Slide from FCBR's Government Affairs Committee Orientation/ Government 101

1. Government Affairs Committee
A Service of FCBR’s
REALTOR & Consumer Advocacy Department
Protecting REALTORS Business

2. Expectations
• Responsibilities
– Relevancy
– Membership Representation
– External Involvement
– C fid ti lit
Confidentiality

3. Expectations
• Protocol
– Attendance & Participation
– Professional Representation
– Courtesy and Timeliness
–IIssue Identification
Id tifi ti
– Business Representation

4. Election Committee vs GAC
• The Election Committee
– encourages qualified people to seek public office,
interviews announced or potential candidates, makes
candidate backing recommendations to the Chamber
Board and
B d d
– works with organization-backed candidates to secure their
election to office by facilitating voluntary participation of
members in campaigns
campaigns.
• The mission of the Local Government Affairs Committee
(GAC)
– i to collaborate with public and private stakeholders to
is t ll b t ith bli d i t t k h ld t
create a favorable environment for business, thereby
– enhancing the quality of life of the entire community and region.

5. Election Committee vs GAC
• Election Committee finds candidates
• GAC serves as foot soldiers to get the
candidates elected
– Opportunities to help with elections to be
shared with committee
– Also may have a “work session” at GAC
• If we get th right people elected, th work
t the i ht l l t d the k
of the GAC becomes much easier

6. City of Fort Collins
and L i
d Larimer
County
Government 101

7. Fort Collins Basics
• Incorporated in 1873
• Home Rule City
• C
Council/Manager F
il/M Form off
Government
• Guided by City Charter and City
Code
• Funded primarily by Sales Tax

8. City of Fort Collins

9. Mayor and City Council
• Legislative Body
– 4 year Council Terms (2 term limit)
– 2 year Mayoral Term (3 term limit)
• Policies guide decisions about plans and
services
– Budget and appropriations – Biennial
– Community growth and land use
– Master Plans
l
– Financial capital projects
• Set 2-year Policy Agenda
• Policy decisions in public meetings

10. Fort Collins City Council
Mayor Mayor Pro-Tem; Dist 5
Karen Weikunaut Kelly Ohlson
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 6
Ben Manvel Lisa Poppaw Aislinn Kottwitz Wade Troxell Gerry Horak

11. City Manager
• Darin Atteberry
• Appointed by City Council
pp y y
• Prepares budget
• Hires and supervises City staff
p y
• Carries out Council policies
• Day to day
Day-to-day operations
• Council chief advisor

12. City Facts
• N City Budget f 2007 - $
Net Ci B d for illi
$377.4 million
• Net City Budget for 2008 - $468.2 million
• Net City Budget for 2009 - $395 8 million
$395.8
• Net City Budget for 2010 – $344.5 million
• Net City Budget for 2011 - $351.1 million
y g $35
• Approx. 1200 Full Time and 800
Seasonal employees
• 492 street miles
t t il
• 137,503 population
• 59,658
59 658 housing units
• $72,248 median family income (2006
data)

13. Meetings of the Council
• Tuesday Evenings – 6pm
• Council Chambers - 300 LaPorte Ave
• Regular Meetings (Alternate with Study Sessions)
– Citizen Participation (30 minutes)
– Consent Calendar
– Staff Reports
– Individual Items (with public comment)
– Pulled Consent Items
• W kS
Work Sessions ( l
i (Alternate with Regular Meetings)
ih l i )
– No public comment
– Staff presentations via dvd before the meeting
– Open discussion
• Agenda at: http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/agendas.php

14. Budget
• Financial plan for delivery of services
• T
Two-year b d
budget – annual appropriations
l i i
– Recommended by City Manager
– Adopted by City Council
b Cit Co ncil
• Budget developed March to November
• N
Now f
function under a B d ti
ti d Budgeting f
for
Outcomes (BFO) process

15. Policy Agenda
y g
• 7 themes (tied directly to BFO)
• Economic Health: Fort Collins has a healthy economy
reflecting the values of our unique community in a changing
world.
ld
• Environmental Health: Fort Collins creates, maintains and
promotes a healthy and sustainable environment with an
adequate, high quality water supply.
q g q y pp y
• Safe Community: Fort Collins is a safe place to live, work,
learn and play
• Neighborhood Livability: Fort Collins improves the
livability, choices
livability choices, and affordability of our neighborhoods
neighborhoods.
• Cultural and Recreational Opportunities: Fort Collins
provides diverse cultural and recreational opportunities that
foster physical and mental well-being for community members.
• Transportation: Fort Collins i
i lli improves the safety and ease of
h f d f
traveling to, from, and throughout the city.
• High Performing Government: Fort Collins is a model for
an entrepreneurial, high q
p , g quality city government.
y yg

16. Advisory Boards and
Commissions
• Affordable Housing Board • Landmark Preservation
• Air Quality Advisory Board Commission
• Art in Public Places Board • Land C
L d Conservation and
ti d
• Building Review Board Stewardship Board
• Citizen Review Board • Natural Resources Advisory
• Commission On Disability Board
• Community D l
C it Development t • Parks and Recreation Board
Block Grant Commission
• Cultural Resources Board • Planning and Zoning Board
• Downtown Development • Retirement Committee
Authority
A h i • Senior Advisory Board
d d
• Economic Advisory • Transportation Board
Commission
• Water Board
• Electric Board
• Women s
Women’s Commission
• Golf Board
• Housing Authority • Youth Advisory Board
• Human Relations Commission • Zoning Board of Appeals
Boards and Commissions at: http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards.php

17. Advisory Boards and
C i i
Commissions
• Appointed by City Council
• Composed of Citizen Volunteers
• A
Acquire and study i f
i d d information on specific
i ifi
areas
• Appointments made in December

18. Larimer County Basics
• Named a county in 1861
• N h
No home rule power
l
• Considered a subdivision of state
government – guided by Colorado
id d b l d
Constitution
• Commission/Manager Form of
Government
• Primarily funded by Property Tax

19. Larimer County

20. Board of County Commissioners
y
• Legislative Body
– 4 year terms (elected at large, from
district; 3 terms possible)
• Manage business affairs of the
county
– Apportioning and levying taxes
–OOrganization and budget for all county
i ti db d tf ll t
programs

21. Larimer County
Commissioners
District 1 District 2 District 3
Lew Gaiter Steve Johnson Tom Donnelly

22. Other Elected Positions
• Treasurer
• Sheriff
• Clerk
Cl k and R
d Recorder
d
• Assessor
• Coroner
• Surveyor
• District Attorney

23. County Manager
• Frank Lancaster
• Appointed by County Commission
pp y y
• Chief Administrative Officer for
County
• Coordinates activity of all County
departments except for elected official
departments

24. County Facts
• $265,369,028 Total County Budget for 2007
y g
• $289,490,146 Total County Budget for 2008
• $295,415,498 Total County Budget for 2009
• $290,036,247
$290 036 247 Total County Budget for 2010
• $310,583,481 Total County Budget for 2011
• 1,400 employees
,4 p y
• 2,640 square miles
• 294,970 population
• 132,157
132 157 housing units
• $74,900 median family income (2009 data)

25. Meetings of the Commission
• Administrative Matters
– Tuesday mornings – 9am
– Co
Commissioners Conference Room – 200 W Oak
ss o e s Co e e ce oo 00 Oa
– Citizen Participation (30 minutes)
– Consent Agenda
– Individual Items
– Staff Reports
– Commissioner Activity Reports
– Agenda at: http://www.larimer.org/bcc/meetings.htm
• L d Use M tt
Land U Matters
– Monday afternoon – 3pm
– Hearing Room – 200 W Oak
– Citizen Participation
– Consent Items
– Individual Items

26. Budget
• Resource allocation tool
• One year budget
–RRecommended b C
d d by County M
t Manager
– Adopted by County Commission
• Budget developed March to
November

27. Advisory Boards and
C i i
Commissions
• Agricultural Advisory Board • LaPorte Area Planning
• Board of Adjustment Advisory Committee
• Board of Appeals • Larimer Emergency
• Board of Health Telephone Authority
• Citizens Review Board • Larimer Integrated Family
• Co
Community Corrections
u ty Co ect o s Enhancement Board
Advisory Board • Office on Aging Advisory
• Environmental Advisory Board Council
• Estes Valley Board of • Open Lands Advisory Board
Adjustment
• Estes Valle Planning
ll l i • Parks Advisory Board
Commission • Planning Commission
• Extension Advisory Committee • Red Feather Lakes Planning
• Fair Board Advisory Commission
• Flood Review Board • Rural Land Use Board
• Juvenile Community Review • Weed Control District
Board Advisory Committee
• Workforce Investment
Board
Boards and Commissions at: http://www.larimer.org/boards/

28. Advisory Boards and
Commissions
• Appointed by County Commission
• Composed of C
C p Citizen Volunteers
• Acquire and study information on
specific areas
• Appointments made in June