The Legislative Policy Committee at CAR is currently watching over 30 bills on your behalf! With four sub-committees, Water, Business/Taxation/Housing, Regulatory, and Land Use, a full slate of bills is keeping the LPC members quite busy. FCBR’s representatives to this important state-level committee are Ken Anderson and Chris Guillan. This committee meets every two weeks, and the sub-committees weekly, via conference call. There are bills the LPC is supporting, and the Realtor-sponsored bills are still being considered by our Legislators. House Bill-1133, the Foreclosure Prevention Act Amendment, will be heard in committee on the 10^th, and offers members talking points here.

We would like to thank all those who applied for a voting position on FCBR’s Government Affairs Committee. This is a new process, but a very important function, in determining how FCBR will stand on certain community issues. In the coming months, issues such as City Plan/Transportation Plan Update, Rental Licensing, Housing Standards for single family homes, Green Building Code, and finding ways for our members to better deal with Occupancy Ratios in Attached Housing/FHA Guidelines will be reviewed. Here are the voting members: Chris Guillan – Chair, Sean Dougherty – Vice Chair, Brandon Bidwell, Ron Rudolf, Pete Tippett, Ty Youle, Duke Schaeffer, and Todd Gilchrist.

On Tuesday evening, Fort Collins city council will discuss at their work session housing design standards in the older part of the city. Known as “scrape offs and pop ups,” council may consider what other municipalities have: building size and shape, total floor area, building height, yard area and garages, to start. Other communities have stated a full time employee is not enough resource to development and implement a program of this type.

The Colorado Association of REALTORS® is supporting legislation this session regarding Appraisal Management Companies Senate Bill 77, and amendments to the “Foreclosure Protection Act”, House Bill-1133. The amendments in HB-1133 are a result of collaboration between the Colorado Association of REALTORS®, the Attorney General’s office, Division of Real Estate, Public Trustees, and various real estate attorneys.

The effort to codify green building standards in homes and commercial buildings is underway in the city of Fort Collins. Former Building Director, Felix Lee, has moved to the Utilities Dept. and is working cooperatively with four others there to bring the International Green Building Standards into code form beginning in 2011.

  The U.S. Supreme Court last week swept away a long-standing prohibition on direct political spending by corporations but it will take time before the full force of the ruling is clear, say NAR legal analysts.  Under Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, corporations can spend without limit on ads for or against candidates during an election as long as their efforts are undertaken independently of political campaigns; prior to the ruling, corporations were required to set up separate political funds using only personal contributions from corporate employees. Corporations were prohibited from using corporate treasury funds for political communications. NAR continues to analyze the ruling.

At the annual May membership event, the Citizen of the Year is honored, and nominations are now being accepted. The person awarded this long-standing honor, is a non-FCBR member and portrays community service. The Citizen of the Year award will be presented to a citizen of Larimer County who has demonstrated distinguished service to a community in Larimer County for a period of at least five years.

Click Here For Nomination Form                       Click Here For Selection Process

Fort Collins is a community that prides itself on thinking in a sustainable way. FCBR is doing the same. We are proud to announce to our members a NEW Sustainability Committee. James Mitchell will Chair the committee and Shelly Hill will be the Vice-Chair.

The committee already has several great projects underway including formulating criteria for a couple of new awards for FCBR. In the coming year we are hopeful that FCBR will establish the criteria for a Green Office of the Year and Green REALTOR of the Year awards.

Additionally, the committee has several projects already in the pipeline to work with the City of Fort Collins to educate our members and give you new green tools to use while assisting your buyers and sellers!

FCBR is looking for volunteers to help with this fun and important new committee. If you would like to learn more or volunteer today please contact James Mitchell at 970-221-0700 or via email at jwmitchell@thegroupinc.com or Clint Skutchan at 970-402-0852 or clint@fcbr.org.

Beginning January 1, 2010, hands-free devises will be required with ALL cell phone calls in vehicles. Fines will be severe, so be certain you are in compliance with the new statewide law. According to Adam Torrez, Car Toys installer, there are several price ranges and options for hands-free devises (including a nice discount for FCBR members).

While attending NAR’s annual event last week we were able to attend the legislative updates. As a part of the update we heard from various lobbyists from NAR on a variety of topics such as the process to extend the Homebuyer’s tax credit, Health Care Reform, and what was call the new four letter word- “HVCC”. Click on the links below to watch the reports for yourself on our FCBR YouTube channel.

For more insight on NAR’s lobbying activities please visit http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs!

HEALTH CARE REFORM

HVCC RULES

Do you channel surf and end up on C-SPAN, or worse, Channel 14? Do you understand all the nuances spoken at Tuesday night city council meetings? Do you set a reminder to watch city council session in your calendar? Then, WE WANT YOU on the Government Affairs Committee! We know you are out there, and want to connect you with getting involved with FCBR’s Committee.

Today, November 5^th, NAR President Charles McMillan announced Congress has passed the extension and expansion of the Homebuyer Tax Credit, and has been moved to President Obama’s desk for signature. The current tax credit of $8,000 will expire on November 30, 2009. New rules have been approved by the U. S. Congress extending the credit from December 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010.

Mayor Doug Hutchinson had a great audience of FCBR members for the Government Affairs Committee meeting on Tuesday. The Mayor spoke regarding the Platte River Power Authority, and the upcoming council work session. Most in Fort Collins may not realize, but the reason their utility rates are so much less than other communities is because four cities share in the ownership of PRPA, which generates electricity for Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont and Estes Park. The four mayors and utility managers of each municipality serve as the Board of Directors for PRPA, and that governance model will be one of the discussion topics at the December 8^th council work session.

After only two years of implementation, Fort Collins City Council reviewed the impacts of the Occupancy Ordinance, which states only 3 unrelated adults can live in a rental unit. Major changes were made in 2005, including the definition of “family”. At the October 27^th Council Work Session, it looks like more major changes may be coming in the form of Rental Registration or Licensing in 2010.

From Barbara Koelzer, Regional Government Affairs Director

Longmont

Realtors® and Co-Plaintiffs win Preliminary Injunction Against Fair Campaign Practices Act: Federal Judge Walker Miller ruled in favor of the Longmont Association of Realtors® and other plaintiffs and granted a preliminary injunction against the City of Longmont regarding the Longmont Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Not enough time and the Wrong time to make changes to the current U+2 Ordinance. Fort Collins’ City Council will review the ordinance at its October 27th work session.  Read the column!

For more info on FCBR’s position please contact Michelle Jacobs, FCBR’s Government Affairs Director at mjacobs@fcbr.org or 223-2900 or EVP Clint Skutchan at 402-0852/ clint@fcbr.org

Recognizing that certain Engineering requirements for the Unrecorded Dwelling Unit Process (UDU), adopted in May, could be extremely expensive and deter property owners from voluntary compliance, the city of Fort Collins has decided to eliminate these from the review process.

Stop by FCBR’s Education Center from 11:30AM-1:00PM on Thursday, March 18th for a FREE sandwich and Workshop done by Pillar to Post Home Inspection.

For more information or to register: CLICK HERE to sign up now or contact Colleen at 223-2900 or colleenw@fcbr.org

Presented by:      

Stop by FCBR’s Education Center from 11:30-1:00 on Thursday, April 15th for a FREE sandwich and Memory Training Workshop done by Freedom Personal Development.

Discovering Your Memory Power:
Your profession demands that you remember a wealth of knowledge.A simple slip of the mind can result in thousands of dollars in lost sales or credibility. Build your competitive advantage by learning how to train your memory. Click here to read more about the program

Free Lunch n’ Learns one more low or no cost member benefit that is a part of FCBR’s

FREE for FCBR members and $10 for Non Members

For more information or to register: CLICK HERE to sign up now or contact Colleen at 223-2900 or colleenw@fcbr.org

Presented by:

Steve Stazel will be at the FCBR Education Center on Monday, April 12th from 8:30-3:30 offering the Ethics & Professional Practice course.

You voluntarily became a REALTOR.  As a part of this smart career decision, you are required to abide by a National Code of Ethics.  Over the last couple of years these Standard of Professional Practice commandments have been amended to help maintain the integrity of the trademarked term REALTOR.  NAR requires that you brush up on the Code of Ethics every four years.  in addition, this course is required to earn the GRI designation.

FCBR members $80 / Non Members $95 / Or FREE for NEW FCBR members within the 1st six months of joining FCBR

For more information or to register: CLICK HERE to Register Now or contact Colleen at 223-2900 or colleenw@fcbr.org

Clear out those old documents you have had on storage and get rid of those pesky electronics that are filling your desk drawers or storage rooms and help the environment while doing it! FCBR members will be able to recycle various materials for FREE or low cost!

FCBR’s inaugural recycling challenge was such a success last year that we are proud to once again bring it back. And as they say it’s better than ever as this year’s event will last two days and include electronics' recycling. We will once again have the office challenge and the winning office with the greatest volume recycled with receive the coveted recycled trophy!

Much thanks to this year’s recycling challenge partners: Shred It & Rocky Mountain Battery and Recycling!!

EARTH DAY 2010- Thursday April 22nd and Friday April 23rd!

Stay tuned for more details!

THE CASINO TRIP presented by FCBR’s Partnership Committee is back!!! Join us for the return of the CASINO BUS TRIP on Friday, April 9th. The cost is just $5 for FCBR members and $10 for non-members. The Bus will leave from the north side of Jackson’s Sports Grill Parking Lot at 8 a.m. and will have you back by 5 p.m.. What’s better than playing hooky?!?! Playing hooky and five card stud at the same time… that’s what!

How the casino trip “deals out”
Transportation to Fortune Valley Hotel & Casino in Central City
Breakfast & snacks on the bus
Lunch buffet at Flavors Buffet at Fortune Valley
Riders must sign-up for a players card at Fortune Valley

$5.00 in coins back with a minimum of 40 points earned
Black Jack match coupon from Fortune Valley
Personal size cooler permitted on bus

Space is limited, so get signed up today!!

You can RSVP to Debby Meyers at 212-7710 / dmyers@stgco.com or Linda at FCBR 223-2900 / lindam@fcbr.org

The March 11^th Membership Meeting will feature Lauren Emery from IRES touching on some of IRES’s latest technology innovations and partnerships. Additionally Chris Hardy will cover some of the cutting edge technologies presented at Inman’s real estate technology conference. The meeting will be held at the Lincoln Center at 11:30. Cost for the event is $5.00 for Members with pre registration or $15.00 at the door or $20.00 for non Members.  Lunch will be provided by McAlister’s. Sign up now for meetings that will leave you with valuable information.  For your convenience, you may purchase an Events Punch Card to be used for these meetings and other FCBR events.  The cards come in $20.00 or $50.00 increments and allow you the convenience of one easy payment for several events.

Presented by:    

     Supported by:     

                                                   Table Sponsor:  RE/MAX Action Brokers

SAVE THE DATES!

3/13/2010 FCBR Entry in St. Patty’s Day Parade

4/2010 Earth Day Recycling Event

4/6/10 Partnership Almost After Hours @ Security Title 4:00-5:00

4/9/10 Partnership Casino Bus to Blackhawk

4/13/10 Rookie Club

5/7/10 Bowlathon @ Chipper’s Lanes on Horsetooth 5:00

5/11/10 Rookie Club

5/2010 Community Affairs Event honoring Citizen of the Year

6/8/10 Rookie Club

6/2010 PSF Events

6/2010 Parking Lot Sale

7/16/10 Golf Tournament @ Collindale Golf Club

More info on all of these events coming soon! To learn more about any of these great events please call 223-2900.

FCBR’s Monthly Membership Meeting will be held on April 1, 2010 at 11:30 at the Lincoln Center.  The program this month will feature Al Kileen with Integrative Mastery Programs.  Cost for the event is $5.00 for Members with pre registration or $15.00 at the door or $20.00 for non Members. Lunch will be provided by McAlister’s. Sign up now for meetings that will leave you with valuable information.  For your convenience, you may purchase an Events Punch Card to be used for these meetings and other FCBR events.  The cards come in $20.00 or $50.00 increments and allow you the convenience of one easy payment for several events.

Supported by:   

At the annual May membership event, the Citizen of the Year is honored, and nominations are now being accepted. The person awarded this long-standing honor, is a non-FCBR member and portrays community service. The Citizen of the Year award will be presented to a citizen of Larimer County who has demonstrated distinguished service to a community in Larimer County for a period of at least five years.

Click Here For Nomination Form                       Click Here For Selection Process

The Fort Collins Board of REALTORS 19th annual Bowlathon is scheduled for Friday, May 7, 2010 at Chipper’s Lanes on Horsetooth.  Registration begins at 5:00 p.m.  This year’s Bowlathon recipient is Jim Dunlap, who has MS.  Please plan to attend this event and help raise funds for a worthy cause. 

Cost to bowl for the evening is only $20.00 per person or $100.00 per team(5 bowlers per team).  The cost includes 3 games of bowling, shoes and FREE food!  There will also be plenty of opportunities to participate in some exciting challenges.  Donation drawings and a silent auction will also be held.

Sponsorship opportunities are available!  For only $100.00 you may sponsor a lane at this event.  Contact Linda at FCBR for more info regarding this great opportunity to have your name displayed above a lane.

FCBR's Bowlathon is one of our funnest and most important events! If you would like to be on our committee or volunteer to help with this year's event please contact Linda at 223-2900 or lindam@fcbr.org.  Lanes fill up fast so be sure to SIGN UP NOW!  You may register for the Bowlathon by CLICKING HERE

Tired of having to write checks five and ten dollars at a time for FCBR events? Then this offer is for you! FCBR Events Punch Cards are now available!  You may purchase them in $20.00 or $50.00 cards.  Use these punch cards for Membership Meetings and/or Special Events.  Avoid the hassle of paying for each event individually, purchase one today.  Contact the FCBR office at 970-223-2900 for more info.

You can subscribe to the FCBR Calendar posted on fcbr.org. An "Internet Calendar Subscription" keeps your Outlook copy of the FCBR Calendar updated. Outlook periodically checks the FCBR Calendar for updates, and if any are found, they are downloaded to the calendar copy in Outlook.

FCBR members have seen many changes to the monthly membership publication, BoardTalk, since last January. Get ready for more! From the survey results taken last spring, we found many members would prefer an electronic version, while some insisted on a print version. We have found the perfect recipe for both.