Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/19/2019 - POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION, BY CITY COUNCIL, OF A MOTIAgenda Item 24 Item # 24 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY February 19, 2019 City Council STAFF Delynn Coldiron, City Clerk John Duval, Legal SUBJECT Possible Consideration, by City Council, of a Motion to Amend Resolution 2019-022 Related to the Ballot Language for the Renewal of the City's Current "Keep Fort Collins Great" .85% Sales and Use Tax. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to give Council the opportunity to consider a Motion to Amend Resolution 2019-022 in response to any contest filed in the courts to challenge under City Code Section 7-156 and Section 1-11- 203.5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) the form or content of the ballot question submitted in Resolution 2019-022 to the City’s electors at the April 2, 2019, regular City election. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends consideration by Council of a Motion to Amend if an amendment is desired in light of a timely-filed contest in court. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION At its February 12, 2012 meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution 2019-022 (Attachment 1) in which it submitted to the City’s electors a ballot question for the renewal of the City’s current “Keep Fort Collins Great” .85% sales and use tax. At that meeting the Council considered two protests to the ballot question that were filed with the City under City Code Section 7-156. Although the Council denied both protests, it did make some changes to the ballot question suggested by one of the protestants. Code Section 7-156 provides that any legal challenge or contest to the form or content of a Council adopted ballot question must be filed in the City’s Municipal Court or in Larimer County District Court using the contest procedures set forth in CRS Section 1-11-203.5. While these procedures provide for an expedited process for these contests to be heard and decided by the courts, the filing of a contest has the potential for interfering with the City’s schedule to print and mail the ballots and the election notice required under Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. This item is therefore being presented to Council to give it the opportunity to consider any changes to the ballot question in Resolution 2019-022 if a contest has been timely filed by the time of this Council meeting (February 19). Under the Council’s adopted Rules of Procedure, the Council may make a “Motion to Amend Something Previously Adopted” at any time to amend a previously adopted resolution provided no actions have been taken under that resolution that cannot be undone (see, Section 3 of “Restorative Motions” on page 10 of Council’s Rules of Procedure). No actions have been taken concerning the ballot question in Resolution 2019- 022 that cannot be undone. Agenda Item 24 Item # 24 Page 2 ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2019-022 (PDF) ATTACHMENT 1