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Home My WebLink Aboutagenda.council.worksession.202001131 AGENDA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 13, 2020 4:00 PM, City Council Chambers 130 S Galena Street, Aspen I.WORK SESSION I.A.Board and Commission Interviews I.B.2020 Regional State and Federal Policy Agenda Finalize document. Consider formal adoption. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Page 1 of 6 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Tara Nelson THRU: Sara Ott, City Manager DATE OF MEMO: January 6, 2020 MEETING DATE: January 13, 2020 RE: City of Aspen’s 2020 Regional, State and Federal Policy Agenda REQUEST OF COUNCIL: This purpose of this item is to review the revised Policy Agenda from the December 3 work session and allow City Council discussion and potential approval of the proposed 2020 Regional, State and Federal Policy agenda. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:Council reviewed and discussed a draft Policy Agenda at a December 3, 2019 work session. Comments, revisions and feedback were subsequently provided by staff and council members. Staff has reviewed, incorporated, and revised several changes found here. These changes are summarized in the following table: Changes from December 3, 2019 version of proposed Policy Agenda Reference / Section Draft 12/3 language Change Made Modifications, Pg. 5 Uniformity with current city council goals Uniformity with current city council goals, community expectations and Aspen Area Community Plan by Council Member Richards Modifications, Pg. 5 Impact on our citizens general health, safety & welfare by Council Member Richards 42 Page 2 of 6 Modifications, Pg. 5 Uniqueness of issue or impact to the City of Aspen Uniqueness of issue or impact to the City of Aspen and/or to our regional partners by Council Member Richards Modifications, Pg. 5 Viability or likelihood of achieving goal Viability or likelihood of achieving goal weighed with importance of beginning to address/highlight critical issues By Council Member Richards Modifications, Pg. 5 Opportunity for providing funding for City of Aspen Opportunity for providing funding for City of Aspen or its community partners By Council Member Richards Modifications, Pg. 5 Availability of metrics of success that would allow the position to be deleted from future agendas if achieved NO CHANGE, but Council Member Richards does question this as a needed criteria overall Modifications, Pg. 5 Departures from these criteria are made in unique circumstances as determined by council, such as when adoption of a city position is important to support its regional partners, even while the policy in question is otherwise of limited consequences to the city. This policy agenda recognizes circumstances arise wherein a City Council member may be a lone representative of an organization and must address and/or vote on a policy position on the spot Tara Nelson based off comments by Council Member Richards Further, departures may broaden our approach for advocacy with policies that align with our values and intention for our state and nation even when they are benign towards Aspen or may disadvantage Aspen for a larger good or shared goal by Council Member Mesirow 43 Page 3 of 6 Environmental Sustainability, Pg. 6 City of Aspen maintains its commitment to promote environmental stewardship and lead climate action efforts throughout the Roaring Fork Valley City of Aspen maintains its commitment to promote environmental stewardship and lead climate action efforts throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond by Council Member Mesirow Environmental Sustainability. Pg. 6 City of Aspen maintains its commitment to promote environmental stewardship and lead climate action efforts throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. We will continue to advance policy that supports our ability to conserve resources and protect our future. Aspen’s Climate Action Plan is the community’s roadmap for reducing GHG emissions and envisioning what a low carbon Aspen looks like. We commit to protecting the health, prosperity and safety of our residents by facilitating greater regional collaboration and acting on climate efforts. City of Aspen maintains its commitment to promote environmental stewardship and lead climate action efforts throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. We will continue to advance policy that supports our ability to protect our unique local environment, conserve resources and deliver a sustainable future. Aspen’s Climate Action Plan is the community’s roadmap for reducing GHG emissions and creating a low-carbon Aspen. By Ashley Perl Lands & Natural Resources, Pg. 6 The City of Aspen has established a dynamic natural resource program that encompasses both the urban forest and the surrounding natural resources. With over 1,100 acres of open space within and around us we are committed to preserving, protecting these vital resources as well as enhancing our natural surroundings. The City of Aspen has established a dynamic natural resource program that encompasses both the urban forest and the surrounding natural resources. With over 1,100 acres of open space being 'locally secured' and protected by taxpayer funded acquisitions situated within a county comprised of thousands of acres of Federal BLM and Forest Service lands, we are committed to preserving and protecting these vital resources as well as enhancing our natural surroundings.. By Council Member Richards 44 Page 4 of 6 Fiscal Responsibility, Pg. 7 City of Aspen budgeting reflects a priority on high-quality government services through six strategic focus areas being: (staff had only identified 5) Staff added an additional sixth bullet point: Development of publicly-funded housing, including broader support and involvement in the creation of non-mitigation affordable housing, public-private partnerships Deliver Aspen Area Community Plan Themes, Pg. 8 Continue to align the vision, philosophy and commitment to provide affordable housing with those goals identified by the Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority in conjunction with the efforts by neighboring communities to meet regional affordable housing goals by Council Member Mesirow We will actively value and promote inclusion and diversity of all kinds in our valley by increasing equitable access, prioritizing social equity across programs, and finding and addressing areas of entrenching inequity by Council Member Mesirow Affordable Housing, Pg. 9 This policy area includes deed restricted and free market owner- occupied and rental housing units which house Aspen and Pitkin County residents whose annual income is between 50% and 240% of AMI This policy area includes deed restricted and free market owner- occupied and rental housing units which house Aspen and Pitkin County residents whose annual income is up to 240% of AMI by Council Member Mesirow Climate Action, Pgs. 9-10 Climate change is leaving an indelible mark on Colorado. The City of Aspen’s Climate Action office identifies our city as one dependent on a stable climate and natural resources for a thriving Climate Action and Resource Conservation by Ashley Perl Climate change is leaving an indelible mark on Colorado and 45 Page 5 of 6 economy. We support climate change preparedness and resiliency efforts. We support the Colorado Climate Plan, as well as more aggressive goals of greenhouse gas reductions….. threatens the quality of life of residents. The City of Aspen’s Climate Action office identifies our city as one dependent on a stable climate and natural resources for a thriving economy. Aspen is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through programming and policy in the following categories: low and zero emissions transportation, waste reduction, specifically composting of food waste, and energy reduction in buildings. We support climate change preparedness, adaptation and resiliency efforts. We support the Colorado Climate Plan, as well as more aggressive goals of greenhouse gas reductions for state and local governments…. by Ashley Perl Public Lands – Natural Resources, Wildlife, Parks, Recreation, Pg. 10 Extremely limited support for transfer of public lands to the states in cases where public access and public benefit remain unchanged by Council Member Richards Adequate funding for Colorado Avalanche Information Center by Tara Nelson and overall adequate fire service and emergency agencies enacting fire fuels, load mitigation, campsite restoration and maintenance by Council Member Richards Regionalism, Pg. 13 Fiscal funding for K-12 education by Council Member Richards Support for reform of government. Innovation and 46 Page 6 of 6 evolution must be supported as a primary goal including but not limited to bills that work on redistricting, ending gerrymandering, campaign finance reform, electoral reform, increased transparency, increased citizen involvement and voter participation, and ending the duopoly and party domination by Council Member Mesirow BACKGROUND: City Council has not previously adopted a policy agenda. DISCUSSION:This agenda aims to become the cornerstone for City Council to make informed decisions for which policy matters are determined. As outlined, the purpose of the Policy Agenda will be used by individual City Council members and city staff to inform city positions taken on specific bills once the legislative session begins. Once approved, the Policy Agenda will inform and provide authority for the remainder of 2020. Further, the City will be able to utilize the Policy Agenda as a direct advocacy of government officials as well as build coalitions and to attempt to influence positions adopted by the intergovernmental organization we participate with. RECOMMENDED ACTION:Finalize the 2020 Regional, State and Federal Policy Agenda as a guiding document. Consider formal adoption of the document via Resolution No. 3, Series 2020. ALTERNATIVES:Choose not to formally adopt a formal policy agenda, rather solely finalize this 2020 Regional, State and Federal policy agenda as a guiding document. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: ATTACHMENTS:City of Aspen 2020 Regional, State and Federal Policy Agenda 47