The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce presents the Advocacy Newsletter. This regular email showcases issues impacting business and provides insight on key issues the Chamber is tracking at the local, state and federal level.
The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is a business advocate, attending every City Council meeting, standing up on key issues and sharing a pragmatic view point.
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Guest Column: Fort Collins City Manager Kelly DiMartino
In January, it will be six months since I was officially appointed as the City Manager. It’s an honor to be serving in this role, and I appreciate the opportunity to share a few highlights of what we’re focusing on as a City organization. Delivering on Council priorities is always at the forefront. In addition, our City leadership team has identified three key focus areas.
The first is moving from pandemic recovery to community resilience, creating a more vibrant and inclusive community that can withstand future disruptions. Part of that effort includes leveraging federal recovery dollars to achieve community and Council priorities around small business support, affordable housing and helping our most vulnerable community members, as well as making progress on goals identified in City Plan, Our Climate Future, and the Housing Strategic Plan.
We know the economic impacts from the pandemic are still being felt and many businesses are still struggling due to lost revenue, increased costs, workforce challenges and supply chain issues. The City is supporting economic recovery through a variety of different programs, including the establishment of a Multicultural Business and Entrepreneur Center, and issuing recovery grants to several local small businesses.
I’m proud to share the City of Fort Collins recently received a 2022 EDIE Award from the Economic Development Council of Colorado. The award reflects the extensive work the City’s Economic Health Office and community partners such as you have conducted to support our local businesses and workforce, especially through the pandemic.
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East Mulberry Annexation Update
The City of Fort Collins continues to plan for the potential annexation of the East Mulberry Street enclave area between the general boundaries of Lemay, I-25, Vine and Prospect Avenue. Despite a slow-down to the conversation following an April 2022 joint meeting between County Commissioners and City Council, the City of Fort Collins will continue to pursue "tipping point" annexation - or annexation when certain conditions make it a favorable action.
The expenses modeled for an annexation including utilities range from $315M to $585M over twenty years. Tax revenue would be created in the annexed area but it is forecasted to be a net loss of $6M to $9M annually.
The Fort Collins Chamber has approximately 80 members in the planned annex area and has created a task force dedicated to tracking the project. The Chamber’s Local Legislative Affairs Committee gets regular updates and provides feedback to City staff responsible for the project.
Learn more here. Send questions/input or get engaged by contacting Kevin Jones, Business Advocacy Director, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce kjones@fcchamber.org.
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Sustainable Funding
The Fort Collins City Council just recently adopted the largest budget in City history, including accessing reserves to fund ongoing expenses. Despite that strong community action, it has become apparent that we have failed to set aside adequate reserves to properly maintain, repair and replace certain community assets, and have limited methods for covering the cost of implementing ambitious strategic plans. As of this writing the long-term revenue shortfall is estimated to be $40M-$48M per year.
How did we get here?
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CIVIC Conversation
Long-Term Funding Gap
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, January 16, 2023
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company, 124 Racquette Dr.
Please join us for the first CIVIC Conversation of 2023 at Horse & Dragon! We look forward to thoughtful discourse in an unexpected setting!
Thank You 2023 CIVIC Conversation Sponsor:
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2022 Advocacy Achievements
Your Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce has been very engaged in local, regional, and statewide issues. We are proud to represent, not just business owners, but everyone that contributes to our shared prosperity and a healthy, vibrant economy.
Through the course of the year, we continued to see an uneven recovery from the effects of Covid and the public policy responses that have upended virtually every aspect of our business environment. We are proud of the benefits our collective voice has delivered.
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NoCo Housing NOW
Resources Available
Topic: The Missing Middle
Communities across the country are now beginning to recognize that suburban-style development has crowded out a more diverse mix of housing types that were commonplace prior to the 1950s. Duplexes, small apartment buildings, condominiums and other housing types have become all but forgotten, a phenomenon known as The Missing Middle.
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Looking Ahead to State Issues in 2023
Fresh off an election that increased majorities in both chambers of our state legislature, the business community can expect more rules, with particular attention paid to the oil & gas, transportation, and agriculture sectors. Higher costs will come in the form of new and increased fees, private sector mandates and disincentives.
We expect that water will sit at center stage. At a minimum, increased regulation to reduce overall demand will drive up costs for business and consumers alike. Though it’s not yet clear whether the state will interfere in water storage development, there are indications the state will assert a stronger role in how and under what circumstances water is moved from source to tap. As well, the agriculture sector will be under sharp focus as efforts to reign in allocations to this critical industry are renewed.
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Would you support a new .25% sales tax to fill the City of Fort Collins sustainable funding gap
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