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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Sustainable Funding Gap Update
What is sustainable about spending money you don’t have? A Finance 101 primer.
At its April 25 work session, the Fort Collins City Council considered, once again, how to label our problem of adopting plans we haven’t the revenue to pay for. Now referred to as “Sustainable Funding”, the conversation is beginning to narrow in on potential funding mechanisms and a timeline for when to ask citizens for more money. As a refresher, various plans, priorities and funding restrictions that have been adopted over the years would cost an additional $46M annually, if at least partially implemented. The real number is at least 2x, but tacitly, even the most ardent cheerleaders are grudgingly accepting that certain elements of the various objectives lie beyond our means.
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Regionalism
Northern Colorado is among the most spectacular locales for starting a business, raising a family, and developing personal relationships that sustain us in myriad ways. We are truly fortunate in being able to share in the prosperity that emanates from such an inspirational setting. Should there be any wonder why others are attracted to our region, just as so many have before us? Rather than cloaking our treasure in protectionism, we have been entrusted with the obligation to assure future generations equal, if not better, opportunity for prosperity.
This requires a shared commitment to regional dialogue, planning, and investment. No one community defines Northern Colorado. Natural resources and economic activity do not recognize political boundaries. As such, we must accept some level of humility in pursuing policies that celebrate the diversity of interests and expressions of our collective Northern Colorado community. In a word, regionalism.
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In Case You Missed It:
Local Minimum Wage Set for May 16 Vote by
Fort Collins City Council
We need your voice!
Your Fort Collins City Council is still on the path of adopting a local minimum wage that will be required of all employers in Fort Collins - not just local city government.
Your locally elected officials are scheduled to adopt a wage on Tuesday, May 16. The wage would then go into effect on January 1, 2024. Council seems to have narrowed their focus to two options - one that raises the wage to $18.50 by 2026 and one that raises the wage to $16.65 by 2026. In their March 11 work session, council asked staff to bring back an option 3 of $17.29 by 2026.
We have been speaking up for business on this issue for the last 13 months and are hopeful that you will share your perspective on the impact of local regulation on your business and opportunities to provide services. This is an issue that will have far reaching impacts - many of them unintended.
We invite and encourage you to share your perspectives on this important issue.
Three easy ways you can get involved:
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Contact Ann Hutchison and join a small group conversation with local elected officials. Drop me an email at ahutchison@fcchamber.org and we will get you information about these one on one conversations.
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Contact Council Members directly. You can email or call at your convenience. Use this LINK to access contact information.
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Share your comments during public comment at the May 16 City Council meeting. The agenda is posted on Thursday at this website. You can join the meeting by Zoom or attend in person. And you can even speak to the issue at the beginning of the meeting at 6pm. Plan two minutes of comments - and simply share your thoughts. We've provided easy to follow information about public comment HERE.
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Common Sense Institute New Report Release:
Reimagining the Social Safety Net, Benefits Cliff & Unintended Consequences of Minimum Wage Policy
The Common Sense Institute (CSI) released their first report from Tamra Ryan, the 2023 Coors Economic Mobility fellow focusing on the “benefits cliff” that can disincentivize work, and unintended consequences of the minimum wage. The report demonstrates how many of the programs and policies that make up our safety net discourage rather than incentivize work for employees, forcing individuals into a cycle of government programs and poverty. The “benefits cliff,” is a situation where a small increase in income leads to the cessation of certain government benefits, resulting in a net decrease in income.
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Water Adequacy Determination
New policy needs more analysis
Due to increased demand from a growing population and heightened uncertainty of consistent water supply, evaluating whether our current standards and assumptions remain relevant is not only a wise policy, but Colorado state statute also now requires such analysis. As dictated under statute (C.R.S. Section 29-20-301), the City of Fort Collins is currently developing amendments to our land use code that will define the adequacy of water supply for all future development. The Water Adequacy Determination Code Update (the “Code”) will be presented to Council on Tuesday, May 16.
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CIVIC Conversation
Topic: Water Pipelines
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, May 22, 2023
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company, 124 Racquette Dr. in Fort Collins
Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fightin’! But over a mug of beer, we can have a CIVIC Conversation about how we move water around our state and region without tearing up the place.
We hope you will join us, as your busy schedule allows, in this exciting opportunity to learn from each other while building our collective wisdom for the betterment of our community and our economy.
Please RSVP so we can plan for the conversation.
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Early Childhood Council of Larimer County’s work on Public Funding for Early Childhood
By: Christina Taylor, CEO, Early Childhood Council of Larimer County
Larimer County families spend between 20-50% of their annual household income on childcare costs, between $7,000-$20,000 a year for one child! This impacts our economy in a big way. Lack of childcare access costs Larimer County nearly $100M in lost earnings, productivity and revenue annually. Childcare is essential to ensuring we have thriving, productive future generations, yet inadequate public investment coupled with a dire lack of qualified workforce means that quality care is out of reach for many families.
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Midtown Business Improvement District and City advance designs for a reimagined corridor
The Midtown Business Improvement District (BID) and City of Fort Collins invite the public to an open house to learn more about the proposed redesign for South College Avenue that will transform the area into a multi-modal corridor and create a sense of place for the district.
South College Avenue Design Open House
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Gilded Goat Brewing | 3500 S. College Ave., No. 194
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Building Services Expanded Walk-In Customer Service Hours
Permit service will continue to be available by telephone and email from 8 AM to 5 PM. Electronic submittals are still required for most permit types.
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Are you concerned local policy changes regarding water will make Fort Collins unaffordable?
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