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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Read Before Packet - 7/23/2013 - Memorandum From Wanda Nelson Re: Leadership Planning Team Meeting Minutes - July 22, 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 22, 2013 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Wanda Nelson, City Clerk RE: Leadership Planning Team Meeting Mayor Karen Weitkunat, Mayor Pro Tem Gerry Horak, Deputy City Manager Diane Jones, Assistant City Manager Wendy Williams, City Attorney Steve Roy, and City Clerk Wanda Nelson met on Monday, July 22, and the following summarizes the discussions that began at 8:08 a.m. July 23 Work Session The first topic of discussion for the July 23 Work Session is exterior property maintenance codes. The discussion will focus on possible solutions to on-going exterior residential property maintenance issues that create a negative impact on neighboring residential properties that are not currently addressed by existing codes. Staff is asked to describe the engagement process conducted with the affected property owners. The activities of the Rocky Mountain Innosphere and an overview of the City’s incubation strategy will be provided as the second topic of discussion at this Work Session. Staff is asked to clarify the two different amounts listed for the Colorado Enterprise Fund in staff’s presentation and Innosphere’s report. July 30 Work Session At this Work Session, a discussion will be held on Amendment 64 Retail Marijuana. Additionally, two items will be discussed for the Urban Renewal Authority (URA): policies related to URA public financing, and policies related to energy efficiency requirements and recycling/reuse of demolition and construction waste materials. An Executive Session may be held this evening as well. Staff will confirm this and provide notice as soon as possible. Six Month Calendar Should the City Clerk certify that the petition representatives have collected enough signatures for their initiative, this item will appear on the August 20 Regular Agenda. At that time, City Council will be presented with two options: adopt the initiated ordinance, or adopt a resolution that puts this item on the November 2013 ballot. Leadership Planning Team Meeting July 22, 2013 Page 2 of 3 It was pointed out that there may be too many items scheduled for the September 24 Work Session: • Utilities – Commercial Water Allotments and Water Rights Development Fee (30 minutes); Time of Use Electric Rate Pilot (20 minutes) • 2014 Proposed Utility Rate Increases (45 minutes) • Colorado Water Conservation Board Floodplain Regulations (1 hour) • Southeast Recreation/Cultural Study Update (30 minutes) Assistant City Manager Williams will contact staff to determine if the last item is time-sensitive and can move to another meeting. Other Discussion Items On Thursday, a Joint Regional Meeting with Larimer County, Loveland, Fort Collins, and Berthoud will be held. The agenda has been posted and includes the following topics: 1. Airport Update 2. Transportation issues update along US 287 and I-25 3. Community Updates on Amendment 64 Retail Marijuana At the Joint Regional Meeting under “Other Business,” Mayor Weitkunat will approach the subject of including other municipalities in future Regional Meetings. Staff has been asked to provide information in the form of “Questions & Answers” or “Frequently Asked Questions” on the City’s website to discuss the Operator Agreement that exists between the City and Prospect Energy, compare the terms of the Agreement with State Regulations, monitoring that the City is requiring, and the land use codes. Staff will prepare a press release to report on this year’s fireworks enforcement and the City’s communication plan to inform those attending the fireworks display of any changes to the evening’s events, such as delays, etc. Based on the election activities this year, the City Clerk’s office met with the City Attorney’s office to discuss the following possible changes to the Charter: 1. On petitions, count the first signature of someone who signed twice and reject all others (Fort Collins is unique in rejecting all signatures of a person who signs more than once). 2. Change the response to all ballot questions be simply “Yes” or “No” (in the past we have used, “For the Ordinance” and “Against the Ordinance.” Staff receives many citizen phone calls asking how they should vote). 3. a. Make it clear that both the sufficiency and insufficiency of a petition can be protested. Leadership Planning Team Meeting July 22, 2013 Page 3 of 3 b. Allow City Manager to appoint a hearing officer (someone other than the City Clerk) for protest proceedings. 4. Change the deadline to submit citizen initiatives to 90 days prior to election (rather than 60) to allow enough time to meet Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR) deadlines. 5. Clarify whether or not initiative petitions can continue to be circulated while the Clerk is examining the first filing of the petition. 6. Remove the requirement that the nomination petition circulator certify the number of signatures on the petition. 7. Increase the number of working days the Clerk’s Office has to examine initiative and referendum petitions (currently the Clerk’s office has 5 working days to conduct this review). It was suggested that #7 be included in the next available election. Staff has been asked to schedule a discussion of the other items for a future Work Session. Assistant City Manager Williams reported that the City is moving forward with Level 2 Communications regarding West Nile Virus, which means door hangers will be placed on residences. This adds another layer of awareness and education. Ms. Williams also stated that staff is reviewing the route for the Poudre River Trail and will be presenting Council with a list of pros and cons for consideration. Staff is requested to provide the following information: 1. What type of response does the City deliver in emergencies to those citizens whose primary language is not English? 2. What can be done to more publicly distribute the recent report submitted on water quality? What are the results we can glean from the report? 3. What is the engagement process for the business owners on Mason Street regarding the loss of some parking spaces? 4. What is the impact of the Climate Action Plan? What other things are we going to do? What made a difference, and what contributed to the difference? Where should we be headed? Due to smashed windows and theft of personal items, an inquiry was received asking if natural areas have surveillance cameras posted. Assistant City Manager Williams reported there are signs warning users to lock their cars and hide their valuables, but no surveillance cameras are posted. Meeting adjourned at 9:48 a.m.