecommunications services in order to ensure the public has access to a variety of programming and services at the lowest cost possible. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statement: 30 1. Support legislation thatM maintains and enhances local franchising authority .to preserve This helps ensure local governments’ ability to negotiate, in the public interest, for cable channel space, institutional networks and public education and government programming. 2. Support legislation that rRe-establishes the rights of municipalities to provide low cost, accessible telecommunications services and related infrastructure. 3. Revise or repeal SB05-152 so that municipalities may offer high-speed and “advanced service” broadband to residents. 4. Permit communities to offer high speed internet, Wi-Fi and other enhanced telecommunication services to residents, schools, academic institutions and businesses. 5. Support legislation that aAllows municipalities to provide telecommunication services within City-owned facilities and on City property. 3.6.Enhance exclusive digital communication networks for public safety personnel during emergencies. 4. Support legislation that would allow communities to offer high speed internet, Wi-Fi and other enhanced telecommunication services to residents, schools, academic institutions and businesses. UTILITY SERVICES It is critical that the City operate its electric distribution, drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services in a financially sound, reliable, safe and environmentally acceptable manner. Like other municipal utilities across the country, Fort Collins is faced with many new and evolving challenges associated with changes in the industry, the age and security of its infrastructure and the necessity of managing a changing workforce. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: ENERGY 1. Support legislation that recognizes the importance of infrastructure security while minimizing restriction to the Utility’s ability to manage security as an integral part of the system. 2. Support programs that provide assistance to local government, and that encourage and allow for local design and implementation of greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or numbering Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 31 3. Support legislation that establishes uniform standards for the reduction of carbon emissions. 4. Support legislation that removes barriers to financing for energy efficiency, and encourages and funds energy efficiency and conservation while allowing local design and implementation of the programs. 5. Support legislation that reduces community energy use and net energy use of existing buildings. 6. Support legislation and regulations that provide incentives to encourage renewable energy production, including wind power, and provide for “State Implementation Plan” credits for renewable energy (excluding residential wood burning and corn- based ethanol) and energy efficiency. 7. Oppose legislation that attempts to prevent or inhibit provision of municipal electric service in newly annexed areas. 8. Support legislation that encourages grid modernization and smart grid technologies WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 1. Support legislation that maintains or expands the authority delegated to the State to administer federally mandated water, stormwater and wastewater environmental regulatory programs (primacy). 2. Support water quality legislation that results in reasonable water quality control regulations that are cost effective and can show identifiable benefits. 3. Support legislation that enables local development of watershed protection. 4. Support legislation that provides the City the flexibility to enhance in-stream flows to preserve or improve the natural environment of the stream while protecting the integrity of Colorado’s appropriation doctrine and City water supply. 5. Support legislation that recognizes the importance of infrastructure security while minimizing restriction to the Utility’s ability to manage security as an integral part of the system. 6. Support adequate funding of mandated programs. 7. Support legislation that removes barriers to financing for water conservation projects. 8. Support legislation that would fund recovery and treatment of Cache la Poudre and other waterways impacted by 2012 wildfires. 32 Community and Neighborhood Livability Strategic Outcome Provide a high quality built environment and support quality, diverse neighborhoods Strategic Objectives 1. Improve access to a broad range of quality housing that is safe, accessible and affordable. 2. Preserve the significant historical character of the community. 3. Direct and guide growth in the community through appropriate planning, annexation, land use and development review processes. 4. Preserve and provide responsible access to nature. 5. Preserve and enhance the City’s sense of place. 6. Promote health and wellness within the community. 7. Leverage and improve collaboration with other service agencies to address the prevention of homelessness, poverty issues and other high priority human service needs. 8. Expand organizational and community knowledge about diversity, and embrace cultural differences. 9. Develop clear goals, strategic definition and description of the City’s social sustainability role within the community. 10. Address neighborhood parking issues. 11. Maintain and enhance attractive neighborhoods through City services, innovative enforcement techniques, and voluntary compliance with City codes and regulations. 12. Foster positive and respectful neighbor relationships and open communication, as well as provide and support conflict resolution. 1. Develop innovative enforcement efforts and voluntary compliance with City codes 2. Provide, enhance & maintain attractive public spaces 3. Preserve the character of neighborhoods and enhance/maintain the attractiveness of neighborhoods 4. Encourage partnerships with private entities and public agencies for housing, and other programs 5. Improve neighborhood parking management AFFORDABLE HOUSING 33 The City of Fort Collins supports policy and funding mechanisms that help the City develop and maintain affordable housing for our community’s lowest income families. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that mMaintains or enhances current levels of funding for affordable housing throughout Colorado. 2. Support legislation that iIncreases local government’s ability to regulate, manage or generate alternative sources of funding for affordable housing, including public-private partnerships. 3. Support legislation that pProtects the rights of low-income and/or disabled residents in tenant-landlord disputes, especially as it relates to safety issues. 4. Support legislation that rRetains flexibility for City to adopt and enforce rental terms that allow it to appropriately maintain and manage City-owned affordable rental properties. 5. Amend construction defect laws to reasonably balance safe and reliable housing with needed condominium construction. 6. Increase the amount of affordable, sustainable and high-quality housing in communities. 4.7.Develop strategies that balance the cost of services provided to the chronically homeless with the cost of providing permanent supportive housing. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND INSPECTION Fort Collins City Council adopts a land use code, zoning and new and existing property inspection protocol. The City supports retention of home-rule control in aligning development review and inspections with local priorities. In recent sessions, state legislators have introduced measures aimed at having local inspectors provide inspection for building types outside existing responsibilities without additional resources provided to conduct this work. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that fFinancially compensates a jurisdiction or agency for additional work of inspectors through fees or other means. 2. Support legislation that gGives the local governments a choices in accepting additional inspection work. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 34 2.3. Allow local governments to determine the time needed to conduct development review and inspection timelines. PLANNING AND LAND USE Effective local land use planning and land development regulation contributes to the quality of life enjoyed primarily by Fort Collins residents, yet shared regionally within Larimer County. State legislation can influence local governments’ ability to develop and implement land use plans for their communities. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that rRequires regional cooperation in land use and transportation planning, and legislation that fosters sustainable development, without unduly constraining the City’s home rule powers. 2. PSupport legislation that prohibits the annexation of land that is located within the boundaries of a Growth Management Area that was legally established by an intergovernmental agreement between a municipality and a county by any municipality not a party to the agreement. 3. Support legislation to lLimit the definition of a compensable taking and/or the definition of vested property rights beyond the provisions of existing law. 4. Support legislation that would retainRetain local government authority to impose development impact fees. 5. Support legislation that would iIncrease cities’ ability to regulate industrial land uses like oil and gas exploration and extraction. 6. Support Foster equitable public housing policies that equitably balancethat balance protection of tenants and landlords. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY Fort Collins has implemented a triple-bottom line-oriented Sustainability Service Area in an effort to ensure community resources are allocated by considering equally human, environmental and economic benefits. Social Sustainability is the practice of ensuring healthy social systems so that people in our community can thrive. We do this through programs, policies, and partnerships that provide equity and opportunities for all.Social sustainability focuses on housing and human services. Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 35 1. Support mMaintaining or increaseing the funds available through the state and federal government for community-focused non-profits to provide human services and housing support. 2. Support appropriateAdequately fund educational funding for K-12 and public post-secondary institutions to ensure opportunity for youth. 3. SupportProvide funding for before and after school programs and school out days aimed at at-risk population and low- to moderate-income families. 4. Support programs and policies that seek to improveEnhance neighbor relations by improving and the resources available to community mediation and restorative justice programs. 5. Support programs and policies that pProvide communities with resources to address chronic homelessness. 6. Provide reasonable accommodation and expand access for special populations, including individuals with disabilities, seniors, at-risk youth, people with mental health needs, and households needing affordable childcare. 5. URBAN AGRICULTURE In 2011, City Plan, our community's comprehensive plan, was updated and contained four goals related to local food production. Staff has worked to align our policies and regulations with the goals outlined in our comprehensive plan. We have updated the Land Use Code to permit urban agriculture in all zone districts, allow farmers markets in more zone districts, allow a greater number and types of animals to be raised, and exempted hoop houses from the building permit process in order to facilitate year-round production. The City has also been an active participant in the Northern Colorado Food Cluster which convenes stakeholders to advance local food initiatives. Locally grown food is a critical step towards a more sustainable community. Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Provide options for urban farmers to have longer-term access to the land required for food production. 2. Provide all citizens access to healthy foods. 3. Address supply chain needs to support urban farmers. 4. Diversify the production, consumption and distribution of local food products. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or numbering 36 5. Adopt food production practices that support innovative and efficient irrigation practices. Safe Community Strategic Outcome Provide a safe place to live, work, learn and play Strategic Objectives 1. Provide facilities and training capabilities to support a high caliber police force. 2. Optimize the use of technology to drive efficiency, productivity and customer service. 3. Align staffing levels to deliver services that meet community expectations and needs, and increase public safety operational efficiency. 4. Protect life and property with natural, aesthetically pleasing flood mitigation facilities through building codes and development regulations. 5. Develop and implement emergency preparation, response and recovery plans across the organization in collaboration with other community efforts. 6. Improve safety for all modes of travel including vehicular, pedestrian and bicycles. 7. Use data to focus police efforts on reducing crime and disorder within the community. 8. Improve community involvement, education and regional partnerships to make our community safer and stronger. 9. Partner with Poudre Fire Authority to provide fire and emergency services. 10. Provide a high-quality, sustainable water supply that meets or exceeds all public health standards and supports a healthy and safe community. 1. Proactively Support prevention and community safety through education and outreach initiatives 2. Improve response times to collisions, crimes, fires, utility emergencies and medical services 3. Improve the safety and reliability of the City's built environment 4. Support community wide planning, preparedness and recovery from community disasters FIRE PROTECTION 37 The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining a safe environment and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Fort Collins from fire. Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation adoptingInstitute a State fire code, the code of choice being the 2012 International Building and Fire Code, and allow municipalities to adopt their own amendments. 2. Reject Oppose legislation that limits to local enforcement of the International Fire Code as adopted with local amendments, or imposinges inspection requirements or preventings collection of permit or inspection fees as required by the local jurisdiction. 3. Support legislation that requiresEnhance life safety and property protection through the installation of fire protection systems in structures to enhance life safety and property protection when appropriate. 4. Support legislation that sStrengthens the City’s ability to prohibit the use and sale of fireworks and that allows counties and fire districts to prohibit and otherwise control fireworks. 5. Support legislation that Ppromotes fire safety, education and prevention with the goal of reducing injury, loss of life and property damage. 6. Support legislation that allows localAllow local jurisdictions to implement open burning restrictions. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT It is an important concern of the City to safeguard Fort Collins’ health and environmental safety by reducing risks from the unauthorized release of hazardous materials or hazardous waste. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that allowAllows the City to continue controlling risks from hazardous materials use, storage and transportation through the International Building and Fire Code and related local amendments. 2. Support legislation that aAllows Fort Collins to adopt local regulations for hazardous materials, including review and approval of the location of facilities that use or store hazardous materials or hazardous waste. 38 3. Support legislation that sStrengthens the enforcement of hazardous materials regulations. 4. Support legislation sStrengthening the diversion of hazardous waste from landfills. 5. ESupport policies or legislation to establish greater flexibility and more options for local government in the management of publicly-owned areas thought to have asbestos containing soils while maintaining responsible site management practices. 6. Support policies and legislation to pPrevent and penalize improper storage and disposal of hazardous or exploration and production (E&P) wastes from oil and gas operations within municipal boundaries. 7. Preserve community safety by ensuring emergency responders have all available information needed to effectively address disasters and maintain public well- being. 8. Ensure hazardous materials are not stored or used within the 100-year floodplain. MARIJUANA In 2012, Colorado voters approved Amendment 64 which legalizes the possession of adult-use or recreational marijuana in the state. During the same election Fort Collins residents voted to approve the use of medical marijuana within the City. Federal law maintains that marijuana is a schedule 1 drug and, as such, can neither be possessed and used nor researched. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Support legislation that rRegulates medical and retail marijuana manufacture, distribution and dispensaries. 2. Support legislation to cClarify the implementation and local rights and responsibilities related to Amendment 64. 3. Support clarificationClarify and align of the conflict between federal and state law with respect to marijuana enforcementmarijuana law with the Colorado Constitution. 4. Support legislation and policies that pProtect communities’ ability to raise necessary funds to maintain public safety and enforce marijuana possession laws. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 39 5. Support legislation and policies that pPrevent under-21 access to marijuana. 6. Support legislation that clarifiesClarify the rights of individuals, landlords and homeowner associations in limiting or preventing growing or consuming marijuana in multi-family dwellings. 7. Provide additional state marijuana enforcement resources, especially for field enforcement. 8. Limit THC content per serving size and restrict packaging to a single serving. 6. PUBLIC SAFETY The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining public order, providing a safe environment, and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Fort Collins. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Develop treatment and intervention programs, especially for youth, which have the potential to reduce incidents of violence in the community. 1. Support legislation that has the potential to reduce incidents of violence in the community, especially through the development of treatment and intervention programs for youth. 2. Support legislation and funding that pProvides greater protection to victims of crime. 3. Support legislation that mMaintains or enhances the City’s right to use camera enforcement of traffic laws, reduces operational restrictions on the use of camera enforcement, and increases the fines associated with violations. 4. Support legislation eEstablishing protocols and funding for shared, statewide emergency response communications. 5. Reject Oppose programs thatinitiatives that have the potential to compromise officer safety. 6. Establish minimum training criteria and professional mediator certificationSupport legislation that formally legitimizes the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) by establishing minimum training criteria and professional mediator certification. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or numbering 40 7. Support legislation that rRegulates the use of cell phones by a motorist while operating a vehicle. 8. Support legislation that pPreserves or increases funding for treatment of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. 9. Support legislation that mMaintains or enhances a statewide database of concealed weapons permits. 10. Support legislation toSeek to reduce community flood risks. 11. Support legislation that rReduces cCityies’ liability for prisoners’ self-inflicted wounds while in police custody or detention facility. 12. Support legislation and policies Rrestricting access to illegal substances. 13. Support legislation to Rrequire greater producer responsibility such as “take back” for prescription drugs to avoid these substances being abused or being disposed of into the water supply. 14. Support clarification ofClarify the qualifications for what types and purposes a business may obtain and use a state liquor license. 15. Support dDefineing what qualifies as a “meal” when calculating the percentage of meals served for a liquor license. 16. Increasing state, regional and local disaster resilience. Transportation Strategic Outcome Provide for safe & reliable multi-modal travel to, from, and throughout the city Strategic Objectives 1. Improve safety of all modes of travel. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 41 2. Improve transit availability and grow ridership through extended hours, improved headways, and Sunday service in appropriate activity centers. 3. Fill the gaps for all modes of travel and improve the current transportation infrastructure while enhancing the aesthetic environment. 4. Improve traffic flow for all modes of transporting people, goods and information to benefit both individuals and the business community. 5. Create and implement long-term transportation planning and help local and regional transportation networks operate at a high level of efficiency, including the airport. 6. Support efforts to achieve climate action goals by reducing mobile emissions and supporting multiple modes of transportation. 7. Create and implement planning, engineering and financial strategies to address adequate infrastructure within the northeast area of Fort Collins. 1. Provide safe, well-functioning, high quality streets, bikeways, sidewalks, trails & infrastructure 2. Provide long-term transportation planning to enhance citizen mobility and improve traffic flow 3. Limit the rate of increase or reduce vehicle traffic and enhance alternative travel modes 4. Address long-term maintenance & operations cost of transportation infrastructure 5. Enhance the sustainability of the physical assets as well as the operations of transportation systems TRANSPORTATION The City actively promotes the safety and ease of traveling to, from and throughout the community using a variety of modes of transportation. Additionally, the City’s policy is to encourage the use of alternative transportation whenever appropriate. Therefore, the City supports the following policies: 1. Support legislation that fFacilitates cooperative programs among government agencies in order to help the City meet its basic transportation needs, including transit, street, highway, road and bridge construction and maintenance, and safe corridors for bicyclists and pedestrians. 2. Oppose legislation that seeks to reducReject reductions toe the present allocation formula of 60% state, 22% counties, and 18% municipalities for Highway User Tax Fund (HUTF) or any appropriations from the State using the same formula. 3. Support eExploratione and analysisze of alternative methods of funding transportation infrastructure needs. 42 4. Support legislation to Ffund analysis and implementation of inter- and intra- regional transit linkages, including future commuter rail connectivity. 5. Support legislation that fFacilitates regional planning for various modes of transportation with the goal of providing practical solutions to reduce reliance on single occupant vehicles. 6. Support efforts to eEncourage flexibility in federal funding and regulations in order to better meet the needs of small to medium size communities. 7. Encourage or incent location of affordable housing near transit for greatest accessibility 7.8.Support pPreservatione of the federal guaranteed levels of federal funding for transportation, and allocation of all federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust funds for their intended transportation purposes. 8.9.Support legislation bBroadening the definition of the gasoline tax to a “fuel tax” that encompasses other fuel options as they become more prevalent. 9.10. Support legislation that Increase local governments’ ability to prevent railroad trains limits the ability of railroad trains tofrom blocking street and highway grade crossings for unreasonable periods. 10.11. Support legislation that fFacilitates the implementation of railroad quiet zones in municipalities and that reduces current train horn decibel and duration requirements in existing federal rule. 12. Oppose legislation intended toReject divesting key highway roads in urban areas from the State and make them the sole responsibility of local jurisdictions. 13. Maintain safe operation of railroads through timely track inspections, joint training and communication between railroad and emergency personnel and the use of safe equipment. Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering Formatted: List Paragraph, No bullets or numbering 43 CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS Legislative Review Committee Name District/Title Email Councilmember Wade Troxell District 4 wtroxell@fcgov.com Councilmember Lisa Poppaw District 2 lpoppaw@fcgov.com Councilmember Ross Cunniff District 5 rcunniff@fcgov.com Wendy Williams Assistant City Manager wwilliams@fcgov.com Steve RoyCarrie Daggett Interim City Attorney sroycdaggett@fcgov.com Dan Weinheimer Legislative Policy Manager dweinheimer@fcgov.com Legislative Staff Liaison Members Topic Area Name Title Email Affordable Housing and Social Sustainability Joe FrankBeth Sowder Interim Social Sustainability Director jfrankbsowder@fcgov.c om Air Quality Melissa Hovey Senior Environmental Planner mhovey@fcgov.com Cable Television Franchise Carson Hamlin Cable Television Manager chamlin@fcgov.com Climate and Environmental Protection Lucinda Smith Environmental Services Director lsmith@fcgov.com Elections, Liquor Licensing, Medical Marijuana Licensing Wanda Nelson City Clerk wnelson@fcgov.com Cultural Services, Parks and Recreation J.R. Schnelzer Director of Parks jrschnelzer@fcgov.com Energy Steve Catanach Light and Power Operations Manager scatanach@fcgov.com Finance Michael Beckstead Chief Financial Officer mbeckstead@fcgov.com Economic Health Josh Birks Economic Health Director jbirks@fcgov.com Fire Protection and Hazardous Materials Management Bob Poncelow Division Chief, Poudre Fire Authority 44 Legal Carrie Daggett Deputy Interim City Attorney cdaggett@fcgov.com Natural Areas, Open Lands and Cache la Poudre River Issues John Stokes Natural Resources Director jstokes@fcgov.com Neighborhood and Building Services Mike Gebo Chief Building Official mgebo@fcgov.com Planning and Land Use Lindsay ExLaurie Kadrich Community Development and Neighborhood Services DirectorSenior Environmental Planner lexlkadrich@fcgov.com Public Safety Rita DavisCory Christensen Project and Public Information ManagerDeputy Chief rdavis@fcgov.com cchristensen@fcgov.co m Recycling and Solid Waste Susie Gordon Senior Environmental Planner sgordon@fcgov.com Risk Management Lance Murray Risk Manager lmurray@fcgov.com Stormwater Jon Haukaas Water Engineering Field Operations Manager jhaukaas@fcgov.com Transportation Mark Jackson Planning, Development and Transportation Deputy Director mjackson@fcgov.com Utilities Customer Service Lisa Rosintoski Utility Customer Connections Manager lrosintoski@fcgov.com Water Supply and Quality Kevin GertigCarol Webb - 1 - RESOLUTION 2014-104 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS ADOPTING THE CITY’S 2015 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA WHEREAS, state and federal legislation may impact the citizens of Fort Collins, affecting their quality of life; and WHEREAS, such state and federal legislation may also influence the operations of municipal governments, including the City; and WHEREAS, the City has an interest in providing input on proposed legislation; and WHEREAS, Councilmembers and staff are asked to state the City’s policy position on legislation; and WHEREAS, in addition on occasion the City has an interest in providing input on proposed county, state and federal regulations; and WHEREAS, establishing the City’s policy position assists the members of the Legislative Review Committee in their review of, and response to, these matters, and assists City staff in communicating and advocating the City’s policy position on the same. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the policy statements contained in the attached 2015 Legislative Policy Agenda accurately reflect the City’s policies on these issues. Section 2. That the City Council hereby adopts the 2015 Legislative Policy Agenda attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by this reference. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 18th day of November, A.D. 2014. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk 1 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA 2015 Adopted November 18, 2014 EXHIBIT A 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPIC PAGE INTRODUCTION 4 FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE 5 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS 5 2015 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 6 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS 13 CULTURAL AND RECREATION CULTURAL SERVICES 13 PARKS AND RECREATION 13 ECONOMIC HEALTH FINANCE 15 INVESTMENTS 15 PRIVATIZATION 16 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 16 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AIR QUALITY 17 CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 18 NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN LANDS 19 OIL AND GAS 19 RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE 20 UTILITY SERVICES 21 ENERGY 21 WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 22 HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT HOME RULE 23 HUMAN RESOURCES 24 RISK MANAGEMENT 24 SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY 25 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 25 COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING 27 DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND INSPECTION 27 PLANNING AND LAND USE 28 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 29 URBAN AGRICULTURE 29 SAFE COMMUNITY 3 FIRE PROTECTION 30 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT 31 MARIJUANA 32 PUBLIC SAFETY 32 TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION 34 CITY LEGISLATIVE STAFF 36 4 INTRODUCTION Fort Collins is a community of more than 155,000 residents located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains along Colorado’s Front Range. Incorporated in 1873, the City has grown to become the commercial, educational and cultural hub of Northern Colorado. The City adopted a home rule charter in 1954 and operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Fort Collins City Council annually adopts a broad set of policy statements meant to convey positions on issues that affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. The City is a data-driven municipal organization that strives to fulfill its mission, “Exceptional service for an exceptional community,” through a vision of providing world-class municipal services through operational excellence and a culture of innovation. City leaders seek innovative solutions to issues facing the community and are often willing to leverage emerging technologies. The 2015 City of Fort Collins Legislative Policy Agenda identifies a broad range of important issues for the City of Fort Collins. The Agenda expresses policies and positions on issues that affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. Our policy agenda is structured to address areas of local concern and also to reflect the strategic planning that guides City of Fort Collins organizational resource allocation and decision making. The City’s Legislative Priorities are issues Fort Collins is focused on in the 2015 Colorado General Assembly and United States Congress. These priority topics, similar to the City’s overall policies, are reviewed and updated annually. Revisions to the policy agenda and priorities are adopted in November ahead of the Colorado General Assembly session. Partnership and interagency collaboration are important methods for achieving optimal legislative outcomes. On many federal and state issues, Fort Collins shares the concerns of others within the community, within the region and other communities statewide. In these cases, Fort Collins will seek opportunities to leverage additional resources and participate in regional dialogue to achieve shared outcomes. The City identified seven outcome areas to ensure appropriate and effective resource allocation supporting the community’s priorities. Fort Collins’ outcome areas include Culture and Recreation; Economic Health; Environmental Health; High Performing Government; Neighborhood Livability; Safe Community; and Transportation. The Policy Agenda identifies specific City Council-adopted goals associated with the policy statements. This alignment is important for City staff to ensure that advocacy supports specific desired outcomes. 5 CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE The Legislative Review Committee (LRC) is a representative group of Councilmembers that reviews and reacts to proposed legislation on behalf of City Council and the City. In taking a position on particular bills, the LRC interprets and applies the various policies that are included in the Legislative Policy Agenda. Councilmembers presently serving on the Legislative Review Committee are:  Councilmember Wade Troxell, Chair  Councilmember Lisa Poppaw  Councilmember Ross Cunniff LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS Bills introduced in the Colorado General Assembly, United States Congress and federal, state or county regulations or rulemakings are reviewed by the Legislative Policy Manager. Bills, regulation and rules addressing a stated legislative priority, or adopted policy position, may be brought to the LRC for discussion of an official City position. Once a position is adopted on a bill, the Legislative Policy Manager conveys that information to the appropriate state or federal representative and advocates for the City’s adopted position. Staff liaisons support the LRC by contributing expertise in various areas of municipal service. The input offered by staff experts is invaluable in analyzing impacts of legislative, regulatory and rulemaking proposals to Fort Collins operations and the community. Fort Collins also works with community partners to support local projects and staff collaborates with representatives of other municipalities on mutually-held priorities. Fort Collins actively seeks innovative partnerships to leverage positive outcomes for residents. The City works closely with the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and the National League of Cities (NLC) on many legislative items facing cities. Fort Collins works with the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU), which represents 29 municipal utilities throughout the state on utility issues. Fort Collins actively participates in the Colorado Water Congress State Affairs Committee to address water-related issues. 6 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES Objective: Cooperate with stakeholders on refinement of Urban Renewal Authority laws Issue: An Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is a tool in place to identify and revitalize areas of communities deemed blighted and provide a funding mechanism to encourage redevelopment. The main funding source for URA is Tax Increment Financing (TIF) generated through property taxes. In its best intention, urban renewal restores economic vitality and improves the safety of a designated area. Redeveloping urban areas is much harder and more expensive than new development in “greenfield sites”, thus responds to larger, more costly infrastructure needs. The state of Colorado has empowered local authorities to use Urban Renewal Authorities to encourage revitalization and the elimination of blight in these areas. URA law has been frequently modified by the General Assembly, including many changes supported by the City. Fort Collins supports dialogue on URA refinement but does not support bills that would eliminate the use of URA or TIF. Fort Collins attempts to use URA and TIF judiciously but also recognizes the concerns raised by counties, special districts and school districts about the use of TIF. URA is an important and useful tool for Fort Collins in addressing community blight and encouraging redevelopment rather than sprawl. Objective: Support local control of oil and gas operations Issue: Fort Collins, like many other Colorado communities, has taken steps to address oil and gas extraction. Those efforts have been limited by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) rules. Fort Collins supports studying and better understanding the health and community impacts of oil and gas extraction. Fort Collins seeks the following:  Increased local flexibility to regulate oil and gas activity within its incorporated borders  Additional information about the chemicals being injected into the ground, especially during hydraulic fracturing  Greater knowledge and control of air emissions from extraction processes and production equipment  Enhanced right for communities to regulate oil and gas as an industrial practice and therefore apply local zoning practices to operators  Better balance between surface land ownership and mineral rights ownership Fort Collins intends to use existing programs like the Local Government Designee (LGD) to its fullest potential, but will also seek legislative remedies to areas of greatest concern. Fort Collins will also work with other interested communities to address oil and gas 7 operation concerns. The City is monitoring the work of the Governor’s appointed Oil and Gas Task Force and will provide comments as permitted. Objective: Advocate solutions to nuisance and safety issues related to railroad proximity Issue: Communities throughout the United States are wrestling with issues related to railroad proximity – these include the transport of hazardous materials, rail car safety, train horn noise, transparency related to rail cargo and train switching. These issues affect quality of life for residents and business owners and can result in catastrophic disasters in cases of derailment. Fort Collins has two active railroad corridors and is working regionally, through the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and National League of Cities (NLC), to raise the profile of rail proximity issues. In addressing rail safety and rail proximity issues, the City has active relationships with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) railroad companies and has cultivated a relationship with the federal regulatory body – the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). In order to clean our air, reduce auto congestion and improve quality of life, several federal agencies including the EPA, HUD and the Federal Transit Administration are encouraging Transit Oriented Development. The idea behind Transit Oriented Development is to bring residents closer to mass transit lines so that they can use mass transportation, and so that downtown revitalization can occur. The Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit, which began operation in 2014, is one example. At the same time, the FRA train horn rule in effect is discouraging the development community and residents from locating around transit. Reform is needed. Trains have regained preference for transporting goods and materials. The increased use of rail has added pressure to the system and identified several safety concerns – track maintenance, tanker car safety, and notification of hazardous materials to public safety leaders. Fort Collins will work to the following goals at a state and national level:  Engagement with railroad companies  Development of a “proximity issues” dialogue between railroad and local governments on a broad suite of topics  Notification about hazardous material shipments passing through communities  Ensuring track maintenance and train car safety  Collaborate with railroads to train local emergency personnel Objective: Support allowing local governments to provide broadband and enhanced communication services Issue: In 2005, the Colorado General Assembly passed SB 152, “Competition in Utility and Entertainment Services.” The legislature’s stated intent behind the act was predictability, uniformity, and fairness in the cable television, telecommunications and high-speed Internet access industries, especially where affected by municipal actions. 8 SB 152 prohibits local governments from directly or indirectly providing cable television service, telecommunications service or advanced service. “Advanced service” is defined as “high-speed internet access capability in excess of two hundred fifty six kilobits per second both upstream and downstream.” Wired and wireless broadband services are included in this category. Fort Collins Information Technology Department can provide wired and wireless broadband services to City offices and City-owned facilities, but is precluded from doing so by state law. The City supports modifying or repealing the provisions of SB05-152 to allow municipalities to provide this “advanced service” in their own buildings and facilities. Objective: Support marijuana law clarifications and alignment with Colorado Constitution Issue: The passage and implementation of Amendment 64 legalized adult use marijuana in Colorado. Fort Collins City Council approved limited adult use marijuana businesses and sales in addition to existing medical marijuana businesses. Fort Collins seeks clarification on the following items:  Conflicts exist between state and federal laws regarding marijuana possession  Enforcement of the new law and its impacts on local staff and public safety resources  Rules pertaining to packaging and labeling marijuana and products containing marijuana  Effectively funding prevention of under-21 possession and use  Community public safety  Limiting THC content per serving size and restrict packaging to a single serving In addition to adult use marijuana, communities across the United States that have authorized medical marijuana are struggling with implementation and the need for a single, viable distribution system. At the core of the issues with both medical and adult use marijuana is the classification of the drug. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug, this designation means it cannot be prescribed by a doctor or handled through the same distribution channels as other prescribed drugs. As a result, different states have adopted approaches in conflict with federal laws. In Colorado, medical marijuana may be recommended by a doctor but not prescribed. Work is needed at the federal level to clarify this issue. The federal classification should be re-evaluated to consider allowing more medical research. If it is determined that marijuana fits one of the other classifications and does have medical benefits, it could be included in the existing drug delivery system. Objective: Participate in federal, state and regional efforts to foster resilient communities 9 Issue: Making communities more resilient to disaster and the effects of a changing climate has become more important to Colorado communities over the last several years as natural disasters have caused significant human and property loss. Resilience has become a term used to describe hardening vulnerable community infrastructure and preparing for predictable hazards in order to soften the blow on citizens and infrastructure. Making Fort Collins and Northern Colorado more resilient involves providing decision- makers hazard mitigation analysis and scientific data, then using that information to invest in complementary systems. Northern Colorado’s experience is that resilience must be a regional effort that pays off through coordinated advanced planning and investment. Resiliency efforts are important because they impact a broad set of critical services including:  Land use  Utility operations  Transportation infrastructure  Sustainability services  Health  Safety  Emergency Response  Disaster recovery Objective: Support regional transportation infrastructure connectivity with an emphasis on funding an integrated, multi-modal system Issue: Funding for vital transportation infrastructure continues to be a high priority for the City of Fort Collins. Transportation infrastructure is a critical element to supporting community and regional economic health, safety and quality of life. We strongly support preservation of federal funding levels and full allocation of federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust funds for their intended purposes. In addition, we urge development of a new, more stable, long-range transportation funding mechanism that doesn’t rely upon fuel tax revenues. Fuel tax is no longer a sustainable method of funding the nation’s transportation infrastructure needs. Fort Collins seeks a solution to secure critical funding of the nation’s highway and bridge projects. Allowing the Highway Trust Fund to become insolvent would be devastating to the City’s transportation infrastructure and have impacts throughout the Northern Colorado economy. The City supports a long-term reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation law with a focus on transit, livable community planning, comprehensive regional investments, revitalization of existing infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and approaches that decrease petroleum consumption and reduce carbon pollution. 10 Objective: Pursue federal policies and resources needed to attain City-adopted climate action goals Issue: Fort Collins has adopted aggressive climate action and greenhouse gas reduction goals. The City supports policies and legislation helping communities to achieve specific greenhouse gas reductions, gather scientific data supporting climate actions and to invest in needed infrastructure to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The "Empowering Local Clean Energy Action" federal policy agenda identifies key policies and resources needed for local governments to sustain cleaner energy progress. These include investments in federal programs such as the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, EPA's Climate Showcase Communities, HUD's Sustainable Communities, and other programs that provide direct support for local sustainability initiatives. Fort Collins supports clarification at the federal and state levels of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs. PACE financing, an alternative to a loan, is designed to encourage the installation of renewable-energy systems and improve energy efficiency by helping property owners overcome the barrier of high up-front energy equipment and installation costs. Home energy efficiency can be a significant contributor to community energy efficiency and GHG-reduction goals. Objective: Support comprehensive water resource management Issue: Water resources from the Mountain West to California are stressed by many factors – environmental, population growth and aging infrastructure. Local water resource planning efforts ensure adequate supply to residents through managing the City’s water rights portfolio, encouraging increased efficiency and expanding storage. Fort Collins will support efforts to address water needs, preserve its water rights portfolio, and to encourage conservation of water resources. The conservation of water resources extends to support for Cache la Poudre River restoration projects. Fort Collins will participate in the development of the Colorado Water Plan and the development of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the United States rulemaking. Objective: Support waste stream management, reduction and resource strategies Issue: The Fort Collins community is just one member of a regional “waste shed” in Northern Colorado. The City acknowledges this interdependence, and the role that state legislation can, and should, play in applying broad measures such as setting a state waste diversion goal and helping to support related strategies, which could also serve to reduce carbon emissions and create opportunities for waste-to-energy applications when ultra-low pollution conversion technology is used. 11 The City relies on regional and state-wide infrastructure and systems for conventional landfill disposal alternatives such as commercial-scale composting, bio-digesters, recycled-content manufacturers, and specialty landfills. We can be more effective at meeting the community’s waste reduction goals through partnerships aimed at reduction, management and resources strategies. HB07-1288, the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Act, will sunset in 2017. The City supports extending the provisions of this bill, which established a grant fund for recycling projects using revenue from a seven-cents/ton surcharge on trash placed in Colorado landfills. The City supports the grant program and further seeks steps to increase funding for this high-performing recycling program. Objective: Support a comprehensive approach to reduce the impacts of poverty, housing affordability and homelessness Issue: Poverty and homelessness are persistent issues in Fort Collins and across Colorado. Fort Collins is committed to making homelessness rare, short-lived and non- recurring. The City is interested in developing local solutions to these persistent problems through collaboration and innovation. The City plays both a convening and leadership role among the many community service providers – seeking to foster sustainable solutions to complex social issues through a combination of City involvement and leadership. Fort Collins supports solutions to address poverty within the community such as:  Create an affordable housing fund  Implement the Earned Income Tax Credit  Fix the Child Care Tax Credit  Develop or expand programs that ensure a smooth transition from foster care to independence  Increase funding for mental health care/programs  Increase development of condominiums by addressing construction defect law Objective: Support the innovation economy Issue: Innovation is a key attribute of the City organization and is also important to the community. Fort Collins has numerous drivers of innovation, intellectual property and inventions with an educated resident base, Colorado State University, federal research labs, and a long list of innovative companies. As a result, Fort Collins has a culture and support system that nurtures an innovation economy with the City often serving as a living laboratory for ideas and new technologies. The City will maintain and enhance its innovation economy through: 12  Supporting efforts to simplify the commercialization of intellectual property  Efforts to increase the available capital to support innovation and new business formation  Efforts that support the spin-off and development of intellectual property from research institutes, private business, and higher education  Efforts to encourage the retention of new and innovative businesses in the community  Supporting business incubation, primarily through the commercialization of intellectual property, with strong partnerships  Application of innovative technologies and approaches to improve city programs and services 13 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS Cultural and Recreation Strategic Outcome Fort Collins provides diverse cultural and recreational amenities Strategic Objectives 1. Improve low and moderate income citizen access to, and participation in, City programs and facilities 2. Develop effective marketing strategies that drive optimal attendance and revenue 3. Develop effective Operation and Maintenance (O&M) funding alternatives for City subsidized facilities and programs 4. Maintain and enhance the current culture, recreation and parks systems 5. Plan, design and implement citywide park, recreation and trail improvements 6. Develop a clear strategic definition and description of the City’s role in the culture and arts while leveraging partnerships with other community organizations 7. Promote a healthy community and responsible access to nature CULTURAL SERVICES The City recognizes that art and culture are important to the quality of life in our community and is committed to providing the citizens of Fort Collins with excellent cultural services. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Fund cultural services activities promoting the education, entertainment and enrichment of the community. 2. Facilitate the creation, performance and presentation of the arts. 3. Protect and preserve our cultural heritage. 4. Expand access and inclusion for all citizens to cultural events. PARKS AND RECREATION The City is committed to providing the community with excellent parks and recreation services and facilities. Our citizens enjoy a better quality of life, improved health, less crime and a greater sense of community because of our quality parks and recreation programs. 14 Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Maintain or enhance funding for parks, trails, forestry, horticulture and recreation services and facilities. 2. Provide maximum local discretion to use Great Outdoors Colorado and other sources to fund municipal government projects addressing local needs and priorities. 3. Sustain availability of Great Outdoors Colorado grants to municipalities in equal or greater funding levels. 4. Enhance the City’s ability to provide quality parks and recreation services and facilities for its citizens. 5. Enhance the protection of community trees and natural assets against invasive species, pests and other threats. 6. Expand access and inclusion for all citizens to community recreational opportunities. ECONOMIC HEALTH Strategic Outcome Promote a healthy, sustainable economy reflecting community values Strategic Objectives 1. Align economic health goals and strategy across all levels of the organization and refine and agree upon the economic tools the City uses 2. Improve policies and programs to retain, expand, incubate and attract primary employers where consistent with City goals 3. Support workforce development and community amenities initiatives that meet the needs of employers within the City 4. Improve effectiveness through collaboration with economic-health oriented regional partners 5. Sustain high water quality to support the community and water-dependent businesses 6. Maintain utility systems and services; infrastructure integrity; and stable, competitive rates 7. Support sustainable infill and redevelopment to meet climate action strategies 8. Preserve the City’s sense of place 15 9. Provide transparent, predictable and efficient processes for citizens and businesses interacting with the City 10. Address Downtown parking issues identified in the adopted Parking Plan, including funding, convenient access, and integrated transit and alternative mode solutions 11. Encourage the development of reliable, ultra-high speed internet services throughout the community FINANCE As a municipality, the City of Fort Collins faces many complex financial issues. Strong fiscal planning, prudent debt management and preservation of the City’s revenue base are vital in maintaining and improving the City’s financial health. Considering the known impacts of legislation on the City’s business community can help foster a stronger tax base and retain a strong quality of life. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Maintain or expand municipal authority to establish alternative funding mechanisms, including financing tools such as public improvement fees (PIF) and certificates of participation (COP). 2. Increase funding for higher education, specifically Colorado State University and Front Range Community College. 3. Promote the equitable treatment of sales and use taxes to residents and corporations residing or doing business in Colorado by limiting exemptions. 4. Recognize the importance of sales and use tax to local, self-collecting municipalities and equitably distribute sales tax collections on e-commerce transactions. 5. Maintain or increase the City’s revenue base (sales, use and property tax). INVESTMENTS The Fort Collins City Council has adopted investment policies to be used by the City. The policies are reviewed and updated periodically to ensure the safety and quality of the portfolio to maintain liquidity and to maximize portfolio earnings. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Protect, without unnecessarily restricting, the government entities’ investment portfolios. 16 2. Provide adequate transparency of the City’s investment activity. 3. Provide municipalities freedom to participate in investments that meet their adopted strategic objectives. 4. Does not restrict cities’ ability to adopt their own investment policies. PRIVATIZATION The City of Fort Collins utilizes outside contracts for procurement of many goods and services. This practice of privatization provides citizens with a balance of quality and cost efficiency. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Enable cities to choose the provision of services through private enterprise in a manner that fosters cost effective, sustainable, quality services. 2. Maintain local control concerning the awarding of contracts and the accountability of local officials for those actions. 3. Reject mandates that increase the complexity and cost of services without improving those services. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Fort Collins seeks to maintain a healthy and resilient economic base of businesses. The City works closely with businesses to retain and invest in alignment with the Council’s Action Plan. A healthy and resilient economy for Fort Collins will include:  Diverse jobs that enable citizens and businesses to thrive  Reflects the values of our unique community in a changing world  An innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial atmosphere  Strong partnerships and collaboration with the private sector, educational institutions, and other organizations Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Promote sustainable economic development. 2. Retain local governments’ use of tax increment financing as a tool to support Downtown Development Authorities and Urban Renewal Authorities, taking into consideration the land use impacts of such legislation (e.g., sprawl) and the compelling interests and concerns of other taxing entities. 17 3. Encourage adopting innovative solutions to governmental and community problems. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Strategic Outcome Promote, protect and enhance a healthy and sustainable environment Strategic Objectives 1. Improve and protect wildlife habitat and the ecosystems of the Poudre River and other urban streams 2. Achieve environmental goals using the Sustainability Assessment framework 3. Implement indoor and outdoor air quality improvement initiatives 4. Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by creating a built environment focused on green building and mobile emission reductions 5. Demonstrate progress toward achieving net zero energy within the community and the City organization using a systems approach 6. Engage citizens in a way to educate and change behavior toward more sustainable living practices 7. Increase the community’s resiliency and preparedness for changes in climate, weather and resource availability 8. Protect and monitor water quality, and implement appropriate conservation efforts and long-term water storage capability 9. Meet or exceed all environmental regulations 10. Conserve and restore biodiversity and habitat 11. Demonstrate progress toward achieving zero waste within the community and the City organization AIR QUALITY The City’s Air Quality Plan establishes a strong overall goal to “continually improve Fort Collins air quality.” Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Adopt programs and policies that improve public health and air quality. 2. Ensure air quality standards are protective of public health and welfare. 18 3. Enhance local government authority to improve air quality beyond minimum State or Federal requirements. 4. Promote strategies to improve regional air quality, recognizing that air pollution does not follow jurisdictional boundaries. 5. Assure that Federal, State and County agencies have adequate authority and resources (funding and personnel) to enforce air quality regulations. 6. Promote voluntary actions to reduce air pollution. 7. Reduce vehicle emissions by:  Using the price mechanisms of the free market to shift citizen and business travel behavior toward actions that reduce vehicle emissions and vehicle miles of travel, including removing hidden cost subsidies to motor vehicle users  Employing economic incentives and disincentives and other market approaches that support clean air  Encouraging behavior changes, such as reducing idling of vehicles  Implementing State motor vehicle emissions testing programs consistent with City air quality goals 8. Provide authority for local governments to implement vehicle emissions reductions programs. 9. Strengthen tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards for all vehicles. 10. Promote advanced low emission vehicle technology. 11. Encourage or promote lower carbon alternative fuels. 12. Reduce or eliminate residential wood smoke emissions in order to achieve compliance with air quality standards. 13. Reduce fossil fuel consumption in the transportation and building sector. CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The City of Fort Collins encourages local, state and national efforts to protect and enhance our environment. Additionally, the City has a policy goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 100% below 2005 levels by 2050. The goals call for Fort Collins to be carbon neutral by 2050. Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: 19 1. Enhance Fort Collins’ resilience to impacts of climate change. 2. Establish greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. 3. Establish market-based incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 4. Develop strategies to prevent pollution. 5. Maintain and protect the Colorado self-audit law. 6. Evaluate and address impacts of climate change on water demand and supply. NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN LANDS The City has a vigorous program to protect natural areas and other important open lands within Fort Collins, within our Community Growth Management Area, and regionally. The City works in partnership with other communities, Larimer County, private land trusts, Great Outdoors Colorado, community groups, and state and federal agencies to achieve community and regional conservation goals. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Maintain or enhance tax incentives available to private landowners for voluntary land conservation. 2. Expand the effectiveness of existing protection for wetlands, wildlife habitats, and other sensitive natural areas. 3. Provide additional funding for land conservation programs. 4. Protect the Cache la Poudre River. 5. Increase the availability of Great Outdoors Colorado grants to municipalities in amounts equal to or greater than are currently offered. OIL AND GAS Oil and gas extraction activity and associated health and environmental impacts are a concern for Fort Collins and many communities in the Front Range of Colorado. Fort Collins has a portion of a small oil field within its incorporated boundaries and has entered into an Operator Agreement or Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that stipulates the operations, maintenance and inspection process for that operator’s local holdings. Citizens in Fort Collins have expressed continuing concern about the human and environmental health impacts from oil and gas operations and particularly from the hydraulic fracturing treatment used on most Colorado wells. In November 2013, voters 20 approved a five-year moratorium on oil and gas extraction in order to study its property value and human health impacts. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Encourage state, federal or academic studies evaluating the impacts of oil and gas operations on human health and property values. 2. Establish baseline air pollutant levels and understand the ongoing contributions of the oil and gas industry to air pollution. 3. Provide local government the authority to inspect oil and gas sites and ensure operator compliance through enforcement of federal, state and local regulations. 4. Allow communities to understand and evaluate impacts of oil and gas on water quality. 5. Allow greater local regulation of oil and gas exploration activities within municipal boundaries. 6. Better balance surface ownership with mineral right ownership. 7. Allow local governments the ability to apply municipal zoning on oil and gas extraction and storage activities. 8. Maintain the current formula allocation of severance tax to impacted jurisdictions so that they might address impacts from resource extraction. RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE The City of Fort Collins endorses a multi-pronged approach to waste minimization that includes recycling, re-use, composting and source reduction. Additionally, the City has adopted a goal of diverting 75% of community waste by 2020; 90% by 2025 and 100% by 2030. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Clarify and broaden the regulatory authority of local government to ensure the efficient management of recyclable material and solid waste. 2. Encourage integrated waste management planning and implementation, including but not limited to creation of a State waste diversion goal. 3. Provide incentives and funding for programs that promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling and development of related infrastructure. 21 4. Enable “buy recycled” or “environmentally preferable purchasing” policies for government agency procurement. 5. Continue or increase funding for programs to collect and monitor data on trash volumes, rates of diversion from landfill disposal and economic impacts of recycling. 6. Require greater producer responsibility, such as “take back” regulations that assist consumers to appropriately recycle electronic equipment (e-waste). 7. Establish a deposit fee on beverage containers and that would be used to pay for recycling programs. 8. Strengthen the “renewable energy” standard; oppose expanding the definition to include pyrolysis (burning of materials). 9. Minimize waste by developing methods to use waste as an asset. UTILITY SERVICES It is critical that the City operate its electric distribution, drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services in a financially sound, reliable, safe and environmentally acceptable manner. Like other municipal utilities across the country, Fort Collins is faced with many new and evolving challenges associated with changes in the industry, the age and security of its infrastructure and the necessity of managing a changing workforce. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: ENERGY 1. Maintain infrastructure security while minimizing restriction to the Utility’s ability to manage security as an integral part of the system. 2. Provide technical assistance to local government that balances local design and implementation of greenhouse gas reduction strategies. 3. Establish uniform standards for the reduction of carbon emissions. 4. Remove financing barriers for energy efficiency, and encourage and fund energy efficiency and conservation while allowing local customization of the programs. 5. Reduce community energy use and net energy use of existing buildings. 22 6. Incent renewable energy production, including wind power, and provide for “State Implementation Plan” credits for renewable energy (excluding residential wood burning and corn-based ethanol) and energy efficiency. 7. Reject attempts to prevent or inhibit provision of municipal electric service in newly annexed areas. 8. Foster smart grid technology adoption and grid modernization. WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 1. Maintain or expand the authority delegated to the State to administer federally mandated water, stormwater and wastewater environmental regulatory programs (primacy). 2. Enact reasonable water quality control regulations that are cost effective and can show tangible benefits. 3. Enable local watershed protection planning. 4. Provide cities the flexibility to enhance in-stream flows to preserve or improve the natural environment of the stream while protecting the integrity of Colorado’s appropriation doctrine and City water supply. 5. Recognize the importance of infrastructure security while minimizing restriction to the Utility’s ability to manage security as an integral part of the system. 6. Stipulate adequate funding for local governments to implement mandated programs. 7. Remove barriers to financing for water conservation projects. 8. Fund recovery and treatment of Cache la Poudre and other waterways impacted natural disasters. 9. Enable the City to develop and protect its water supply under Colorado’s appropriation doctrine without adversely affecting in-stream flows or the natural environment of the stream. 23 High Performing Government Strategic Outcome Deliver an efficient, innovative, transparent, effective and collaborative city government Strategic Objectives 1. Improve organizational capability and effectiveness – professional development, leadership, change management, strategic thinking, fiscal literacy and staff engagement. 2. Improve core Human Resources systems and develop a total reward system. 3. Align similar jobs and skill sets across the organization to address succession planning and career progression. 4. Strengthen methods of public engagement and reach all segments of the community. 5. Optimize the use of technology to drive efficiency and productivity, and to improve services. 6. Enhance the use of performance metrics to assess results. 7. Develop and implement enterprise-wide processes in appropriate areas – “Plan, Do, Check, Act” process improvement tool, safety, strategic planning, council and strategic plan tracking tool, budgeting, project management. 8. Assess effectiveness of safety initiatives, develop and implement safety initiatives to achieve safety goals, and continue to focus on employee health and wellness. 9. Improve productivity, efficiency, effectiveness, customer service and citizen satisfaction in all areas of the municipal organization. 10. Implement leading-edge and innovative practices that drive performance excellence and quality improvements across all Service Areas. 11. Proactively influence policy at other levels of government regulation. 12. Promote a values-driven organizational culture that reinforces ethical behavior, exercises transparency and maintains the public trust. 13. Continuously improve the City’s governance process. HOME RULE The City of Fort Collins is a home rule municipality under Article XX (Article 20) of the Colorado Constitution, which grants home rule municipalities “full right of self- government in local and municipal matters.” Home rule authority affords the citizens of Fort Collins greater access to government and increased opportunity for participation and contribution to the decision making process. Home rule is of utmost importance to the City of Fort Collins. The City recognizes, however, that there are particular areas in which insistence on local control may be 24 untimely or unwise. Therefore, proposed modifications must be reviewed on a case-by- case basis to determine when it is in the City's best interest to assert home rule authority and when the City should support statewide intervention. For example, the City must be free to regulate local activities that primarily impact the area within the City's boundaries, such as the speed of local traffic or the effects of particular land use developments. On the other hand, the cumulative effect of these and other activities has substantial statewide ramifications which may call for statewide regulation, so that, for example, state regulation may be needed to effectively manage overall growth and development in the state, traffic congestion in major transportation corridors and environmental quality. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Strengthen home rule authority of municipal governments. 2. Reject State or Federal intervention in matters of local concern and which unnecessarily or adversely affect the City’s ability to manage pursuant to its home rule authority. HUMAN RESOURCES The City of Fort Collins is committed to the safety and well-being of its employees. The City works diligently to be an efficient and responsible steward of tax dollars while ensuring that employees receive fair and competitive compensation and benefits. The City believes that its citizens, through their elected representatives on City Council, are in the best position to determine appropriate City employee compensation, benefits, and policies. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Enhance the City’s ability to decide employment issues, including collective bargaining, arbitration, compensation, benefits and leaves. 2. Expand the City’s ability to offer health, welfare and wellness services for employees. 3. Maintain current state funding for police officer death and disability benefits. 4. Reject returning employees with defined contribution plans to defined benefit plans if there is a cost to local government. RISK MANAGEMENT The City of Fort Collins recognizes the dual purpose of the workers’ compensation system – providing benefits promptly to injured employees in a cost-effective manner and minimizing costly litigation. Council also recognizes that the City’s self-insurance 25 program is a cost efficient method to insure workers’ compensation and that government intervention or taxation can negatively impact the City. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Improve administrative efficiency within the Division of Workers’ Compensation. 2. Resist increased insurance premium costs to employers. 3. Limit or reduce administrative burdens or taxes to self-insurance programs. 4. Limit insurance claim litigation. 5. Increase the City’s options and ability to manage workers’ compensation claims; oppose actions like removing existing offsets to workers’ compensation benefits or limiting the City’s ability to designate treating physicians. 6. Reject efforts to presumptively expand workers compensation coverage to illnesses or injuries that are not work related. SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY The Fort Collins City Council recognizes that the complexity and diversity of City operations and services required to meet the needs of the citizens of Fort Collins may expose the City and its officers and employees to liability for damage and injury. The Council further recognizes that City officers and employees must be confident that they have the City’s support in the lawful and proper performance of their assigned duties and responsibilities. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Protect the interests of municipalities and their officers and employees in the lawful and proper performance of their duties and responsibilities. 2. Discourage baseless and frivolous claims and demands made against municipalities, their officers and employees. 3. Maintain or enhance municipal liability protections and municipal immunity. TELECOMMUNICATIONS The City of Fort Collins encourages a competitive, open market for cable and telecommunications services in order to ensure the public has access to a variety of programming and services at the lowest cost possible. 26 Therefore, the City supports the following policy statement: 1. Maintain and enhance local franchising authority to preserve local governments’ ability to negotiate in the public interest for cable channel space, institutional networks and public education and government programming. 2. Re-establish the rights of municipalities to provide low cost, accessible telecommunications services and related infrastructure. 3. Revise or repeal SB05-152 so that municipalities may offer high-speed and “advanced service” broadband to residents. 4. Permit municipalities to offer high speed internet, Wi-Fi and other enhanced telecommunication services to residents, schools, academic institutions and businesses. 5. Allow municipalities to provide telecommunication services within City-owned facilities and on City property. 6. Enhance exclusive digital communication networks for public safety personnel use during emergencies. Community and Neighborhood Livability Strategic Outcome Provide a high quality built environment and support quality, diverse neighborhoods Strategic Objectives 1. Improve access to a broad range of quality housing that is safe, accessible and affordable. 2. Preserve the significant historical character of the community. 3. Direct and guide growth in the community through appropriate planning, annexation, land use and development review processes. 4. Preserve and provide responsible access to nature. 5. Preserve and enhance the City’s sense of place. 6. Promote health and wellness within the community. 7. Leverage and improve collaboration with other service agencies to address the prevention of homelessness, poverty issues and other high priority human service needs. 8. Expand organizational and community knowledge about diversity, and embrace cultural differences. 27 9. Develop clear goals, strategic definition and description of the City’s social sustainability role within the community. 10. Address neighborhood parking issues. 11. Maintain and enhance attractive neighborhoods through City services, innovative enforcement techniques, and voluntary compliance with City codes and regulations. 12. Foster positive and respectful neighbor relationships and open communication, as well as provide and support conflict resolution. AFFORDABLE HOUSING The City of Fort Collins supports policy and funding mechanisms that help the City develop and maintain affordable housing for our community. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Maintain or enhance current levels of funding for affordable housing throughout Colorado. 2. Increase local government’s ability to regulate, manage or generate alternative sources of funding for affordable housing, including public-private partnerships. 3. Protect the rights of low-income and/or disabled residents in tenant-landlord disputes, especially as it relates to safety issues. 4. Retain flexibility for City to adopt and enforce rental terms that allow it to appropriately maintain and manage City-owned affordable rental properties. 5. Amend construction defect laws to reasonably balance safe and reliable housing with needed condominium construction. 6. Increase the amount of affordable, sustainable and high-quality housing in communities. 7. Develop strategies that balance the cost of services provided to the chronically homeless with the cost of providing permanent supportive housing. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND INSPECTION Fort Collins City Council adopts a land use code, zoning and new and existing property inspection protocol. The City supports retention of home-rule control in aligning development review and inspections with local priorities. In recent sessions, state legislators have introduced measures aimed at having local inspectors provide inspection 28 for building types outside existing responsibilities without additional resources provided to conduct this work. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Financially compensate jurisdictions or agencies for additional work of inspectors through fees or other means. 2. Give local governments choices in accepting additional inspection work. 3. Allow local governments to determine the time needed to conduct development review and inspection timelines. PLANNING AND LAND USE Effective local land use planning and land development regulation contributes to the quality of life enjoyed primarily by Fort Collins residents, yet shared regionally within Larimer County. State legislation can influence local governments’ ability to develop and implement land use plans for their communities. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Require regional cooperation in land use and transportation planning, and foster sustainable development, without unduly constraining the City’s home rule powers. 2. Prohibit the annexation of land that is located within the boundaries of a Growth Management Area that was legally established by an intergovernmental agreement between a municipality and a county by any municipality not a party to the agreement. 3. Limit the definition of a compensable taking and/or the definition of vested property rights beyond the provisions of existing law. 4. Retain local government authority to impose development impact fees. 5. Increase cities’ ability to regulate industrial land uses like oil and gas exploration and extraction. 6. Foster equitable public housing policies that balance protection of tenants and landlords. 29 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY Fort Collins has implemented a triple-bottom line-oriented Sustainability Service Area in an effort to ensure community resources are allocated by considering equally human, environmental and economic benefits. Social Sustainability is the practice of ensuring healthy social systems so that people in our community can thrive. We do this through programs, policies, and partnerships that provide equity and opportunities for all. Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Maintain or increase the funds available through the state and federal government for community-focused non-profits to provide human services and housing support. 2. Adequately fund K-12 and public post-secondary institutions to ensure opportunity for youth. 3. Provide funding for before and after school programs and school out days aimed at at-risk populations and low- to moderate-income households. 4. Enhance neighbor relations by improving the resources available to community mediation and restorative justice programs. 5. Provide communities with resources to address chronic homelessness. 6. Provide reasonable accommodation and expand access for special populations, including individuals with disabilities, seniors, at-risk youth, people with mental health needs, and households needing affordable childcare. URBAN AGRICULTURE In 2011, City Plan, our community's comprehensive plan, was updated and contained four goals related to local food production. Staff has worked to align our policies and regulations with the goals outlined in our comprehensive plan. We have updated the Land Use Code to permit urban agriculture in all zone districts, allow farmers markets in more zone districts, allow a greater number and types of animals to be raised, and exempted hoop houses from the building permit process in order to facilitate year-round production. The City has also been an active participant in the Northern Colorado Food Cluster which convenes stakeholders to advance local food initiatives. Locally grown food is a critical step towards a more sustainable community. Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Provide options for urban farmers to have longer-term access to the land required for food production. 30 2. Provide all citizens access to healthy foods. 3. Address supply chain needs to support urban farmers. 4. Diversify the production, consumption and distribution of local food products. 5. Adopt food production practices that support innovative and efficient irrigation practices. Safe Community Strategic Outcome Provide a safe place to live, work, learn and play Strategic Objectives 1. Provide facilities and training capabilities to support a high caliber police force. 2. Optimize the use of technology to drive efficiency, productivity and customer service. 3. Align staffing levels to deliver services that meet community expectations and needs, and increase public safety operational efficiency. 4. Protect life and property with natural, aesthetically pleasing flood mitigation facilities through building codes and development regulations. 5. Develop and implement emergency preparation, response and recovery plans across the organization in collaboration with other community efforts. 6. Improve safety for all modes of travel including vehicular, pedestrian and bicycles. 7. Use data to focus police efforts on reducing crime and disorder within the community. 8. Improve community involvement, education and regional partnerships to make our community safer and stronger. 9. Partner with Poudre Fire Authority to provide fire and emergency services. 10. Provide a high-quality, sustainable water supply that meets or exceeds all public health standards and supports a healthy and safe community. FIRE PROTECTION The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining a safe environment and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Fort Collins. Therefore the City supports the following policy statements: 31 1. Institute a State fire code, the code of choice being the 2012 International Building and Fire Code, and allow municipalities to adopt their own amendments. 2. Reject limits to local enforcement of the International Fire Code as adopted with local amendments, or imposing inspection requirements or preventing collection of permit or inspection fees as required by the local jurisdiction. 3. Enhance life safety and property protection through installation of fire protection systems in structures when appropriate. 4. Strengthen the City’s ability to prohibit the use and sale of fireworks and allow counties and fire districts to prohibit and otherwise control fireworks. 5. Promote fire safety, education and prevention with the goal of reducing injury, loss of life and property damage. 6. Allow local jurisdictions to implement open burning restrictions. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT It is an important concern of the City to safeguard Fort Collins’ health and environmental safety by reducing risks from the unauthorized release of hazardous materials or hazardous waste. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Allow the City to continue controlling risks from hazardous materials use, storage and transportation through the International Building and Fire Code and related local amendments. 2. Allow Fort Collins to adopt local regulations for hazardous materials, including review and approval of the location of facilities that use or store hazardous materials or hazardous waste. 3. Strengthen the enforcement of hazardous materials regulations. 4. Strengthen the diversion of hazardous waste from landfills. 5. Establish greater flexibility and more options for local government in the management of publicly-owned areas thought to have asbestos containing soils while maintaining responsible site management practices. 6. Prevent and penalize improper storage and disposal of hazardous or exploration and production (E&P) wastes from oil and gas operations within municipal boundaries. 32 7. Preserve community safety by ensuring emergency responders have all available information needed to effectively address disasters and maintain public well- being. 8. Ensure hazardous materials are not stored or used within the 100-year floodplain. MARIJUANA In 2012, Colorado voters approved Amendment 64 which legalizes the possession of adult-use or recreational marijuana in the state. During the same election Fort Collins residents voted to approve the use of medical marijuana within the City. Federal law maintains that marijuana is a schedule 1 drug and, as such, can neither be possessed and used nor researched. Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Regulate medical and retail marijuana manufacture, distribution and dispensaries. 2. Clarify the implementation and local rights and responsibilities related to Amendment 64. 3. Clarify and align federal marijuana law with the Colorado Constitution. 4. Protect communities’ ability to raise necessary funds to maintain public safety and enforce marijuana possession laws. 5. Prevent under-21 access to marijuana. 6. Clarify the rights of individuals, landlords and homeowner associations in limiting or preventing growing or consuming marijuana in multi-family dwellings. 7. Provide additional state marijuana enforcement resources, especially for field enforcement. 8. Limit THC content per serving size and restrict packaging to a single serving. PUBLIC SAFETY The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining public order, providing a safe environment, and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Fort Collins. 33 Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements: 1. Develop treatment and intervention programs, especially for youth, which have the potential to reduce incidents of violence in the community. 2. Provide greater protection to victims of crime. 3. Maintain or enhance the City’s right to use camera enforcement of traffic laws, reduces operational restrictions on the use of camera enforcement, and increases the fines associated with violations. 4. Establish protocols and funding for shared, statewide emergency response communications. 5. Reject initiatives that have the potential to compromise officer safety. 6. Establish minimum training criteria and professional mediator certification that formally legitimizes the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). 7. Regulate the use of cell phones by a motorist while operating a vehicle. 8. Preserve or increase funding for treatment of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. 9. Maintain or enhance a statewide database of concealed weapons permits. 10. Seek to reduce community flood risks. 11. Reduce cities’ liability for prisoners’ self-inflicted wounds while in police custody or detention facility. 12. Restrict access to illegal substances. 13. Require greater producer responsibility such as “take back” for prescription drugs to avoid these substances being abused or being disposed of into the water supply. 14. Clarify the qualifications for what types and purposes a business may obtain and use a state liquor license. 15. Define what qualifies as a “meal” when calculating the percentage of meals served for a liquor license. 16. Increasing state, regional and local disaster resilience. 34 Transportation Strategic Outcome Provide for safe & reliable multi-modal travel to, from, and throughout the city Strategic Objectives 1. Improve safety of all modes of travel. 2. Improve transit availability and grow ridership through extended hours, improved headways, and Sunday service in appropriate activity centers. 3. Fill the gaps for all modes of travel and improve the current transportation infrastructure while enhancing the aesthetic environment. 4. Improve traffic flow for all modes of transporting people, goods and information to benefit both individuals and the business community. 5. Create and implement long-term transportation planning and help local and regional transportation networks operate at a high level of efficiency, including the airport. 6. Support efforts to achieve climate action goals by reducing mobile emissions and supporting multiple modes of transportation. 7. Create and implement planning, engineering and financial strategies to address adequate infrastructure within the northeast area of Fort Collins. TRANSPORTATION The City actively promotes the safety and ease of traveling to, from and throughout the community using a variety of modes of transportation. Additionally, the City’s policy is to encourage the use of alternative transportation whenever appropriate. Therefore, the City supports the following policies: 1. Facilitate cooperative programs among government agencies in order to help the City meet its basic transportation needs, including transit, street, highway, road and bridge construction and maintenance, and safe corridors for bicyclists and pedestrians. 2. Reject reductions to the present allocation formula of 60% state, 22% counties, and 18% municipalities for Highway User Tax Fund (HUTF) or any appropriations from the State using the same formula. 3. Explore and analyze alternative funding methods to meet transportation infrastructure needs. 4. Fund analysis and implementation of inter- and intra-regional transit linkages, including future commuter rail connectivity. 35 5. Facilitate regional planning for various modes of transportation with the goal of providing practical solutions to reduce reliance on single occupant vehicles. 6. Encourage flexibility in federal funding and regulations in order to better meet the needs of small to medium size communities. 7. Encourage or incent location of affordable housing near transit for greatest accessibility. 8. Preserve the guaranteed levels of federal funding for transportation and allocation of all federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust funds for their intended transportation purposes. 9. Broaden the definition of the gasoline tax to a “fuel tax” that encompasses other fuel options as they become more prevalent. 10. Increase local governments’ ability to prevent railroad trains from blocking street and highway grade crossings for unreasonable periods. 11. Facilitate the implementation of railroad quiet zones in municipalities and reduce train horn decibel and duration requirements in existing federal rule. 12. Reject divesting key highway roads in urban areas from the State and make them the sole responsibility of local jurisdictions. 13. Maintain safe operation of railroads through timely track inspections, joint training and communication between railroad and emergency personnel and the use of safe equipment. 36 CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS Legislative Review Committee Name District/Title Email Councilmember Wade Troxell District 4 wtroxell@fcgov.com Councilmember Lisa Poppaw District 2 lpoppaw@fcgov.com Councilmember Ross Cunniff District 5 rcunniff@fcgov.com Wendy Williams Assistant City Manager wwilliams@fcgov.com Carrie Daggett Interim City Attorney cdaggett@fcgov.com Dan Weinheimer Legislative Policy Manager dweinheimer@fcgov.com Legislative Staff Liaison Members Topic Area Name Title Email Affordable Housing and Social Sustainability Beth Sowder Interim Social Sustainability Director bsowder@fcgov.com Air Quality Melissa Hovey Senior Environmental Planner mhovey@fcgov.com Cable Television Franchise Carson Hamlin Cable Television Manager chamlin@fcgov.com Climate and Environmental Protection Lucinda Smith Environmental Services Director lsmith@fcgov.com Elections, Liquor Licensing, Medical Marijuana Licensing Wanda Nelson City Clerk wnelson@fcgov.com Cultural Services, Parks and Recreation J.R. Schnelzer Director of Parks jrschnelzer@fcgov.com Energy Steve Catanach Light and Power Operations Manager scatanach@fcgov.com Finance Michael Beckstead Chief Financial Officer mbeckstead@fcgov.com Economic Health Josh Birks Economic Health Director jbirks@fcgov.com Fire Protection and Hazardous Materials Management Bob Poncelow Division Chief, Poudre Fire Authority bponcelow@poudre- fire.org 37 Legal Carrie Daggett Interim City Attorney cdaggett@fcgov.com Natural Areas, Open Lands and Cache la Poudre River Issues John Stokes Natural Resources Director jstokes@fcgov.com Neighborhood and Building Services Mike Gebo Chief Building Official mgebo@fcgov.com Planning and Land Use Laurie Kadrich Community Development and Neighborhood Services Director lkadrich@fcgov.com Public Safety Cory Christensen Deputy Chief cchristensen@fcgov.com Recycling and Solid Waste Susie Gordon Senior Environmental Planner sgordon@fcgov.com Risk Management Lance Murray Risk Manager lmurray@fcgov.com Stormwater Jon Haukaas Water Engineering Field Operations Manager jhaukaas@fcgov.com Transportation Mark Jackson Planning, Development and Transportation Deputy Director mjackson@fcgov.com Utilities Customer Service Lisa Rosintoski Utility Customer Connections Manager lrosintoski@fcgov.com Water Supply and Quality Carol Webb Interim Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager cwebb@fcgov.com Human Resources Janet Miller Human Resources Director jamiller@fcgov.com Interim Water Resource and Treatment Operations Manager kgertigcwebb@fcgov.co m Formatted: Underline, Font color: Blue bponcelow@poudre- fire.org Human Resources Janet Miller Human Resources Director jamiller@fcgov.com