HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 8/2/2022 - Memorandum From Katie Donahue Re: Help Bird Species Recover Best Practices And Gaps (6)
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
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MEMORANDUM
Date: July 27, 2022
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ginny Sawyer, Policy and Project Manager
Thru: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Interim Deputy City Manager
RE: Legislative Updates
Legislative Review Committee (LRC) summer updates:
The LRC met in June (minutes attached) to discuss a recap of the 2022 legislative session
and discuss planning for 2023.
The July meeting was cancelled. Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) will
attend the August 30, 2022 meeting.
Based on preliminary input from LRC members, staff, and state initial
edits have been made to the Legislative Policy Agenda (attached.) Staff will look to bring
a final version for Council adoption in late September/early October.
Legislative Review Committee (LRC) meetings are scheduled from 3:00-4:00PM via Zoom on
the following dates:
August 30, 2022
September 27, 2022
Adjustments will be made as needed.
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
Legislative Review Committee
Minutes
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Committee Members Present:
Shirley Peel, Susan Gutowsky, Jeni Arndt
Committee Members Absent:
Tricia Canonico (Chair)
Staff Present:
Tyler Marr, Ginny Sawyer, Jenny Lopez Filkins, Megan Valliere
1. No changes to minutes from May 31, 2022, meeting.
2. Off Session Meetings & Updates:
Discuss topics for focus in 2023 and confirm timeline for Legislative Policy Agenda (LPA)
updating
a. Ginny shared that staff was unable to align calendars with LRC members and state
Representatives prior to November and are now recommending working one on one
and via email to understand and share priorities.
b. Rep. Boesenecker has shared a desire to discuss and get input on: ADU's, incentivizing
protective zoning, and any other affordable/attainable housing ideas that council/staff
might have (including issues with commercial properties that are vacant).
c. Updating of Legislative Policy Agenda
i. Councilmember Gutowsky brought forward the issue of ditch burning for
advocacy in the 2023 session of the General Assembly. Mayor Arndt agreed but
noted that the ditch lobby is powerful, and it is a difficult issue to engage. Tyler
suggested a two-pronged approach of addressing this issue in the Legislative
Policy Agenda and concurrently working with groups in which we are a
stakeholder (water utility, for example) to encourage good neighbor behavior.
ii. Mayor Arndt asked if there is anything available to help municipalities with
abandoned commercial property. Tyler noted that there are tools available
through the URA.
iii. Ginny mentioned the possibility of addressing animal cruelty in the upcoming
LPA. She noted that staff has provided a memo to Council and that this issue is
largely handled at the state level. Mayor Arndt noted that current fines, fees,
and penalties are very strict. Councilmember Gutowsky said she would like
more information about current regulations and penalties. Tyler said that staff
would provide this information before the next meeting of the LRC. Jennifer
Cassel and Ed Bowditch may be able to provide more information about the
state statutes.
iv. Councilmember Gutowsky asked for information about the tiny homes
legislation from last session. Ginny responded that Jennifer Cassel and Ed
Bowditch should be able to provide more follow-up on that item.
v. Ginny stated that staff will have a redlined version of the LPA available for the
LRC in August and will work to get it in front of the full council earlier in the year
than in previous years.
3. CC4CA
a. Will attend July LRC meeting.
4. Other Business
a. Support/Endorsement Process
i. Current request: https://womensbillofrights.com/wp-
content/uploads/2022/04/womens-bill-of-rights.pdf). Mayor Arndt asked for
clarification on the processes and procedures in place for when a national group
asks a councilmember or the mayor to take a stance on a national issue. Tyler
responded that our LPA is not very specific on federal topics since a state-
focused agenda helps us accomplish our goals at the General Assembly each
year as an entity of the State of Colorado. He encouraged councilmembers to
have staff review the LPA and provide information about what it says if anyone
has an ancillary interest in signing a letter of support or endorsement.
ii. Tyler responded to Co
support for outside organizations by saying that councilmembers have the
individual prerogative to sign anything they wish as a private person but that
there are processes in place for signing on behalf of the city. Staff would be
happy to help councilmembers work through questions on this topic.
b. Washington DC trip
i. Tyler noted that we would try to visit D.C. in late September or early October.
ii. He articulated a desire to give feedback on grant processes through CARES,
ARPA, and the federal infrastructure bill.
iii. Mayor Arndt said that meeting with the FAA would be helpful to discuss the
remote air traffic control tower at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport.
iv. Tyler mentioned meeting with DOT to discuss train horn noise. Councilmember
Gutowsky asked if a quiet zone designation was a lost cause. Tyler responded
pedestrian level horns at intersections rather than higher decibels starting at
further away distances.
v. -
wise and using that information to inform planning and meeting scheduling for
the fall D.C. trip.
vi. The LRC should be on the lookout for communication from Sarah about
potential dates coming soon.
c. Proposed future meeting calendar:
i. July 26, 2022: Meet with CC4CA
ii. August 30, 2022: Finalize 2023 LPA
iii. September 27, 2022