Good evening, and welcome to the 3rd Annual Live State of the City Address. I’m Mayor Doug Hutchinson.
I’m very pleased to be standing here tonight with City Manager Darin Atteberry as we review 2007 and look to the future.
Before we begin, I would like to recognize my fellow Council members. I am pleased and proud to be a part of this diverse group, this hard-working team that you, the voters, have assembled. I’d like to acknowledge Mayor Pro-tem Kelly Ohlson, Mayor Pro Tem who is out of town tonight, and Council members Ben Manvel, Lisa Poppaw, Diggs Brown, Wade Troxell, and David Roy. Please join me in expressing appreciation for their service. (applause)
Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everyone.
This moment in time is significant. Our recent years of hard work have created a strong foundation. As a City, we have a vision for our future and tangible strategies and plans to get us there. We’re seeing the efforts of that planning come to fruition.
Our vision is that Fort Collins will be a world class community, which boils down to fostering and sustaining a high quality of life. This means balancing the needs of our environment, our economy and our community. This balance is what makes Fort Collins unique as was confirmed in our recent community branding study. We’re both green and pro-business, hi-tech and agriculture, families and college students. We value arts and culture as much as we value the outdoors. As our new tagline states, “In Fort Collins, Renewal is a Way of Life!”
And this is exactly what we’ll be talking about tonight; the Fort Collins way of life, and how, through careful planning and deliberate action; we are aggressively working toward a healthy environment, a strong economy, and a vibrant community.
Fort Collins is a nationally recognized leader in environmental stewardship.
We have an award-winning recycling program that we continue to improve. Last year Council adopted an ordinance banning curbside disposal of electronic waste. In the coming year, the City will objectively examine ways to reduce the impacts of trash collection and improve diversion rates for recyclables.
We’re proactive on issues such as climate change. Council created a Climate Protection Task Force to update our existing Climate Action Plan. I look forward to seeing their proposal, including an analysis of the costs and the benefits of their recommendations, next month.
In October, 2007, as one of eight Project Directors, I had the honor of leading a press conference at the state capitol announcing the recommendations of the Colorado Climate Project. Of the 70 recommendations presented to Governor Ritter, 56 specifically address climate protection and energy efficiency.
We’re proactive and responsible in efforts to maintain an adequate water supply and ensure drought protection. We’re planning to increase storage capacity by enlarging Halligan Reservoir and will continue to reduce water use through our aggressive water conservation plan.
Water storage is a major component of the Northern Integrated Supply Project, or NISP, being proposed by fifteen other municipalities and water districts. Because of the potential impacts on the Poudre River, this Council is, and will continue to be, very engaged in this dialogue.
The state of Colorado recently recognized Bobcat Ridge Natural Area with a Blue Grama Award for outstanding management and planning.
We also completed the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan which protects the precious resources of Soapstone, and provides opportunity to experience the beauty, solitude, wildlife, and culture of the site.
Our Water Treatment Facility received two prestigious awards that honor our ongoing commitment to the production of high-quality water.
These successes reflect the efforts of our world-class staff, and show that we are truly leaders in environmental stewardship . . . we will continue to build on these foundations.
Last year, we bought eighteen E85 compatible vehicles bringing our total to 35, and we plan to add another 20-30 vehicles to our fleet in 2008.
Two major construction projects, the Police Services Building and the Northside Aztlan Center, are candidates for LEED Silver certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It’s now a formal Council policy that all future City buildings will be LEED certified at the Gold level.
The City organization officially became a Climate Wise partner in 2007. With the help of our highly capable Climate Wise staff, this organization will take action to further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and save money. I’m excited to announce that in 2008 we will launch an aggressive City internal recycling program. As an organization we have a history of environmental sensitivity; in the coming year you will see significant improvements as we build on that tradition.
We are working to maintain a vibrant community. This includes multi-modal transportation, local and regional partnerships, and a built environment that fits the needs of our community.
Our transportation needs reach beyond city limits. Last year, a Regional Transportation Authority proposal was presented to Council. While, the package and its timing were not right for this Council, the issue remains a regional problem that demands regional solutions. We will work to find those solutions.
We are also working hard with neighboring communities to determine the best course of action for the I-25 interchanges at Prospect, Harmony, and Highway 392. To better understand the challenges, City council is taking unusual steps to visit each of the I-25 interchanges, and on February 12th, Council will assess the potential partnerships, actions and the economic and environmental impacts of these interchanges.
Transportation continues to be one of the most important and challenging issues facing this community.
In 2007, we added three new Transfort routes, providing options for many residents who could not previously access public transit or para-transit services. In 2008, we will further examine transit efficiencies, needs, goals, and funding realities when we update the Transfort and Dial-A-Ride strategic plan.
We work diligently to ensure safe transportation infrastructure. We maintain 1,756 lane miles of City streets. Last year City crews installed 130 pedestrian access ramps and – get this – we patched 11,918 potholes – a 290% increase over the previous year. To keep residents informed of construction activity and other traffic details, we launched an interactive site with live video of key intersections. Check it out at fcgov.com slash FC trip.
We provide better service and better solutions when partners work together, and this community has the success stories to prove it.
The City, the County, and the new Library district formalized an agreement finalizing the independence of our community’s library system. The voter-approved District will provide high quality service including increased hours, expanded programming, and a new southeast branch.
UniverCity Connections took its first step from vision to reality when Doug Johnson was appointed as Executive Director. Now, Doug will lead the hundreds of volunteers poised to transform the UniverCity plan into action.
Our cultural community is thriving.
Community connections were at the heart of Fort Collins Game Day as it made its successful debut. Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk, Chamber of Commerce President David May, and the City of Fort Collins spearheaded a partnership with several key community organizations to foster 1) RAM spirit, 2) community pride, and 3) support for our local economy.
A vibrant community provides facilities and infrastructure to support the growing needs of the public.
The 100-acre Spring Canyon Community Park opened last year. Thanks to the vision of people like former Mayor Ray Martinez and contributions from the Colorado Eagles Foundation, from nonprofit groups, and from hundreds of community members, the Park is home to Inspiration Playground, the first universally accessible playground in the state of Colorado.
We celebrated the opening of the new Northside Aztlan Center. Funded with voter-approved dollars, the larger facility provides new equipment and increased programming to serve the entire community.
Last year we celebrated the grand opening of our new Police Services Building. For years, police staff worked in overcrowded conditions in several different, obsolete buildings. Now, we’ve consolidated staff to one state-of-the-art facility, improving communication and community safety, for years to come.
Obviously, community safety is not just about a building. We have an outstanding police department, which works tirelessly to protect the residents of Fort Collins. Let me assure you, we are well aware that many questions remain surrounding the Timothy Masters case. We are taking this situation very seriously and will fully cooperate with the independent investigation. I ask that you do not rush to judgment about this, or any other case, based solely on what you’re seeing in the media.
Speaking of media…last year, the mere suggestion that we change our traditional Christmas holiday displays caused a firestorm locally and in the national media. Ultimately, Council rejected recommendations that would diminish traditional Christmas displays and adopted recommendations for a new, inclusive City holiday display.
While these types of issues are very visible, there are many City services that you rarely see.
In partnership with Front Range Internet, the City now provides free wireless internet access downtown. Through this pilot project, we are exploring how wireless broadband technology can help us be more efficient.
Our electric and water utilities have long been recognized for their excellence. We will continue to seek improvements, especially in the area of renewable energy.
Green and innovative, we are creating the utilities for the 21st century.
Utilities for the 21st century acknowledge financial, social and environmental responsibilities. They provide sustainable utility service to customers without sacrificing reliability or affordability.
A healthy environment and a vibrant community depend upon a strong economy.
This Council’s economic vision is a healthy economy that reflects the values of our unique community in a changing world. To pursue that vision, we created the first-ever Economic Action Plan which identifies strategies for City government and defines the city’s key role as providing an environment where business can succeed in a way that fits Fort Collins. Our foundation is strong and is yielding results.
The Mason Corridor will be an essential element of our City’s long-term economic health. It reflects this Council’s commitment to transit-oriented development, as well as our economic, environmental and community values.
Last year, the Federal Transit Administration approved our plans for the Mason Corridor. FTA approval was the toughest hurdle in making this project a reality. Now we’re working closely with our federal representatives to assure final congressional authorization - the decision will come this spring.
The Mason Corridor will bring to life the policies Council has put in place to encourage infill and redevelopment instead of outward growth. This is truly legacy work.
In 2007, Council approved a land swap with the Colorado State University Research Foundation. The trade preserves important open space near our foothills and will ultimately create a Clean Energy campus at Prospect and I-25. The campus will include a new headquarters for AVA Solar, a company that exemplifies the Economic Action Plan come to life. From its humble beginnings in a research lab at CSU, AVA’s solar-technology will have worldwide impact. Once up and running, AVA will create approximately 500 high-paying, primary jobs.
The Clean Energy Cluster is one of five clusters identified in the City’s Economic Action plan along with software, hardware, bioscience, and what we call uniquely Fort Collins. Clusters are related industries that have experienced noteworthy success, present strong opportunities for economic growth, and are compatible with our community vision.
Last year, Fort Collins increased support of the technology incubator, now called the Fort Collins Innovations Center. With an expanded regional focus, the Center is helping high-tech, start-up companies succeed by providing consulting, networking opportunities, and facility space.
Our strategy to diversify the economy includes appropriate retail development.
Foothills Mall is still our number one retail priority. To encourage a high quality redevelopment project, Council approved an Urban Renewal Area for Foothills Mall. The more the developer invests, the higher the amount of funding support we’ll provide. We’re doing our part – twice Darin traveled to Chicago to meet with CEO, John Buxbom, and more recently, here in Fort Collins, Darin and I sat down with high-level leaders of General Growth Properties. I’m cautiously optimistic that we will see a redevelopment proposal within the next six months.
We’ve worked diligently, for four years in fact, to bring another major retail project on line. Expected to open later this year, Front Range Village at Harmony & Ziegler, will combine elements of a "lifestyle center," including a new branch library, with 900,000 square feet of new retail space.
We’re actively pursuing positive change along College Avenue. Council and staff are working with the North Fort Collins Business Association to revitalize North College. We created a vision for the area and an Action Plan which outlines the type of development that best fits the needs and culture of that part of our community.
In partnership with area residents and businesses, we are developing a plan for South College. Our goal is to balance redevelopment with existing business in the newly annexed South College Corridor.
These economic initiatives are important because they are closely tied to the City budget and thus City services. Last year we again used the Budgeting for Outcomes, or BFO, process. BFO eliminates the traditional focus on bureaucracy and instead focuses your dollars on the priorities that really count: that is, on the services that you, the residents, need and expect. It fundamentally encourages efficiency. The result is a 2008-2009 Budget that is lean and mean, just as citizens expect, and just as it should be.
As the CEO of this organization, and as a taxpayer in Fort Collins, I share that expectation. We’ve made significant progress, and we’ll continue to make improvements in this area.
When it makes sense, we outsource, that is we contract with the private sector. Many people don’t realize that the City outsources more than 200 different services annually. Janitorial services, concrete maintenance, street scape and median maintenance are just a few examples. We actively and continuously search for creative ways to keep costs low.
We’ve deliberately moved toward an open, data-driven organization focused on accountability and results.
We’ve implemented a Performance Measurement system to find ways to improve by comparing how our level of service and associated costs stack up against other communities.
Further, our new Performance Management system will link individual performance to organizational objectives and increase the focus on results.
We’re launching a new program called City Service Innovations where employees suggest ways to improve efficiency and are awarded with a percentage of the resulting cost-savings.
For the last two years, Darin has been restructuring the organization to make it more efficient. Such major restructuring had not occurred in more than fifteen years. He realigned the finance, budget, and the new economic health departments to strengthen the link between revenues, expenditures, and the economy. He combined our planning and transportation functions to eliminate one senior management position and ensure better coordination.
In addition to these systemic changes, Darin and his team have filled four key leadership positions: Jeff Scheick is the new Planning, Development, and Transportation Director; Mike Freeman is the City’s first-ever Chief Financial Officer, Brian Janonis is Utilities Executive Director, and Janet Miller was promoted to Human Resources Director.
I have the right team in place. They are well-equipped and highly motivated to lead this organization to continued success.
I am proud of the work this organization has done and the progress we’ve made. And yet it is clear to me that even with the cuts we’ve made and the efficiencies we continue to find through the Budgeting for Outcomes process, our current budget cannot support the needs of the future.
Our current funding levels will not support this growing demand. I know this isn’t popular, but we have to talk about it. As a community, we need to find the right balance between cost and desired service levels.
The City doesn’t operate in a vacuum and we recognize that Fort Collins’ needs are not the only priorities in our region.
Larimer County is facing financial challenges and will be looking for new ways to fund key services in the areas of criminal justice, mental health, and transportation.
The State of Colorado is struggling with funding three priorities: higher education, transportation and health care.
Poverty is a growing challenge; one that we can’t solve as individual entities – we must work together. The City is committed to doing our part beginning with existing programs such as Community Development Block Grants, recreation scholarships, and grocery tax rebates. We will be active participants in tackling this problem.
It is apparent to me that we are at a crossroads as a community. High quality and reliable service from your City comes with a cost. As a community, we have to determine how to fund the services you need and expect.
That conversation cannot happen without a credible budget. In the past three years, we have done just that. Using Budgeting for Outcomes, we focused on efficiency and eliminated unneeded services. This was a painful process. We cut nearly $15 million of planned and budgeted expenditures from the General Fund. And in 2005, we eliminated more than 100 City jobs. The changes were real and far-reaching.
This sets the foundation for the next phase, a community conversation about your needs, your expectations and the City services you are willing to pay for. There are significant, ongoing funding needs as Darin outlined. Too often, we only hear from special interests. It is very important that we hear from you, the community at large, as we work toward solutions.
Governance is hard. I know at times it may look easy, but it’s full of difficult, complicated, and sometimes emotional choices. This Council is not going to shy away from the tough ones. Whether it’s regional transportation, police staffing or trash services, we will continue to be open and transparent and to engage the community in these decisions.
This Mayor and this City Council care deeply about our community, and I know I’ve said this before, but it is truly a privilege to work in partnership with such a committed group of individuals.
Just as importantly, I’d like to recognize the work and commitment of my co-workers. These are the individuals that keep your power on, your parks mowed, and your streets plowed. They’re the people who work behind the scenes to support our internal operations and the people who are out in the community every day driving buses, inspecting buildings, and patrolling our streets. I want to recognize them for their hard work. (applause) Many of our City services operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and I am grateful to the City employees who demonstrate commitment and a passion for their work on a daily basis. Together, we are working to be an efficient, best practice organization in all areas.
2007 was a challenging year, but we’ve learned a lot and accomplished many things. Fort Collins IS unique. We ARE leaders. And I believe we have come closer to finding the appropriate balance between a healthy environment, a strong economy, and a vibrant community.
We have laid solid foundations, but our work is far from done. Being the “Best place to Live in America” means having a City government that fits Fort Collins - a City government that creates an environment where YOU can succeed and you can enjoy our unique quality of life. After all, it is not government that makes Fort Collins great - it is you, the people. You should insist on a government that continues to use your tax dollars prudently, efficiently, and in a balanced way. Our community has diverse needs and expectations, and your Council is a diverse team that must work together to carefully balance all of those interests. 2008 will come with a new set of challenges, but I am confident that together, we will create a great future for Fort Collins. Thank you all for joining us this evening. (applause)
Now we’d like to spend some time answering your questions. We’ve armed Kim with a microphone – please raise your hand and she’ll come to you so that everyone, including our TV audience, can hear your question.
