HomeMy WebLinkAbout083 - 07/16/2024 - APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE REDLIGHT CAMERA FUND WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND FOR ADDITIONALORDINANCE NO.083,2024
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE REDLIGHT
CAMERA FUND WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND FOR ADDITIONAL
STAFFING FOR MUNICIPAL COURT AND CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
TO SUPPORT THE INCREASED POLICE ENFORCEMENT CASES
A.The Municipal Court and City Attorney’s Office Prosecution teams are
committed to maintaining public safety,and fair and equitable treatment of all people who
receive citations.The Court and Prosecution handle a weekly court docket that includes
scheduling,court appearances,arraignments,pretrial conferences,trials,and hearings
involving several different enforcement agencies.
B.In 2024,the Court’s general enforcement caseload has increased by over
1,200 cases,an average of 33%in the first four months of the year.This is driven primarily
by emphasis placed on traffic enforcement and traffic safety initiatives towards meeting
the vision zero goal.
C.The number of enforcement cases cited in Municipal Court has been
steadily increasing over the last year and an even more drastic increase in the first four
months of 2024.This increase has led to a critical staffing shortage to handle the influx
of cases.
D.The notable rise in enforcement cases is expected to continue and has
significantly impacted staffing.Accordingly,immediate full time equivalent (“FTE”)
staffing increases of one new full-time prosecutor (Assistant City Attorney II);one new
full4ime Legal Assistant,and one new full-time Municipal Court Clerk are needed so the
Court and Prosecution team can continue to strive to provide excellent customer service
to our community members in court.
E.This appropriation benefits public health,safety and welfare of the
community and serves a public purpose by promoting traffic safety through speed
enforcement,and supports Vision Zero,the City Council’s goal of eliminating Fort Collins
roadway fatalities and reducing injury crashes.
F.Article V,Section 9 of the City Charter permits the City Council,upon the
recommendation of the City Manager,to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance
at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be available from
reserves accumulated in prior years,notwithstanding that such reserves were not
previously appropriated.
G.The City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein
and determined that this appropriation is available and previously unappropriated from
the Redlight Camera reserve within the General Fund and will not cause the total amount
appropriated in the Redlight Camera fund with the General Fund,as applicable,to exceed
the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues and all other funds to be received
in these funds during this fiscal year.
—1—
In light of the foregoing recitals,which the Council hereby makes and adopts as
determinations and findings,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1.There is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the Red light
Camera fund within the General Fund the sum of ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO
THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-FOUR DOLLARS ($142,774)to be
expended in the General Fund for the increased staffing for the City Attorney’s Office to
support the increased number of Police enforcement cases.
Section 2.There is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the Redlight
Camera fund within the General Fund the sum of THIRTY-SIX THOUSAND THREE
HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT DOLLARS ($36,348)to be expended in the General Fund for
the increased staffing for the Municipal Court to support to support the increased number
of Police enforcement cases.
Introduced,considered favorably on first reading on July 2,2024,and approved
on second reading for final passage on July 16,2024.
ATTEST:
ityCl
Effective Date:July 26,2024
Approving Attorney:Dawn Downs