HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-110-11/20/2012-ADOPTING THE CITYS 2013 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA RESOLUTION 2012-110
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ADOPTING THE CITY'S 2013 LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA
WHEREAS, state and federal legislation may impact the citizens of Fort Collins,
affecting their quality of life; and
WHEREAS, such state and federal legislation may also influence the operations of
municipal governments, including the City; and
WHEREAS, the City has an interest in providing input on proposed legislation; and
WHEREAS, Councilmembers and staff are asked.to state the City's policy position on
.legislation; and
WHEREAS, establishing the City's policy position on legislation assists the members of
the Legislative Review Committee in their review of, and response to, state and federal
legislation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the policy statements contained in the attached 2013 Legislative
Policy Agenda accurately reflect the City's policies on these issues.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby adopts the 2013 Legislative Policy Agenda
attached hereto as Exhibit"A" and incorporated herein by this reference.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
20th day of November A.D. 2012.
Mayor o m
ATTEST: Co
1�
City Clerk z
n0'• .
<0 ADO
EXHIBIT A
City of
Fort Collins
LEGISLATIVE POLICY AGENDA
2013
Adopted
November 20, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC PAGE
INTRODUCTION 3
FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE 3
LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS 5
CULTURE, PARKS AND RECREATION
CULTURAL SERVICES 5
PARKS AND RECREATION 5
ECONOMIC HEALTH
FINANCE 6
INVESTMENTS 6
PRIVATIZATION 7
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
AIR QUALITY 7
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 9
NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN LANDS 9
RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE 10
HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT
HOME RULE 10
HUMAN RESOURCES 11
RISK MANAGEMENT 12
SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY 12
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 13
UTILITY SERVICES 13
ENERGY 13
WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY 14
NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING '15
PLANNING AND LAND USE 15
SAFE COMMUNITY
FIRE PROTECTION 16
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT 16
PUBLIC SAFETY 17
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION 18
CITY LEGISLATIVE STAFF 20
2
INTRODUCTION
Fort Collins is a community of 145,000 residents located at the foot of the Rocky
Mountains along Colorado's Front Range. 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 2013 City of Fort Collins Legislative Policy Agenda identifies issues of importance
to the City of Fort Collins. The Agenda expresses policies and positions on issues that
affect the quality of life and the governance of our community. Our policy agenda is
structured to address areas of local concern and to also reflect the strategic planning that
guides resource allocation and other decision making within the City organization.
Seven outcome areas have been identified by the City to ensure appropriate and effective
resource allocation to support the community's priorities. Fort Collins' outcome areas
include High Performing Government, Transportation, Culture, Parks and Recreation,
Economic Health,Neighborhood Livability, Environmental Health, and Safe
Community.
We offer this Agenda to our Legislators as a guideline when considering legislation that
impacts Fort Collins. We encourage Legislators to contact Fort Collins City Council
Members and our Legislative Policy Manager should they have any questions regarding
our policy positions on specific legislation.
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 particular bills, the LRC interprets and applies the various policies
that are included in the Legislative Policy Agenda. The policies are written in terms of
supporting or opposing particular kinds of legislation; however, the policies are intended
to guide positions of either support or opposition, depending upon how a bill is written
and whether the LRC believes that, if approved, the bill would advance or impede the
City's interests. If a bill is governed by two or more competing policies, then the LRC
may decide how to balance those policies in taking a position. If a bill falls outside of the
Legislative Policy Agenda, the LRC refers the bill to the full Council for consideration
before a position is taken on behalf of the City.
Council Members presently serving on the Legislative Review Committee are:
• Mayor Pro Tern Kelly Ohlson
• Councilmember Lisa Poppaw
• Councilmember Wade Troxell
3
Staff liaisons support the LRC by contributing expertise in various areas of municipal
service. The City works closely with the Colorado Municipal League on many legislative
items.
4
LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS
Cultural, Parks and Recreation
CULTURAL SERVICES
The City recognizes that art and culture are vitally important to the quality of life in our
community and is committed to providing the citizens of Fort Collins with excellent
cultural services.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support funding for cultural services for the education, entertainment and
enrichment of the community.
2. Support legislation that facilitates the creation, performance and presentation of
the arts.
3. Support legislation that protects and preserves our cultural heritage.
PARKS AND RECREATION
The City is committed to providing the community with excellent 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 parks and recreation
programs.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation that maintains or enhances funding for parks, trails, forestry,
horticulture and recreation services and facilities.
2. Support use of Great Outdoors Colorado and other sources for full funding of
municipal government projects, with maximum local discretion regarding local
needs and priorities.
3. Support continued availability of Great Outdoors Colorado grants to
municipalities in equal or greater funding levels.
4. Support legislation that enhances the City's ability to provide quality parks and
recreation services and facilities for its citizens.
5. Support measures that offer enhanced protection for community trees and natural
assets against invasive species, pests and other threats.
5
ECONOMIC HEALTH
)FINANCE
As a municipality, the City of Fort Collins faces many complex financial issues. Strong
fiscal planning, prudent debt management 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 supports the following policy statements:
I. Support legislation that maintains or expands municipal authority to establish
alternative funding mechanisms, including financing tools such as public
improvement fees (PIF) and certificates of participation (COP).
2. Support tax increment financing as a tool to support Downtown Development
Authorities and Urban Renewal Authorities, taking into consideration the land use
impacts of such legislation (e.g., sprawl) and the compelling interests and
concerns of other taxing entities.
3. Support legislation that promotes sustainable economic development.
4. Support increased funding and budgetary autonomy for Colorado State University
and Front Range Community College.
5. Support legislation promoting the equitable treatment of sales and use taxes to
residents and corporations residing or doing business in Colorado. The City
strongly recommends that taxes be as broad-based as possible and that
exemptions be limited.
6. Support federal legislation that recognizes the importance of sales and use tax to
local, self-collecting municipalities and equitably distributes sales tax collections
on e-commerce transactions.
7. Support legislation that would maintain or increase the City's revenue base (sales,
use and property tax).
INVESTMENTS
The Fort Collins City Council has adopted investment polices to be used by the City.
The policies are reviewed and update periodically to ensure the safety and quality of the
portfolio to maintain liquidity and to maximize portfolio earnings.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
6
I. Support legislation designed to protect, without unnecessarily restricting, the
investments of government entities.
2. Support legislation that provides for adequate transparency of the City's
investment activity.
3. Support legislation that would provide municipalities freedom to participate in
investments that meet their objectives.
4. Oppose restrictions on the City's ability to adopt its own investment policies.
PRIVATIZATION
The City of Fort Collins utilizes outside contracts for procurement of many goods and
services. This practice of privatization provides citizens with a balance of quality and
cost efficiency.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation enabling provision of services through private enterprise in a
manner that fosters cost effective, sustainable, quality services.
2. Support local control of the awarding of contracts and the accountability of local
officials for those actions.
3. Oppose mandates that increase the complexity and cost of services without
improving those services.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
AIR QUALITY
The City's Air Quality Plan establishes a strong overall goal to "continually improve Fort
Collins air quality."
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
I. Support legislation and regulations adopting programs and policies that improve
public health and air quality.
2. Support legislation that maintains or increases the stringency of air quality
standards.
3. Support legislation that enhances local government authority to improve air
quality beyond minimum State or Federal requirements.
7
4. Support legislation that promotes regional improvement of air quality,
recognizing that air pollution does not follow jurisdictional boundaries.
5. Support legislation to assure that Federal, State and County agencies have
adequate authority and resources (funding and personnel) to enforce air quality
regulations.
6. Support legislation that removes barriers and promotes voluntary actions to
reduce air pollution.
7. Support legislation and regulations that reduce vehicle emissions by:
- Using the price mechanisms of the free market to shift citizen and business
travel behavior toward actions that reduce vehicle emissions and vehicle miles
of travel, including removing hidden cost subsidies to motor vehicle users
- Employing economic incentives and disincentives and other market
approaches
- Encouraging behavior changes, such as limiting unnecessary idling of vehicles
- Implementing State motor vehicle emissions testing programs consistent with
City air quality goals
8. Support legislation and regulations that provide authority for local governments to
implement vehicle emissions reductions programs.
9. Support legislation and regulations that make tailpipe emissions and fuel economy
standards more stringent for all vehicles.
10. Support programs and policies that promote advanced low emission vehicle
technology; and encourage or promote alternative fuels such as biodiesel,
cellulosic ethanol, hydrogen and compressed natural gas.
11. Support legislation and regulations that reduce residential wood smoke emissions
in order to achieve compliance with air quality standards.
12. Support legislation that helps to reduce fossil fuel consumption in the
transportation and building sector.
13. Support programs and policies that allow local officials to establish baseline
levels and understand the ongoing contributions of the oil and gas industry to air
pollution.
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
The City of Fort Collins encourages local, state and national efforts to protect and
enhance our environment. Additionally, the City has a policy goal to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050.
8
Therefore the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation and regulation that reduce Fort Collins' vulnerability to
climate change impacts.
i
2. Support legislation that establishes reduction targets for greenhouse gas
emissions.
3. Support legislation that establishes market-based mechanisms to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, including providing incentives to business and citizens
to reduce emissions and for green building and sustainable design.
4. Support legislation and regulations to promote pollution prevention.
5. Support the Colorado self-audit law.
6. Support legislation that provides local government the authority to inspect oil and
gas sites and ensure operator compliance through enforcement of federal, state
and local regulations.
NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN LANDS
The City has a vigorous program to protect natural areas and other important open lands
within Fort Collins, within our Community Growth Management Area, and regionally.
The City works in partnership with other communities, Latimer County, private land
trusts, Great Outdoors Colorado, community groups, and state and federal agencies to
achieve community and regional conservation goals.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
l. Support legislation that maintains or enhances tax incentives for voluntary land
conservation by private landowners.
2. Support legislation that expands the effectiveness of existing protection for
wetlands, wildlife habitats, and other sensitive natural areas.
3. Support additional funding for land conservation programs.
4. Support legislation protecting the Cache la Poudre River.
5. Support legislation that would increase the availability of Great Outdoors
Colorado grants to municipalities in amounts equal to or greater than are currently
offered.
9
RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE
The City of Fort Collins endorses a multi-pronged approach to waste minimization that
includes recycling, re-use, composting and source reduction. Additionally, the City has
adopted a goal of diverting 50% of the community's waste stream from landfill disposal.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation that clarifies and broadens the regulatory authority of local
government to ensure the efficient management of recyclable material and solid
waste.
2. Support legislation that encourages integrated waste management planning and
implementation, including but not limited to creation of a State waste diversion
goal.
3. Support legislation that provides incentives and funding for programs that
promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling and development of related
infrastructure.
4. Support legislation that enables "buy recycled" or "environmentally preferable
purchasing" policies for government agency procurement.
5. Support legislation that continues or increases funding for programs to collect and
monitor data on trash volumes, rates of diversion from landfill disposal and
economic impacts of recycling.
6. Support legislation to require greater producer responsibility, such as "take back"
regulations that assist consumers to appropriately recycle electronic equipment (e-
waste.)
7. Support legislation that establishes a deposit fee on beverage containers and that
would be used to pay for recycling programs.
8. Support legislation that strengthens the "renewable energy" standard; oppose
expanding the definition to include pyrolysis (burning of materials).
High Performing Government
HOME RULE
The City of Fort Collins is a home rule municipality under Article XX of the Colorado
Constitution, which grants home rule municipalities "full right of self-government in
local and municipal matters." Home rule authority affords the citizens of Fort Collins
greater access to government and increased opportunity for participation and contribution
to the decision making process.
10
Home rule is of utmost importance to the City of Fort Collins. The City recognizes,
however, that there are particular areas in which insistence on local control may be
untimely or unwise. Therefore, proposed legislation must be reviewed on a case-by-case
basis to determine when it is in the City's best interest to assert home rule authority and
when the City should support statewide intervention. For example, 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. On
the other hand, the cumulative effect of these and other activities has substantial
statewide ramifications which may call for statewide regulation, so that, for example,
state regulation may needed to effectively manage overall growth and development in
the state, traffic congestion in major transportation corridors and environmental quality.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
l. Support legislative efforts to strengthen home rule authority of municipal
governments.
2. Oppose legislation that requires State or Federal intervention in matters of local
concern and which unnecessarily or adversely affect the City's ability to manage
pursuant to its home rule authority.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The City of Fort Collins is committed to the safety and well-being of its employees. The
City works diligently to be an efficient and responsible steward of tax dollars while
ensuring that employees receive fair and competitive compensation and benefits. 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, and
policies.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation that enhances the City's ability to decide employment issues,
including collective bargaining, arbitration, compensation, benefits and leaves.
2. Support legislation that expands the City's ability to offer health, welfare and
wellness services for employees.
3. Support legislation that maintains current state funding for police officer death
and disability benefits.
4. Oppose legislation that would permit employees with defined contribution plans
to return to defined benefit plans if there is a cost to local government.
11
RISK MANAGEMENT
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 supports the following policy statements:
l. Support legislation that improves administrative efficiency of the Division of
Workers' Compensation.
2. Support legislation that prevents increased insurance premium costs to employers.
3. Support legislation that would limit or reduce administrative burdens or taxes to
self-insurance programs.
4. Support legislation that would check insurance claim litigation.
5. Support legislation that increases the City's options and ability to manage
workers' compensation claims; oppose actions like removing existing off-sets to
workers' compensation benefits or limiting the City's ability to designate treating
physicians.
6. Oppose legislation that presumptively expands workers compensation coverage to
illnesses or injuries that are not work related.
SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY
The Fort Collins City Council recognizes that the complexity and diversity of City
operations and services required to meet the needs of the citizens of Fort Collins may
expose the City and its officers and employees to liability for damage and injury. The
Council further recognizes that City officers and employees must be confident that they
have the City's support in the lawful and proper performance of their assigned duties and
responsibilities.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation that protects the interests of municipalities and their officers
and employees in the lawful and proper performance of their duties and
responsibilities.
2. Support legislation that discourages baseless and frivolous claims and demands
made against municipalities, their officers and employees.
12
3. Support legislation that limits or enhances municipal liability protections, or
expands municipal immunity.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The City of Fort Collins encourages a competitive, open market for cable and
telecommunications services in order to ensure the public has access to a variety of
programming and services at the lowest cost possible.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statement:
1. Support legislation that maintains and enhances local franchising authority. This
helps ensure local governments' ability to negotiate, in the public interest, for
cable channel space, institutional networks and public education and government
programming.
2. Support legislation that re-establishes the rights of municipalities to provide low
cost, accessible telecommunications services and related infrastructure.
UTILITY SERVICES
It is critical that the City operate its electric distribution, drinking water, stormwater and
wastewater services in a financially sound, reliable, safe and environmentally acceptable
manner. Like other municipal utilities across the country, Fort Collins is faced with
many new and evolving challenges associated with changes in the industry, the age and
security of its infrastructure and the necessity of managing a changing workforce.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
ENERGY
1. Support legislation that recognizes the importance of infrastructure security while
minimizing restriction to the Utility's,ability to manage security as an integral part of
the system.
2. Support programs that provide assistance to local government, and that encourage and
allow for local design and implementation of greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
3. Support legislation that establishes uniform standards for the reduction of carbon
emissions.
4. Support legislation that removes barriers to financing for energy efficiency, and
encourages and funds energy efficiency and conservation while allowing local design
and implementation of the programs.
13
5. Support legislation that reduces community energy use and net energy use of existing
buildings.
6. Support legislation and regulations that provide incentives to encourage 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. Oppose legislation that attempts to prevent or inhibit provision of municipal electric
service in newly annexed areas.
8. Support legislation that encourages grid modernization and smart grid technologies
WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY
1. Support legislation that maintains or expands the authority delegated to the State to
administer federally mandated water, stormwater and wastewater environmental
regulatory programs (primacy).
2. Support water quality legislation that results in reasonable water quality control
regulations that are cost effective and can show identifiable benefits.
3. Support legislation that enables local development of watershed protection.
4. Support legislation that provides the City the flexibility to enhance in-stream flows to
preserve or improve the natural environment of the stream while protecting the
integrity of Colorado's appropriation doctrine and City water supply.
5. Support legislation that recognizes the importance of infrastructure security while
minimizing restriction to the Utility's ability to manage security as an integral part of
the system.
6. Support adequate funding of mandated programs.
7. Support legislation that removes barriers to financing for water conservation projects.
8. Support legislation that would fund recovery and treatment of Cache la Poudre and
other waterways impacted by 2012 wildfires.
9. Support programs and policies that allow local officials to understand water sources,
disposition of produced water, and clearly understand the ongoing impacts of the oil
and gas industry to water quality.
14
Neighborhood Livability
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The City of Fort Collins supports policy and funding mechanisms that help the City
develop and maintain affordable housing for our community's lowest income families.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
l. Support legislation that maintains or enhances current levels of funding for
affordable housing throughout Colorado.
2. Support legislation that increases local government's ability to regulate, manage
or generate alternative sources of funding for affordable housing, including
public-private partnerships.
3. Support legislation that protects the rights of low-income and/or disabled
residents in tenant-landlord disputes, especially as it relates to safety issues.
4. Support legislation that retains flexibility for City to adopt and enforce rental
terms.that allow it to appropriately maintain and manage City-owned affordable
rental properties.
PLANNING AND LAND USE
Effective local land use planning and land development regulation contributes to the
quality of life enjoyed primarily by Fort Collins residents, yet shared regionally within
Larimer County. State legislation can influence local governments' ability to develop
and implement land use plans for their communities.
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation that requires regional cooperation in land use and
transportation planning, and legislation that fosters sustainable development,
without unduly constraining the City's home rule powers.
2. Support legislation that prohibits 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.
3. Support legislation to limit the definition of a compensable taking and/or the
definition of vested property rights beyond the provisions of existing law.
4. Support legislation that would retain local government authority to impose
development impact fees.
15
5. Support legislation that would increase cities' ability to regulate industrial land
uses like oil and gas exploration and extraction.
6. Support public housing policies that equitably balance protection of tenants and
landlords.
7. Support legislation allowing greater local regulation of oil and gas exploration
activities within municipal boundaries.
Safe Community
FIRE PROTECTION
The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining a safe
environment and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Fort Collins from
fire.
Therefore the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation adopting a State fire code, the code of choice being the 2012
International Building and Fire Code, and allow municipalities to adopt their own
amendments.
2. Oppose legislation that limits local enforcement of the International Fire Code as
adopted with local amendments, or imposes inspection requirements or prevents
collection of permit or inspection fees as required by the local jurisdiction.
3. Support legislation that requires the installation of fire protection systems in
structures to enhance life safety and property protection when appropriate.
4. Support legislation that strengthens the City's ability to prohibit the use and sale
of fireworks and that allows counties and fire districts to prohibit and otherwise
control fireworks.
5. Support legislation that promotes fire safety, education and prevention with the
goal of reducing injury, loss of life and property damage.
6. Support legislation that allows local jurisdictions to implement open burning
restrictions.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
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.
16
Therefore, the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation that allows the City to continue controlling risks from
hazardous materials use, storage and transportation through the International
Building and Fire Code and related local amendments.
2. Support legislation that allows Fort Collins adopt local regulations for hazardous
materials, including review and approval of the location of facilities that use or
store hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
3. Support legislation that strengthens the enforcement of hazardous materials
regulations.
4. Support legislation strengthening the diversion of hazardous waste from landfills.
5. Support policies or legislation to establish greater flexibility and more options for
local government in the management of publicly-owned areas thought to have
asbestos containing soils.
6. Support policies and legislation to prevent and penalize improper storage and
disposal of hazardous or exploration and production (E&P) wastes from oil and
gas operations within municipal boundaries.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Fort Collins City Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining public order,
providing a safe environment, and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Fort
Collins.
Therefore,the City supports the following policy statements:
1. Support legislation that has the potential to reduce incidents of violence in the
community, especially through the development of treatment and intervention
programs for youth.
2. Support legislation and funding that provides greater protection to victims of
crime.
3. Support legislation that maintains or enhances the City's right to use camera
enforcement of traffic laws, reduces operational restrictions on the use of camera
enforcement, and increases the fines associated with violations.
4. Support legislation establishing protocols and funding for shared, statewide
emergency response communications.
17
5. Support legislation that regulates medical marijuana manufacture, distribution and
dispensaries.
6. Oppose programs that have the potential to compromise officer safety.
7. Support legislation that formally legitimizes the field of Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) by establishing minimum training criteria and professional
mediator certification.
8. Support legislation that regulates the use of cell phones by a motorist while
operating a vehicle.
9. Support legislation that preserves or increases funding for treatment of mental
illness and substance abuse disorders.
10. Support legislation that maintains or enhances a statewide database of concealed
weapons permits.
11. Support legislation to reduce community flood risks.
12. Support legislation that reduces City liability for prisoners' self-inflicted wounds
while in police custody or detention facility.
13. Support legislation and policies restricting access to illegal substances.
14. Support legislation to require greater producer responsibility such as "take back"
for prescription drugs to avoid these substances being abused or being disposed of
into the water supply.
Transportation
TRANSPORTATION
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 alternative transportation whenever appropriate.
Therefore, the City supports the following policies:
1. Support legislation that facilitates cooperative programs among government
agencies in order to help the City meet its basic transportation needs, including
transit, street, highway, road and bridge construction and maintenance, and safe
corridors for bicyclists and pedestrians.
18
2. Oppose legislation that seeks to reduce the present allocation formula of 60% state,
22% counties, and 18% municipalities for Highway User Tax Fund (HUTF) or any
appropriations from the State using the same formula.
3. Support exploration and analysis of alternative methods of funding transportation
infrastructure needs.
4. Support legislation to fund analysis and implementation of inter- and intra-regional
transit linkages, including future commuter rail connectivity.
5. Support legislation that facilitates regional planning for various modes of
transportation with the goal of providing practical solutions to reduce reliance on
single occupant vehicles.
6. Support efforts to encourage flexibility in federal funding and regulations in order
to better meet the needs of small to medium size communities.
7. Support preservation of the federal guaranteed levels of funding for transportation,
and allocation of all federal motor fuel taxes and other federal transportation trust
funds for their intended transportation purposes.
8. Support legislation broadening the definition of the gasoline tax to a "fuel tax"that
encompasses other fuel options as they become more prevalent.
9. Support legislation that limits the ability of railroad trains to block street and
highway grade crossings for unreasonable periods.
10. Support legislation that facilitates the implementation of railroad quiet zones in
municipalities and that reduces current train horn decibel and duration
requirements.
11. Oppose legislation intended to divest key highway roads in urban areas from the
State and make them the sole responsibility of local jurisdictions.
19
CITY OF FORT COLLINS LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Legislative Review Committee
Name DistrictfTitle Email
Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Ohlson District 5 kohlson@fcgov.com
Councilmember Lisa Poppaw District 2 Ipoppaw@fcgov.com
Councilmember Wade Troxell District 4 wtroxell@fcgov.com
Wendy Williams Assistant City Manager wwilliams@fcgov.com
Steve Roy City Attorney sroy@fcgov.com
Dan Weinheimer Legislative Policy Manager dweinheimer@fcgov.com
Legislative Staff Liaison Members
Topic Area Name Email
Affordable Housing Julie Brewen jbrewen@fcgov.com
Air Quality Lucinda Smith Ismith@fcgov.com
Cable Television Franchise Carson Hamlin chamlin@fcgov.com
Climate and Environmental Protection John Stokes jstokes@fcgov.com
Natural Areas and Open Lands
City Clerk Wanda Nelson wnelson@fcgov.com
Cultural Services J.R. Schnelzer jrschnelzer@fcgov.com
Parks and Recreation
Energy Lisa Rosintoski Iosintoski@fcgov.com
Water Supply and Quality
Finance Michael Beckstead mbeckstead@fcgov.com
Economic Health Josh Birks jbirks@fcgov.com
Fire Protection Bob Poncelow bponcelow@poudre-fire.org
Hazardous Materials Management
Human Resources Janet Miller jmiller@fcgov.com
Legal Carrie Daggett cdaggett@fcgov.com
Neighborhood and Building Services Mike Gebo mgebo@fcgov.com
Planning and Land Use Timothy Wilder twilder@fcgov.com
Public Safety Rita Davis rdavis@fcgov.com
Recycling and Solid Waste Susie Gordon sgordon@fcgov.com
Risk Management Lance Murray Imurray@fcgov.com
Transportation Mark Jackson mjackson@fcgov.com
20