City Council Minutes 2012 01 10 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 10, 2012 Page 2 of 9 Sam Mamet, Executive Director of the Colorado Municipal League, facilitated the Council Retreat. He distributed the 2012 State of the Cities and Towns report prepared by the League to members of the Council and the public. He outlined the procedures, which would be followed during the meeting and requested an opening statement from City Manager Fleming. City Manager Fleming explained the Environmental Scan /SWOT analysis was prepared by staff to assist City Council in their discussions. The City staff outlined the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats — the Key Issues the City faces and how will they be addressed. Those key issues are as follows: Strengths: 1) Strong public support for parks, open space, historic preservation and city services; 2) Money Magazine #1 Ranking; 3) Vibrant, historic downtown; 4) Collaboration among City, Chamber, DBA, Centennial Valley and others; 5) High service levels generating high citizen satisfaction; 6) Small community scale makes personal interaction possible; 7) Superior /Louisville cooperation on US 36 /McCaslin interchange & other intergovernmental issues; 8) Business friendly environment; 9) Mill Levy revenues exceed debt service repayment requirements and 10) Engaged and thoughtful Boards and Commissions. Weaknesses: 1) Sales tax base /revenues not keeping pace with increasing costs (energy, health care, technology); 2) City policies and regulations need updating to address redevelopment demands and other changes; 3) Major retail buildings have been vacant for two years; prospect for new major retail appear limited; 4) Ability to retain, motivate, and engage employees in a competitive environment; succession planning; 5) In most departments staff is stretched too thin to accommodate unanticipated demands without sacrificing basic services; 6) Uncertainty surrounding impact of ConocoPhillips split and timing of Louisville campus development; 7) Relatively high housing cost (makes recruiting more difficult, but indicates prosperity and results in high assessed values); 8) Financial management, HRIS, GIS and other software systems have limited functions; 9) Golf course revenue insufficient to cover long -term capital requirements and 10) Street resurfacing is not at optimum level resulting in higher Tong -term costs. Opportunities: 1) Highly engaged public; 2) Redevelopment of aging /under- utilized industrial, retail and commercial space; 3) Renewal of Park and Open Space Tax with possible expansion to cover other recreation (golf, recreation center); 4) Shared services with Superior and other communities; 5) Gateway 42 and FasTracks station; 6) Hotel /shared use at Coal Creek Golf Course; 7) Strong demand for additional homes in Louisville; 8) Federal Affordable Care Act health care exchanges; 9) Vacant land in CTC and Centennial Valley and 10) Potential to expand use of historic Preservation Sales Tax for Museum.