HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 9/20/2022 - Memorandum From Deangelo Bowden And Ginny Sawyer Re: September 6, 2022, Work Session Summary - Local Minimum Wage
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
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 14, 2022
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ginny Sawyer, Policy and Project Manager
DeAngelo Bowden, Sr. Specialist, Environmental Sustainability
Thru: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
RE: Work Session Summary – September 6, 2022 Local Minimum Wage
Mayor Arndt, Mayor Pro Tem Francis and Councilmembers Canonico, Pignataro, Peel, and
Ohlson were present.
Staff provided background on HB19-1210, which allows and outlines criteria for local
municipalities to set their own minimum wage, and efforts to date including a focus on both
National Business Survey and online survey results.
Three scenarios were provided demonstrating a local minimum wage increase utilizing $1.75
over state wage, 15% over state wage, and smaller annual increases over state wage.
Discussion included:
General agreement on targeting $18-$19/hour wage within 3-4 years.
o Thoughts that the $15/hour conversation is now dated and positive benefits of
increased wage outweigh potential negative impacts.
Interest and support for staff bringing back multiple options for implementation.
o There was recognition that the state wage will be increasing by ~ 9% ($1.10-
$1.13) which is the highest hourly increase since 2006 when a state wage was
implemented.
o There is interest in seeing a bell-curve type implementation.
o Support for a 3 to 4-year timeline to reach target wage.
Support and interest for recommendations on how to utilize Consumer Price Index (CPI)
for long-term wage adjustments.
o Interest in considering a percent cap along with CPI (whichever is lower.)
Request and reminder to not lose sight of the potential loss of benefits for some.
o Staff shared challenge of identifying a universal number tied to benefits.
o There was conversation and acknowledgement that benefit loss could be an
impact and that those impacted could reduce hours or reach a sustainable wage.
Request and reminder that an increased wage could/will have a real impact on
businesses.
o Council encouraged business owners to share their individual stories.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 88E2B6D6-9C1E-4B3C-B062-1EC82CCA70E2
Questions for follow-up included:
o Are there exceptions or flexibility in wage requirements for younger/under-16
workers and/or tipped wage requirements?
Next Steps:
Review HB-1210 for clarity on questions.
Bring an ordinance on November 15, 2022.
Follow-up memo addressing ERTC tax credit scheduled for September 15 packet.
Continue to engage the community and seek feedback.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 88E2B6D6-9C1E-4B3C-B062-1EC82CCA70E2