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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 7/2/2013 - Memorandum From Wanda Nelson Re: Leadership Planning Team Meeting Minutes - July 1, 2013City Clerk 300 LaPorte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6515 970.221-6295 - fax fcgov.com/cityclerk MEMORANDUM DATE: July 1, 2013 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Wanda Nelson, City Clerk RE: Leadership Planning Team Meeting Mayor Karen Weitkunat, Mayor Pro Tem Gerry Horak, City Manager Darin Atteberry, Deputy City Manager Diane Jones, Assistant City Manager Wendy Williams, City Attorney Steve Roy, and City Clerk Wanda Nelson met on Monday, July 1, and the following summarizes the discussions that began at 8:03 a.m. July 2 Regular Meeting Under Consent Agenda Item #12, Natural Areas will be bringing forth two ordinances for Council’s consideration relating to appropriating prior year reserves for programming and an office building. Staff was asked to include some additional information in the Agenda Item Summary including the sources of funding for the building, a description of the purpose of the building, and a graphic illustration. The consideration of Item #20, a resolution making a liaison appointment to the Planning and Zoning Board, will be postponed until the July 16 Council meeting. Under “Staff Reports,” staff is asked to provide an update on the upcoming Fourth of July fireworks display. Specifically, staff is asked to address why the City of Fort Collins can have a fireworks display, considering the hot, dry conditions that have existed of late. Additionally, staff is asked to describe the enforcement efforts that will be in place. In the form of a Service Area Request (SAR), staff is asked to respond if Jackson Street will remain open during the evening of the fireworks display and generally what streets are open and which are closed. The first topic on the discussion portion of the meeting is Urban Agriculture, Item #26. Staff has been asked to present an option to the proposed ordinance that includes goats as a permitted animal in urban areas. Several emails have been sent to members of Council echoing this request. Leadership Planning Team Meeting July 1, 2013 Page 2 of 4 Agenda Item #28 concerns the Encompass-River District Block One Mixed Use Development and the request for easements. Staff is asked to ensure a collaborative response from the involved departments (Real Estate Services, the Planning Department, and the Utility Department) will be presented at the meeting. Additionally, staff is asked to address the points raised by Rich Shannon in a recent email to City Council; a memo will be included in the “Read Before” folder. Adoption of the final report for the “Harmony Road Enhanced Travel Corridor Alternatives Analysis” will be discussed. City Manager Atteberry stated that the emphasis of the study is to focus on multi-modal forms of transportation along Harmony Road. A meeting of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will follow the Council meeting. The URA Board will be considering a resolution that expresses the Board’s intent related to the use of tax protest covenants in connection with redevelopment projects. July 9 Work Session Items are scheduled for this Work Session: 1. Boards and Commissions Periodic Review. 2. Joint Work Session with Planning and Zoning Board. Staff will be sending out a proposed agenda and list of topics for this discussion. 3. Capital Improvements Expansion Fee Update and Consideration of a Capital Improvement Expansion Fee for Trails. These items have been reviewed two times in Finance Committee meetings. These will be addressed as two separate items. Six Month Calendar A meeting is being held on Monday, July 15 with City Council and Larimer County Commissioners at 6:00 p.m. at 200 West Oak. This meeting will not be televised. Discussion will focus on the financial package of the Foothills Mall project. Presently two items related to the regulation of oil and gas operations are scheduled for July 16. The two items – extending the moratorium and reciprocal setbacks for residential developments – will be put together under one heading on the agenda. The Work Session on Amendment 64 Retail Marijuana has been moved to July 30. Other Discussion Items A discussion was held on the effectiveness of pre-taping presentations for Work Session items. An email will be sent to Council to gather their perspectives and feedback. Several issues were discussed regarding trails in Fort Collins: 1. The ramp on the trail at the Environmental Learning Center is degrading and in need of repairs. Leadership Planning Team Meeting July 1, 2013 Page 3 of 4 2. Staff is asked to remove downed trees and limbs on trails as soon as possible as the trails are used as a mode of transportation for many citizens. 3. Staff has been asked to explain the public the purpose and rationale for the planned overpass for the trail connection at Interstate 25 and the NRRC Bike and Pedestrian Overpass at the Spring Creek Station. Mayor Pro Tem Horak contends that constructing the I-25 trail connection under the bridge when the bridge is reconstructed is a better and more timely option. Staff has been asked to consider entering the “Georgetown University Energy Prize.” The prize is awarded to the community that leads the way in energy efficiency. More details are available at www.guep.org. Mayor Pro Tem Horak stated that Councilmembers can now sign up for the National League of Cities (NLC) Conference being held in Seattle in November. Additional details can be found on their website at http://www.nlc.org/build-skills-and-networks/education-and-training/event- calendar/congress-of-cities-and-exposition. Sarah Kane can assist with conference registration and travel arrangements. In the form of a SAR, staff has been asked to address the following: 1. Concerns raised by the CASA Executive Director regarding its recent request for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. 2. A status report on the processing of medical marijuana applications. 3. An update on the organization of the Parking Committee. City Manager Atteberry met with the CDOT Region IV Director Johnny Olson. Mr. Olson requested time at a future Council Work Session to discuss the future of I-25. The Leadership Team suggested that this be an item on an upcoming Joint Elected Officials (Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Larimer County) meeting. The next meeting is July 25 and staff will suggest this as an agenda item for that meeting. Staff is asked to provide information on an upcoming meeting (July 24) in Fort Collins of the Transportation Legislative Review Committee and if Fort Collins can speak to the topic of future funding for transportation. City Manager Atteberry and staff met with the regional representative to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to discuss the issue of train horn noise and how the City may be able to obtain waivers to be exempt from the train horn “program.” Mayor Pro Tem Horak also met with FRA representatives who seem more open to working with Fort Collins (and perhaps other Colorado communities) on options for achieving a quiet zone. Kevin Duggan with The Coloradoan has requested automatic access to City Council email. The Community and Public Information Office is working with Information Technology to determine the best way for this to occur. Leadership Planning Team Meeting July 1, 2013 Page 4 of 4 Assistant City Manager Williams reported that over 300 citizens attended the Poudre River open house last Wednesday (June 26) at the Lincoln Center. City Manager Atteberry is working with members of Council and City staff on a strategy to deliver the Council’s Work Plan in a manner that is useful and addresses important policy matters. City Manager reported that Banner Health plans to have a ground breaking on its Harmony campus in September. City Manager Atteberry is working with staff to explore ways to invest the $2 million given to the City by Xcel for its pipeline work. Through a resolution, these funds have been earmarked to be spent on trails and natural areas. Finally, last Thursday (June 27) a meeting with our three state legislators (Senator John Kefalas, Representatives Randy Fischer and Joann Ginal) representing Fort Collins in the General Assembly was held with Council representatives and staff. A conversation was held regarding the application of tax increment financing (TIF) to the Mall project as well as possible review of TIF elements and opportunities to work collaboratively in the upcoming 2014 Legislative Session. Meeting adjourned at 10:12 a.m.