HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-055-08/17/2010-AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO JOIN THE EFFORTS OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE FOR J
RESOLUTION 2010-055
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO JOIN THE
EFFORTS OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE FORT
COLLINS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
LARIMER COUNTY AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN
DEVELOPING TARGETED INDUSTRY CLUSTERS
WHEREAS, in 2006, the City commissioned a study (the "2006 Study") to evaluate the
geographic concentration and interconnectedness of companies within the community in order to
determine potential industry clusters; and
WHEREAS, the 2006 Study identified several existing and emerging industry clusters
that were categorized as five targeted industry clusters: Clean Energy, Bioscience, Chip Design,
Software, and Uniquely Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS, on March 21, 2006, the City Council adopted Resolution 2006-037
authorizing and directing the City Manager to join efforts with Colorado State University
("CSU"), the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation ("NCEDC"), the Fort
Collins Area Chamber of Commerce (the "Chamber"), Larimer County and private enterprises to
develop a Clean Energy Cluster for Northern Colorado; and
WHEREAS, since the 2006 Study the _City, CSU, NCEDC, the Chamber, Larimer
County and the private sector have made significant efforts to implement the cluster strategy in
the community and have attained success in the Clean Energy and Biosciences clusters, while
other clusters have not seen the desired level of success; and
WHEREAS, job retention and expansion efforts in the five targeted industry clusters
have outperformed national job growth in the past several years due in part to the emphasis
placed on the clusters by the City and the targeted industry cluster initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the five targeted industry clusters have undergone an evolution, and will
likely continue to evolve in the future, and the City needs to improve its approach to supporting
the targeted industries; and
WHEREAS, in view of the evolution of the five targeted industry clusters, City staff has
recommended that the Chip Design and Software clusters should be combined and renamed the
Technology cluster, and that a new target industry cluster related to water reuse and
conservation, testing, filtration, efficient irrigation management, sustainable water design,
weather modeling, and water efficiency should be added and called Water Innovation; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the Clean Energy Cluster for
Northern Colorado; and
J
WHEREAS, City staff further recommends that, in addition to reaffirming the City's
commitment to the Clean Energy cluster, City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to
support participation in the formation and development of cluster initiatives relating to the other
four targeted industry clusters: Bioscience, Technology, Water Innovation and Uniquely Fort
Collins; and
WHEREAS, as part of that commitment and support, the City Manager should work with
regional partners and local business entities to develop strategic plans for the clusters and to
support the advancement of the plans as they are implemented for the purposes of primary job
retention, expansion, and creation; and
WHEREAS, staff has offered proposals in the 2011 and 2012 annual budgets for
financial investment in the development of the five targeted industry clusters, which may later be
adopted by ordinance by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the Economic Advisory Commission and the Fort Collins Area Chamber of
Commerce support staff s recommendation; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City to develop primary employment that is
economically stable and improve the health and well-being of citizens by advancing the
respective the goals of the targeted industry clusters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS that the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to support the
formation and development of targeted industry cluster initiatives relating to the five targeted
industries identified above by working with partners such as Colorado State University, Larimer
County, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce and local business entities to develop
strategic plans and to support the advancement of the plans as they are implemented for the
purpose of primary job retention, expansion, and creation.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
17th day of August A.D. 2010.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City-Clerk