HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse To Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 8/8/2023 - Response From Mayor Jeni Arndt To The Parks And Recreation Advisory Board Re: August 2, 2023 Email Re: Parks And Recreation Advisory Board Support For Sustainable Funding Ballot Language
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
August 2, 2023
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
c/o Mike Calhoon, Parks Director
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Chair Christensen, Vice-Chair Armstrong, and Board Members,
On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the August 2, 2023 email in which
you summarized the Board’s position on sustainable funding ballot language. We acknowledge
that the Board recommends a couple of options and that the Board believes the predictable,
perpetual property tax mill levy is the best way to ensure the viability and longevity of the Parks
and Recreation assets.
The sustainable funding work and possible referral to the November ballot is currently scheduled
for discussion and decision making at the August 15, 2023 regular meeting. The agenda for the
meeting will be posted by the end of day on August 10 on the City Clerk’s website at
fcgov.com/cityclerk/agendas.
Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Board and sharing them with
City Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
1
Sarah Kane
From:Ken Christensen <kenchristensen1@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, August 2, 2023 4:44 PM
To:City Leaders
Cc:Mike Calhoon; LeAnn Williams; Nick Armstrong
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Support for Sustainable Funding
Ballot Language
Dear Mayor Arndt and Members of the Fort Collins City Council,
The Parks and Recreation Board Advisory Board commends you for all of the work you and City Staff have
done to get to the point of drafting language to address the sustainable funding needs for our city. At our
regular meeting last week, the Parks and Rec. Board discussed your discussion at the previous night’s Council
Work Session. We are deeply concerned by the potential changes affecting the Parks and Recreation
Department's dedicated asset management funding proposed at the July 25 work session.
To correct the ongoing funding deficit for Parks and Rec infrastructure replacement, the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Board recommends Council draft ballot language for Parks and Recreation Asset
Management Funding with either:
A
1/2 Cent Sales Tax increase with 50%
of that increase dedicated to Parks and Rec Infrastructure Replacement (25% to
Climate Action and 25% to Transportation)
OR
a
5 Mills property tax dedicated to Park and Rec.
(People love parks and this may be the best way to get voter support for a property tax
increase. And this is perpetual, predictable funding source)
The ballot language discussed previous to the July 25th Work Session ensured a dedicated and perpetual 5
Mills property tax for Parks & Recreation and Aquatics Capital, and a 1/4 Cent dedicated tax for the
Climate/Transit/Affordable Housing Umbrella, which allowed for the critical maintenance of our existing Parks
and Recreation assets, as well as consideration for the City’s other three visionary strategies.
We believe the strong intuitive tie from property taxes to maintenance funding for existing in-neighborhood
Parks and Recreation assets reflects a greater chance of success for the property tax mill levy. The affinity of
parks and property value is supported in a study from October 2005 from Texas A&M University concluded that
well-maintained parks improve nearby property values by at least 20%
2
We are sure you have considered the abrupt change in direction on Tuesday July 25th may not allow for a
robust engagement period with Boards and Commissions and public leaders. The prior language was
established with a rich public engagement period and extensive outreach, which may no longer be possible for
the new language due to the accelerated ballot language timeline.
Our Parks and Recreation system is a pillar of our community, actively contributing positively to all seven of the
City’s Key Outcomes (Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Culture & Recreation, Economic Health,
Environmental Health, Safe Community, Transportation & Mobility, and High Performing Government). The
Parks and Rec Board believes the predictable, perpetual property tax mill levy is the best way to
ensure the viability and longevity of our Parks and Recreation assets. While less predictable, 50% of
the 1/2 Cent sales tax also fills the financial deficit in our Parks and Recreation infrastructure
replacement.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board appreciates your time and careful consideration of our request and
looks forward to working collaboratively with the City Council to ensure that our community continues to benefit
from a robust, safe, and well-maintained Parks and Recreation system.
Sincerely,
Nick Armstrong and Ken Christensen (co-authors),
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board