HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/6/2020 - Memorandum From Lawrence Pollack Re: Councilmember Questions And Requests From The September 8 And September 22 Work Sessions On The 2021 Budget - Part 3
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Financial Services
215 N Mason Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6795
fcgov.com/finance
M E M O R A N D U M
Date: October 1, 2020
To: Mayor Troxell and City Council
Through: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Travis Storin, Interim Chief Financial Officer
From: Lawrence Pollack, Budget Director
Re: Councilmember questions and requests from the September 8 and 22 work
sessions on the 2021 Budget – Part 3
City Council held their first and second work sessions to review the 2021 City Manager’s
Recommended Budget on September 8 and 22. Questions were asked about specific
Offers, as well as some more general inquiries about the budget. Staff responses to some
of those questions that could not be addressed during the meeting are provided below.
Some of the questions asked, however, may require additional time to adequately research
and respond. The answers to those latter questions will be included in future weekly
memos to City Council.
Outcome: Applicable to All
1) Question from Emily Gorgol: Is it possible to create a report of all the performance
measures (indicators) included in the 2021 Budget Offers?
Response from Lawrence Pollack (Budget)
The requested report has been made into a pdf file that is now posted at
www.fcgov.com/budget – just scroll down and the link is visible in the new blue text box.
When the report is opened, clicking on a link in the far right-hand column will launch a
web page displaying the data, chart and analysis associated with the selected
performance measure.
Outcome: Neighborhood Livability and Social Health
2) Questions from Kristin Stephens and Emily Gorgol: How could we enhance the
Graffiti Abatement Program to be more engaging with young people in the community,
as well as incorporating more creative ideas beyond painting over graffiti?
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Response from Paul Sizemore (Community Development & Neighborhood Srvcs)
This inquiry from Council comes at a time when staff is actively engaging in these
discussions. Restorative Justice attempts to match community service opportunities with
the strengths and interests of the individual youth, so there are situations that make
graffiti abatement a good match. The Streets and Restorative Justice teams have
discussed some of the obstacles young people may experience to participating in
abatement activities and have developed some solutions to reduce these barriers. One
major conflict is that Restorative Justice seeks to keep youth in school, and many
abatement activities require a daily commitment that would occur during school hours.
Additionally, because of the chemicals and toxic materials involved in abatement
activities, age limitations and supervision requirements are in place to ensure the safety
of participants.
Despite these challenges, our teams have identified opportunities that make participation
easier. One of the new ideas to come from a recent team conversation is to expand and
coordinate group clean-up activities that occur at set times outside of school hours. In
the past, Streets has coordinated dedicated clean-up day activities with volunteers. The
teams have agreed to coordinate on these activities in the future with advance notice to
Restorative Justice to allow participants to sign up for the activity. Scheduling a larger
group gathering will also help to address supervision needs.
The Arts in Public Places (APP) Program and PDT have initiated discussions about how
these two programs can coordinate more in the future and will continue to explore
opportunities.
3) Requests from Ross Cunniff: For the Mulberry Corridor, when was the enclave
formed and what resources could be freed up if we delayed further assessment work
around the annexation?
Response from Paul Sizemore (Community Development & Neighborhood Srvcs)
The East Mulberry enclave was created on August 21, 2018. Under Colorado law, the
City may, but is not required to, annex the property after a period of three years (August
of 2021). While there is no requirement for the City to annex the enclave within a certain
timeframe, an Intergovernmental Agreement between Larimer County and the City
indicates the area will be annexed “expeditiously.”
Next steps for the project include a detailed annexation analysis and an update of the
East Mulberry Corridor Plan. Funding for the analysis and plan update has already been
committed from prior years and no additional funding is proposed in the 2021
recommended budget. Existing committed resources include $150,000 for financial
analysis and $25,000 for additional expenses related to the project. If Council chooses
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to delay the next steps in this project, staff resources would be reassigned to work on
other priority projects.
Outcome: Culture and Recreation
4) Question from Kristin Stephens: How are we building more equity and innovation into
the Art in Public Places program?
Response from Jim McDonald (Cultural Services)
As aligned with the FoCo Creates Arts and Culture Plan, Goal 1 - Inclusion and Equity,
and with interest from APP Board Members, a discussion on equity and inclusion and
the opportunities within the APP program has been initiated at the Board meetings. The
discussion has included taking actions such as translating calls for artists, directly
contacting artists that have not previously participated in APP, and developing new
programs such as a mentor program that would create opportunities for artists that have
been traditionally underrepresented in the art in public places sector. Also, the program
is currently undergoing a formal evaluation which will look at the current programs and
limitations, best practices and opportunities.
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