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Legislative Review Committee Agenda
September 24, 2019
4:00-5:00
Commons Conference Room, City Hall, 300 LaPorte Ave., Building A
1. Approval of minutes from August 20, 2019 Meeting
Attached: August 20, 2019 Minutes
2. Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) 2019-2020 Policy Agenda –
consideration of adoption of the 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Agenda
Attached: (A) Analysis of CC4CA Policy Agenda compared with the 2018-2019
LPA and (B) 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Agenda
3. Legislative Policy Agenda – discussion of new items to include or requests for edits.
Discussion of fall calendar and preferred dates for LRC discussion and Council
adoption
Attached: 2019 Legislative Policy Agenda
4. Breakfast with State Legislators
5. Washington, D.C. Lobbying Trip – planned meetings
6. Other Business
LRC Committee Minutes
Date: August 20, 2019
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm 4:08pm
Location: Commons Conference Room
Councilmembers Present: Ross Cunniff, Susan Gutowsky, Ken Summers
Staff Present: Jeff Mihelich, Carrie Daggett, Ginny Sawyer, Tyler Marr, Sierra Anderson, Carter Hill
Discussion of Border and Immigration Resolution
Discussion of Leadership Planning Recommendation
• Cunniff – Asked what LPT is asking for
• Jeff – Explained the option to move forward with a community meeting/forum with
Congressman Neguse instead of creating a resolution
• Tyler – Referenced the community issues forum coming up as a potential way to incorporate
immigration concerns (CPD would help facilitate this sometime in October or early November)
• Summers – Stated that he didn’t feel that LRC needed to come up with a resolution but felt
positive about getting a better understanding of what the process may look like. Also expressed
interest in moving forward with a community meeting. Believes a resolution is appropriate
when the City is hoping to call attention to an issue people are not aware of; believes an
immigration resolution does not meet that criteria. Discussed the challenges with getting
involved with partisan politics. Expressed interest in hearing from the Congressman and other
state officials. Believes council should not take part in trying to support or convince community
members who have set opinions on partisan topics.
• Gutowsky – Believes that now is the right time to have a community meeting. Supports the idea
of a structured setting and working with Martin and the CPD. Discussed a training on racism
and how it opened the room to positive conversations. Is hopeful that this community meeting
can have similar positive outcomes with positive dialogue.
• Cunniff – Believes the Council should focus on identifying Fort Collins specific issues and
wonders if there is a way to address the census portion of the resolution specifically. Believes it
is in the interest of Fort Collins to inform and encourage the community that participants will
not be persecuted by immigration for registering in the census. Suggested including a statement
in other business that Council will do everything reasonable to help support a full census.
• Summers – Questioned the statement describing a ‘rising fear within the community’ written in
the resolution. Asked what specifically the ‘rising fear’ is related to. Asked if there is a new issue
on this topic.
• Jeff – Stated the fear addressed in the resolution and during the public comment period is most
likely in response to national news which may be creating uncertainty.
• Summers – Stated that foreign nationals in a country illegally will most likely feel fear
regardless of the story behind their illegal status. Believes that while we want to do what we
can to make people feel comfortable in their homes and feel safe to utilize emergency services,
we should not be expected to bend over backwards to accommodate
• Cunniff – Discussed plans to tell Council that LRC does not recommend moving forward with a
resolution but supports a community meeting.
• Ginny – Questioned if LRC has suggestions on potential criteria for when to bring national
issues forward
• Summers – Believes national issues are not in direct purview of the City Council. Suggested that
if there is necessary or helpful information it should be provided to Council. Also suggested that
Council needs to decide the level it wants to be involved in national issues. Expressed concerns
with jumping into partisan issues.
• Carrie – Stated there is a lot a potential for the Council to get involved in issues where they may
not have standing and that may not have positive results. Suggested Council look to more
clearly define the role of this committee and what is expected of the group. Also suggested
renaming the committee.
• Ginny – Explained some of the work LRC has done in the past; for example, a flowchart
document to outline the process.
• Cunniff – Suggested that any LRC recommendation should be specific to Fort Collins. Referenced
the census portion of the immigration discussion as an area of immigration that has a direct
impact on Fort Collins. Stated minimum wage is not an issue that LRC should take over.
Questioned whether LRC should discuss with Council about renaming and redefining the
committee’s role. Suggested Regional State and Federal Policy Committee or Legislative Policy
Committee as potential alternatives. Ultimately expressed leaning more toward not changing
the current committee as LRC.
• Cunniff – Stated a preference to have LRC inform Council of specific recommendations that
focus on issues that directly impact Fort Collins.
• Summers – Expressed that Council should not feel obligated to respond or act based on public
comment period statements. Stated that public comment allows people to express their views,
but it should not necessarily become a priority. Believes that it is important for the Council to
know that the body is not responsible to act on all comments.
• Jeff – Supports a case by case approach to public comments requesting this type of thing –
referenced the difference between public comments on climate versus comments on
immigration that led to this resolution discussion.
• Tyler – Stated the value and importance of the policy agenda’s role in these areas.
• Cunniff – Stated plans to report LRC meeting conclusions during council reports tonight.
Other Business
DC Trip
• Tyler – Stated that six or more Councilmembers will be attending. Stated more information will
come regarding hotel blocks, agendas, etc.
Breakfast with legislators: scheduling
• Ginny – Stated plans to schedule a meeting with legislatures and Council. Plans on working
internally on City policies in the meantime and is thankful for the patience from Council.
2019 LEGISLATIVE
POLICY AGENDA
2019 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA
Adopted December 4, 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Home Rule and Local Control............................................. 6
Affordable Housing .............................................................. 6
Air Quality ............................................................................. 6
Beer and Liquor .................................................................... 6
Broadband and Cable ...........................................................7
Climate ....................................................................................7
Development Review and Land Use Planning .................7
Elections .................................................................................7
Energy .....................................................................................7
Finance ................................................................................... 8
Hazardous Materials Management .................................... 8
Human Resources ................................................................ 8
Marijuana ............................................................................... 9
Municipal Court..................................................................... 9
Oil and Gas ............................................................................ 9
Open Records and Data Management .............................. 9
Parks and Natural Areas .....................................................10
Public Health ........................................................................10
Public Safety ........................................................................10
Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction .............................10
Risk Management and Liability..........................................11
Transportation ......................................................................11
Urban Renewal and Downtown Development ............... 12
Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater ............................... 12
City of Fort Collins Legislative Contacts .......................... 12
4 Legislative Policy Statements 2019
INTRODUCTION
Fort Collins is a community of 170,100
residents. Incorporated in 1873, the City
has grown to become the commercial,
educational and cultural hub of Northern
Colorado. The City adopted a home rule
charter in 1954 and operates under a
Council-Manager form of government.
The City is a data-driven municipal
organization that strives to fulfill its
mission, “Exceptional service for an
exceptional community”, through a
vision of providing world-class municipal
services through operational excellence
and a culture of innovation. City leaders
seek innovative solutions to issues facing
the community and are often willing to
leverage emerging technologies.
The Fort Collins City Council annually
adopts a Policy Agenda ahead of the
upcoming Colorado general Assembly
session for the purpose of guiding
legislators and staff in supporting
community goals.
The Policy Agenda is broad set of policy
statements meant to convey positions
on issues that affect the quality of life
and the governance of our community.
It is structured to address areas of local
concern and to also reflect the strategic
planning that guides City of Fort Collins
organizational resource allocation and
decision making.
Fort Collins welcomes opportunities to
work in partnership to leverage additional
resources and participate in regional
dialogue to achieve shared outcomes.
The City has identified seven outcome
areas to ensure appropriate and effective
resource allocation supporting the
community’s priorities. Outcome areas
include Culture and Recreation; Economic
Health; Environmental Health; High
Performing Government; Neighborhood
Livability and Social Health; Safe
Community; and Transportation and
Mobility. The Policy Agenda identifies this
alignment as it is important for City staff
to ensure that advocacy supports specific
desired outcomes.
5
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
COMMITTEE
The Legislative Review Committee (LRC) is
a representative group of Council members
that reviews and reacts to proposed
legislation on behalf of City Council and the
City. In taking a position on bills, the LRC
interprets and applies the various policies
that are included in the Legislative Policy
Agenda.
Council Members presently serving on the
Legislative Review Committee are:
• Councilmember Ken Summers, Chair
• Councilmember Ray Martinez
• Councilmember Ross Cunniff
LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
PROCESS
In 2019, the City of Fort Collins will rely
heavily on the Legislative Policy Agenda,
the Colorado Municipal League, and the
Colorado Communities for Climate Action
organizations for the majority of bill
tracking and identification.
The City currently maintains memberships
with the Colorado Municipal League
and Colorado Communities for Climate
Action – both groups maintain a fulltime
presence at the capitol and engage in bill
identification and advocacy consistent with
their own adopted policy agendas. The City
influences both groups’ policy agendas,
and while not perfectly consistent with our
own, both generally advance and protect
the City’s interests.
Bills introduced in the Colorado General
Assembly, United States Congress and
federal, state or county regulations or
rulemakings are reviewed by City staff.
Bills, regulations and rules that are
identified as having a potential impact
on the City will be brought to the LRC for
discussion. If LRC adopts a position,
staff will convey that information to the
appropriate state or federal representative
and advocate for the adopted position.
Due to the time-sensitive nature of the
General Assembly, if a bill’s subject matter
is explicitly addressed in this Policy Agenda,
staff will proactively work with state and
federal representatives to advance the City’s
position as expressed in this legislative
policy agenda and other Council-adopted
plans and policies. Staff will provide regular
updates to the LRC and the full City Council
regarding bills of consequence to the City
and will consult with the LRC regarding
bills for which direction under the adopted
policy is unclear.
6 Legislative Policy Statements 2019
2019 LEGISLATIVE
POLICY STATEMENTS
HOME RULE AND
LOCAL CONTROL
In order to consider and manage local
conditions and desires, community issues
and needs should be addressed locally.
For this reason, home rule authority is
of utmost importance to the City of Fort
Collins. The City must be free to regulate
local activities that primarily impact the
area within the City’s boundaries, such
as the speed of local traffic or the effects
of particular land use developments. The
City also understands the accumulative
effect of these and other activities have
statewide ramifications that may call
for statewide regulation, to effectively
manage such things as overall growth and
development in the state, traffic congestion
in major transportation corridors and
environmental quality.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports strengthening and preserving
home rule authority of municipal
governments.
2. Opposes State or Federal intervention
in matters of local concern or matters
that unnecessarily or adversely affect
the City’s ability to manage and operate
pursuant to its home rule authority.
3. Opposes changes that increase (and
support changes that lessen) the
burdens on municipalities associated
with public or other government records,
establishment of ethics standards and
procedures, operation of municipal
courts, and other matters of municipal
operations or authority.
4. Supports enabling cities to choose the
provision of services through private
enterprise in a manner that fosters cost
effective, sustainable, quality services.
5. Supports local control of the awarding of
contracts and the accountability of local
officials for those actions.
6. Opposes mandates that increase the
complexity and cost of services without
improving those services.
7. Supports collaborative regional
efforts for the benefit of participating
communities.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY
AND SOCIAL HEALTH
The City recognizes that the affordability
and availability of quality housing is critical
to a vibrant and diverse community.
Therefore, the City:
7
BROADBAND AND CABLE
ECONOMIC HEALTH
Reliable, high-speed, and affordable access
to broadband and cable programming
throughout the community remains a
priority and a long-term goal for the City
to ensure our economic vitality and allow
for equal access for all residents and
businesses.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports maintaining local franchising
authority to preserve local governments’
ability to negotiate in the public interest
for cable channel space, institutional
networks and public education and
government programming.
2. Supports allowing communities to offer
and/or partner to offer high speed
internet, Wi-Fi and other enhanced
telecommunication services to residents,
schools, academic institutions and
businesses.
3. Opposes restrictions on providing
telecommunication services within City-
owned facilities and on City property,
and related restrictions on the manner
in which such services may be financed,
funded or structured.
4. Opposes infringement on municipalities’
ability to compete in the broadband
marketplace.
5. Opposes right of way use contrary to
existing aesthetic policies and practices,
including the addition of any above
ground cabling.
CLIMATE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Making communities more resilient to
disaster and the effects of a changing
climate has become more important to
Colorado communities over the last several
years as natural disasters have caused
significant human and property loss. Fort
Collins has adopted aggressive emission
reduction goals and supports policies and
legislation helping communities and the
state to achieve these goals and enhance
the environment as detailed in the Climate
Action Plan.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission reduction targets, planning,
and implementation at all levels of
government.
2. Supports market-based mechanisms
to reduce emissions, including
incentives, enabling legislation, and
other mechanisms to achieve emissions
reductions and increase resiliency in
8 Legislative Policy Statements 2019
4. Opposes barriers to coordinating
integrated planning for energy supply
and demands.
5. Supports state and federal funding for
resilience efforts to mitigate potential
energy and climate related disruptions.
6. Supports federal and state incentives
for renewable energy production,
including wind power, and provide for
“State Implementation Plan” credits for
renewable energy (excluding residential
wood burning and corn-based ethanol)
and energy efficiency.
7. Opposes attempts to prevent or inhibit
provision of municipal electric service in
newly annexed areas.
8. Supports smart grid technology
adoption and grid modernization.
9. Supports minimizing the environmental
impacts of all forms of energy.
FINANCE
HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT
Strong fiscal planning, prudent debt
management and investment policies, and
preservation of the City’s revenue base
are vital in maintaining and improving
the City’s financial health. Considering
the known impacts of legislation on the
City’s business community can help foster
a stronger tax base and retain a strong
quality of life.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports expanding municipal authority
to establish alternative funding
mechanisms, including financing tools
such as public improvement fees (PIF)
and certificates of participation (COP).
2. Supports increased funding for K-12 and
higher education, specifically Colorado
State University and Front Range
Community College.
3. Encourages the equitable treatment
of sales and use taxes to residents and
corporations residing or doing business
in Colorado by limiting exemptions.
4. Supports the equitable distribution
sales tax collections on e-commerce
transactions.
5. Opposes efforts that inhibit the City’s
ability to increase its revenue base
(sales, use and property taxes).
6. Supports protections that do not
unnecessarily restrict the investments of
government entities.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MANAGEMENT
SAFE COMMUNITY;
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
It is an important concern of the City
9
MARIJUANA
SAFE COMMUNITY
After the State’s legalization of medical
and recreational marijuana, the City
of Fort Collins created local marijuana
business licensing programs and adopted
ordinances to balance the needs and
desires of the community related to legal
marijuana.
The City’s licensing program supports the
state dual-licensing system for medical and
recreational marijuana businesses.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports communities’ ability to raise
necessary funds to maintain public safety
and enforce marijuana possession laws.
2. Supports additional state marijuana
enforcement resources, especially for
field enforcement.
3. Opposes under-21 access to marijuana.
4. Supports local opt-in provisions
regarding new permits and/or licenses.
5. Supports re-scheduling of marijuana at
the federal level to help address safety
through research and legal banking, and
to reduce conflict between Colorado and
federal laws.
MUNICIPAL COURT
SAFE COMMUNITY; HIGH PERFORMING
GOVERNMENT
The Fort Collins Municipal Court is
responsible for administering the
operations of the judicial branch of City
government according to the City Charter
and ordinances adopted by City Council.
Cases adjudicated in Municipal Court
include traffic violations, misdemeanors,
civil infractions, and civil cases. Generally,
cases are brought to Municipal Court by
Fort Collins Police Services, Colorado State
University Police Department, Animal
Control, other City departments, and
private citizens.
Therefore, the City:
1. Opposes limitations on the authority
of municipalities to enforce their own
ordinances in municipal courts and
increased procedural requirements
or limitations on municipal court
proceedings, such as limitations on
bonding requirements related to municipal
court warrants and sentencing options.
2. Opposes the imposition of state
surcharges on municipal court fines for
the purpose of funding state programs.
3. Opposes any unfunded mandates
imposed on municipal courts by
the state.
OIL AND GAS
10 Legislative Policy Statements 2019
PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH;
CULTURE AND RECREATION
The City is committed to providing the
community with excellent natural areas,
parks and recreation services and facilities.
Our citizens enjoy a better quality of life,
improved health, less crime and a greater
sense of community because of our
quality natural areas, parks and recreation
programs.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports maintaining or enhancing
funding for parks, trails, forestry,
horticulture, natural areas, and recreation
services and facilities.
2. Supports local discretion to use Great
Outdoors Colorado and other sources for
funding municipal government projects
addressing local needs and priorities.
3. Supports equal or greater funding levels
of Great Outdoors Colorado grants
awarded to municipalities
4. Supports maintaining or enhancing tax
incentives to private landowners for
voluntary land conservation.
5. Supports protection of the Cache la
Poudre River and local urban streams.
PUBLIC HEALTH
SAFE COMMUNITY; NEIGHBORHOOD
LIVABILITY AND SOCIAL HEALTH
The City of Fort Collins strives to be a
welcoming and inclusive community
for all, including residents who may
be experiencing the challenges of
homelessness, mental health issues,
addiction, depression, and other
challenging life situations.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports maintaining or increasing the
funds available through the state and
federal government for community-
focused non-profits to provide human
services and housing support.
2. Supports providing communities
with resources to address chronic
homelessness, supportive housing,
mental health, and substance abuse,
including tobacco prevention programs.
3. Supports a standardized statewide
approach to addressing homelessness.
4. Supports statewide efforts to enforce
retail tobacco sales compliance.
PUBLIC SAFETY
SAFE COMMUNITY
The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the
critical importance of maintaining public
safety, providing a safe environment, and
protecting the lives and property of the
11
percent of community waste by 2020; 90
percent by 2025, and 100 percent by 2030.
Therefore, the City:
1. Encourages integrated, sustainable
waste management planning and
implementation policy, including but
not limited to centralized data collection
requirements and formal statewide
diversion targets.
2. Supports a regulatory authority role for
local government to ensure the efficient
management of recyclable material and
solid waste, including application of laws
that prescribe the use of county-funded
disposal facilities for certain types of
wastes, and other local bans on landfill
disposal for certain types of debris.
3. Encourages “buy recycled” or
“environmentally preferable purchasing”
policies for government agency
procurement.
4. Supports incentives and funding for
programs that promote waste reduction,
reuse and recycling, and development of
related infrastructure.
5. Supports continued or increased funding
for programs to collect and monitor data
on trash volumes, rates of diversion from
landfill disposal and economic impacts
of recycling.
6. Supports greater producer responsibility
initiatives, such as “take back”
regulations that assist consumers
to appropriately recycle packaging
materials or certain products (e.g.,
cardboard and expanded polystyrene
packaging, single-use plastic shopping
bags, or mattresses).
7. Opposes CRS Section 25-17-104, which
currently limits local authority to regulate
packaging materials (e.g., single-use
plastic bags).
8. Supports establishing a refundable
deposit fee on beverage containers
to increase recovery rates and pay for
recycling programs.
9. Supports state and regional tax
incentives for existing and new
businesses that provide end markets
for recycled materials in support of a
domestic, circular economy.
RISK MANAGEMENT
AND LIABILITY
HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT
The City of Fort Collins recognizes the dual
purpose of the workers’ compensation
system – providing benefits promptly
to injured employees in a cost-effective
manner and minimizing costly litigation.
12 Legislative Policy Statements 2019
railroad and emergency personnel, and
the use of safe equipment.
10. Supports funding for the build out of
Interstate 25 improvements, which may
include a ballot measure.
11. Opposes reductions in federal dollars for
bicycling, transit and walking.
12. Supports local control of public
roads, pedestrian paths, and bike
lanes to address emerging modes of
transportation.
URBAN RENEWAL AND
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC HEALTH
The state of Colorado has empowered
local authorities to use Urban Renewal
Authorities (URA) and Downtown
Development Authorities (DDA) to
encourage downtown revitalization
and the elimination of blight. The main
funding tool for URAs and DDAs is Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) generated
through property taxes. In its best
intention, urban renewal and downtown
revitalization restores economic vitality
and improves the safety of a designated
area, with limited financial impact to other
government jurisdictions.
Therefore, the City:
1. Opposes limitations on municipalities’
ability to utilize financing mechanisms
such as TIF or Metro Districts.
2. Opposes efforts to increase influence of
non-City jurisdictions over the use of TIF
within City limits.
3. Supports maintaining the ability of
downtown development authorities
to utilize the full offering of tools and
powers provided in the DDA Act.
WATER, WASTEWATER, AND
STORMWATER
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH; SAFE
COMMUNITY
The City operates a water, wastewater,
and stormwater utility in a financially
sound, reliable, safe, and environmentally
acceptable manner. The availability of water
supplies is critical to this mission and is
managed by both the Water Demand and
Supply Policy, and the Water Efficiency Plan.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports expanding the authority
delegated to the state to administer
federally mandated water, stormwater
and wastewater environmental
regulatory programs.
2. Supports reasonable water quality
regulations that are cost effective and
can show identifiable benefits.
13
Legislative Staff Liaison Members
Topic Area Name Title Email Phone
Affordable Housing and
Social Sustainability
Beth Sowder Social Sustainability Director bsowder@fcgov.com 970-221-6752
Air Quality Cassie Archuleta Environmental Program Manager carchuleta@fcgov.com 970-416-2648
Broadband Colman Keane Broadband Director ckeane@fcgov.com 610-224-6001
Cable Television Franchise Carson Hamlin Cable Television Manager chamlin@fcgov.com 970-221-6510
Climate Lindsay Ex Environmental Program Manager lex@fcgov.com (970)224-6143
Environmental Protection Lucinda Smith Environmental Services Director lsmith@fcgov.com 970-224-6085
Elections, Liquor and
Marijuana Licensing
Delynn Coldiron City Clerk dcoldiron@fcgov.com 970-416-2995
Cultural Services, Parks
and Recreation
Mike Calhoon Director of Parks mcalhoon@fcgov.com 970-416-2079
Energy Tim McCollough,
John Phelan
Light and Power, Deputy Utilities
Director Energy Services, Senior
Manager
tmccollough@fcgov.com
jphelan@fcgov.com
970-416-2622
970-416-2539
Finance Mike Beckstead Chief Financial Officer mbeckstead@fcgov.com 970-221-6795
Economic Health Josh Birks Economic Health Director jbirks@fcgov.com 970-221-6324
Fire Protection and
HAZMAT Mgmt
Bob Poncelow Division Chief, Poudre Fire Authority bponcelow@poudre-fire.org 970-416-2871
Human Resources Janet Miller Assistant Human Resources Director jamiller@fcgov.com 970-221-6826
Natural Areas, Open Lands
and Cache la Poudre River
Issues
John Stokes Natural Areas Director jstokes@fcgov.com 970-221-6263
Building Services Russ Hovland Chief Building Official rhovland@fcgov.com 970-416-2341
Planning and Land Use Tom Leeson Community Development and
Neighborhood Services Director
tleeson@fcgov.com 970-221-6287
Public Safety Greg Yeager Deputy Chief of Police gyeager@fcgov.com 970-416-2185
Recycling and Solid Waste Susie Gordon Environmental Program Manager sgordon@fcgov.com 970-221-6265
Risk Management Kendra Radford Safety, Security, and Risk
Management Director
kradford@fcgov.com 970-221-6774
Stormwater Theresa Connor Water Engineering Field Operations,
Deputy Utilities Director
tconnor@fcgov.com 970-221-6671
Transportation Dean Klingner Planning, Development and
Transportation Deputy Director
dklingner@fcgov.com 970-221-6511
Utilities Customer
Connections
Lisa Rosintoski Customer Connections, Deputy
Utilities Director
lrosintoski@fcgov.com 970-416-2432
Water Supply and Quality Carol Webb Water Resource and Treatment
Operations, Deputy Utilities Director
cwebb@fcgov.com 970-221-6231
Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. V/TDD: 711
19-20768
Draft Analysis – 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Statement Compared to the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda 1
Draft Analysis of the Alignment between the DRAFT 2019-2020 Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA)
Policy Priorities and the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda (LPA)
Document Purpose and Recommendation: The purpose of this document is to analyze the 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Priorities against the City’s
Legislative Policy Agenda (LPA) to assess where the policies align. CC4CA is a coalition of 27 local governments and these governments
collaboratively create and unanimously adopt the policy agenda each year. In 2019, the 27 communities have developed five overarching policy
principles and 28 policy priorities for the 2020 Legislative Session Staff’s analysis finds that 25 of the 28 policies highlighted in green align with the
City’s LPA. While staff recommends LRC support the CC4CA Policy Agenda, there are three policies (Policy 4, 7, and 10) highlighted in yellow on
pages 2 and 3 that staff recommends watching with scrutiny during the 2019 Legislative Session.
Analysis and Overview of Changes from 2018-2019 CC4CA Policy Priorities:
Proposed CC4CA Policy
Priorities
Explanation of Change (if any) Alignment with 2019 LPA
CC4CA Policy Section: General Policy Principles
Supports collaboration between state
and federal government agencies and
Colorado’s local governments to
advance local climate protection.
unchanged
No change from 2018-2019 In Alignment
(Page 7) Climate 1. Supports greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
reduction targets, planning, and implementation at all levels of
government.
Supports state and federal programs to
reduce carbon pollution, including
adequate and ongoing funding of those
programs. unchanged
No change from 2018-2019 In Alignment
Examples include:
(Page 8): Energy 5. Supports state and federal funding for resilience
efforts to mitigate potential energy and climate related disruptions.
(Page 11): Waste Reduction and Recycling 4. Supports incentives and
funding for programs that promote waste reduction, reuse and
recycling, and development of related infrastructure.
Supports analyses, financial incentives,
and enabling policies for the
development and deployment of clean
energy technologies. unchanged
No change from 2018-2019 In Alignment
(Page 8) 6. Supports federal and state incentives for renewable
energy production, including wind power, and provide for “State
Implementation Plan” credits for renewable energy (excluding
residential wood burning and corn-based ethanol) and energy
efficiency.
Supports locally driven and locally
designed programs to supported
communities impacted by the clean
energy transformation.
Minor grammatical changes. In Alignment
Examples include:
(Page 7): Energy 3. Supports opportunities for energy efficiency,
production, and operation in local economies.
(Page 8): Energy 5. Supports state and federal funding for resilience
efforts to mitigate potential energy and climate related disruptions.
Draft Analysis – 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Statement Compared to the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda 2
Proposed CC4CA Policy
Priorities
Explanation of Change (if any) Alignment with 2019 LPA
Supports prioritizing policies that put
people at the center of decision-making,
do not exacerbate or create disparities in
growing the green economy, and
enhance equitable outcomes for all. New
in 2019
New in 2019, recognizes that equitable
solutions are needed to transition the
energy economy.
In Alignment
(Page 7): Energy 1. Supports efforts that promote energy affordability,
safety, and reductions in fossil-fuel generated consumption for
residents, businesses and institutions.
Section: Statewide Climate Strategies
1. Reducing statewide carbon emissions
consistent with or greater than the State
of Colorado’s 2019 codified goals. New
in 2019
In 2019, the State of Colorado
legislatively adopted statewide emission
reduction goals (26% by 2025, 50% by
2030, 90% by 2050). This strategy
supports policies that are consistent
with those goals. Past policies sought to
adopt these goals; now, the policy
focuses on implementation.
In Alignment
(Page 7) Climate 1. Supports greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
reduction targets, planning, and implementation at all levels of
government.
2. Securing accurate, frequent
greenhouse gas inventories and
forecasts for Colorado. New in 2019
Past policies focused on updating
inventory protocols, which was passed
in 2019. This policy now focuses on
implementation of adopted legislation.
In Alignment
(Page 7) Climate 1. Supports greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
reduction targets, planning, and implementation at all levels of
government.
3. Adopting Supports a comprehensive
market-based policy to reduce
Colorado’s greenhouse gas heat-
trapping emissions.
Minor grammatical changes.
In Alignment
(Page 7) Climate 2. Supports market-based mechanisms to reduce
emissions, including incentives, enabling legislation, and other
mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions and increase resiliency
in energy, waste reduction, transportation, and water sectors.
4. Expanding the consideration of the
environmental and health costs
associated with the use of fossil fuels.
New in 2019
Earlier this year, the Public Utilities
Draft Analysis – 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Statement Compared to the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda 3
Proposed CC4CA Policy
Priorities
Explanation of Change (if any) Alignment with 2019 LPA
6. Enabling Supports state government
actions to enable local governments to
obtain the energy use and other data
they need to effectively address climate
change.
Minor grammatical changes.
In Alignment
(Page 7) Climate 1. Supports greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
reduction targets, planning, and implementation at all levels of
government.
7. Supporting a public process for
evaluating retail energy choice options
for local jurisdictions. New in 2019
Without calling for a specific solution,
this policy recognizes that many
communities lack the local energy
control to achieve their climate action
goals. Staff believes that an inclusive
public process aligns with the overall
LPA, and suggests watching this closely
in implementation to ensure Fort
Collins’ Home Rule continues to be
prioritized.
In Alignment but will require scrutiny during the Legislative
Session
(Page 7) Climate 2. Supports market-based mechanisms to reduce
emissions, including incentives, enabling legislation, and other
mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions and increase resiliency
in energy, waste reduction, transportation, and water sectors.
8. Supporting policies that promote
energy efficient buildings.
s requiring local governments with
adopted building codes to include the
most current or appropriate International
Energy Conservation Code, or provisions
substantially similar to it, in their building
codes and to develop a process for
updating the energy code on a regular
basis.
Simplifies language and broadens
intention to focus on buildings overall
and not just codes.
In Alignment
(Page 7) Energy 3. Supports opportunities for energy efficiency,
production, and operation in local economies.
9. Providing for equitable strategies to
enable and accelerate beneficial
electrification. New in 2019
“Beneficial electrification” refers to
replacing direct fossil fuel consumption
(e.g., propane, natural gas, gasoline)
with electricity in end uses like heating
buildings, heating water, and
transportation.
In Alignment
(Page 7) Climate 2. Supports market-based mechanisms to reduce
Draft Analysis – 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Statement Compared to the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda 4
Proposed CC4CA Policy
Priorities
Explanation of Change (if any) Alignment with 2019 LPA
11. Supports expanded Expanding the
ability of electric cooperatives to
independently purchase local renewable
electricity and take other steps to reduce
carbon pollution.
N/A to Fort Collins; changes simplify the
language.
N/A to Fort Collins – do not oppose due to overall alignment with
the LPA
(Page 7) Energy 1. Supports efforts that promote energy affordability,
safety, and reductions in fossil-fuel generated consumption for
residents, businesses and institutions
12. Supports grid modernization policies
and funding that support Expanding
distributed generation, energy storage,
high levels of renewable energy
generation (distributed and utility-scale)
and appropriate technologies through
grid modernization.
Minor changes from 2018 In Alignment
(Page 8) Energy 8. Supports smart grid technology adoption and grid
modernization.
Section: Energy Efficiency
13. Expanding demand side savings
from efficiency and conservation for all
energy types. New in 2019
Fort Collins, through the Energy Policy,
has established efficiency savings goals
and this policy seeks similar goals
statewide.
In Alignment
(Page 7) Energy 3. Supports opportunities for energy efficiency,
production, and operation in local economies.
14. Supports ongoing and sustainable
funding for weatherization and
renewable energy assistance to low-
income households so that all
Coloradans have access to comfortable
and affordable homes.
Minor changes from 2018 to expand
focus beyond weatherization.
In Alignment
(Page 11) 1. Supports efforts that promote energy affordability, safety,
and reductions in fossil-fuel generated consumption for residents,
businesses and institutions.
15. Supports state enabling legislation to
provide Providing counties and statutory
cities and towns with the same authority
held by home rule cities to implement
local energy conservation policies and
programs.
Minor changes from 2018 N/A to Fort Collins – do not oppose due to overall to alignment
with LPA
(Page 11) 1. Supports efforts that promote energy affordability, safety,
and reductions in fossil-fuel generated consumption for residents,
businesses and institutions.
Draft Analysis – 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Statement Compared to the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda 5
Proposed CC4CA Policy
Priorities
Explanation of Change (if any) Alignment with 2019 LPA
17. Supports implementation of
Implementing the 2018 Colorado Electric
Vehicle Plan and other efforts to
increase electrification of all motor
vehicles. including new state government
actions to accelerate the purchase and
use of zero emission vehicles.
Clarifying language and focus beyond
just state actions.
In Alignment
(Page 6) Air Quality 5. Supports strengthening standards for tailpipe
emissions, aggregate vehicle emissions and/or fuel economy for all
vehicles. Supports programs and policies that promote the use of
electric vehicles and the development of infrastructure needed to
support the use of those vehicles.
18. Increasing multimodal transportation
funding. New in 2019
Supports increasing the proportion of
multimodal funding in transportation
plans and prioritizing expanded transit
and other alternatives.
In Alignment
(Page 12) Transportation 3. Support funding the analysis and
implementation of inter- and intraregional transit linkages, including
future commuter rail connectivity.
(Page 12) Transportation 11. Opposes reductions in federal dollars for
bicycling, transit and walking.
19. Incentivizing and selecting mobility
alternatives, including movement of both
people and goods, based on energy
efficiency and environmental costs and
benefits.
This policy aims to evaluate and affect
decision making to focus on the
efficiency of moving people, e.g.,
supporting travel demand management
solutions, transit, etc.
In Alignment
(Page 12) Transportation 3. Support funding the analysis and
implementation of inter- and intraregional transit linkages, including
future commuter rail connectivity.
Section: Fossil Fuel Extraction Activities
20. Supports legislative, administrative,
and regulatory actions to expand the
Expanding monitoring of and reducing
the full life cycle emissions from fossil
fuel extractive industries
Minor changes to simplify language. In Alignment
(Page 6) Air Quality 1. Supports programs and policies that improve
public health and air quality, and support rapid attainment of National
Ambient Air Quality Standards, including ozone.
Section: Solid Waste Reduction
21. Supports adoption and
implementation of a plan by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and
Environment to achieve the Granting
Draft Analysis – 2019-2020 CC4CA Policy Statement Compared to the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda 6
Proposed CC4CA Policy
Priorities
Explanation of Change (if any) Alignment with 2019 LPA
23. Fostering infrastructure, policies,
incentives, and programs for recycling
and composting. New in 2019
Recognizes that a suite of strategies –
from organics to plastics etc. – are
needed to achieve zero waste goals.
(Page 11) Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction 4. Supports
incentives and funding for programs that promote waste reduction,
reuse and recycling, and development of related infrastructure
Section: General
24. Promoting proactive programs and
efforts that improve the resilience and
adaptability of Colorado communities in
the face of natural disasters and other
major challenges associated with climate
change. New in 2019
Recognizes the role of preparedness in
addressing climate change impacts.
In Alignment
(Page 8): Energy 5. Supports state and federal funding for resilience
efforts to mitigate potential energy and climate related disruptions.
25. Optimizing the potential for carbon
sequestration through regenerative
agriculture, improved soil health, and
forest management. New in 2019
Policy supports efforts through land use
policies and incentives that recognize
the importance of healthy ecosystems
on addressing climate change, in
addition to policies, resources and
strategies to optimize the carbon
sequestration potential of Colorado’s
urban and natural forests.
In Alignment
(Page 10): Parks and Natural Areas 1. Supports maintain or
enhancing funding for parks, trails, forestry, horticulture, natural areas,
and recreation services and facilities.
26. Incorporating equity, accessibility,
and just transition considerations into
climate policies and actions. New in
2019
Recognizes climate change impacts
everyone, but certain communities (e.g.,
people of color, low-income
communities, immigrants) stand to be
disproportionately impacted due
to deep-rooted systems (e.g., systemic
racism, housing costs).
In Alignment
(Page 7): Energy 1. Supports efforts that promote energy affordability,
safety, and reductions in fossil-fuel generated consumption for
residents, businesses and institutions.
27. Encouraging investments that
achieve climate-positive solutions. New
in 2019
Supports divestment from fossil-fuel
CC4CA Policy Statement
(With Explanatory Text)
Effective July 1, 2019
Adopted by the CC4CA Steering Committee on June 27,
Colorado advocating 2019-2020 Communities for reflect stronger unanimous 2019 for state Climate for and agreement Final federal Action Member climate among is a coalition the policy.
coalition Sign-of CC4CA’s local Off members governments policy priorities on steps for
that governments, climate. CC4CA supporting positions should generally described efforts be to taken enable focuses that below, at advance the Colorado on state and legislative, opposing
the and and general federal its regulatory, communities efforts policy level, that often principles and would to administrative in lead partnership weaken and in protecting the or detailed
action, undermine with the local policy
these principles and positions.
General Policy Principles
The Communities Supports Colorado’s following collaboration local for general governments Climate principles between Action to advocates state advance guide and the local federal specific
for: climate government policies protection. that agencies Colorado and
Supports and ongoing state funding and federal of those programs programs. to reduce carbon pollution, including adequate
Supports and deployment analyses, of financial clean energy incentives, technologies. and enabling policies for the development
Supports by the clean locally energy driven transformation. and designed programs to support communities impacted
Supports not equitable exacerbate prioritizing outcomes or create for policies all. disparities that put in people growing at the the green center economy, of decision-and making, enhance
do
2
Policy Positions
Colorado 1. Reducing Communities statewide for carbon Climate Statewide emissions Action Climate supports consistent Strategies the with following or greater policy positions: than the
State Reducing of Colorado’s greenhouse 2019 gas emissions codified goals. is at the heart of CC4CA’s policy positions.
CC4CA that support supports or accelerate the state’s meaningful new goals for emission reducing reductions. emissions and regulatory actions
CC4CA Colorado Commission, supports Department and other other of actions state Public agencies by Health the Colorado and and entities Environment, Public to ensure Utilities the that
Air Commission, Quality Colorado Control achieves the
or essential sustained exceeds that collaboration established the state government emission with local reduction governments provide goals an opportunity in and developing timelines.
for specific CC4CA meaningful, climate believes it
actions 2. Securing tied to accurate, meeting frequent the state’s greenhouse goals. gas inventories and forecasts for
Colorado. CC4CA the effectiveness recognizes and the cost-importance efficiency of of credible various inventories emissions and reduction forecasts strategies. in assessing
Updated strategic emissions sector-decisions reduction specific about efforts. emission maintaining CC4CA baselines supports progress and the toward projections Colorado and Department
improving are vital in the making of Public state’s
Health greenhouse opportunities and Environment’s gas for emissions local jurisdictions inventories new requirements to and access forecasts. data to conduct from CC4CA the frequent
ongoing also supports and updates, accurate and
the stakeholders. 3. Adopting ability to a engage comprehensive in designing market-the reporting based structure approach that to reduce is most Colorado’s useful for
greenhouse Climate climate pollution. change gas is emissions. resulting Because there in part is from no cost the to failure emit heat-of markets trapping to gasses, put a price producers
on
have pollution supports no incentive a as market-climate to based change eliminate approach progresses. them. to Society reducing To overcome bears carbon the this increasing emissions
market cost failure, statewide, of this CC4CA
including impacted communities. policies to ensure A market-the benefits based approach of legislation could accrue be undertaken justly and equitably at national, to
3
regional, on limited climate emission or pollution. state rights levels, Another that and are could is sold a cap-take and and-different then trade could program forms. be traded One
that approach to allows achieve trading is a fee of or tax
economically Greenhouse statewide cap-Gas efficient and-Initiative trade emission program. covering reductions. 10 northeastern Examples U.include S. states the and Regional California’s
4. Expanding the consideration of the environmental and health costs
associated The and health social cost impacts with of the carbon of use emitting is of a fossil measure one fuels. ton of of the carbon economic dioxide harm into from the atmosphere,
the environmental
expressed Utilities carbon when Commission’s as the making dollar decisions new value requirements of related the total to damages. electric in SB19-utilities. 236 CC4CA to consider
supports CC4CA supports the the social Public cost of
expanding including Commission. to the clean Additionally, use energy of a social plans CC4CA cost submitted of supports carbon by the to utilities other use of emissions to a social
the Air cost modeling Quality of carbon Control efforts, in the
decision-and 5. Removing transportation. making barriers processes and associated promoting Local Climate with opportunities other Strategies emissions that sectors allow counties such
as heating and
municipalities to maximize the deployment of local clean energy and climate
options. The deployment of local energy generation and distributed technologies will
continue many for communities cases, to be regulatory a critical to fully or component explore legislative new of limitations local Colorado program communities’ exist options that will
and climate need technologies to efforts. be removed In that
can community local effectively renewable values reduce energy related fossil generation, to fuel climate use, storage increase protection. technologies, energy For example, resilience,
and microgrids the and integration support all support of
a These delivery local strategies jurisdiction’s of reliable should clean ability be energy designed to address for everyone. to the ensure supply affordable, side of energy-accessible,
related and emissions. equitable
6. Enabling local governments to obtain the energy use and other data they
need Local for developing to governments effectively and administering need address convenient climate local and change. programs consistent related access to to greenhouse data that
is gas essential
emissions. critical programs for designed implementing For example, to make access building sure to building uniform energy use owners, data disclosure from tenants, electric and and
benchmarking and others gas utilities are fully is
4
informed consistent other sources about data of regarding energy heat-trapping performance. waste emissions. collection Local CC4CA and governments disposal, supports oil also state
and struggle gas government operations, to get and
actions data governments, from and investor-policies while owned that still protective lead and to public uniform of utilities data systems privacy that for is for easily collection
residents accessible and and distribution businesses. to local of
7. Supporting a public process for evaluating retail energy choice options for
local jurisdictions.
A energy because growing goals, the number jurisdictions but there of cities is have currently and little counties no choice practical are or establishing control way to over reach ambitious
the many energy of near-sources these term goals used
to or does produce sustainability not advocate their electricity. goals, for any deserve particular These a solution communities, solution, that but is as timely rather well and as calls
businesses cost-for effective. an inclusive with CC4CA energy and
transparent by including state level local public decision-governments process makers to with evaluate and energy informed all goals, of the by business a options. broad variety This
interests, process of stakeholders environmental should be led
and and 8. Supporting the consumer general advocates, policies public. that utilities, promote independent energy efficient power producers buildings. and marketers,
More of available buildings. than for 40 Building reducing percent codes, of carbon the energy consequently, pollution consumed (and, are not among in incidentally, the United the most
States saving powerful is money tied tools to the in both use
residential directing and also supports local and code commercial jurisdictions jurisdictions buildings)having to adopt . the CC4CA one option of supports the to adopt three the most
“advanced” newly-recent adopted energy energy state codes codes, law
such However, as those the that pace meet of improvements Net Zero standards. to energy performance in codes has stalled
with International provisions the 2015 in pending Code and 2018 Council codes. versions processes Building of the allow departments, International local governments fire Energy authorities,
Conservation to vote sustainability on proposed Code.
departments, Through the voting this process. policy utilities This position, and policy other CC4CA position similar could recognizes groups encourage are the all its eligible ability
members of voting local to members. participate governments in
to governments influence energy to choose codes when “upstream” to adopt while codes retaining and/or make the ability local amendments. of local
5
9. Providing for equitable strategies to enable and accelerate beneficial
electrification. “Beneficial propane, natural electrification” gas, gasoline) refers with to replacing electricity direct in end fossil uses fuel like consumption heating buildings,
(e.g.,
heating limited, renewable water, electricity electricity and will transportation. by continue 2040), meaning getting While cleaner that the ability electrification (including to decarbonize
Colorado’s will generally fossil goal fuels lower for 100% is
GHG the emissions US emissions transportation, by 70%and . Replacing has commercial, the potential natural and to gas lower residential heat energy with sectors electric costs would
as heat well. pumps reduce Electrification is GHG one of
example: or climate waste change sources. heat pumps causes They are hotter also over cool summers. 200% buildings, efficient which at capturing will be especially heat from important
the air, ground as
Enabling the economy. policies CC4CA would supports need to policies, look at strategies energy consumption and practices holistically that accelerate and across
locally-and reducing valuable sensitive GHG fuel emissions, beneficial switching improving electrification opportunities quality targeting while of life, saving and the making most money
practical, for the consumers, electric high grid impact, more
robust 10. Accelerating and resilient. retirement of existing Energy Generation fossil fuel generation facilities and
their replacement with cost-effective and reliable clean energy supplies,
through Wind and means solar energy that protect is now both cheaper utilities than the and energy consumers. generated by many aging
coal Colorado which plants should is and blessed allow is increasingly with for a some quicker cost of and the competitive best a more solar affordable and with wind natural transition
resources gas power to in clean the plants. country, energy.
The legal benefits key framework to and unlocking costs. allowing CC4CA emission utilities supports reductions and actions their and in customers Colorado electricity to to bill equitably
enable savings the share is early developing the a
retirement energy the power sources, plants of fossil while and fuel-electricity protecting based power customers. the economic plants In and Colorado, interests their replacement of
there both is the an with opportunity utilities clean owning to
recover to 11. facilitate Expanding up to the $1.voluntary the 5 billion ability in phased of undepreciated electric retirement cooperatives asset of the value coal to by independently
plants. existing coal-plant purchase owners
local Tri-State renewable Generation electricity and Transmission and take other Association’s steps to electric reduce cooperative carbon pollution. customers
have faced the imposition of contractual limitations and steep fees when attempting
6
to electric these. expand cooperatives their use of to local purchase renewable non-polluting energy sources. electricity CC4CA without supports limitations the ability like of
12. Expanding distributed generation, energy storage, high levels of
renewable energy generation (distributed and utility-scale), and appropriate
technologies through grid modernization.
A communities availability wide array of of and electricity grid utilities modernization to that demand, can reduce policies expand energy and renewable actions consumption, energy are
available generation, better to align both and
collectively improving result in these reliability reduce types carbon of and grid reducing pollution modernization cost)from . CC4CA the efforts power supports in generation Colorado.
policies sector and funding (while also that
13. Expanding demand side savings Energy from Efficiency efficiency and conservation for all
energy While legislation, the types. 2019 no new legislative action was session taken produced to update significant utility-level greenhouse efficiency gas goals. emissions As GHG
and cost transition renewable energy to efficiency more energy renewable is goals important ratchet sources. to up minimize Governor in coming ratepayer Hickenlooper’s years, a costs
continued and Executive ease focus the on Order least- D
2017-which Massachusetts, 015 is readily set a new for achievable example, goal to and achieve had should an two electric be percent extended energy per efficiency beyond year energy
that target date. efficiency of The 2.95% state by for 2020, of
2018. Moreover, no recent state actions have included energy efficiency targets for natural
gas energy actions utilities efficiency could or also unregulated savings include target encouraging fuels for such these as municipal propane. utilities is and Establishing one cooperative
potential a two action. utilities percent Such to adopt annual
and similar 14. Supporting achieve goals similar for ongoing non-efficiency utility and energy targets sustainable providers and exploring funding (e.g., propane mechanisms for weatherization
sales)for . establishing and
renewable energy assistance to low-income households so that all Coloradans
have Reducing households access energy are to comfortable often bills forced is a key to and component spend affordable a disproportionately to home homes. affordability, large and percentage
low-income of their
income and Coloradans comfort on energy greater of their utility choice homes bills. in while where Assisting reducing they families live their while and energy also seniors improving
bills by will increasing allow energy all efficiency. the safety
7
Sources Assistance and utility of allocated existing Program funding allocation, demand for side programs supplemental management include funds funds. the from annual CC4CA state federal
also severance supports Weatherization tax dollars
expanding both assist onsite communities programs and as part in to transition of assist community these from households solar coal-dominated gardens. with Additionally, obtaining economies
renewable should programs include energy, that
these community economy. types of members weatherization who need and it most renewable and to energy help build programs the local to assist clean those energy
15. Providing counties and statutory cities and towns with the same authority
held by home rule cities to implement local energy conservation policies and
programs. Unlike towns in their many home cases rule lack municipal authority peers, to adopt Colorado’s and implement counties many and statutory energy cities and
conservation have effective statutory they policies are authorization for improving and programs. to enact the energy For energy example, efficiency conservation only and Colorado performance
ordinances home despite rule of existing cities how
residential Colorado’s enact policies counties and and commercial programs and statutory buildings. that can cities support Enabling and towns and legislation promote with the is energy
authority needed conservation to necessary provide to
within 16. Ensuring their jurisdictions. effective implementation Transportation of Colorado’s vehicle emissions
standards and other regulatory activities designed to reduce carbon
emissions from vehicles.
Transportation Colorado, deployment and are strengthening remains two central one strategies of emissions the largest for rules reducing sources and expanding of transportation-greenhouse
electric gas related vehicle emissions in
greenhouse emission including standards requirements gas emissions. equal for to To zero-or this exceeding emission end, CC4CA those vehicles supports already and collaborative adopted
adoption by of California, motor efforts vehicle for
effective 17. Implementing implementation. the 2018 Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan and other efforts to
increase The the purchase 2018 electrification Colorado and use Electric of electric of Vehicle all motor vehicles, Plan vehicles. provides including a a good goal roadmap of having
for nearly accelerating one
million adequate stations, on to public the increase road charging by general 2030. stations, awareness One key including component and provide an abundance of an assurance effective
of DC of EV fast the strategy charging ability is to
8
charge highway increased vehicles corridors. EV availability on longer Other and important trips. model This types, elements is especially reduced include true barriers in incentive
rural to areas expanding and and grant along EV programs, fleets
and taking instance, transit, advantage CC4CA and expanding supports of other the opportunities EV current education plan to and to expand outreach. commit EV all deployment Colorado
of Colorado's should as well. remaining continue For
share of zero electric emission of the vehicle Volkswagen transit charging vehicles. emissions infrastructure control across violations the state settlement and to the to the purchase
construction of
18. Multi-many Increasing modal areas. CC4CA options multimodal supports are expanding transportation increasing but access the proportion funding. and availability of multimodal are
still funding limited in in
transportation multi-prioritizing modal expanding funding plans across with high-new Colorado, speed funding electric assigning sources transit and a and significant allocations, bus
rapid amount generally transit, of dedicated employing
transit-over accessible, general oriented bicycle, purpose design and highway pedestrian principles lane where infrastructure. alternatives appropriate, when promoting feasible, and
transit expanding alternatives
19. Incentivizing and selecting mobility alternatives, including movement of
both people and goods, based on energy efficiency and environmental costs
and Evaluating benefits. transportation alternatives in terms of their transportation efficiency–
that powerful generally is, the tool supports efficiency for reducing a range and environmental emissions of strategies from for costs the improving of transportation moving transportation
people sector. and goods–can CC4CA efficiency, be a
including: shared alternatives and promoting high-based capacity on a energy mode-vehicle consumption shift use; away comparing from and single-carbon the occupancy efficiency emissions
of use per transportation of unit vehicles of payload to
delivery; the including local environmental employing the full range Context of and costs social Sensitive in the impacts life-Solutions cycle of all analyses or major similar transportation
of processes competing to projects; determine
transportation strategies encourage for ride-all alternatives; sharing high-capacity or other supporting highway strategies corridors; the aimed use of at Travel incentives/lowering
Demand per fees rider Management designed GHG to
emissions and Uber; and generated encouraging by operators the deployment of Transportation of connected Network vehicle Companies technology. like Lyft
9
20. Expanding monitoring Fossil of and Fuel reducing Extraction the Activities full life cycle emissions from
fossil The mining fuel extractive and extraction industry of fossil activities. fuels can result in significant levels of direct
carbon much emissions more pollution. is potent consequently One heat-primary trapping a highly culprit effect effective is than methane. way carbon to Methane buy dioxide. time has
Reducing to implement a shorter-methane lived more but
comprehensive 181 developing directs more the Colorado actions stringent to Department reduce regulations industry-of to Public control wide Health carbon the release and dioxide Environment
of methane emissions. to from SB19- consider the
production these transportation to reduce and processes greenhouse transportation involving gas of emissions oil raw and fossil natural throughout fuels. gas. CC4CA CC4CA the entire
also supports supports extraction actions expanded and like
monitoring of the full life cycle emissions from these activities.
21. Granting CDPHE the authority Solid to Waste implement Reduction a plan for meeting Colorado’s
statewide and regional solid waste diversion goals.
In statewide goals August for 11 2017, and Front regional the Range Colorado municipal counties Solid solid and and for waste Hazardous the remainder diversion Waste goals, of Commission
the including state for adopted separate the years new
2021, these hauling goals 2026, industry, and and supports 2036. including CC4CA increased statewide supports data reporting CDPHE collection having standardization. and the reporting
authority by the it needs waste to meet
22. Reducing the use of disposable/single-use products and promoting the
reuse of materials.
Existing with investigated the protocols use of the resources consumption-for emissions other based than inventories landfill-emissions related do from not include emissions. 79 cities,
emissions focusing However, associated on C40 the Cities goods
and based based services inventories. emissions consumed were Construction approximately and used and by residents, demolition 60% higher and waste, than found the for that example,
traditional total consumption- is energy an important sector-
contributor initiatives, authority to legislative to ban emissions. the use efforts or CC4CA sale like of supports eliminating specific types traditional the of state’s plastic recycling
preemption materials and composting or of products local or
restrictions embodied emissions on containers associated for consumer with the products, goods and and services strategies consumed. to reduce the
10
23. Fostering infrastructure, policies, incentives, and programs for recycling
and composting.
Zero proven be U.fired S. implemented greenhouse waste power solutions strategies plants. gas immediately. that However, emissions such reduce as emissions Colorado recycling, Recycling
by the equivalent has of composting, 90% both a poor of carbon our of waste closing discards reuse, dioxide diversion more and by and source 2030 than rate methane 80 would reduction
of U.12% S. and reduce coal- can are
compared are their created potential with equal, to the reduce so national individual emissions average proposals in of both 35%and the . Not policies short all recycling and should
long and term be evaluated compost solutions based on
The needed largest to manufacture climate benefit new from products. recycling CC4CA is the supports reduced a range energy of and actions, materials including
encouraging including purchasing remanufacturing policies that and include market recycled-development content for recycled standards. products,
For waste anaerobically organic is organic waste, (e.g.material, , composting in landfills)which , is but not often can only an be produces effective a powerful strategy. methane climate
Forty when solution percent it breaks when of down our
converted sequestration rescue efforts aerobically as potential well as into of purchasing this compost. material. policies Research CC4CA that is supports just drive starting market
food to waste development. quantify diversion the carbon and
24. Promoting proactive programs and General efforts that improve the resilience and
adaptability of Colorado communities in the face of natural disasters and
other Even under major the challenges best case associated greenhouse with gas emissions climate change. scenarios, some degree of
climate encourages community change infrastructure) and and supports climate initiatives to disruption climate-that amplified will increase continue economic community for years challenges
resilience to come. and CC4CA (e.that g., of help
communities research, response planning planning, prepare can design, for incorporate human-construction, caused climate and operation change natural science, and hazards maintenance.
for through instance. Emergency education, Similarly,
local consider monitors jurisdictions event outcomes, likelihood can and utilize addresses and comprehensive consequence, recovery encourages and risk return and vulnerability to mitigation
service. This strategies, assessments type of that
resilience infrastructure planning at all should government be routinely levels. included in the planning/design process for
11
25. Optimizing the potential for carbon sequestration through regenerative
agriculture, The importance United Nations’ of improved increasing 2018 soil land-report health, based on limiting and carbon forest global sequestration. management. warming Sequestering
emphasizes the a
significant involves and afforestation a range portion of and of strategies the reforestation. anthropogenic including Combined, carbon CO2 already farming these emitted two via sequestration
regenerative into the atmosphere strategies agriculture,
could Regenerative sequester capture carbon agriculture and while store improving an involves estimated holistic soil 27 health, gigatons land crop management of yields, CO2/year water
practices globally. resilience, that and
nutrient of can CO2 occur into density at a both carbon – the an sink. immense landscape Forest opportunity and management urban scale. to convert practices CC4CA agriculture supports
emphasizing policies from carbon a net aimed source storage at
creating sector healthy through ecosystems new mechanisms land on use addressing policies and opportunities and climate incentives change, that that support in recognize addition Colorado’s
to the policies, importance agricultural resources of
and and 26. Incorporating natural strategies forests. to optimize equity, the accessibility, carbon sequestration and just transition potential of considerations Colorado’s urban into
climate Climate low-income change policies communities, impacts and actions. everyone, immigrants) but certain stand to communities be disproportionately (e.g., people impacted of color,
due
to have themselves deep-contributed rooted from systems its the impacts. most (e.g.to , As systemic climate the effects change racism, of have climate housing much change costs)better
. mount, Conversely, capacity so does to those protect the who
urgency a climate holistic change of manner, addressing and focusing sharing this equity on the dividing opportunities challenge. the burden CC4CA and benefits of supports responding
of climate approaching to the action. threat equity CC4CA of in
recognizes jurisdictions enhanced synergies that and equity we between support challenges the climate need are action presented to identify and both development and between accelerate
needs and opportunities within and priorities our local for
of CC4CA communities supports and the individuals. type of just transition efforts proscribed by SB19-236 and
HB19-investor-an electric 1314, owned generating such utilities as the facility creation to incorporate retirement. of a new workforce CC4CA state Just supports transition Transition
the plans expansion Office when and of proposing requiring the just
transition workers transition. are requirement protected and to all can electric access utilities the benefits to ensure associated Colorado with communities the clean energy and
12
27. Divesting action Encouraging strategy. assets CC4CA of investments fossil supports fuel-related that policies achieve holdings that climate-encourage is an increasingly positive
entities solutions. utilized investing climate public
dollars 28. Maintaining to consider protections partial or full and divestment authorities as part currently of their provided investment under strategies.
environmental Protecting people. The Colorado’s protections laws like air, and water, the authorities Clean and land Air afforded Act is vital and by to the its landmark Clean environment,
Water federal Act. economy, laws such and as
the change. emissions Clean For Air are example, Act air and pollutants Clean the 2007 Water and ruling thus Act subject by are the foundational U.to S. regulation Supreme to the Court
under fight that the against greenhouse Clean climate Air Act, gas
and finding federal the government that subsequent indeed, such 2009 to utilize emissions U.S. the Environmental protections present a provided Protection danger to by public Agency
the Clean health, endangerment Air obligate Act to take our
action critical implementing to allies limit in emissions. a this broad effort, array Local as of scores initiatives governments of communities to advance rely on across these climate
protections Colorado protection already and at the can are local be
level, CC4CA body of and communities existing often doing environmental support so in collaboration the law protections and will with strongly and the authorities state oppose and federal
provided legislative, governments. under regulatory, the
and other efforts to roll back or diminish them.
related holdings.
N/A
Fort Collins’ investment portfolio does not include fossil-fuel related
holdings.
28. Supports the Maintaining protections
and authorities currently provided under
environmental laws like the Clean Air Act
and the Clean Water Act.
Minor changes from 2018 language. In Alignment
(Page 7) Climate 1. Supports greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
reduction targets, planning, and implementation at all levels of
government.
CDPHE the authority to implement a
plan for meeting Colorado’s statewide
waste diversion goals established by the
Solid and Hazardous Waste
Commission.
Minor changes to simplify language. In Alignment
(Page 11) Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction 1. Encourages
integrated waste management planning and implementation, including
but not limited to the creation of statewide recycling mandates and
centralized data collection requirements
22. Reducing the use of
disposable/single-use products and
promoting the reuse of materials. New in
2019
Recognizes the effort in 2019 to
eliminate the state’s preemption of local
authority to ban the use or sale of
specific types of plastic materials, etc.
(Page 11) Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction 2. Supports a
regulatory authority role for local government to ensure the efficient
management of recyclable material and solid waste, including
application of laws that prescribe the use of county-funded
disposal facilities for certain types of wastes, and other local bans on
landfill disposal for certain types of debris.
Section: Transportation
16. Ensuring effective implementation of
Colorado’s vehicle emission standards
and other regulatory activities designed
to reduce carbon emissions from
vehicles. New in 2019
Aligns with adoption of low-emission
and zero-emission standards and seeks
effective implementation of these
standards. Change in focus from
establishing policy to implementation
given recent legislation.
In Alignment
(Page 6) Air Quality 5. Supports strengthening standards for tailpipe
emissions, aggregate vehicle emissions and/or fuel economy for all
vehicles. Supports programs and policies that promote the use of
electric vehicles and the development of infrastructure needed to
support the use of those vehicles.
emissions, including incentives, enabling legislation, and other
mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions and increase resiliency
in energy, waste reduction, transportation, and water sectors.
Section: Electricity Generation
10. Accelerating Supports the
accelerated retirement of existing fossil-
fuel based generation facilities and their
replacement with cost-effective and
reliable clean energy supplies, through
means that protect both utilities and
consumers.
Minor changes from the 2018 language. In Alignment but will require scrutiny during the legislative
session
Examples include:
(Page 7) Energy 1. Supports efforts that promote energy affordability,
safety, and reductions in fossil-fuel generated consumption for
residents, businesses and institutions
(Page 8) Energy 4. Opposes barriers to coordinating integrated
planning for energy supply and demands.
Commission adopted new requirements
in SB19-236 to consider the social cost
of carbon when making decisions
related to electric utilities. CC4CA
supports extending this application to
other emission modeling efforts and in
decision-making processes in all
emission sectors.
In Alignment but will require scrutiny during the Legislative
Session
(Page 7) Climate 2. Supports market-based mechanisms to reduce
emissions, including incentives, enabling legislation, and other
mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions and increase resiliency
in energy, waste reduction, transportation, and water sectors.
Section: Local Climate Strategies
5. Removing Supports state-level actions
to remove barriers and promoting
opportunities that allow counties and
municipalities to maximize the
deployment of local clean energy and
climate options.
Minor grammatical changes.
In Alignment
(Page 8): Energy 5. Supports state and federal funding for resilience
efforts to mitigate potential energy and climate related disruptions.
3. Supports municipal flexibility to
manage in-stream flows to preserve or
improve the natural environment of the
stream while protecting the integrity of
Colorado’s appropriation doctrine and
City water supply.
4. Opposes unfunded mandates.
5. Opposes barriers to financing for water
conservation projects.
6. Supports funding for the recovery and
treatment of the Cache la Poudre and
other waterways impacted by natural
disasters.
7. Supports enhanced municipal authority
to protect and increase the flexibility
and resiliency of its water supply under
Colorado’s appropriation doctrine
without adversely affecting in-stream
flows or the natural environment of the
stream.
8. Supports streamlining federal and state
permitting requirements for water
development projects that increase
coordination between permitting
agencies, reduces administrative and
financial burdens on permit applicants,
and ensures robust and enforceable
environmental protections.
9. Supports the enlargement of Halligan
Reservoir as a common-sense, cost-
effective, and environmentally beneficial
approach to meet Fort Collins’ future
water supply needs.
Legislative Review Committee
Name District/Title Email Phone
Councilmember Ken Summers, Chair District 3 ksummers@fcgov.com 970-221-6878
Councilmember Ray Martinez District 2 raymartinez@fcgov.com 970-690-3686
Councilmember Ross Cunniff District 5 rcunniff@fcgov.com 970-221-6679
Darin Atteberry City Manager datteberry@fcgov.com 970-221-6505
Jeff Mihelich Deputy City Manager jmihelich@fcgov.com 970-416-2899
Carrie Daggett City Attorney cdaggett@fcgov.com 970-416-2463
Ginny Sawyer
Tyler Marr
Legislative Staff gsawyer@fcgov.com
tmarr@fcgov.com
970-224-6094
970-416-4205
Council also recognizes that the City’s
self-insurance program is a cost-efficient
method to insure workers’ compensation
and that government intervention or
taxation can negatively impact the City.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports improving administrative
efficiency of the Division of Workers’
Compensation.
2. Opposes increased insurance premium
costs to employers.
3. Opposes administrative burdens or taxes
to self-insurance programs.
4. Supports limits to insurance claim
litigation.
5. Opposes limiting the City’s options
and ability to manage workers’
compensation claims; including actions
like removing existing off-sets to
workers’ compensation benefits or
limiting the City’s ability to designate
treating physicians.
6. Opposes efforts to presumptively
expand workers’ compensation coverage
to illnesses or injuries that are not work
related.
7. Opposes efforts to reduce or weaken
protections against liability through
governmental immunity or other
statutory provisions.
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY
The City actively promotes the safety and
ease of traveling to, from and throughout
the community using a variety of modes
of transportation. Additionally, the City’s
policy is to encourage the use of bicycling,
transit and walking whenever appropriate.
Therefore, the City:
1. Opposes reductions to the present
allocation formula of 60 percent state,
22 percent counties, and 18 percent
municipalities for Highway User Tax Fund
(HUTF) or any appropriations from the
state using the same formula.
2. Supports alternative methods of funding
transportation infrastructure needs.
3. Support funding the analysis and
implementation of inter- and intra-
regional transit linkages, including future
commuter rail connectivity.
4. Encourages flexibility in federal funding
and regulations in order to better meet
the needs of small to medium-size
communities.
5. Supports guaranteed levels of federal
funding for transportation and allocation
of all federal motor fuel taxes and other
federal transportation trust funds for
their intended transportation purposes.
6. Supports broadening the definition
of the gasoline tax to a “fuel tax” that
encompasses other fuel options as they
become more prevalent.
7. Supports enhanced ability to implement
railroad quiet zones in municipalities
and a reduction in train horn decibel and
duration requirements.
8. Opposes divesting highway roads in
urban areas from the state and making
them the sole responsibility of local
jurisdictions.
9. Supports safe operation of railroads
through timely track inspections, joint
training and communication between
citizens of Fort Collins on a daily basis
as well as through preparedness and
resiliency planning efforts.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports greater protections to victims
of crime.
2. Supports the City’s right to use camera
enforcement of traffic laws, reduce
operational restrictions on the use of
camera enforcement, and increases the
fines associated with violations.
3. Supports protocols and funding for
shared, statewide emergency response
communications, including supporting
Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority
(LETA) and other efforts to resolve 911
diversity issues, such as through the
addition of an additional 911 provider.
4. Opposes increased 911 provider tariffs
without clear documentation of cost
needs.
5. Opposes initiatives that have the
potential to compromise officer safety.
6. Supports minimum training criteria
and professional mediator certification
that formally legitimizes the field of
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
7. Supports maintenance of a statewide
database of concealed weapons permits.
8. Opposes municipal liability for prisoners’
self-inflicted wounds while in police
custody or detention facilities.
9. Opposes efforts to undermine local
control or enforcement of activities on
public property.
10. Supports a state fire code, the code
of choice being the International
Building and Fire Code, and allowing
municipalities to adopt their own
amendments.
11. Opposes limits to local enforcement of
the International Fire Code as adopted
with local amendments, imposing
inspection requirements or preventing
collection of permit or inspection fees as
required by the local jurisdiction.
12. Opposes restricting any local jurisdiction
from requiring the installation of fire
sprinklers.
13. Supports the City’s ability to prohibit
the use and sale of fireworks and allow
counties and fire districts to prohibit
and otherwise control fireworks within
City boundaries.
14. Supports efforts to reduce abuse and
improper disposal of over-the-counter
and prescription drugs.
15. Supports exclusive digital
communication networks for public
safety personnel during emergencies.
RECYCLING AND SOLID
WASTE REDUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The City of Fort Collins endorses a multi-
pronged approach to waste minimization
that includes recycling, re-use, composting,
and source reduction, and which also
applies Sustainable Materials Management
principles such as redesigning systems to
reduce pollution and waste. Additionally,
the City has adopted a goal of diverting 75
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Oil and gas extraction activity and
associated health and environmental
impacts are a concern for Fort Collins.
Fort Collins residents have expressed
continuing concern about the human and
environmental health impacts from oil
and gas operations, particularly from the
hydraulic fracturing treatment used on most
Colorado wells. In November 2013, voters
approved a five-year moratorium on oil and
gas extraction in order to study its property
value and human health impacts but this
was overturned by the State Supreme Court
in 2016. Additionally, transported emissions
from oil and gas operations outside of
City limits have been demonstrated to
contribute to ozone formation.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports greater local authority to
regulate oil and gas exploration activities
within municipal boundaries, including
ability to inspect sites, ensure operator
compliance, and regulate location of
extraction, storage and transmission
activities.
2. Supports state, federal, and academic
studies evaluating impacts of oil and
gas operations on human health and
property values.
3. Supports air pollution monitoring,
emission characterization and modeling
studies to better understand the
contributions of the oil and gas industry
to air pollution.
4. Supports the current formula
allocation of severance tax to impacted
jurisdictions so that they might address
impacts from resource extraction.
5. Supports industry information
sharing and collaboration with
local governments on the planned
development of resources within
communities’ Growth Management
Areas.
6. Supports legislation that balances the
rights of surface landowners and mineral
rights owners.
OPEN RECORDS AND
DATA MANAGEMENT
HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT
The City is the collector and keeper
of hundreds of datasets and recorded
information and is legally bound and
responsible for responding to Open Record
requests. The City supports transparency
and open data initiatives.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports clear requirements that allow
for reasonable requests and timeframes
to provide information that is legally
available.
2. Opposes mandates that include
unrealistic timeframes and requests that
require additional staff time with no
means to recover costs.
3. Supports cybersecurity efforts that
protect the City, consumers, and
infrastructure.
to safeguard Fort Collins’ health and
environmental safety by reducing
risks from the unauthorized release of
hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports strengthening the enforcement
of hazardous materials regulations.
2. Supports increasing diversion of
hazardous waste from landfills.
3. Supports greater flexibility and more
options for local government in the
management of publicly-owned areas
thought to have asbestos-containing
soils while maintaining responsible site
management practices.
4. Support City’s ability to review and
approve locations of facilities that use
or store hazardous materials or
hazardous waste.
HUMAN RESOURCES
HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT
The City of Fort Collins is committed to
the health, safety and well-being of its
employees. The City works diligently to
be efficient and responsible stewards
of tax dollars ensuring that employee
compensation and benefits are fair,
market-based, and competitive. The City
believes that its citizens, through their
elected representatives on City Council,
are in the best position to determine
appropriate City employee compensation,
benefits, appeal rights related to
disciplinary action and policies.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports the City’s ability to make
decisions on employment issues,
including collective bargaining,
arbitration, compensation, appeal
rights related to disciplinary action and
benefits to further an equitable work
environment.
2. Supports expansion to the City’s ability
to determine how best to manage
health, welfare and wellness services
for employees.
3. Supports current state funding levels
for police officer death and disability
benefits.
4. Opposes proposals that would allow
employees and/or retirees with defined
contribution plans to move into defined
benefit plans if there is a cost to local
government.
5. Opposes proposals that would limit the
City’s ability to test job applicants or
employees at work for impairment due
to consumption of alcohol, marijuana,
or other controlled substances or to set
limits related to such testing.
energy, waste reduction, transportation,
and water sectors.
3. Supports protection of the Colorado
self-audit law.
4. Supports reducing the emission of
criteria pollutants.
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND
LAND USE PLANNING
ECONOMIC HEALTH, NEIGHBORHOOD
LIVABILITY AND SOCIAL HEALTH
Fort Collins has a well-established
development review process, land use
and building code; all of which align
with local priorities.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports financial compensation for
additional work of inspectors through
fees or other means.
2. Supports funding for any state
mandated inspection requirements.
3. Supports local governments’ authority
to determine development review and
inspection timelines.
4. Encourages regional cooperation in
land use, transportation planning, and
fostering sustainable development.
5. Supports prohibition to the annexation
of land that is located within the
boundaries of a Growth Management
Area that was legally established by
an intergovernmental agreement
between a municipality and a county
by any municipality not a party to the
agreement.
6. Supports municipal discretion
concerning the imposition of
development fees and requirements.
ELECTIONS
HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT
The City of Fort Collins conducts municipal
elections in April of odd years and special
elections upon initiative referrals. The City
is committed to conducting a clear, legal,
and trustworthy elections process.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports all efforts that assist the City in
conducting fair and transparent election
processes according to the City’s adopted
procedures.
2. Supports process improvements that
encourage voter participation.
ENERGY
ECONOMIC HEALTH,
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
As a municipally-owned electric utility, the
City is committed to providing affordable,
reliable, and clean energy services to
residents and businesses, as detailed in the
Energy Policy.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports efforts that promote energy
affordability, safety, and reductions in
fossil-fuel generated consumption for
residents, businesses and institutions.
2. Supports reductions in environmental
damage caused by energy extraction
and production.
3. Supports opportunities for energy
efficiency, production, and operation in
local economies.
1. Supports maintaining or enhancing
current levels of funding for affordable
housing throughout Colorado, including
expanding the State Low Income Housing
Tax Credit program, but not increases to
unrelated fees.
2. Supports increasing local government’s
ability to regulate, manage or generate
alternative sources of funding for
affordable housing, including public-
private partnerships.
3. Supports stronger amendments to
construction defect laws to promote
the construction of owner occupied-
attached housing.
4. Supports creating an adequate supply
of housing for all income levels and
continued public and private sector
support for these efforts.
AIR QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The City’s Air Quality Plan establishes a
strong overall goal to “continually improve
Fort Collins air quality.”
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports programs and policies that
improve public health and air quality
and support rapid attainment of
National Ambient Air Quality Standards,
including ozone.
2. Supports local government authority to
improve air quality beyond minimum
State or Federal requirements.
3. Supports adequate authority and
resource at all levels of government to
enforce air quality regulations.
4. Supports economic incentives,
disincentives and other market
approaches that promote lower
emissions, and fewer carbon-
based fuels.
5. Supports strengthening standards for
tailpipe emissions, aggregate vehicle
emissions and/or fuel economy for all
vehicles. Supports programs and policies
that promote the use of electric vehicles
and the development of infrastructure
needed to support the use of those
vehicles.
BEER AND LIQUOR
SAFE COMMUNITY
The City issues and renews liquor licenses,
enforces license rules, and holds hearings
for liquor license violations.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports clarifying the qualifications for
what types and purposes a business may
obtain and use a state liquor license.
2. Supports definition of a “meal” when
calculating the percentage of meals
served for a liquor license.
Staff liaisons support the LRC by
contributing expertise in various areas
of municipal service. The City Attorney’s
Office also reviews selected bills and
may provide confidential legal analysis.
Fort Collins also works with community
partners to support local projects and staff
collaborates with representatives of other
municipalities on mutually-held priorities.
Fort Collins actively seeks innovative
partnerships to leverage positive outcomes
for residents.
The City works closely with the Colorado
Municipal League (CML) and the
National League of Cities (NLC) on many
legislative items facing cities. Fort Collins
maintains membership with Colorado
Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU)
which represents 29 municipal utilities
throughout the state on utility issues,
Colorado Communities for Climate Action
(CC4CA) which represents municipalities
on climate issues. In addition, Fort Collins
actively participates in various trade
organizations which represent specific
areas of interest to City operations.
Wade Troxell
Mayor
970-416-2154
wtroxell@fcgov.com
Gerry Horak
Mayor Pro Tem, District 6
970-217-2993
ghorak@fcgov.com
Susan Gutowsky
District 1
970-215-6308
sgutowsky@fcgov.com
Ray Martinez
District 2
970-690-3686
raymartinez@fcgov.com
Ken Summers
District 3
970-221-6878
ksummers@fcgov.com
Kristin Stephens
District 4
970-217-5817
kstephens@fcgov.com
Ross Cunniff
District 5
970-420-7398
rcunniff@fcgov.com