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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Mail Packet - 9/1/2020 - Legislative Review Committee Agenda - August 28, 2020 City Manager’s Office City Hall 300 LaPorte Ave. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6505 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov.com Legislative Review Committee Agenda August 28, 2020 11:00-12:00 Zoom Webinar - https://zoom.us/j/91427017880 1. Approval of minutes from November 5, 2019 Meeting Attached: November 5, 2019 Minutes 2. Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) Policy Agenda Attached: Agenda Item Summary and CC4CA adopted 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: 2020 Legislative Policy Agenda 4. Other Business LRC Committee Minutes Date: November 5, 2019 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 pm Location: Commons Conference Room Councilmembers Present: Ross Cunniff, Susan Gutowsky, Ken Summers Staff Present: Jeff Mihelich, Kelly DiMartino, Carrie Daggett, Ginny Sawyer, Tyler Marr, Honore Depew, Sierra Anderson, Jeanne Sanford, Legislative Policy Agenda: Marr – Stated the changes noted last LRC were made. Changes were minor except a few sections. Affordable Housing Sections 5 & 6 Inclusionary Housing Ordinances to regulate rental housing (7) Summers – questioned the additions on inclusionary housing ordinances and regulating rental housing Mihelich – Clarified the goal of more diversity of rental units Daggett – Stated that inclusionary housing options may expand rental unit opportunities and expand the City’s ability to control/create more affordable units Summers – Expressed desire to look at this section further. Expressed concern around the rental control and the private property right elements. Marr – Clarified that staff’s intent was to look at new housing options, not current stock. Cunniff – Suggested to be more specific to new housing by adding: “to regulate the construction of new rental housing” Broadband and Cable Marr – Stated staff added a section on franchise and PEG fees to support local programming Marr – Moved section 6 Home Rule and Local Control Marr – Added an additional section regarding revisions to Colorado Open Meeting Laws Daggett – Stated staff has been working on language on open meeting laws. Plans for staff to share language options soon. Marr – Stated that staff is hopeful CML will be willing to work with cities and Fort Collins on this work. Representative Kipp expressed interest during the Legislative Breakfast and may also be able to help move this forward. Marr – Stated legislative staff will work with Attorney’s office to draft language Health Care Summers – advocated for a more general approach/statement – supporting health care reform that achieves the goals listed in the current draft. Would like to see “w Summers – Medicare for all is an approach – language/approach shouldn’t be singular Summers – raised concerns around single Summers – strike 1-4 and say we support Medicare for all Gutowsky – would like further clarification on the statement that the employer isn’t the only one responsible for providing healthcare Summers – Advocated for a general statement that says: “we support healthcare reform that supports a list of goals…” Cunniff – Supports keeping sections 2-4 Cunniff – Suggested adding a fifth section: “Supports policies that allocates costs to individuals and their families proportional to their ability to pay.” Cunniff – Suggested that Section 1 read “single-payer, not for profit health care” Marr – Added edits to section 2: “supports policy that provides for” Cunniff – Suggested that staff change the policy agenda to a discussion item instead of consent to allow for Council to speak more on the health care section Immigration Cunniff – Suggested addition to Section 2: ‘Supports a pathway to legal immigration into the United States that is sustainable in the long term’ Public Health Marr – Stated staff created a ‘may include’ section to keep options open within the policy realm Mihelich – Told LRC about a Health District meeting for key leaders where vaping was discussed as an area of concern for a majority of the group. Gutowsky – Reiterated large group support for vaping regulations – Groups like County Health and PSD are working in this space. Daggett – Questioned the gun violence section and whether a specific item was needed to address Red Flag policy and implementation Marr – Described that the current sections were created after discussions with police and the Deputy Chief. LRC – Agreed that Section 5 may be broad enough to encompass Red Flag concerns Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Mihelich – Explained recent conversations with a group that is interested in working with grey water through a capital approach – the group is interested in slightly treating shower water and using it to flush toilets. Staff has concern around gaining support from legislatures and water partners. (Section 8) Discussion Marr – Stated staff will present the Policy Agenda adopted by LRC to Council. Staff will refer to the sections flagged by LRC during the presentation for further Council discussion if needed. Other Business: Marr – Stated staff will schedule the next LRC meeting after the CML meeting on January 8th. Also stated that meeting cadence will be established for LRC moving forward based on committee member request. Marr – Staff will continue to notify LRC when testimony is needed on policy related topics. Cunniff – Asked for Council updates when bill trackers come up. Suggested that LRC plan on scheduling meetings in response to bill tracking and Council policy interest. 2020 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA 2020 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA ADOPTED DECEMBER 3, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Home Rule and Local Control.............................................6 Affordable Housing ............................................................. 6 Air Quality ............................................................................ 6 Beer and Liquor .....................................................................7 Broadband and Cable ...........................................................7 Climate ....................................................................................7 Development Review and Land Use Planning .................7 Elections .................................................................................7 Energy ....................................................................................8 Finance ...................................................................................8 Hazardous Materials Management ....................................8 Health Care ............................................................................8 Human Resources ................................................................9 Immigration and National Border Conditions .................9 Marijuana ...............................................................................9 Municipal Court.....................................................................9 Oil and Gas ...........................................................................10 Open Records and Data Management .............................10 Parks and Natural Areas .................................................... 10 Public Health..... ..................................................................10 Public Safety .........................................................................11 Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction ..............................11 Risk Management and Liability.........................................12 Transportation .....................................................................12 Urban Renewal and Downtown Development .............. 13 Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater ...............................13 City of Fort Collins Legislative Contacts ....................14, 15 4 Legislative Policy Statements 2020 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 Ross Cunniff, Chair • Councilmember Ken Summers • Councilmember Susan Gutowsky LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS In 2020, 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 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. 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. Ross Cunniff District 5 970-420-7398 rcunniff@fcgov.com Darin Attebery City Manager 970-221-6505 datteberry@fcgov.com Wade Troxell Mayor 970-416-2154 wtroxell@fcgov.com Kristin Stephens Mayor Pro Tem, District 4 970-217-5817 kstephens@fcgov.com Susan Gutowsky District 1 970-215-6308 sgutowsky@fcgov.com Julie Pignataro District 2 970-556-2869 jpignataro@fcgov.com Ken Summers District 3 970-221-6878 ksummers@fcgov.com Emily Gorgol District 6 970-556-4748 egorgol@fcgov.com 6 Legislative Policy Statements 2020 2020 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 supports changes that lessen) the burdens and limits on municipalities associated with public or other government records, public meetings and 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. 8. Supports potential legislation to clarify when an email exchange among elected officials constitutes a “meeting” subject to the requirements of the Colorado Open Meetings Law, including possible identification of a safe harbor within which elected officials can communicate by electronic mail without constituting a meeting in order to preserve and enable the use of  this effective and now common-place technology within appropriate transparency requirements and other reasonable limitations. 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: 1. Supports maintaining or enhancing 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. 5. Supports exploring expansion of Mobile Home Act to address rent pad stabilization and opportunities for resident or mission-based affordable housing providers to purchase parks when offered for sale. 6. Supports consideration of allowing inclusionary zoning ordinances to regulate the construction of new rental housing. 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 alternatives to carbon- based fuels. 5. Supports strengthening vehicle emission and fuel economy standards 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. 7 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. 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 (PEG) programming, and to charge franchise and PEG fees to support local programming and compensate for the use of rights-of-way. 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. 6. Supports revisions to the Colorado Open Meetings Law to allow local jurisdictions that provide or arrange for telecommunications services or facilities to authorize executive sessions for discussion of matters pertaining to competition in the provision of telecommunication services and facilities (such as matters subject to negotiation, strategic planning, pricing, sales and marketing, and development planning), along with any other conforming statutory changes. 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 and regulatory mechanisms to reduce emissions, including incentives, enabling legislation, regulations and other mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions and increase resiliency in energy, waste reduction, transportation, and water sectors. 3. Supports protection of the Colorado self-audit law. 4. Supports policies that ensure no single population is disproportionately burdened by efforts that increase or improve the use of new energy sources and technologies. 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 standards, procedures, and 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 as required by the citizen (or 8 Legislative Policy Statements 2020 Council) initiative process. 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. 3. Supports mechanisms to increase cyber security around election data and the election processes, and any decrease in election tampering. 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. 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 energy production. 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 and authority 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 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. Support City’s ability and authority to review and approve locations of facilities that use or store hazardous materials or hazardous waste. HEALTH CARE NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY & SOCIAL HEALTH; ECONOMIC HEALTH; HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT The City recognizes that the rapidly increasing cost of health care and health insurance is a barrier to real wage growth, equitable health outcomes, and economic gains among many residents of Fort Collins. The City further recognizes that employer-sponsored health care and varying state regulations that are not consistent across the United States have resulted in the system we have today. Therefore, the City: 1. Supports health care policy that provides single-payer, not-for-profit health care to all residents. 9 2. Supports the portability of health care plans across employers and state-lines. 3. Supports health care policies that end the practice in the United States of employers being the primary source of health insurance for citizens. 4. Supports policies that allocate costs to individuals and their families proportional to their ability to pay. 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 and authority 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 the development and expansion to the City’s ability to determine how best to manage employee health and benefit programs. 3. Supports current state funding levels for police officers’ and dispatchers’ death and disability benefits made available by Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado. 4. Opposes proposals that would allow employees and/or retirees with defined contribution or deferred 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. IMMIGRATION AND NATIONAL BORDER CONDITIONS NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY & SOCIAL HEALTH; SAFE COMMUNITY; HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT The City recognizes that federal issues pertaining to civil rights at the United States’ borders and immigration law more broadly have wide impacts that can directly impact the day to day life of Fort Collins residents. It can also impact those residents’ willingness and comfort with engaging with local public safety agencies and other key service providers. Therefore, the City: 1. Supports the humane treatment of persons who are detained by Immigration Officials and the rapid resolution of legal proceedings to determine their status. 2. Supports a pathway to legal immigration into the United States that is sustainable in the long term. 3. Supports regulations and laws that increase or mandate the use of E-verify by employers. 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: 4. Supports communities’ ability to raise necessary funds to maintain public safety and enforce marijuana possession laws. 5. Supports additional state marijuana enforcement resources, especially for field enforcement. 6. Opposes under-21 access to marijuana. 7. Supports local opt-in provisions regarding new permits and/or licenses or other marijuana-related activities allowed under state law. 8. 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. 10 Legislative Policy Statements 2020 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 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. 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 local authority to regulate oil and gas operations as granted in 2019 through Senate Bill 19-181 including the ability to regulate location, siting and other surface impacts. 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 State Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease (FML) revenue to impacted jurisdictions so that they might address impacts from resource extraction. 5. Supports collaboration with operators and local governments on the development of resources within the City’s Growth Management Area and for City owned properties such as open spaces outside of City limits. 6. Supports legislation that balances the rights of surface landowners and mineral rights owners, while protecting public health, safety and the environment. 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. 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 healthy, livable City that is 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. The City also supports primary prevention strategies to reduce the injuries and deaths associated with gun violence. 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. 11 3. Supports a standardized statewide approach to addressing homelessness. 4. Supports statewide efforts to enforce retail tobacco sales compliance. 5. Supports legislation or regulatory efforts that restrict and better ensure the prevention of firearm purchases of those individuals convicted of a violent criminal offense and those who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or are otherwise suffering from a severe mental condition. 6. Supports public health research and necessary funding related to the root causes and effects of gun violence to better inform prevention strategies. 7. Supports legislation that greatly reduces or eliminates the incidence of smoking and vaping. Specific measures may include the elimination of flavored vaping cartridges, an increase in the legal smoking age, and identical treatment of vaping and e-cigarette products to traditional forms of tobacco. 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 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. Opposes municipal liability for prisoners’ self-inflicted wounds while in police custody or detention facilities. 8. Opposes efforts to undermine local control or enforcement of activities on public property. 9. Supports a state fire code, the code of choice being the International Building and Fire Code, and allowing municipalities to adopt their own amendments. 10. 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. 11. Opposes restricting any local jurisdiction from requiring the installation of fire sprinklers. 12. 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. 13. Supports efforts to reduce abuse and improper disposal of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. 14. 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 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 reaching 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. 12 Legislative Policy Statements 2020 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. 10. Supports incentives and programs to encourage the use of compost, developing end markets to help divert organic material from landfills (food and yard waste). 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. 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 offsets 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 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. 13 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. 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. 4. Supports maintaining the ability of Urban Renewal Authorities to utilize the full offering of tools and powers provided for in state statute. WATER, WASTEWATER, AND STORMWATER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH; SAFE COMMUNITY The City operates a water utility, a wastewater utility, and a stormwater utility in a financially sound, reliable, safe, and environmentally responsible manner. The availability of adequate water supplies is critical to the City and is managed by the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy, the Water Efficiency Plan, and other water-related codes, rules, regulations, plans, and policies. 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. 3. Supports municipal flexibility to manage instream flows to preserve or improve the natural environment, while protecting the integrity of Colorado’s appropriation doctrine, protecting the City’s water supplies, and preventing injury to other water users. This includes potential bills related to the authority for the City and others to pursue Water Court-approved instream flow augmentation plans and similar mechanisms to preserve and impose stream flows. 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 River and other waterways impacted by natural disasters. 7. Supports enhanced municipal authority to protect and increase the flexibility and resiliency of the City’s water supplies under Colorado’s appropriation doctrine, without causing injury to other water users and without adversely affecting instream flows or the natural environment. This includes potential bills related to treated water providers being able to more easily share treated water supplies between their distribution systems. 8. Supports reducing legal barriers and clarifying legal ambiguities related to water reuse and greywater projects, while protecting the integrity of Colorado’s appropriation doctrine, protecting the City’s water supplies, and preventing injury to other water users. 9. 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. 10. Supports the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir as a common-sense, cost- effective, and environmentally beneficial approach to meet Fort Collins Utilities’ future water supply needs. LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Name District/Title Email Phone Councilmember Ross Cunniff, Chair District 5 rcunniff@fcgov.com 970-420-7398 Councilmember Susan Gutowsky District 1 sgutowski@fcgov.com 970-215-6308 Councilmember Ken Summers District 3 ksummers@fcgov.com 970-221-6878 Darin Atteberry City Manager datteberry@fcgov.com 970-221-6505 Jeff Mihelich Deputy City Manager jmihelich@fcgov.com 970-416-2899 Kelly DiMartino Deputy City Manager kdimartino@fcgov.com 970-416-2028 Carrie Daggett City Attorney cdaggett@fcgov.com 970-416-2463 Tyler Marr Honore Depew Legislative Staff tmarr@fcgov.com hdepew@fcgov.com 970-416-4205 970-224-6094 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 Tom DeMint Division Chief, Poudre Fire Authority tdemint@poudre-fire.org (970) 566-7274 Human Resources Teresa Roche Chief Human Resources Officer troche@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 Safety, Security, and Risk Management Director 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 19-21914 Aspen · Avon · Basalt · Boulder · Boulder County · Breckenridge · Broomfield · Carbondale Clear Creek County · Crested Butte · Dillon · Eagle County · Erie · Fort Collins · Fraser · Frisco · Gilpin County Glenwood Springs · Golden · Lafayette · Longmont · Louisville · Lyons · Mountain Village · Nederland · Northglenn Pitkin County · Ridgway · Salida · San Miguel County · Summit County · Telluride · Vail · Westminster CC4CA 2020-2021 Policy Statement Adopted by the Board of Directors on June 19, 2020 For Ratification By Each CC4CA Member Jurisdiction Colorado Communities for Climate Action is a coalition of local governments advocating for stronger state and federal climate policy. CC4CA’s policy priorities for 2020-2021 reflect unanimous agreement among the coalition members on steps that should be taken at the state and federal level, often in partnership with local governments, to enable Colorado and its communities to lead in protecting the climate. CC4CA generally focuses on legislative, regulatory, and administrative action, supporting efforts that advance the general policy principles and the detailed policy positions described below, and opposing efforts that would weaken or undermine these principles and positions. General Policy Principles The following general principles guide the specific policies that Colorado Communities for Climate Action supports: Collaboration between state and federal government agencies and Colorado’s local governments to advance local climate protection and resilience. State and federal programs to reduce carbon pollution, including adequate and ongoing funding of those programs. Analyses, financial incentives, infrastructure, and enabling policies for the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. Locally driven and designed programs to support communities impacted by the clean energy transformation. Prioritizing policies that put people at the center of decision-making, minimizing disparities in growing the clean economy, especially for historically marginalized communities, and enhancing equitable outcomes for all. 2 Policy Positions Colorado Communities for Climate Action supports the following policy positions: Statewide Climate Strategies 1. Reduce statewide carbon emissions consistent with or greater than the State of Colorado’s 2019 codified goals. 2. Secure accurate, frequent state greenhouse gas inventories and forecasts for Colorado which are made accessible to local governments and designed to be useful for stakeholders. 3. Adopt a comprehensive market-based approach to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions that ensures the benefits accrue justly and equitably to impacted communities. 4. Expand consideration of the environmental and health costs associated with the use of fossil fuels in making and implementing climate-related policy. Local Climate Strategies 5. Remove barriers and promote opportunities that allow counties and municipalities to maximize the deployment of local clean energy and climate-related strategies, including resilience-oriented strategies, while promoting affordable, accessible, and equitable delivery of reliable clean energy. 6. Enable local governments to obtain the energy use and other data from utilities and state agencies that they need to effectively administer climate and clean energy programs. 7. Support a comprehensive public process for evaluating retail and wholesale energy choice options for communities, informed by a broad variety of stakeholders. 8. Support policies that promote the efficient use of energy in buildings. 9. Provide for cost-effective and equitable policies, strategies, and practices that enable and accelerate beneficial electrification, reduce GHG emissions, improve quality of life, and make the electric grid more robust and resilient. 3 Energy Generation 10. Accelerate retirement of existing fossil fuel generation facilities and their replacement with cost-effective and reliable clean energy supplies, through means that protect both utilities and consumers. 11. Expand the ability of electric cooperatives to independently purchase local renewable electricity and take other steps to reduce carbon pollution. 12. Modernize energy infrastructure to enhance community-based resilience and integrate distributed energy resources. Energy Efficiency 13. Expand demand side savings from efficiency and conservation for all energy types. 14. Support ongoing and sustainable funding for weatherization and renewable energy assistance to low-income households, including those from coal-dominated economies, so that all Coloradans have access to comfortable and affordable homes. 15. Support ongoing and sustainable funding for programs that assist communities in transition from coal-dominated economies. 16. Provide counties and statutory cities and towns with the same authority held by home rule cities to implement local energy conservation policies and programs. Transportation 17. Ensure effective implementation of Colorado’s vehicle emissions standards and other regulatory and programmatic activities designed to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. 18. Implement the 2020 Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan and other efforts to increase electrification of all motor vehicles. 19. Increase funding and policy incentives for multimodal transportation and multimodal-friendly development statewide. 4 20. Incentivize and select mobility alternatives, including movement of both people and goods, based on energy efficiency and environmental costs and benefits. Fossil Fuel Extraction Activities 21. Expand monitoring and reduction of the full life cycle emissions from fossil fuel extractive industry activities. Solid Waste Reduction 22. Grant CDPHE the authority to implement a plan for meeting Colorado’s statewide and regional solid waste diversion goals. 23. Reduce the use of disposable/single-use products and promote the reuse of materials, including construction and demolition waste. 24. Foster infrastructure, policies, incentives, and programs for reuse, recycling, and composting. General 25. Encourage the adoption of climate-positive innovations like telecommuting, drawing from the lessons learned during the coronavirus pandemic, to substantially reduce air and carbon pollution. 26. Promote 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, including ensuring that disaster stabilization and recovery efforts result in reduced carbon pollution and improved resilience to future disasters. 27. Optimize the potential for carbon sequestration through regenerative agriculture, improved soil health, and forest management. 28. Incorporate equity, accessibility, and just transition considerations into climate policies and actions. 29. Encourage investments that achieve climate-positive solutions, including policies that encourage entities investing public dollars to consider partial or full divestment as part of their investment strategies. 30. Maintain protections and authorities currently provided under environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. Environmental Services 222 Laporte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 fcgov.com 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Date: August 21, 2020 To: Legislative Review Committee From: Michelle Finchum, interim Climate Program Manager Re: Colorado Communities for Climate Action – Policy Priorities Purpose: The purpose of this memo is to receive support from the Legislative Review Committee on the 2020-21 Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) policy statement (attached). In prior years, the LRC has made a formal motion for adoption as will be requested at the August 28, 2020 meeting. Background: CC4CA is a coalition of 34 local governments across the state advocating for stronger state and federal climate policy. CC4CA is governed by a Board of Directors of representing all of the member communities. In 2016, Fort Collins was a founding member. https://www.cc4ca.org/ Summary of 2020-2021 Policy Statement: As a member, the City of Fort Collins has had the opportunity to weigh-in on the development of the CC4CA Policy Statement, which is updated on an annual basis to adjust the policy positions of the organization. CC4CA’s 2020-2021 Policy Statement update reflects unanimous agreement among the coalition members on steps that should be taken at the state and federal level, often in partnership with local governments, to enable Colorado and its communities to lead in protecting the climate. The proposed statements were developed through CC4CA committees, which solicited input from every member jurisdiction and then prepared updates to reflect that input. The City of Fort Collins participated and provided input in these discussions. CC4CA held its all-member annual retreat to review and finalize the Policy Statement on June 19, 2020. The retreat, and the many months of work by CC4CA's Policy Committee and Board of Directors (on which every member jurisdiction is represented) prior to the retreat, provided the opportunity for all members to share input on each of the policy positions and the statements were modified accordingly. CC4CA members did a significant amount of work to finalize the proposed statement based on the input of all member Councils and Boards and to gain the approval of all members present at the retreat. At this time, all members of CC4CA are asked to formally ratify the updated Policy Statement. There are 34 members in Colorado, 30 of which have formally ratified. Environmental Services 222 Laporte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 fcgov.com 2 Most of the updates are non-substantive, and none of the substantive updates significantly alter any positions. The updates include: 1) The updated Policy Statement eliminates the "explanatory text" that has been part of the format in previous years. These were the paragraphs accompanying each specific policy position that provided additional details and examples. The result is a much more concise and manageable Policy Statement. 2) The most significant substantive changes compared to the 2019-2020 Policy Statement are all still only minor changes: • Position #7, which supports a public process for evaluating retail energy choice options for local jurisdictions, now supports such a process for evaluating both retail and wholesale energy choice options for local jurisdictions. o Prior: 7. Support a public process for evaluating retail and wholesale energy choice options for local jurisdictions that is led by the state and informed by a broad variety of stakeholders. o Current: 7. Support a comprehensive public process for evaluating retail and wholesale energy choice options for communities, informed by a broad variety of stakeholders. • "Resilience" is more clearly called out in the first General Policy Principle and in policy positions #5 (calling to remove barriers allowing local governments to implement resilience- oriented strategies) and #26 (encouraging post-disaster recovery efforts to improve resilience to future disasters). • Position #24 adds "reuse" to "recycling and composting." • There is a new position (#25), which encourages the adoption of climate-positive innovations drawing from the lessons learned during the pandemic. 3) All of the other proposed changes are for grammatical purposes, to improve clarity, or maintain clarity when removing the explanatory text. The ‘track changes’ version of the 2020-2021 CC4CA policy statement can be made available. Environmental Services 222 Laporte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 fcgov.com 3 Aspen · Avon · Basalt · Boulder · Boulder County · Breckenridge · Broomfield · Carbondale · Clear Creek County · Crested Butte · Dillon · Eagle County · Erie · Fort Collins · Fraser · Frisco · Gilpin County · Glenwood Springs · Golden · Lafayette · Longmont · Louisville · Lyons · Mountain Village · Nederland · Northglenn· Pitkin County · Ridgway · Salida · San Miguel County · Summit County · Telluride · Vail · Westminster CC4CA 2020-2021 Policy Statement Adopted by the Board of Directors on June 19, 2020 For Ratification by each CC4CA Member Jurisdiction Colorado Communities for Climate Action is a coalition of local governments advocating for stronger state and federal climate policy. CC4CA’s policy priorities for 2020-2021 reflect unanimous agreement among the coalition members on steps that should be taken at the state and federal level, often in partnership with local governments, to enable Colorado and its communities to lead in protecting the climate. CC4CA generally focuses on legislative, regulatory, and administrative action, supporting efforts that advance the general policy principles and the detailed policy positions described below, and opposing efforts that would weaken or undermine these principles and positions. General Policy Principles The following general principles guide the specific policies that Colorado Communities for Climate Action supports: • Collaboration between state and federal government agencies and Colorado’s local governments to advance local climate protection and resilience. • State and federal programs to reduce carbon pollution, including adequate and ongoing funding of those programs. • Analyses, financial incentives, infrastructure, and enabling policies for the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. • Locally driven and designed programs to support communities impacted by the clean energy transformation. • Prioritizing policies that put people at the center of decision-making, minimizing disparities in growing the clean economy, especially for historically marginalized communities, and enhancing equitable outcomes for all. Policy Positions Colorado Communities for Climate Action supports the following policy positions: Environmental Services 222 Laporte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 fcgov.com 4 Statewide Climate Strategies 1. Reduce statewide carbon emissions consistent with or greater than the State of Colorado’s 2019 codified goals. 2. Secure accurate, frequent state greenhouse gas inventories and forecasts for Colorado which are made accessible to local governments and designed to be useful for stakeholders. 3. Adopt a comprehensive market-based approach to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions that ensures the benefits accrue justly and equitably to impacted communities. 4. Expand consideration of the environmental and health costs associated with the use of fossil fuels in making and implementing climate-related policy. Local Climate Strategies 5. Remove barriers and promote opportunities that allow counties and municipalities to maximize the deployment of local clean energy and climate-related strategies, including resilience-oriented strategies, while promoting affordable, accessible, and equitable delivery of reliable clean energy. 6. Enable local governments to obtain the energy use and other data from utilities and state agencies that they need to effectively administer climate and clean energy programs. 7. Support a comprehensive public process for evaluating retail and wholesale energy choice options for communities, informed by a broad variety of stakeholders. 8. Support policies that promote the efficient use of energy in buildings. 9. Provide for cost-effective and equitable policies, strategies, and practices that enable and accelerate beneficial electrification, reduce GHG emissions, improve quality of life, and make the electric grid more robust and resilient. Energy Generation 10. Accelerate retirement of existing fossil fuel generation facilities and their replacement with cost-effective and reliable clean energy supplies, through means that protect both utilities and consumers. 11. Expand the ability of electric cooperatives to independently purchase local renewable electricity and take other steps to reduce carbon pollution. 12. Modernize energy infrastructure to enhance community-based resilience and integrate distributed energy resources. Energy Efficiency 13. Expand demand side savings from efficiency and conservation for all energy types. 14. Support ongoing and sustainable funding for weatherization and renewable energy assistance to low-income households, including those from coal-dominated economies, so that all Coloradans have access to comfortable and affordable homes. 15. Support ongoing and sustainable funding for programs that assist communities in transition from coal-dominated economies. 16. Provide counties and statutory cities and towns with the same authority held by home rule cities to implement local energy conservation policies and programs. Environmental Services 222 Laporte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 fcgov.com 5 Transportation 17. Ensure effective implementation of Colorado’s vehicle emissions standards and other regulatory and programmatic activities designed to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. 18. Implement the 2020 Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan and other efforts to increase electrification of all motor vehicles. 19. Increase funding and policy incentives for multimodal transportation and multimodal-friendly development statewide. 20. Incentivize and select mobility alternatives, including movement of both people and goods, based on energy efficiency and environmental costs and benefits. Fossil Fuel Extraction Activities 21. Expand monitoring and reduction of the full life cycle emissions from fossil fuel extractive industry activities. Solid Waste Reduction 22. Grant CDPHE the authority to implement a plan for meeting Colorado’s statewide and regional solid waste diversion goals. 23. Reduce the use of disposable/single-use products and promote the reuse of materials, including construction and demolition waste. 24. Foster infrastructure, policies, incentives, and programs for reuse, recycling, and composting. General 25. Encourage the adoption of climate-positive innovations like telecommuting, drawing from the lessons learned during the coronavirus pandemic, to substantially reduce air and carbon pollution. 26. Promote 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, including ensuring that disaster stabilization and recovery efforts result in reduced carbon pollution and improved resilience to future disasters. 27. Optimize the potential for carbon sequestration through regenerative agriculture, improved soil health, and forest management. 28. Incorporate equity, accessibility, and just transition considerations into climate policies and actions. 29. Encourage investments that achieve climate-positive solutions, including policies that encourage entities investing public dollars to consider partial or full divestment as part of their investment strategies. 30. Maintain protections and authorities currently provided under environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act.