City Council Minutes 2012 01 10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 10, 2012 Page 4 of 9 Mayor Muckle identified open space and community members who serve on boards and commission. Councilor Loo felt the opportunities of redevelopment of aging under - utilized industrial, retail and commercial space and the strong demand for additional homes in Louisville could also be viewed as a threat. Councilor Dalton asked how a federal health care program would be an opportunity for Louisville. City Manager Fleming stated the federal program may lower the cost of providing health care for City employees. THREATS Councilor Keany listed increased retail in other communities as a threat to established businesses in Louisville and downtown events, which create a threat for local neighborhoods and present parking problems and aging City facilities. Mayor Muckle identified reduced state and federal budgets and growing dependence on local governments for services as a threat. Facilitator Mamet noted this is a state -wide concern for all Colorado municipalities. Deputy City Manager Balser stated some funding opportunities are going away, especially on transportation and City Manager Fleming noted Boulder County is the hub for social services and Louisville does not provide those services. Parks & Recreation Director Stevens addressed the City's safe harbors for parking, which are not ADA compliant and the City's aging facilities, such as the Recreation Center and the Memory Square Swimming Pool. Councilor Sackett asked if the City was in better shape this year than last year. City Manager Fleming stated the City is in better shape financially than last year. There was Council consensus that the revenues are better than last year and there is an expectation the use tax will be more than anticipated. Councilors also agreed there was more optimism and solid information. PUBLIC COMMENT Michael Menaker, 1827 W. Choke Cherry Drive, Louisville, CO identified the City staff as one of the City's strengths; snow removal, no downtown customers during the days and lack of redevelopment planning documents and policies as weaknesses. He questioned whether the Hotel/Golf Course proposal is an opportunity and voiced his disappointment over ConocoPhillips and that the Highway 42 pedestrian gateway was not funded. He agreed aging facilities and reduced state and federal budgets are threats, but disagreed there is a downtown parking problem. He agreed that having department staff members