HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/18/2018 - RESOLUTION 2018-089 EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL'SAgenda Item 10
Item # 10 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY September 18, 2018
City Council
STAFF
Beth Sowder, Director of Social Sustainability
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Ingrid Decker, Legal
SUBJECT
Resolution 2018-089 Expressing the City Council’s Support for the Passage of a Larimer County Ballot Issue
Imposing a 0.25% Countywide Sales and Use Tax for the Purpose of Providing Mental Health Care Services
for Residents of Larimer County and Urging the Citizens of Fort Collins to Vote "Yes" on this Ballot Issue.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Council leadership has requested that staff prepare this item for City Council consideration to enable the
Council, if it so choses, to express its support of the Larimer County November 6, 2018, ballot issue for a tax to
fund mental health care services for residents of Larimer County.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
None.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The lack of critical behavioral health services has a direct impact on major City of Fort Collins concerns.
Community residents, their families, and workplaces, are all directly and significantly impacted by the lack of
adequate depth and continuum of mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The gaps in services
also have a substantial impact on services and issues with a direct relationship to the City, including police
services, the criminal justice system, emergency services, businesses, poverty, homelessness, and support
services for those living in permanent supportive housing. The expansion of critical behavioral health services
in Larimer County is in alignment with some of the City’s stated goals:
• City Council Priority – Behavioral Health/Detox Facility
• Neighborhood Livability and Social Health (NLSH) 1.2 – Leverage and improve collaboration with other
agencies to address homelessness, poverty issues, and other high priority human service needs
• Safe Community 5.1 – Improve community involvement, education, and regional partnerships to make our
community safer and stronger
• Social Sustainability Department Strategic Plan – alignment with several goals and objectives
The County has partnered with the Mental Health and Substance Use Alliance of Larimer County as well as all
of the appropriate service providers, health providers, school districts, higher education, and municipalities to
prepare a comprehensive community plan. The County Commissioners have referred this item to the
November 6, 2018 ballot. If passed, the ballot issue would increase the County’s sales and use tax by 0.25%
for 20 years to provide behavioral, detox and mental health care services and facilities to County residents.
The County is working on a governance structure that will be modeled after the Regional Wasteshed Policy
Advisory Committee that would guide decision making regarding the use of the proposed tax revenues. It is
proposed to include a 13-member body that would include the Mayor or elected designee from Fort Collins and
Agenda Item 10
Item # 10 Page 2
other jurisdictions, as well as other community experts. It will facilitate coordination, review recommendations
to the County Commissioners on the budget, and provide a vehicle for Fort Collins to express our unique
needs and partnership opportunities.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Support for this initiative could have an impact to police and emergency (Poudre Fire Authority) calls for
services that should generate efficiency improvements. Staff does not anticipate any direct cost impact on City
operations.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Larimer County led all community outreach efforts.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Work Session Summary Memo, January 23, 2018 (PDF)
2. Work Session Summary Memo July 10, 2018 (PDF)
3. Larimer County Resolution (PDF)
Social Sustainability
222 LaPorte Ave
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6758
MEMORANDUM
DATE: January 26, 2018
TO: Mayor Troxell & City Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
FROM: Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director
RE: January 23, 2018 Work Session Summary re: Larimer County Behavioral
Health Update
Introduction
At the January 23, 2018 Council Work Session, an update on Larimer County
Behavioral Health was provided by Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager; Steve Johnson,
Larimer County Commissioner; Laurie Stolen, Larimer County Behavioral Health
Director; and Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director.
Council Direction Sought:
Staff sought the following direction from Council:
1. Does Council have direction for how the City should collaborate with the County
on regional behavioral health solutions?
2. Does Council have any additional insights about this issue or proposed solution?
Discussion
Regarding the questions above, Council was supportive of the continued collaboration
between the City and County on behavioral health solutions.
Key discussion points included:
• Council is interested in more details about the number of people who would
be served and the impact on City services.
• Details about the failed ballot measure in 2016, lessons learned, and changes
in the approach.
• Details about how costs could be reduced – land and scaled services.
• Details about County proposed land site – 40-acre site and campus would
take up to 28 acres. Some concerns about the location were discussed
including the importance of transit.
• Details of scope changes including the number of beds.
ATTACHMENT 1
2
• Funding questions were discussed including:
o Intent to ask voters for a level of funding that would be sustainable
o Medicaid expected to help off-set costs
o Partners involved will likely share in funding through services they will
provide
o Grant funding will be sought
• County will gather constituent feedback in February and March.
• Council would like to be provided with the feedback received, potential.
thoughts moving forward, and an opportunity to weigh in on potential
recommendations.
Next Steps
• Council supports continuing this conversation.
• Messaging will be important and needs to include:
o Larimer County-wide – not just Fort Collins-centric
o Support for a distributive model versus one facility
o Encourage door-to-door and face-to-face outreach
o Need to make the issue relevant to people
• Community partners to include:
o Mental health service providers
o Colorado State University
o Front Range Community College
o Aims Community College
o Poudre School District and other K-12 schools
• Public Engagement – Larimer County leading:
o Focus groups and public forums throughout the county
o On-going discussions with potential partner and service providers
o County expects to have a plan developed for review by early summer
• Request for County staff to come back to City Council after the outreach but
before the final proposal is submitted to the Larimer County Commissioners.
• City staff will work with the County to come back to Council in late spring or early
summer.
Social Sustainability
222 LaPorte Ave
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6758
MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 11, 2018
TO: Mayor Troxell & City Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
FROM: Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director
RE: July 10, 2018 Work Session Summary re: Larimer County Behavioral
Health Update
Introduction
At the July 10, 2018 Council Work Session, an update on the Larimer County
Behavioral Health Plan was provided by Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer;
Steve Johnson, Larimer County Commissioner; Laurie Stolen, Larimer County
Behavioral Health Director; and Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director.
Council Direction Sought:
Staff sought the following direction from Council:
1. Does Council agree with options presented for City collaboration?
2. Does Council have any feedback on the County’s Plan or have any questions
about next steps?
Discussion
Council was supportive of the Larimer County Behavioral Health Plan and of the
continued collaboration between the City and County on behavioral health solutions.
This is a big issue and the collaborative relationship is optimal and appreciated.
Key discussion points included:
• Council is interested in continuing to see refinement of the plan – with both
the ability to preserve options while also being more prescriptive where
possible.
• It would be important and helpful to define the vision of the plan to keep
things focused and on task. Ideas include:
o Healthier families, healthier kids, connected communities
o Short-lived
o Whole Health – physical and mental wellbeing – continuum of care
o Systems thinking; integration
ATTACHMENT 2
2
o Distributed governance with data and metrics
• Information to the public should include specific information about costs and
specific services – predictability and simplicity is important. Cost savings
should be calculated based on marginal vs. average costs.
• Transportation needs more discussion to clearly identify options, funding, and
collaborative ideas.
• While numerous partners have been included (both public and private), there
may be opportunity to include more (some of these are already engaged):
o City Departments – Utilities and Parks
o Library District
o CSU – Health Center, Health and Human Services, One Health
Institute
o Front Range Community College
o Poudre Valley Hospital
• A distributive funding model is encouraged. This may be accomplished with
the governing board that will oversee the project. The ballot language should
reflect this intent.
Next Steps
• Now - Campaign team forming for election process
• July 24, 2018 – County Commissions will consider referring the issue to the
November ballot
• September 18, 2018 – City Council will consider a resolution supporting the ballot
initiative
ATTACHMENT 3
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RESOLUTION 2018-089
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL’S SUPPORT FOR THE PASSAGE
OF A LARIMER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE IMPOSING A 0.25% COUNTYWIDE
SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE
SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF LARIMER COUNTY AND URGING THE CITIZENS
OF FORT COLLINS TO VOTE “YES” ON THIS BALLOT ISSUE
WHEREAS, the term “mental health” refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional
wellbeing that can affect daily life, relationships, psychological resilience and even physical
health; and
WHEREAS, mental illness and substance use disorders are treatable chronic health
conditions; and
WHEREAS, mental illness and substance use disorders are serious health issues for one
in five people in Larimer County, including children, teens, adults and seniors; and
WHEREAS, although great strides have been made, many of our citizens experience the
negative effects of metal health issues themselves or through family members, neighbors or
friends; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive, community-based services that respond to those with
mental health needs are cost-effective, and access to necessary medication and appropriate
treatment helps prevent individuals from ending up in emergency rooms and the criminal justice
system; and
WHEREAS, the provision of a continuum of mental health services in our community is
critical to individuals, families, schools, businesses, law enforcement and healthcare providers,
and there is a strong and growing body of evidence that supports the cost effectiveness and
benefits to communities that have successfully implemented continuums of mental health and
related care; and
WHEREAS, on July 24, 2018, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of
Larimer adopted Resolution No. 07242018R013, which placed on the November 6, 2018,
general election ballot a ballot issue that, if passed, would increase the County’s sales and use
taxes by one quarter of one percent (0.25%), with the revenue from such tax being used to
provide detox, behavioral and mental health care services and facilities to residents of Larimer
County; and
WHEREAS, Larimer County taxes would be expected to increase by $19,000,000 in
2019, and by whatever additional amount is raised annually thereafter for 20 years; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the funding provided by this tax would be an
investment in the health and well-being of the Fort Collins community and surrounding areas and
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would advance a number of City strategic objectives related to social sustainability and public
safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That for the reasons set forth above, the City Council fully supports the
passage of the Larimer County ballot issue described herein.
Section 3. That the City Council urges every Larimer County registered voter to vote
“YES” on the November 6, 2018, ballot issue to increase sales and use taxes by 0.25% to support
mental health care services in Larimer County.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
18th day of September, A.D. 2018.
_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk