HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/16/2020 - RESOLUTION 2020-058 DECLARING THAT FORT COLLINS ISAgenda Item 7
Item # 7 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY June 16, 2020
City Council
STAFF
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy Director, Information & Employee Services
Carrie M. Daggett, Legal
SUBJECT
Resolution 2020-058 Declaring that Fort Collins is Essential and Expressing Council's Support of Fair, Direct
Federal Emergency Support to Reopen and Rebuild Local American Economies.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to provide support for the National League of Cities’ efforts as they implore
Congress to provide direct federal support to all of America’s cities regardless of population size.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Cities, villages and towns across the country are facing significant financial burdens due to the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. Through the CARES Act, the federal government provided aid to municipalities with a
population of 500,000 or more. The City and many other communities were left out. Federal assistance could
provide significant support to offset expenses and revenue gaps while the City works through its 2020 and
2021 budgets.
It is reported that Congress is discussing a fourth COVID-19 aid package. In this new package, the City is
hoping to receive direct assistance, which the federal government has not provided to the City, or communities
like it. Aligning with Resolution 2020-033, which was passed in late March, approval of this resolution will
support the National League of Cities’ request to Congress that they allocate fair and direct federal support to
all of America’s cities, regardless of population size. Staff will continue to work with the legislative delegation to
communicate the City’s financial challenges and believe this resolution provides necessary support for the
National League of Cities’ efforts.
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RESOLUTION 2020-058
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
DECLARING THAT FORT COLLINS IS ESSENTIAL
AND EXPRESSING COUNCIL’S SUPPORT OF FAIR, DIRECT FEDERAL EMERGENCY
SUPPORT TO REOPEN AND REBUILD LOCAL AMERICAN ECONOMIES
WHEREAS, America’s cities, towns and villages face unprecedented threats due to the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic emergency; and
WHEREAS, municipalities are essential to America’s economic recovery and without
funding support for local governments, municipalities may go from being a critical part of the
economic solution, to becoming a major obstacle to long-term stabilization and recovery; and
WHEREAS, America’s cities, towns and villages will experience budgetary shortfalls of
up $134 billion in fiscal year 2020 alone, and the negative effects of the pandemic emergency on
local communities will continue long after this year; and
WHEREAS, three million critical municipal worker jobs are at risk, threatening cuts to
basic community services, including 9-1-1 response and other public safety functions,
infrastructure maintenance, parks and recreation, transportation and transit, sustainability
services and critical support systems; and
WHEREAS, communities have taken extraordinary measures to protect health, safety,
and the continuation of essential services throughout the emergency; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins has experienced high unemployment and temporary business
shutdowns in restaurant and retail, travel and leisure, outdoor recreation, personal services and
other industries; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins has seen significant decline in sales tax collections
while working to ensure safe municipal services and support to all Fort Collins residents and
businesses, including our most vulnerable such as our homeless residents; and
WHEREAS, the City also experienced public facility closures and loss of fees –
specifically hard hit were the arts and culture, parks and recreation departments; and
WHEREAS, the City is $10.8 million under budget through May 2020, and projecting
shortfalls between $22 million and $41 million for 2020; and
WHEREAS, America’s rural communities and medium-sized and small towns are
struggling just as much as big cities and risk being left behind or wiped out entirely.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
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Section 1. That the City of Fort Collins calls on Congress to allocate fair and direct
federal support to all of America’s communities, regardless of population size.
Section 2. That this funding must be flexible and address not only the additional
expenses incurred by communities to respond to the pandemic emergency, but also the dramatic
budgetary shortfalls resulting from pauses in commerce, tourism, and other economic engines.
Section 3. That local governments will ensure federal funds are immediately used to
rebuild and reopen the national economy.
Section 4. That funding will keep middle class workers employed and critical
services operating.
Section 5. That the City of Fort Collins has been part of the emergency response and
now calls on Congress to build a united national partnership for a safe, healthy, prosperous life.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
16th day of June, A.D. 2020.
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Clerk