HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/02/2024 - AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD - AGENDA - Regular MeetingAFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD (AHB)
REGULAR MEETING
Contact Person: Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Social Policy & Housing Programs Manager – 970-221-6753
Thursday, May 2, 2024
4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
222 Laporte Ave Community Room and Online via Zoom
8/6 /20 20 –Agenda Page 1
Participation for this remote Affordable Housing Board meeting will be available online or by phone or in person.
Public Participation (Online): Individuals who wish to address the Affordable Housing Board via remote public
participation can do so through Zoom at
https://fcgov.zoom.us/j/94470720873?pwd=S21sRVEraW1zak1UWGlrMDVmZm51QT09
Meeting ID: 944 7072 0873
Passcode: Z0PDgBN
Individuals participating in the Zoom session should also watch the meeting through that site.
The meeting will be available to join beginning at 3:50pm, May 2, 2024. Participants should try to sign in prior to
4:00pm, meeting start time, if possible. For public comments, the Chair will ask participants to click the “Raise
Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time. Staff will moderate the Zoom session to ensure all
participants have an opportunity to address the Board or Commission.
In order to participate:
Use a laptop, computer, or internet-enabled smartphone. (Using earphones with a microphone will greatly
improve your audio).
You need to have access to the internet.
Keep yourself on muted status.
Public Participation (Phone): If you do not have access to the internet, call the Board or Commission Staff Liaison
at 970-221-6753.
Please indicate that you want to participate in the Board or Commission public participation by phone and give
your name and phone number. If you get a voicemail message, please leave the same information.
Once you have given this information (in person or by message), a staff person will provide you with the phone
number that will allow you access to the Zoom meeting. As listed above, the meeting will be available beginning at
3:50pm. Please call in to the meeting prior to 4:00pm, if possible. For public comments, the Chair will ask
participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time – phone participants
will need to hit *9 to do this. Staff will be moderating the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an
opportunity to address the Committee. Once you join the meeting: keep yourself on muted status.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
Agenda Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
1. ROLL CALL
2. AGENDA REVIEW
3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. April Meeting
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Housing Strategic Plan updates – LUC news, Meaghan Overton, SSD (15
minutes)
• Board Action: Discussion
b. Assignment of 2024 Private Activity Bonds, Sue Beck-Ferkiss (15 minutes)
• Board Action: Discussion and Recommendation
c. Board Planning for 2024: John and Sue (30 minutes)
• Board Action: Discussion
d. Board Priority Committee reports: Committee Leads and/or supporters (30
minutes)
▪ Knowledge Repository – Bob and Jen
▪ Outreach, Education and Partnerships – John
▪ Council and Local Legislative Support – Stefanie and John
▪ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Affordable Housing – Stefanie
• Board Action: Discussion
Documents to Share: If residents wish to share a document or presentation, the Staff Liaison needs to receive
those materials via email by 24 hours before the meeting.
Individuals uncomfortable or unable to access the Zoom platform or unable to participate by phone are
encouraged to participate by emailing general public comments you may have to Enter Staff Liaison Email . The
Staff Liaison will ensure the Board or Commission receives your comments. If you have specific comments on
any of the discussion items scheduled, please make that clear in the subject line of the email and send 24 hours
prior to the meeting.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
Agenda Page 3
6. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
a. Meeting Logistics – Hybrid meetings
b. Liaison Reports (10 minutes)
7. OTHER BUSINESS
a. City Council 6-month planning calendar review (5 minutes)
b. Council Comments – Who, what? (5 minutes)
c. Review 2024 Work Plan (5 minutes)
d. Update on Affordable Housing Projects (5 minutes)
e. Future AHB Meetings Agenda (5 minutes)
8. ADJOURNMENT
SAVE THE DATES!
May 14 Council 2nd Work Session on Residential Occupancy
Did you know that the City has a Housing Newsletter? It is a great place to send
people looking to learn more about what is going on in Fort Collins around Housing.
Sign up for it at: fcgov.com/housing.
Social Sustainability
222 Laporte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6753
MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of the Affordable Housing Board
FM: Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Social Policy and Housing Programs Manager
RE: Hybrid Board Meeting
The next Affordable Housing Board meeting will be held:
Thursday, May 2, 2024
In person at 222 Laporte Avenue or Online via Zoom at 4:00 – 6:00 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS: If you cannot attend the meeting, please contact Sue Beck -
Ferkiss either by email (sbeckferkiss@fcgov.com) or by phone (221-6753).
BUSINESS
1. Approval of Minutes: Copies of the draft minutes of the April Regular meeting are
attached for the Board’s approval. Approval of minutes requires a formal motion
and vote by the Board.
2. Hybrid meetings: 2024 meetings will be hybrid.
3. Code of Conduct: Please read the Code of Conduct and return a signed copy to
Sue or Tamra if you have not already done this.
PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION:
1. HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATES, MEAGHAN OVERTON (15 MINUTES)
Meaghan will give a status report on City Council action to update the Land Use Code.
We can also use this time to discuss planning for the Community Summit event and
how to best involve the Board.
▪ Board Action: Discussion
2. ASSIGNMENT OF 2024 PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS, SUE (15 MINUTES)
Annually, the City receives an allocation of Private Activity Bond (PAB) capacity to be
used to provide tax exempt financing for qualified uses including the development or
rehabilitation of affordable housing. PAB capacity is required for projects using 4% Low
Income Housing Tax Credit financing.
Applications for the City’s 2024 Private Activity Bond capacity were due March 15. The
City received two applications for the entire amount of available PAB capacity.
(attached). Both applications are for important projects. The PAB Committee met and
2
recommended assigning the entire 2024 allocation to Housing Catalyst for their pipeline
of affordable rental projects. The PAB Committee found that one application did not
provide mandatory information. See letter to Applicants attached.
▪ Board Action: Discussion and Recommendation
3. BOARD PLANNING FOR 2024, JOHN AND SUE (30 MINUTES)
John will offer his vision and work priorities for 2024 and offer an opportunity for Board
members to contribute their visions and ideas for work in 2024.
Sue will support. We included a sample advocacy toolkit, which happens to be about
opposing the criminalization of homelessness but is offered as an example of what
things people could do to educate the community. As a reminder, this Board has the
authority to educate, but must be cautious not to advocate.
4. PRIORITY COMMITTEE REPORTS, JOHN AND COMMITTEE LEADS (30
MINUTES)
In January the Board formed 4 committees:
• Knowledge Repository; Outreach,
• Education and Partnerships;
• Council and Local Legislative Support; and
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Affordable Housing.
New Board members are asked to lead or join at least one committee. It is expected
that the committees will work between Board meetings and report out monthly at Board
meetings.
Board Action: Discussion
5. BOARD MEMBER IDEAS – AS TIME ALLOWS
BOARD BUSINESS:
• Meeting Logistics – Board Discussion, as needed.
• Member terms update –
o Each board member’s term is decided by City Council when they appointed
you. They are of different lengths to stagger board membership. Still, all
board members can serve up to 8 years upon application and
reappointment by City Council.
o All regular terms expire in June. Here are the current term expiration dates:
▪ Stefanie June 30, 2027
▪ Jennifer June 30, 2024
▪ John June 30, 2025
3
▪ Bob June 30, 2026
▪ Josh June 30, 2026
▪ Claire June, 2028
▪ vacant
▪ Kristin - starting January 2024 Ex Officio Role
o On March 19, City Council nominated 4 Board members. Two Board
members terms started April 1, 2024 and the other two terms start in July
1, 2024.
• Contact with Council Liaison –
o CM Potyondy is our new City Council liaison and would like to be invited to
specific meetings and will attend if available.
• Project Certification –
o Heartside Hill Apartments as 100% affordable.
• Ideas for future meetings: Housing Agency panel of providers – one for rental
housing and one for home ownership; Land Bank deep dive (Sue); Incentives deep
dive (Meaghan); Data Gaps Analysis – What do we have and what do we want;
Water Issues in Colorado (Mayor Arndt); Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention
(Kelly Evans); Murphy Center update and plans for the future (Homeward
Alliance); Grant Opportunities; How to Support Mobile Home Park conversions;
How to keep locals in housing; and Volunteer needs for housing providers.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Minutes of the March meeting
2. PAB requests and Committee response
3. FYI - City Council 6 Month Planning Calendar
4. Sample Advocacy Toolkit
5. Final 2024 Competitive Process Ranking and Comments
6. FYI – Regional Youth Shelter Groundbreaking Invitation
7. FYI – 2023 Code of Conduct
8. FYI – Clerk’s Office New Member Onboarding
9. FYI- Coloradoan Article
Did you know that the City has a Housing Newsletter? It is a great place to send
people looking to learn more about what is going on in Fort Collins around Housing.
Sign up for it at: fcgov.com/housing.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
4 /4 /202 4 – M I N U TE S Page 1
April 4, 2024, 4:00-6:00pm
Colorado River Room, 222 Laporte Ave DRAFT
CALL TO ORDER
At 4:03 PM the meeting was called to order by John Singleton.
1. ROLL CALL
• Board Members Present:
▪ John Singleton, Chair
▪ Jennifer Bray
▪ Stefanie Berganini
▪ Claire Bouchard
▪ Josh Beard
• Board Members Recusing:
▪ Bob Pawlikowski, Vice Chair
▪ Kristin Fritz, Ex Officio
• Staff Members Present:
• Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Staff Liaison – City of Fort Collins
• Beth Rosen, Social Sustainability – City of Fort Collins
• Tamra Leavenworth, Minutes – City of Fort Collins
• Guests Present:
• Carly Johansson
• Lisa Cunningham
• Liz Young Winne
• Marilyn Heller
• Preston Nakayama
2. AGENDA REVIEW – No changes.
3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Marilyn Heller from the League of Women’s Voters shared that the League of Women’s Voters will be
hosting a panel titled “Skyrocketing Housing Prices! Why?”. The event will take place on April 11th from
6:30pm-8:30pm at the Fort Collins Senior Center and can also be viewed online via Zoom. The
presentation will be recorded and available to view on the League of Women’s Voters website after the
event.
Liz Young Winne, who will be joining the Affordable Housing Board as a member in July, introduced
herself to the Board.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
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4 /4 /202 4 – M I N U TE S Page 2
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Jennifer Bray motioned to approve the March 7 Regular Meeting Minutes. Stefanie Berganini
seconded. Claire Bouchard and Josh Beard abstained since they were not members in March.
Approved 3-0.
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Introduction of New Board Members
• Sue Beck-Ferkiss explained that due to quorum issues, the City Clerk’s office appointed Claire
Bouchard and Josh Beard to the Affordable Housing Board early on April 1 (their terms would
have otherwise begun in July). The other two new board members will begin on July 1. Claire,
Josh, and the existing Board members introduced themselves to one another.
B. Ranking of Housing Applications for the Competitive Process
• Beth Rosen, Grants Compliance & Policy Manager at the City of Fort Collins, joined the
Affordable Housing Board members for a presentation regarding the City’s housing goals and
the evaluation of housing proposals entering the competitive grant process’s alignment with
those goals. The presentation offered insight into the different components of a project proposal,
including but not limited to the income of the populations being served, funding history, debt
service ratio, and total City subsidy per unit. Beth reminded board members that although they
engage in ranking the housing applications, they do not make funding recommendations.
Several board members followed up with clarifying questions for Beth.
• Board members engaged in discussion and agreed on the following:
• All applications are for great projects that deserve funding support. This was a very
difficult round understanding that all applications were for worthy projects and that the
amount of funding available was not sufficient to fund all applications.
• Some board members prioritized projects that provided more units and/or were able to
serve a greater number of residents.
• Some projects were prioritized based on their readiness to proceed while others were
ranked lower due to being in the earlier stages of the development process and not
being as time sensitive as new construction projects.
• The board expressed their appreciation for the variety of projects submitted this year.
Noting that non-traditional projects (such as the Homeowner Tree Removal Assistance
Program, L’Arche Homes at Heartside Hill, and the Larimer Home Improvement
Program) provided a more holistic view of housing needs and supports, and broadened
the scope of what it means to provide equitable housing. The Board hopes to continue
receiving more project proposals like this in future years.
• Applications ranked in order of priority:
• Housing Catalyst – Village on Eastbrook
• Loveland Housing Authority – Larimer Home Improvement Program
• L’Arche Fort Collins – L’Arche Homes at Heartside Hill
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
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4 /4 /202 4 – M I N U TE S Page 3
• CARE Housing – Greenbriar-Windtrail Rehab
• Housing Catalyst – Remington Parking Lot
• Habitat for Humanity – Harmony Cottages
• City of Fort Collins Forestry Division – Homeowner Hazard Tree Removal Assistance
Program
• The Szanton Company – 302 Conifer
Stefanie Berganini motioned to recommend the current rankings and for the Board Chair to send the
rankings and comments to the Human Services and Housing Funding Board. Claire Bouchard
seconded. Jennifer Bray abstained. Approved 4-0.
6. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
a. Meeting Logistics
• The Board will continue to have hybrid meetings for the remainder of 2024.
b. Liaison Reports
• None.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
None.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:27 PM.
Social Sustainability
222 Laporte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6758
April 12, 2024
Dear Applicant for 2024 Private Activity Bond Capacity:
The City of Fort Collins received your request for the 2024 allocation of Private Activity Bond
(PAB) capacity. The City received total requests exceeding $21 million for the $10,812,010
capacity available.
The City’s Finance policy dictates the distribution of City PAB capacity. It provides that a
committee comprised of representatives from at least the following departments consider
applications: Finance, Economic Health, and Social Sustainability. This policy states that the
following factors be considered when making a recommendation for allocation of PAB capacity:
• How well the project applied for meets the land use, economic development and/or
affordable housing goals of the City of Fort Collins.
• Project feasibility and timing.
• Leverage of other investment into the project.
• Maintenance of or increase in local tax base.
• Competing uses for the City’s allocation.
• Whether the City’s allocation should be used in multiple projects.
• Whether the application should be considered by any City Board or commission.
The City’s PAB Committee met and considered 2 applications. Both of the applications are for
important projects. Unfortunately, there is insufficient PAB capacity to satisfy all requests. The
policy requires the PAB Committee to present their recommendations to City Council no later
than August 15. This year we expect to schedule this for a June City Council meeting.
City PAB Committee’s findings:
• The committee decided that adding restricted housing to the City of Fort Collins’
affordable housing inventory is a current City priority.
• The Committee considered using the 2024 allocation in multiple projects.
• The Committee considered project feasibility and timing.
• The Committee considered the completeness of the information provided.
• Lastly the Committee decided to bring recommendations to the Affordable Housing
Board.
One of the applications did not provide contact information for a Bond counsel nor a statement
from Bond council that their project was eligible for PABs. The Committee felt this omission
spoke to the project’s readiness to proceed. The application requires this information to assure
that the City’s PAB capacity can be deployed and used for affordable housing purposes. Based
on the foregoing criteria and findings, the PAB committee is not recommending awarding PAB
capacity to that project at this time. We encourage all applicants to continue to seek PAB
capacity from other sources and welcome all to reapply next year. It is not uncommon to require
several sources and allocations of PAB capacity for low-income tax credit projects.
2
Therefore, based on the foregoing criteria and findings, the PAB committee recommends
approving Housing Catalyst’s application by assigning $10,812,010, the City’s full 2024 PAB
allocation, to Housing Catalyst to be used for the construction of new and rehabilitation of
affordable housing. Please work with Sue Beck-Ferkiss on the necessary documents.
The Affordable Housing Board (AHB) will consider the recommendations of the PAB Committee
meeting at 4:00 pm on May 2, 2024. This hybrid meeting is on Zoom and at 222 Laporte
Avenue and will be open to the public. While statements from applicants will be accepted during
Public Comment, it is not necessary that you appear. The AHB will be asked to consider making
a recommendation to City Council to accept or reject the recommendations of the PAB
Committee.
Thank you for your efforts to support, construct and preserve affordable housing in our
community. We value your efforts and sincerely wish we had enough PAB to satisfy all
applications received this year. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
Best regards,
Social Policy and Housing Programs Manager
1303 W. Swallow Road Bldg. 11, Fort Collins, CO 80526
www.carehousing.org (970)282-7522 or TTY (800)659-2656
March 15, 2024
Dear Ms. Sue Beck-Ferkiss,
I am writing to request an allocation of private activity bonds (PABs) for the rehabilitation of CARE
Housing’s Greenbriar and Windtrail apartments. CARE Housing is the owner of these communities and
will be the developer for this project that will preserve the affordability of housing opportunities in Fort
Collins.
The Greenbriar-Windtrail rehabilitation project fits within the criteria of PAB use for the preservation of
affordable housing and it aligns with the City’s Housing Strategic Plan.
Under current law, an affordable housing project can receive the 4% LIHTC on 100% of the qualified low-
income units if the project is financed at least 50% with tax-exempt bonds. This rehabilitation project
will need a total of $16 million in PABs to meet the 50% PAB test for the 4% LIHTC application we will be
submitting in July 2024.
I would like to request that you consider allocating private activity bonds available for 2024 to our
project. We have also applied to Larimer County for PABs and an allocation from the City of Fort Collins
will help this project meet its funding needs so we may begin the rehab in early 2025.
We will ask either the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority or Housing Catalyst to serve as the bond
issuer for these PABs. CARE Housing will confirm this information later this year.
If you require any additional information or would like to discuss the project further, please do not
hesitate to contact me. Thank you for considering our request.
Sincerely,
Kim Iwanski
Director of Housing Development
1303 W. Swallow Road Bldg. 11, Fort Collins, CO 80526
www.carehousing.org (970)282-7522 or TTY (800)659-2656
City of Fort Collins Private Ac�vity Bonds Request
March 15, 2024
Applicant Informa�on:
CARE Housing, 1303 West Swallow Road, Bldg. 11, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Contacts:
• Kim Iwanski, Director of Housing Development, 970-218-1829, kiwanski@carehousing.org
• Ta�ana Zentner, Housing Development Project Manager, 970-420-5704, tzenter@carehousing.org
Amount requested:
CARE Housing is reques�ng $10,812,010 million in Private Ac�vity Bonds (PABs) for the rehabilita�on of
90 affordable apartments at our Greenbriar and Windtrail Apartment communi�es. The rehab of these
two proper�es will be combined under one tax credit partnership. This rehab project needs a total of
$16 million in PABs. We have a pending request submited to Larimer County on March 1, 2024, for $6.5
million in PABs .
Bond counsel contact information:
The bond issuer will be Housing Catalyst or CHFA. CARE Housing will confirm the bond issuer later this
year.
CARE Housing’s local projects and history of operations:
During its 32 years in business, CARE has developed seven affordable housing communities in Northern
Colorado and our eighth community is underway now. Seven of these communities are in Fort Collins
and one is in Windsor. Over 1,400 individuals, half of whom are children, call CARE Housing “home.”
CARE Housing recently completed a rehabilitation of its Swallow Road Apartments in 2022. This property
is comprised of 84 two- and three-bedroom units. This rehab was very similar to our upcoming rehab,
with the goal of maintaining affordability while reviving and restoring an aging apartment community.
The Swallow Road Apartment rehab involved extensive updates to apartments while residents were
living onsite. Since this was a recent project with a similar scope, existing CARE staff are experienced in
executing this project, including the logistics involved with moving residents temporarily as apartments
are renovated.
CARE Housing’s projects completed in Northern Colorado:
• Greenbriar (1994): New construction, 40 units
• Swallow (1996): New construction, 40 units
• Eagle Tree (1998): New construction, 36 units
• Windtrail (2001): New construction, 50 units
• Fairbrooke Heights (2002): New construction, 36 units
• Cottonwood Townhomes (2007-08): Acquisition/Rehabilitation, 37 Units
• Provincetowne Green (2011): New construction, 85 units
• Swallow Road Apartments (2022): Acquisition/Rehabilitation, 84 Units
• Heartside Hill (to be completed June 2025): New construction, 72 units
Number of years doing business in the State of Colorado and a Cer�ficate of Good Standing
from the Secretary of State’s office:
CARE Housing has been in business in Colorado for 32 years. Atached is our Cer�ficate of Good
Standing.
Descrip�on of assets to be purchased or constructed:
CARE Housing is requesting City funds to assist in rehabilitating apartments at two CARE Housing
properties: Greenbriar and Windtrail. CARE Housing will be the General Partner, developer, owner, and
property manager. CARE Housing owns both Greenbriar and Windtrail apartments. Greenbriar, built in
1994-95, is a 40-unit multifamily affordable housing community located at 400–434 Butch Cassidy Dr in
Fort Collins. Windtrail, built in 2001, is a 50-unit multifamily affordable housing community located at
2120 Bridgefield Ln (40 Units) and 945 Rolland Moore Dr (10 units) in Fort Collins.
Greenbriar, built in 1994-95, is a 40-unit multifamily affordable housing community located at 400 – 434
Butch Cassidy Dr in Fort Collins. This property was developed utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
(LIHTC) in 1994, therefore the land and associated 40 units have affordability restrictions. This project
will extend the affordability restrictions of the Greenbriar property. The Greenbriar property needs
significant repairs/replacement of the sewer and unit plumbing lines. The Greenbriar exterior sewer line
that runs from the buildings to the City main line has been affected by shifting ground and tree roots.
This has caused them to have blockages, which lead to backups in apartments impacting residents. CARE
continues to be proactive by addressing what is possible on the surface, but there is a need to install
new lines throughout the property. It is ideal to accomplish a large project like this when buildings are
vacant as there is a need to have extended periods of time that water is shut off. The impact of repairs
on this large scale means that we will need to do work under the parking lot. CARE intends to do other
parking lot repairs/repaving during the rehabilitation of the Greenbriar property. By addressing this
substantial capital improvement, the property will align with the City of Fort Collins’ goal that all its
citizens can live in safe, quality, and affordable housing.
Windtrail, built in 2001, is a 50-unit multifamily affordable housing community located at 2120
Bridgefield Ln (40 Units) and 945 Rolland Moore Dr (10 units) in Fort Collins. This property was also
developed with LIHTC and maintains affordability restrictions. CARE currently has 10 units designated
specifically for seniors (55+) and we will continue to keep the 10 units designated for seniors after the
rehabilitation of the property.
Explana�on of how the project aligns with City objec�ves:
Investing in this project will impact many of the goals in the 2021 Housing Strategic Plan. Most
significantly, this project will preserve existing affordable housing. The upgrades will ensure healthy
housing for our community and extend affordability restrictions to housing that has currently surpassed
its affordability mandate.
The rehabilitation of both properties will reset the affordability restrictions for an additional extended
period of time. This aligns with the City of Fort Collins’ goal of preserving existing affordable housing.
Additionally, proceeds realized during this transaction will be directly invested into the creation of more
affordable housing units in the City of Fort Collins. CARE Housing will leverage these funds to provide
and preserve additional affordable housing as part of our five-year development pipeline.
Following the City goal of Healthy Homes, the rehabilitation of these properties will provide the
following necessary updates: new furnaces and air conditioning systems will improve air quality in the
homes; sustainable and energy-efficient appliances, water heaters, lighting, windows, and water fixtures
will improve resident health and overall quality of life. Other amenities to improve our resident
experience include covered bicycle storage, community Wi-Fi, washers/dryers in each unit, and an
upgraded residential clubhouse to enhance our resident services and community engagement
programming.
We have hired a sustainability consultant, Energetics, whose role is to ensure this rehab meets
Enterprise Green Communities and Energy Star requirements. We will host a design charrette in Spring
2024 to assess the design and strategize the method for achieving our sustainability and energy goals.
CARE Housing promotes inclusivity and diversity as outlined in the Housing Strategic Plan. CARE
residents are a key component to the organization, and we strive to “lead with the resident’s voice.” Our
organization values their input and inclusion to ensure that each of our properties truly feel like their
community and home. In 2023 CARE launched the Resident Council--a resident-driven group committed
to helping improve their experience living in CARE’s communities. We have added three residents from
that resident council to CARE’s Board of Directors. CARE also utilizes community conversations, surveys,
and consistent interactions with our residents to ensure we continue to promote vibrant and
sustainable communities.
Housing retention is also important to our organization. CARE Housing has a robust resident services
program, with an emphasis on housing stability. These services include the Eviction Prevention Program
(EPP), which works with residents who have violated their lease to cure the issue by developing an
action plan followed by regular progress check-ins. Another housing stability service is CARE's Sister
Mary Alice Legacy Fund, a program that helps residents facing a financial emergency, such as medical
expenses, car repairs, and temporary loss of income.
Number of housing units and target demographics:
This development will rehabilitate 90 rental homes for families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities
who earn 30-60% of the area's median income. CARE is considering incorporating project-based
vouchers to help deepen the affordability for residents through a partnership with a local housing
authority.
The AMI unit breakdown is as follows:
• 5 units at 30% AMI
• 25 units at 40% AMI
• 25 units at 50% AMI
• 35 units at 60% AMI
Senior Preference: The Windtrail property has 10 units designated for seniors. CARE Housing will
maintain this designation after the completion of rehabilitation.
Statement from bond counsel that project is eligible for Private Ac�vity Bonds:
This statement will be provided once the appropriate bond issuer is determined.
March 15, 2024
Jacob Castillo
Chief Sustainability Officer
City of Fort Collins
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
RE: Request for assignment of 2024 Private Activity Bonding Authority
Dear Mr. Castillo:
Housing Catalyst respectfully requests assignment from the City of Fort Collins’ 2024 Private
Activity Bond (PAB) cap for the purpose of affordable housing development. As the primary
developer and operator of affordable housing in Northern Colorado and the housing authority
for the City of Fort Collins, Housing Catalyst intends to utilize this authorization to further
expand affordable housing opportunities within the City.
As a quasi-governmental entity formed under the state housing statute, Housing Catalyst will be
the direct issuer of bonds utilizing the PAB allocation. Therefore, the City of Fort Collins will not
be required to provide assistance, nor incur any costs associated with the utilization of the
authorized PAB cap.
Housing Catalyst contact information for this request:
Kristin Fritz, Chief Real Estate Officer
415-531-5617 / kfritz@housingcatalyst.com
1715 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521
Amount of Allocation Requested: $10,812,010
Housing Catalyst is requesting the full amount of $10,812,010 of the City of Fort Collins’ 2024
PAB allocation. Once PAB cap is allocated to Housing Catalyst, it can be carried over or
maintained for 3 years to allow for its utilization in an approved project. Housing Catalyst
maintains a robust development pipeline to continue to address the enormous need for
affordable housing in the community. Any PAB allocation awarded to Housing Catalyst will be
utilized to meet this need, either through partnerships or Housing Catalyst’s own pipeline of
new construction and preservation projects. Over the past 10 years, Housing Catalyst has
developed/preserved over 850 affordable housing units utilizing PAB cap from the City of Fort
Collins, Larimer County, and the State of Colorado. This PAB allocation will be dedicated to the
Village on Eastbrook and the Remington Parking Lot Redevelopment, in addition to future
pipeline projects, including Housing Catalyst properties that have reached their 15-year timeline
for renovation.
Village on Eastbrook Affordable Housing on the site of the
Remington Parking Lot
• Total PAB Need: $17,000,000
• 73 units, 30 – 80 % AMI
• Awarded highly competitive Proposition
123 Land Banking Grant
• Fully entitled, shovel-ready project
• LIHTC Application Submission: 2024
• Begin Affordable Housing Construction:
2025
• Total PAB Need: $19,000,000
• 70-100 Units, 30 – 80% AMI
• Partnership with the City of Fort Collins
• LIHTC Application Submission: 2025
• Begin Affordable Housing Construction:
2026
Currently, Housing Catalyst has $19,948,201.50 in PAB cap from previous years’ awards that it
will utilize for the Eastbrook and Remington projects, in addition to any awards received in 2024
(Housing Catalyst has a pending request for Larimer County’s $6,518,363 allocation). CHFA has
limited PAB per unit to no more than $175,000. Utilizing this calculation, the $10.812 million we
are requesting will support 61 affordable housing units. The current size of Housing Catalyst’s
pipeline projects is between 143 and 173 units, and we are therefore requesting allocations now
to build enough cap to meet the needs of the pipeline in the future.
All PAB awarded to Housing Catalyst will be used for current and future affordable housing projects.
Bond Counsel Firm:
Gilmore & Bell, P.C. Principal Contact: Ryan Warburton
15 West South Temple, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801-258-2726 / rwarburton@gilmorebell.com
Description of Applicant’s Local Projects and History of Operations:
Housing Catalyst is the largest affordable housing developer and property management
company in Fort Collins. Founded in 1971 with just one employee, Housing Catalyst now has a
staff of more than 100 employees. Housing Catalyst is committed to serving very-low-income
households in Northern Colorado and is a leader in developing and managing properties that
best meet the needs of the community.
Housing Catalyst’s affordable housing real estate development experience spans more than 15
years and includes both new construction and rehabilitation. Our development portfolio
includes 1,047 affordable units in 11 developments financed with both 4% and 9% federal and
state Low Income Housing Tax Credits, private activity bonds, CDBG, HOME, Division of Housing,
and other local, state and federal funding sources. With this combination of public and private
financing, Housing Catalyst secures long-term financing for each development. Housing Catalyst
has also been instrumental in creating an additional 600+ affordable housing units through
various partnerships with nonprofit and private developers.
Housing Catalyst successfully owns and operates an extensive portfolio of mixed-income
developments, manages federal housing vouchers, and provides resident services. In 2022,
Housing Catalyst supported 1,794 local families with housing voucher assistance, supported
more than 500 residents through its Residents Services programs and its two Permanent
Supportive Housing developments, and served 2,179 residents living in Housing Catalyst-
managed homes with affordable rents.
Housing Catalyst uses a Triple Bottom Line model to build healthy and sustainable affordable
communities. We are led by a skilled executive team with extensive experience in real estate
acquisition, development, management, and financial administration. We create vibrant,
sustainable communities, incorporating green building design into all our ventures and serving
as a model for high standards in asset and property management, as evidenced by numerous
awards for project design, innovations, environmental sustainability, accountability, and
financial reporting.
See Attachment A for a summary of local affordable housing development projects.
Number of Years Entity has been doing business in State of Colorado: 52 years
Certificate of Good Standing:
Housing Catalyst was originally formed as the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Collins in
1971 under state statute. As a result, this legal entity does not maintain a corporate filing with
the Colorado Secretary of State office and therefore is not required to maintain a Certificate of
Good Standing under that entity. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs maintains a
database at https://dola.colorado.gov/lgis/ of active local government entities, which includes
Housing Catalyst.
Description of Assets to be Purchased or Constructed:
Village on Eastbrook
Housing Catalyst has been presented with a unique opportunity to provide new, expedited
affordable housing to our community. In 2023, a local developer approached Housing Catalyst
with an offer to sell a 2.9-acre parcel of vacant land in a location with many nearby amenities,
including a high school, shopping, services, and employment opportunities. Not only does the
sale include this prime parcel of land, but it also includes the architectural plans, permits, and
approvals for a fully entitled, 73-unit apartment complex. The project was designed by ALM2S, a
local architect, who has previous experience working with Housing Catalyst on successful
projects. This shovel-ready residential project is a beautiful 3-story, elevator-served building
with 44 one-bedroom units and 29 two-bedroom units, as well as a playground and community
space.
In addition, Housing Catalyst was awarded a highly competitive Proposition 123 land banking
grant, which will fund the $1.61 million acquisition of the Eastbrook project site. This funding
will be received in the spring of 2024 and the purchase of the land will follow. The Final
Development Plan, Development Agreement, Building Specifications, and Building Permits are
all approved and ready to be issued by the City of Fort Collins. Upon acquisition, Housing
Catalyst will continue to work with the existing land planner, architect, and engineering team, all
of which Housing Catalyst has worked with on other projects, for a seamless transition that
keeps the development moving forward without delay. Housing Catalyst plans to submit a 4%
LIHTC application in 2024 and break ground in 2025.
A top priority for Housing Catalyst is to utilize development and partnerships to increase the
supply of affordable housing in the community. In alignment with this mission, Housing Catalyst
is working with outside partners to strategically align resources and timing that will ensure the
ability for multiple projects to proceed. As a result of this effort, the Village on Eastbrook can
proceed with non-competitive tax credits by utilizing larger partnership fees from other local
projects. We strongly believe this approach will provide the greatest benefit to the community
while keeping this important project on track for development.
Remington Parking Lot Redevelopment
In April 2022, the City of Fort Collins and Housing Catalyst signed a Memorandum of
Understanding to redevelop the Remington Surface Parking Lot as a mixed-use, infill
development that includes affordable housing. The MOU stipulates that a 99-year ground lease
or purchase option will be executed to transfer control of the site to Housing Catalyst. The
current plan is to only transfer the portion of the site that is necessary for the affordable
housing development, leaving the remaining parking area intact for future development. This is
a rare opportunity to deliver additional affordable housing downtown because this prime real
estate is owned by the City of Fort Collins and the City has engaged Housing Catalyst to bring
affordable housing to the site.
The redevelopment of the Remington Parking Lot is still in the early stages. As a partnership
with the City involving land that is currently owned by the City and serves as parking for
downtown residents and businesses, this is a complex project that requires a great deal of
planning, negotiation, and coordination. Housing Catalyst has worked with a land planner to
develop preliminary concepts for the site and conducted ground water testing to determine
underground parking feasibility, as well as environmental reports. Next steps include hiring a
design team and refining the site control to specify only specific parcels needed for the
development. Housing Catalyst will submit a 4% LIHTC application in the Summer of 2025, with
construction starting in Summer 2026.
Both the Village on Eastbrook and the Remington Parking Lot redevelopment will utilize
affordable housing financing tools including 4% federal tax credits, Larimer County and City of
Fort Collins Private Activity Bond, local CDBG and HOME funds, Colorado Division of Housing
resources, housing vouchers, and significant owner equity.
See Attachment B for additional project information.
Explanation of how project aligns with City objectives:
Housing Catalyst is the primary affordable housing provider, developer, and operator in the City
of Fort Collins and is a public housing authority formed under state statute. All of our projects
align with the objectives outlined in the City of Fort Collins 2021 Housing Strategic Plan.
Number of Housing Units and Target Demographics:
There is a significant shortage of affordable housing units in the community with 99% of the
affordable housing units in the area occupied. According to a recently conducted market
analysis for Housing Catalyst, there is significant demand for additional family LIHTC rental
housing in the area, as evidenced by the low vacancy rates; lengthy waitlists and wait times up
to 4 years; the projected renter household growth; and the relatively limited supply of new
family LIHTC units in the local development pipeline.
Village on Eastbrook
This project, with its vibrant design, diverse unit mix, amenities, and elevator will be designed
for intergenerational living to support the health and well-being of all ages through social
interaction and community connections. All units will be between 30% and 80% AMI, with an
average AMI of 60%. Housing Catalyst will work with existing local partners such as the
Partnership for Age Friendly Communities, the Colorado State University Institute for the Built
Environment’s (IBE) Lifelong Homes Initiative, and other community groups to create an
intergenerational community at the Village on Eastbrook.
In a deliberate effort to help address the physical and mental impacts of loneliness commonly
found in seniors in our society, the Village on Eastbrook will focus on ways the built
environment and programming can foster connectivity. Housing Catalyst is uniquely positioned
to offer this type of community due to its extensive local partnerships and holistic property
management, maintenance, and service programs.
Remington Parking Lot
This development will be a counterpart to Housing Catalyst’s Oak 140 development, a 79-unit
development in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority adjacent to the
Remington Parking Lot that opened in January 2023 and was fully leased within 5 months.
As a complement to Oak 140, which has a majority of one-bedroom units, Housing Catalyst is
planning a residential building with a larger number of 2-bedroom units to expand the
accessibility of affordable housing downtown. The Remington site could have between 70 and
100 units and will serve a range of incomes, with units available to those earning between 30%
and 80% of AMI, while being 100% deed restricted affordable housing.
Housing Catalyst provides more than a place to live. Our goal is to support residents of all ages
for long-term stability. Through our Resident Services Program, we provide direct services and
connections to local resources that are vital in supporting our residents. We work with dozens of
other nonprofits, service providers and initiatives in our community to expand our residents’
opportunities and help them reach their educational, employment and economic goals. Our
programs focus on four areas:
• Stability: Working with residents to ensure they can remain in their homes.
• Health and Wellness: Providing a range of activities to support our residents’ mental,
physical and social wellbeing.
• Education: Supporting our resident parents and their children in achieving success at school.
• Community Engagement: Organizing activities to cultivate community bonds and nurture a
sense of belonging.
Statement from Bond Counsel of Project Eligibility: See Attachment C
Thank you for your consideration. I am happy to provide any additional information as needed.
Sincerely,
Kristin Fritz
Chief Real Estate Officer
ATTACHMENT A
DEVELOPMENT RESUME
VILLAGE ON IMPALA
(86) 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments serving
30% - 70% AMI
$44.8M new construction and renovation
4% LIHTC, $17.8M federal tax credit
investment, $19.5M Private Activity
Bonds, Section 18 Disposition Proceeds,
DOH, HOME, CDBG
(15) 1 bedroom apartments
Serving 50% AMI or below
$3.2M renovation
Section 18 Disposition Proceeds, CDBG,
HOME, Efficiency Works Rebates,
Villages Ltd. Equity
2155 W. PLUM LATE 2024
Housing Catalyst is the largest affordable housing developer and property management company in
Fort Collins. Housing Catalyst’s affordable housing real estate development experience spans more
than 15 years and includes both new construction and rehabilitation. Our development portfolio
includes 1,047 affordable units in 11 developments financed with Low Income Housing Tax Credits,
private activity bonds, and other local, state and federal funding sources. With this combination of
public and private financing, Housing Catalyst secures long-term financing for each development.
Housing Catalyst uses a Triple Bottom Line model to build healthy and sustainable affordable
communities. We are led by a skilled executive team with extensive experience in real estate
acquisition, development, management, and financial administration. We create vibrant, sustainable
communities, incorporating green building design into all our ventures and serving as a model for
high standards in asset and property management, as evidenced by numerous awards for project
designs, innovations, environmental sustainability, accountability, and financial reporting.
Housing Catalyst has secured housing tax credits and other local and federal funding sources for the
following recent developments and renovations:
EARLY 2025
(60) 1 & 2 bedroom apartments
Serving individuals experiencing
homelessness, at or below 30% AMI
Midtown Fort Collins, transit-oriented
development
$19.4M new construction
9% LIHTC, $11.9M tax credit investment,
City AHCF, DOH, CDBG, HOME
MASON PLACE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING 2021
2022 HOUSING COLORADO EAGLE AWARD
2022 CITY OF FORT COLLINS URBAN DESIGN AWARD
FINALIST: 2021 AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
OAK 140
(79) Studio, 1 & 2 bedroom apartments
serving 30% - 80% AMI
Downtown Fort Collins location
$31.5M new construction
4% LIHTC, $13.6M federal and state
tax credit investment, $19.3M Private
Activity Bonds, DDA equity, City AHCF
2023
VILLAGE ON BRYAN
(27) 1 & 2 bedroom apartments
S erving 50% - 60% AMI and below
$3M renovation
C DBG, HOME, Villages Ltd. Equity
2023
2023
16 apartments at or below 50% AMI
S erving those experiencing homelessness
and reintegrating adult felony offenders
$1M renovation
City of Fort Collins Affordable Housing Fund,
Villages, Ltd. equity
MYRTLE STREET SINGLE
ROOM OCCUPANCY 2021
(96) 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments
serving 30% - 60% AMI
First City of Fort Collins Land Bank Project
$27M new construction
4% LIHTC, $12.5M federal and state tax
credit investment, $19M Private Activity
Bonds, CDBG-DR, RAD proceeds
VILLAGE ON HORSETOOH 2018
2019 NAHRO AWARD OF MERIT FOR PROGRAM INNOVATION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
VILLAGE ON SHIELDS
(285) 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments
serving 50% - 60% AMI
$68M renovation
4% LIHTC, $41.1M federal and state tax
credit investment, $35M Private
Activity Bonds, RAD proceeds, CDBG,
HOME, Owner loan
2018
2019 NAHRO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
2019 NAHRO AWARD OF MERIT FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
2019 CO NAHRO YES! IN MY BACKYARD AWARD
TOO TRENDY!
A newsletter is a regularly distributed
publication that is generally about one
main topic of interest to its subscribers.
Newspapers and leaflets are types of
newsletters. For example, newsletters
(95) 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments
serving 30% - 60% AMI
$16.1M renovation
4% LIHT C, $5.3M tax credit investment,
$8.75M Private Activity Bonds, Villages,
Ltd. equity; previous grantors: City of
Fort Collins, DOH
VILLAGE ON PLUM 2015
VILLAGE ON REDWOOD 2017
(72) 1,2,3 & 4 bedroom apartments &
townhomes in North Fort Collins serving
30% - 60% AMI
$19.4M new construction
4% LIHT C, $10M federal and state tax
credit investment, $12M Private Activity
Bonds, RAD proceeds
2018 NAHRO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR PROJECT DESIGN
2018 NAHRO AWARD OF MERIT FOR PROJECT DESIGN
2018 FORT COLLINS UTILITIES ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARD
REDTAIL PONDS PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
(60) 1 & 2 bedroom apartments
All units at or below 30% AMI, serving
individuals experiencing homelessness
South Fort Collins, transit-oriented
development
$12.5M new construction
9 % LIHTC, $8M tax credit investment,
CDBG, HOME
2017
2017 ULI COLORADO IMPACT AWARD FOR INFLUENCE
2016 NAHRO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR PROJECT DESIGN
2016 NAHRO AWARD OF MERIT FOR PROJECT DESIGN
2015 HOUSING COLORADO EAGLE AWARD
COMMUNITY NEEDS &
DEVELOPMENT PIPLINE PRIORITIES
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PRIORITIES & CRITERIA
Housing Catalyst's goal is to strategically increase the supply of affordable housing, through
new development, preservation, acquisitions, and partnerships.
According to the 2021 City of Fort Collins Housing
Strategic Plan, disproportionate increases in
housing costs have continued to place a strain on
residents. From 2010-2020, rents in Fort Collins
increased 68%, the median sales price of single-
family detached homes increased 124%, and the
median sales price of townhomes and condos rose
164%. During the same time period, wages
increased by just 25%.
With demand for rental homes at an all time high,
rents continue to rise. In 2012, 50% of the rental
housing stock cost less than $1,000 per month to
rent. In 2018, only 20% of the rental housing stock
cost less than $1,000 per month. More than 60% of
renters in Fort Collins are considered “cost
burdened,” spending more than 30% of their income
on housing.
Similar trends are taking place at the county level.
Larimer County has added about 55,000 residents
since 2010. Growth is concentrated in incorporated
areas, particularly those along the I-25 corridor.
According to Larimer County’s 2021 Housing Needs
Assessment, the median rent in Larimer County
increased from $849 to $1,228 per month between
2010 and 2018. Renter incomes did not keep pace
with the 45% increase.
Housing market conditions, among other factors,
have contributed to the number of people
experiencing homelessness in Northern Colorado.
According to the Northern Colorado Continuum of
Care, an estimated 1,500-2,000 individuals are
without a stable home. About 600 are experiencing
chronic homelessness, having been without a home
for at least one year.
Housing Catalyst consistently develops affordable housing units at 30% - 80% AMI and maintains a robust
development pipeline to continue to address significant demand for affordable housing in Fort Collins
and Larimer County. Selection criteria for projects and partnerships prioritize:
Creating new affordable housing or preserves or sustains existing affordable housing at risk of being
lost or adversely affected
Including households that earn 30-50% of Area Median Income (AMI)
Serves special needs populations, such as elderly or persons with disabilities, in all or some units
Securing long-term or permanent affordability
Protecting and utilizing local funding resources wisely
As a mission-driven real estate developer, Housing Catalyst forges public-private partnerships to
build and preserve affordable homes to meet the vast and growing need in our community.
ATTACHMENT B
VILLAGE ON EASTBROOK
(73) 1 & 2 bedroom apartments
S erving 30% - 80% AMI
$32.5M new construction
Awarded $1.6M Proposition 123 Land
Banking Grant
4% LIHTC application: August 2024
Construction: 2025-2026
Fully entitled, shovel ready project
Total PAB needed: $17,000,000
REMINGTON PARKING LOT REDEVELOPMENT
70 - 100 Studio, 1 & 2 bedroom
apartments
S erving 30% - 80% AMI
$35.7M new construction
Partnership with the City of Fort Collins
4% LIHTC application: July 2025
Construction: 2026-2027
Total PAB needed: $19,000,000
ATTACHMENT C
March 13, 2024
Jacob Castillo
Chief Sustainability Officer
City of Fort Collins
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Re: Housing Catalyst request for assignment of 2024 Private Activity Bonding Authority
from the City of Fort Collins
Dear Mr. Castillo:
We serve as bond counsel to Housing Catalyst. You will receive this letter as part of a
package requesting an assignment from the City of Fort Collins, Colorado of its 2024 Private
Activity Bond (PAB) cap to Housing Catalyst. Housing Catalyst intends to use the PAB authority
to issue multifamily housing revenue bonds to finance in part the acquisition, construction and/or
rehabilitation of one or more multifamily housing apartment developments within the City of Fort
Collins. The proposed bonds can be validly issued by Housing Catalyst under Part 2 of Article 4
of Title 29 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended and Article 56, Title 11, Colorado
Revised Statutes, as amended. Further, such bonds will be classified as private activity bonds
issued as exempt facility bonds for qualified residential rental projects under Section 142(a)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and consequently will require an allocation of
volume cap.
Should you have any questions with respect to this financing please feel free to contact us
at any time.
Very truly yours,
Gilmore & Bell, P.C.
cc: Julie Brewen, CEO
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES ALL ITEMS PLANNED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS.
Date Service
Area
Type Agenda Item Strategic Outcome
Proclamation Pat Ferrier Appreciation Day (May 7, 2024)
Proclamation National Police Week (May 12-18, 2024) and Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15, 2024)
Proclamation National Travel and Tourism Week (May 19-25, 2024)
Proclamation Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2024)
Proclamation National Water Safety Month (May 2024)
City Clerk's
Office
Motion Approval of Minutes
Community
Services
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the Natural Areas Fund and the Sales Tax Fund for the
Purpose of Land Conservation, Visitor Amenities, Restoration and Other Related Natural
Areas Stewardship Activities not Included in the 2024 Adopted City Budget
Environmental Health 4.7 Expand the Natural Areas land portfolio while
simultaneously protecting existing lands and improving equitable access
to nature.
Financial
Services
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Appropriation: City Give Active Moves, PD&T to Fund an Asphalt Art Installation High Performing Government 7.7 Address current and long-term
projected gap between available revenue and resources, and what is
required to meet service levels set by adopted plans.
PDT Services Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Repealing and Reenacting Section 29-1 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins to Adopt a
Revised Land Use Code by Reference that Advances Adopted City Policy Goals and
Incorporates Foundational Improvements and Separately Codify the 1997 Land Use Code as
Transitional Land Use Regulations
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
PDT Services Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Updating City Code References to Align with the Adoption of the Revised Land Use Code Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
PDT Services Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Amending the Zoning Map of the City of Fort Collins to Rename All Neighborhood
Conservation Low Density, Neighborhood Conservation Medium Density, and Neighborhood
Conservation Buffer Zone Districts to the Old Town Zone District in Conjunction with the
Adoption of the Revised Land Use Code
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
Financial
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation (2024): Newly Voter-approved 2050 Tax for Parks & Recreation, Transit and
Climate
High Performing Government 7.7 Address current and long-term
projected gap between available revenue and resources, and what is
required to meet service levels set by adopted plans.
PDT Services Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation: Unanticipated Grant Funds Affordable Housing Development Review Process
Improvement
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.6 Transform regulations and
revise procedures to increase clarity and predictability to ensure new
development advances adopted City plans and policies.
Financial
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation: Philanthropic Revenue - Environmental Services High Performing Government 7.8 Evaluate the City's assets and
infrastructure to most effectively prioritize funding that best maintains
and protects those investments, while improving the customer
experience.
Financial
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation: Philanthropic Revenue - Miscellaneous Gifts High Performing Government 7.7 Address current and long-term
projected gap between available revenue and resources, and what is
required to meet service levels set by adopted plans.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA PLANNING - PUBLIC 6 MONTH CALENDAR
Agenda items containing action on current Council priorities as adopted by
Resolution 2021-077 are shaded light orange
NOTE: This document is posted every Monday and Thursday. Changes
made between postings will not be reflected until the next posting.
May 7, 2024
Council Meeting
4/25/2024 6-Month Planning Page 1
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES ALL ITEMS PLANNED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS.
Date Service
Area
Type Agenda Item Strategic Outcome
Financial
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation: Philanthropic Revenue - Pianos About Town
Community
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation: DOLA Grant for Construction of the Southeast Community Center Culture & Recreation 2.1 Provide diverse, inclusive and accessible
recreation and cultural programs that drive attendance and cost
recovery.
Police Services Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation: Marijuana Gray Market Grant Safe Community 5.2 Meet the expected level of policing services as the
community grows and changes through innovative and non-traditional
service delivery models.
PDT Services Ordinance-1st
Reading
Items Related to the College and Trilby Intersection Improvements Transportation & Mobility 6.1 Improve safety for all modes and users of
the transportation system to ultimately achieve a system with no
fatalities or serious injuries.
City Manager's
Office
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Authorizing the Conveyance of Permanent Non-Exclusive Sanitary Sewer Easement on
Property Jointly Owned by the City of Fort Collins and the City of Loveland at the Northern
Colorado Regional Airport for the New Airport Terminal.
Utility Services Resolution Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Greeley and Water Supply and
Storage Company to Develop the Poudre Water Supply Infrastructure Wildfire Ready Action
Plan
Environmental Health 4.4 Provide a resilient, reliable, and high-quality
water supply.
PDT Services Resolution IGA for Items Related to the College and Trilby Intersection Improvements Project Transportation & Mobility 6.1 Improve safety for all modes and users of
the transportation system to ultimately achieve a system with no
City Manager's
Office
Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Fort
Collins, the City of Loveland and South Fort Collins Sanitation District for the Purchase of a
Sewer Tap for the New Terminal at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport
City Clerk's
Office
Resolution Making an Appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission High Performing Government 7.6 Optimize technology, data analysis and
process improvements to innovate, guide decisions and enhance service
delivery.
PDT Services Appeal Appeal Findings - Planning and Zoning Commission Approval of the Union Park Project
Development Plan
PDT Services Appeal Mason Street Infrastructure – ODP Approval Appeal
Staff/
Community
Report
City Manager's
Office
Resolution Council Priority Work Plan
PDT-CDNS Resolution Residential Occupancy - Discussion #2 Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
Proclamation Bike Month Proclamation (June 2024)
City Clerk's Motion Approval of Minutes
Ordinance-2nd
May 21, 2024
Council Meeting
May 14, 2024
Work Session
4/25/2024 6-Month Planning Page 2
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES ALL ITEMS PLANNED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS.
Date Service
Area
Type Agenda Item Strategic Outcome
City Manager's
Office
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation: Digital Accessibility Roadmap to Provide a Strategy for Compliance with the
Americans With Disabilities Act and CO House Bill 21-1110
High Performing Government 7.2 Maintain the public trust through a
high performing Council, organizational transparency, legal and ethical
behavior, and regulatory compliance.
Community
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Grant Funds: State Childcare Stabilization Grant to Fund City Childcare Enhancements
Programs
Culture & Recreation 2.1 Provide diverse, inclusive and accessible
recreation and cultural programs that drive attendance and cost
recovery.
Utility Services Ordinance-1st
Reading
Authorizing a Loan Agreement with US Bank to Provide Funding for the Epic Loan Program Environmental Health ENV 1 – Implement the Our Climate Future Plan to
advance the City's greenhouse gas, energy and waste goals; reduce air
pollution; and improve community resilience.
Utility Services Ordinance-1st
Reading
Authorizing a Loan Agreement with US Bank to Provide Funding for the Epic Loan Program Environmental Health ENV 1 – Implement the Our Climate Future Plan to
advance the City's greenhouse gas, energy and waste goals; reduce air
pollution; and improve community resilience.
PDT Services Ordinance-1st
Reading
Public Hearing and Voluntary Annexation and Zoning of a 45-acre Undeveloped Site at the
Northeast Corner of I-25 and E. Mulberry Street
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.7 Advance planning efforts in
the Growth Management Area, including holistic considerations for
potential annexations.
Sustainability
Services
Resolution Approving a Resolution to Place the Regional Wasteshed Intergovernmental Agreement into
Abeyance While the Next Agreement is Created
IES-HR Motion EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mid-Year Review of Council Direct Reports High Performing Government 7.4 Foster a sense of purpose, belonging
and well-being in how we innovatively attract, develop and retain diverse
talent to serve our community.
Staff/
Community
Report
City Clerk's
Office
Discussion Options to Amending Rules of Procedure Governing the Conduct of City Council Meetings
and Council Work Sessions
City Manager's
Office
Discussion 2024 Legislative Review
Police Services Discussion Traffic Safety Initiative Safe Community 5.2 Meet the expected level of policing services as the
community grows and changes through innovative and non-traditional
service delivery models.
Proclamation Pride Month (June 2024)
City Clerk's
Office
Motion Approval of Minutes
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Sustainability
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Appropriation of Federal Funds in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and
HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program Funds
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
May 28, 2024
Work Session
June 4, 2024
Council Meeting
4/25/2024 6-Month Planning Page 3
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES ALL ITEMS PLANNED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS.
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Community
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Residential Occupancy Ordinance Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
Internal &
Employee
Services
Resolution 401(a) and 457(b) Restated Adoption Agreements to Assign Special Trustee High Performing Government 7.2 Maintain the public trust through a
high performing Council, organizational transparency, legal and ethical
behavior, and regulatory compliance.
Sustainability
Services
Resolution Assignment of 2024 Private Activity Bond Capacity Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
Staff Report HUD 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
Financial
Services
Discussion
Community Capital Improvement Tax and Street Maintenance 1/4-cent Renewals -
Discussion #3
High Performing Government 7.7 Address current and long-term
projected gap between available revenue and resources, and what is
required to meet service levels set by adopted plans.
PDT Services
Discussion
Land Use Code Phase II Discussion: Commercial Corridors Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
Proclamation
City Clerk's
Office
Motion Approval of Minutes
City Clerk's
Office
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
NCV 1 – Increase housing supply, type, choice and affordability to
address inequities in housing so that everyone has healthy, stable
housing they can afford.
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Sustainability
Services
Resolution Approving the Programs and Projects that Will Receive Funds from the Federal Community
Development Block Grant Program, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the City’s
Affordable Housing Fund, and the City’s Human Services Program.
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.1 Increase housing supply and
choice and address inequities in housing to ensure that everyone has
healthy, stable housing they can afford.
City Clerk's
Office
Resolution Making Appointments to the Downtown Development Authority High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal services,
while recognizing the importance of multi-sector relationships and
partnerships at all levels.
Staff/
Community
Report
None to be scheduled.
Financial
Services
Discussion 2025-2026 Recommended Budget Preview High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal services,
while recognizing the importance of multi-sector relationships and
partnerships at all levels.
June 18, 2024
Council Meeting
June 25, 2024
Work Session
June 11, 2024
Work Session
4/25/2024 6-Month Planning Page 4
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES ALL ITEMS PLANNED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS.
Date Service
Area
Type Agenda Item Strategic Outcome
Proclamation National Park and Recreation Month Proclamation (July 2024)
Motion Approval of Minutes
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Motion Motion to Cancel August 6th Regular Meeting
Resolution
Staff/
Community
Report
Utility Services
Discussion (WEP) Water Efficiency Plan Update
Utility Services
Discussion Halligan Water Supply Project Update Environmental Health 4.4 Provide a resilient, reliable, and high-quality
water supply.
Proclamation
Motion Approval of Minutes
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
City Clerk's
Office
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Potential Charter Amendments High Performing Government 7.2 Maintain the public trust through a
high performing Council, organizational transparency, legal and ethical
behavior, and regulatory compliance.
Resolution
July 23, 2024 Work
Session
CANCELLED (COUNCIL BREAK STARTS JULY 22, 2024)
July 30, 2024
August 6, 2024
Council Meeting
July 16, 2024
Council Meeting
FIFTH TUESDAY
TO BE CANCELLED - Neighborhood Night Out
July 2, 2024
Council Meeting
July 9, 2024 Work
Session
4/25/2024 6-Month Planning Page 5
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES ALL ITEMS PLANNED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS.
Date Service
Area
Type Agenda Item Strategic Outcome
Community
Report Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) Update
Discussion
Discussion
Proclamation Women's Equality Day (August 26, 2024)
Motion Approval of Minutes
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Resolution
Staff
/Community
Report
PDT Services
Discussion Advancing Transit Initiatives
Transportation & Mobility 6.3 Invest in equitable access to, and
expansion of, all sustainable modes of travel with emphasis on growing
transit ridership.
PDT Services
Discussion Quasi-Judicial Appeals Process: Second Work Session
High Performing Government HPG 1 – Provide an exceptional customer
experience to the community and increase the City’s effectiveness by
simplifying processes and delivering modern technologies.
Proclamation
City Clerk's
Office
Motion Approval of Minutes
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Ordinance-1st
Reading
Financial
Services
Resolution Setting 2025-2026 Budget Public Hearings High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal services,
while recognizing the importance of multi-sector relationships and
partnerships at all levels.
August 13, 2024
Work Session
August 20, 2024
Council Meeting
September 3, 2024
Council Meeting
August 27, 2024
Work Session
4/25/2024 6-Month Planning Page 6
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES ALL ITEMS PLANNED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS.
Date Service
Area
Type Agenda Item Strategic Outcome
Staff
/Community
Report
Financial
Services
Discussion Work Session #1 - 2025-26 Recommended Budget High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal services,
while recognizing the importance of multi-sector relationships and
partnerships at all levels.
Proclamation
City Clerk's
Office
Motion Approval of Minutes
Ordinance-2nd
Reading
Financial
Services
Ordinance-1st
Reading
2024 Annual Adjustment Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2025 High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal services,
while recognizing the importance of multi-sector relationships and
partnerships at all levels.
Resolution
Financial
Services
Other Recommended Budget Public Hearing #1 High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal services,
while recognizing the importance of multi-sector relationships and
partnerships at all levels.
Staff
/Community
Report
Financial
Services
Discussion Work Session #2 - 2025-26 Recommended Budget High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal services,
while recognizing the importance of multi-sector relationships and
partnerships at all levels.
September 24,
2024 Work Session
September 10,
2024 Work Session
September 17,
2024 Council
Meeting
4/25/2024 6-Month Planning Page 7
Date Agenda Item Strategic Outcome
No Date Approving a Permanent Stormwater Outfall Easement with Willox
Development Partners on Magpie Meander Natural Area and Soft Gold
Park
Environmental Health 4.4 Provide a resilient, reliable, and high-
quality water supply.
No Date Amending City Code with Standards for Water-Wise Landscape, Irrigation
Designs, and Practices
Environmental Health 4.5 Protect and enhance natural
resources on City-owned properties and throughout the
community.
No Date Resolution Providing Notice to Xcel Energy to Increase the Franchise Fee
for Natural Gas Delivery to 3 Percent
10-01-2024 Recommended Budget Public Hearing #2 High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal
services, while recognizing the importance of multi-sector
relationships and partnerships at all levels.
11-05-2024 Annual Appropriation Ordinance 3. 2025 Northern Colorado Regional
Airport Appropriation
High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal
services, while recognizing the importance of multi-sector
relationships and partnerships at all levels.
11-05-2024 2025 DDA Annual Appropriation High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal
services, while recognizing the importance of multi-sector
relationships and partnerships at all levels.
11-05-2024 GID No. 1 - Annual Appropriation High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal
services, while recognizing the importance of multi-sector
relationships and partnerships at all levels.
11-05-2024 GID No. 15 - Skyview South Annual Appropriation High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal
services, while recognizing the importance of multi-sector
relationships and partnerships at all levels.
Date Item Strategic Outcome
REGULAR MEETING ITEMS
UNSCHEDULED/UPCOMING ITEMS
WORK SESSION ITEMS
No date Airport Governance Transportation & Mobility 6.4 Support and invest in regional
transportation connections.
10-8 Work Session #3 - 2025-26 Recommended Budget High Performing Government 7.1 Provide world-class municipal
services, while recognizing the importance of multi-sector
relationships and partnerships at all levels.
10-22 Natural Areas Strategic Framework Update Environmental Health 4.7 Expand the Natural Areas land
portfolio while simultaneously protecting existing lands and
improving equitable access to nature.
No date Building Performance Standards (BPS) Policy Development - Follow Up Environmental Health 4.1 Intensify efforts to meet 2030
climate, energy and 100% renewable electricity goals that are
centered in equity and improve community resilience.
OPPOSE THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS AND ADVANCE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
GRANTS PASS V. JOHNSON
ADVOCACY TOOLKIT
NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION
APRIL 22 TO APRIL 26
| NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION | NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS LAW CENTER | NATIONAL COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS |
– 1 –
DEAR ADVOCATES,On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon
v. Johnson, the most significant Supreme Court case about the rights of people
experiencing homelessness in decades. The Supreme Court will determine whether a
local government can arrest or fine people for sleeping outside when adequate shelter is not
available.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Homelessness Law Center, National
Coalition for the Homeless, and National Alliance to End Homelessness invite advocates across
the nation to take action during the week of April 22.
Together, we will urge policymakers at all levels of government to oppose the criminalization
of homelessness and instead support long-term solutions to the affordable housing and
homelessness crisis.
The Supreme Court case comes amidst a growing wave of criminalization in communities
nationwide. Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness; it is an outdated, dehumanizing,
and counterproductive approach that makes it harder to address this crisis. Criminalization
disproportionately harms Black and Indigenous people, who are overly represented among those
who experience homelessness due to longstanding, systemic racism in housing and other sectors.
Instead, the approach proven to be most effective in addressing homelessness is providing access
to affordable housing and voluntary supportive services, including case management, healthcare,
and behavioral health services. Rather than arresting people for being unhoused, policymakers
at the local, state, and federal levels should use all available tools to address the affordable
housing crisis that fuels homelessness and to help unhoused people move into homes and access
supportive services.
This toolkit contains all the key resources you will need to participate in the Week of Action. We
know what it takes to end homelessness and housing poverty; we hope you will join us in building
the political will and congressional support necessary to do so.
Your elected officials need to hear from you, from people directly impacted by homelessness, and
from other advocates in your community!
Sincerely,
Diane Yentel
President and CEO
Antonia Fasanelli
Executive Director
Donald Whitehead
Executive Director
Ann Oliva
CEO
– 2 –
ABOUT CITY OF GRANTS PASS, OREGON V. GLORIA JOHNSON
On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon
v. Johnson, the most significant Supreme Court case about the rights of people
experiencing homelessness in decades. The Supreme Court will determine whether a
local government can arrest or fine people for sleeping outside when adequate shelter is not
available.
What is the case about?
In Grants Pass v. Johnson, a federal judge and Ninth Circuit panel struck down an anti-camping
ordinance enacted in Grants Pass, Oregon. Because the city did not have adequate shelter, the
courts held that an ordinance to arrest or ticket people for sleeping outside when they have no
other safe place to go violates the U.S. Constitution’s Eight Amendment, which prohibits cruel and
unusual punishment.
The Supreme Court will now review the case and a previous decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit, which held in Martin v. Boise that cities cannot punish people experiencing
homelessness for violating anti-camping ordinances if there are no available shelter beds in the
community.
What is the timeline of the case?
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on April 22 and issue a ruling by the end of June.
Learn more here: https://johnsonvgrantspass.com/
What are the impacts of the case?
If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court decision, jurisdictions around the country will no
longer be able to enforce blanket bans on basic survival activities, like sleeping or protecting
oneself from the elements, in the absence of adequate shelter or housing. Without expensive,
short-sighted, and harmful criminalization options on the table, cities and states will have to
focus on the true solution to homelessness: affordable housing and supportive services. Ruling
in favor of the unsheltered individuals who brought the case would affirm the humanity of every
community member.
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Grants Pass, however, it will give states and cities across
the country permission to punish people who are forced to sleep outside, even though they
have no other safe option. A ruling of this kind would make it more difficult for people to exit
homelessness and punish people for existing in public in a country that has failed to ensure that
everybody has a safe place to sleep. Overturning the lower court standard would exacerbate – not
end – homelessness.
Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, this case amplifies the need for
evidence-based, permanent solutions to end homelessness.
– 3 –
Your elected officials need to hear from you and other advocates in your community!
Together, we can stop outdated and dehumanizing approaches like criminalization and
instead invest in proven and humane solutions, starting with affordable housing and
voluntary supportive services.
Day of Argument: If you live near Washington, D.C., show up for a National Event on the steps
of the Supreme Court on April 22! RSVP here.
Community Rallies: If you can’t come to D.C., join other homelessness advocates for one of the
planned local rallies. Local actions will be announced on www.johnsonvgrantspass.com.
Other Actions You Can Take:
• Meet with your local, state, or federal elected officials to discuss the real solutions to
homelessness.
• Organize a press conference to call attention to harmful local criminalization efforts and
demand real solutions.
• Host a roundtable or other gathering where people with lived experience of homelessness can
share their stories with elected officials.
• Host a teach-in, film screening, or other educational event.
• Publish an op-ed or submit a letter to the editor to your local or state newspaper.
• Amplify social media put out by National Homelessness Law Center (@homeless_law).
• Bring your elected officials on a site visit to supportive and affordable housing or other
homelessness programs in your community.
Learn more about the Supreme Court case here: https://johnsonvgrantspass.com/
TAKE ACTION!
– 4 –
Meet with Elected Officials
Elected officials at every level of government have a role to play in ending and preventing
homelessness. As the Supreme Court hears Grants Pass v. Johnson, advocates have an important
opportunity to build relationships with elected officials and encourage them to prioritize proven
solutions to homelessness.
Here are some tips for organizing an effective meeting with your elected officials:
ADVOCACY TIPS AND RESOURCES
• Determine which elected officials to
target. Policies affecting housing and
homelessness fall within the jurisdiction of
different levels of government. Depending on
your policy ask, you may choose to meet with
local, state, or federal offices. The “Solutions to
Homelessness” section of this toolkit can help
you determine which offices to prioritize.
• Bring together a coalition of constituents.
Elected officials want to hear from people who
live within the community that they represent
and staff from organizations that serve their
community.
• Request a meeting at least two weeks in
advance. When you request a meeting, share
what issue you will be discussing, how many
people will attend, what organizations they
represent (if applicable), your available times,
and whether your group intends to meet
virtually or in-person.
• Research the elected official and determine
what issues they care about most. This
research will allow you to draw connections
between your policy asks and the elected
official’s top priorities. You should also research
their record on housing and homelessness
issues.
• Outline an agenda that includes four
components: 1) introductions, 2) data and
stories relevant to the issues you are discussing,
3) a connection to the elected official’s priorities,
and 4) a clear ask. Determine the amount of time
to spend on each section and assign speaking
roles to each member of your group.
• Meet with your coalition to practice ahead of
time. Doing a roleplaying exercise, where one
person practices their role as an advocate and
the other pretends to be the elected official, is
an especially effective way to prepare. Be sure to
test your technology if you are holding a virtual
or hybrid meeting.
• Gather factsheets or other materials that you
want to share with the office. Have physical
copies on hand if you are meeting in-person
and follow up with digital copies by email after
the meeting.
• Be explicit about how you define
criminalization. Proponents are quick to deny
that their tactics constitute criminalization.
Increasingly, they redefine their tactics as acts of
compassion. Explicitly defining the term up front
helps pre-empt those pivots.
• After the meeting, thank the elected official or
staff for their time and consideration. Then,
ask for a picture to share on social media!
• When posting the picture, tag the elected
official’s account and thank them for meeting.
Doing so publicly strengthens your relationship
and reminds them of any commitments they
made to you.
• Send a follow-up email or thank-you card to
everyone you met with. You can also follow up
to check in about the status of the ask you made
during your meeting.
– 5 –
Organize a Press Conference
A press conference is an opportunity to educate the media about homelessness in your
community and gain press coverage on the topic. Here are some tips for organizing a successful
press conference:
• Recruit community leaders and organizations to cosponsor and plan the
event together. Divide up responsibilities
among coalition members to increase your
capacity.
• Choose a time and location for your event. Consider a state capitol, city hall,
park, community center, house of worship,
or your federal representative’s or senator’s
district office. Ensure that your location is
convenient for local reporters, that it does
not have disruptive background noise, and
that it can be equipped with microphones,
speakers, and other event needs.
• Select your speakers and moderator.
Invite speakers with expertise and local
credibility, such as the director of a local
housing or homelessness nonprofit. Find a
moderator with media relations experience
and subject matter expertise. The moderator
will introduce the topic and the speakers,
and they will answer questions from
reporters or direct them to the appropriate
speaker.
• Include and empower people who have
experienced homelessness or housing instability. The most powerful speakers
are those who can personally attest to
the impact of housing and homelessness
policies in their own lives.
• Practice! Ensure that each speaker is well-
versed in your message and can deliver
their remarks concisely. Prepare speakers to
answer questions from the press. You may
want to host a practice session for speakers
and work on responding to tough questions.
• Invite the media. Put together a list of
reporters and editors at local TV stations,
newspapers, and radio stations. Be sure to
include any reporters that have covered
housing and homelessness issues recently
and any of your organization’s media
contacts. Circulate a press advisory with
details about the event. Send reminder calls
and emails in the days leading up to the
event.
• Develop strong visuals. Posters with
cosponsoring organizations’ logos, eye-
grabbing graphics or slogans, or other
visuals make a powerful backdrop for your
speakers.
• Prepare for day-of logistics. Determine
in advance who will bring the necessary
equipment and arrive with plenty of time to
set up. Plan to meet accessibility needs for
your speakers and attendees. Ensure that
there is enough seating for reporters and
space for their equipment.
• Connect with the media. Assign someone
to welcome members of the press as they
arrive. Maintain a sign-in sheet where
media representatives can sign in with their
name, publication, and contact information.
After the press conference formally ends,
speakers should be available for 1:1
interviews or follow-up conversations.
• Collect clips! In the days following the press
conference, keep track of stories that news
outlets publish about homelessness and
share them with your networks.
– 6 –
Host a Roundtable or Gathering
Case Study from Street Voice Council Legislative Luncheon
The Street Voice Council (SVC) is a community of people experiencing homelessness in
Lexington, Kentucky, that gather regularly for fellowship, food, and conversation. The Catholic
Action Center, which provides a welcoming space and services to meet community members’
basic needs with dignity, sponsors SVC gatherings. First convened in 2009, the SVC is an active
presence in Lexington civic life: SVC members regularly participate in local parades, festivals,
voter registration, and official Census outreach. SVC members also make their voices heard to
decision-makers in the community. The Mayor of Lexington, city councilmembers, the local sheriff,
and the chief of police have all attended SVC meetings to hear members’ perspectives.
When Kentucky lawmakers introduced HB 5, a proposed bill that includes a ban on street
camping, members of the SVC mobilized to make lawmakers aware of the harmful impact that this
bill would have on their community and encourage them to support alternative approaches that
get people stably housed. After SVC members and other advocates held successful constituent
meetings with their legislative offices, SVC and its partners were inspired to organize a legislative
luncheon.
The content of the luncheon was based on the Catholic Action Center’s successful “See Me,
Hear Me, Know Me” conversation series, which ran from February through November 2023. The
conversation series brought together housed community members and individuals experiencing
homelessness for shared meals at local community organizations and houses of worship. By
creating a safe and welcoming space for individuals experiencing homelessness to share their
stories and connect with housed community members, the conversation series successfully
fostered understanding and dismantled stereotypes about homelessness in Lexington. More
than 1,000 individuals participated in the series, including elected officials, business leaders, faith
community members, student athletes, and other college students.
The legislative luncheon took place at the Kentucky Capitol Annex on February 7, 2024.
Seventeen members of the Street Voice Council and 67 legislators – nearly half of the entire state
legislature! – attended the event.
To prepare for the legislative luncheon, SVC created a booklet that included an explanation
of SVC’s history and profiles of 23 SVC members that spotlighted information about their
birthplaces, hobbies, families, and important influences in their lives. Every legislator who
attended the luncheon received a copy of the booklet to take home, leaving them with an
enduring reminder that unhoused Kentuckians are unique individuals with their own stories,
aspirations, and perspectives.
The legislative luncheon was one pillar of the Catholic Action Center’s three-pronged approach
to raising awareness about HB 5. Catholic Action Center and the SVC partnered with Central
Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth to conduct
the Kentucky Citizen Survey on the Criminalization of Homelessness. According to the survey,
an overwhelming majority of Kentuckians do not believe that the bill’s provisions to criminalize
homelessness will increase public safety. About 89 percent of those surveyed responded that
requiring public safety officers to cite and arrest the unsheltered for camping will not make
Kentucky safer.
– 7 –
Catholic Action Center and SVC also produced a five-minute video featuring a diverse cross-
section of individuals experiencing homelessness in Lexington. Individuals in the video shared
their stories of how they became homeless, what their day-to-day experiences look like, and their
perspectives on the harmful impact of the proposed camping ban. The video was shared with the
entire Kentucky state legislature, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, faith-based
organizations, and other community groups across the state.
Collectively, the luncheon, survey, and video generated substantial press coverage. Catholic
Action Center also authored an op-ed putting a human face to the impact of HB 5, including a
call for readers to contact their legislators. More than 35 outlets across the state ran the op-ed,
creating a ripple effect that increased statewide awareness of the legislation and sparked further
advocacy.
SVC and Catholic Action Center’s strategic approach to oppose the criminalization of
homelessness offers valuable lessons for advocates in other cities. Their advocacy demonstrates
the power of creating a welcoming space for people experiencing homelessness where they
are also empowered to connect with public officials and directly share their perspectives. SVC
and Catholic Action Center fostered connections between housed and unhoused community
members and successfully challenged stereotypes. They highlighted the individual experiences
and personalities of the city’s unhoused community, putting a range of human faces to the
concept of homelessness and sharing stories that resonated with decision-makers. They
harnessed the media to amplify these activities, gained attention throughout the state, and
disseminated a clear call to action.
While Kentucky’s legislature voted to approve the bill to criminalize homelessness, this case study
underscores the importance of power-building and relationship-building needed for long-term
advocacy.
Street Voice Council advocates and lawmakers come together at the legislative luncheon. Photo courtesy of Catholic Action Center
– 8 –
Host an Educational Event
To educate the broader community about homelessness, host an educational event such as
a teach-in or film screening. A teach-in is an opportunity to share essential information about
housing and homelessness with community members, mobilize them to act, and build a base of
advocates. A film screening followed by a facilitated conversation can achieve the same goals.
Here are some tips for hosting a successful educational event:
• Recruit other organizations to co-host the event. Partner organizations will spread the word
to a wider network and bring in new attendees. Hosting the event at a partner organization’s
space, like a school or house of worship, can also encourage community members who are
familiar with those spaces to attend.
• Identify a location for your event. Ensure that the location is equipped to meet your event’s
tech needs, especially if you are hosting a film screening, and that the space is accessible to
people with disabilities.
• Make the event fully accessible. This may include providing closed captioning, ASL
interpreting, or translation into another language. Offering childcare or making the event kid-
friendly will also make the event more accessible to people with young children. Provide food
for attendees, especially if your event takes place during a meal time.
• If you are hosting a film screening, select a film that will capture your viewers’ attention
and inspire them to take action. Determine whether you will need to take any steps to
acquire the film or pay a fee, if you are hosting a large-scale screening. Film recommendations
include:
–The Public
–The Soloist
–Kaiser Permanente’s The Way Home documentary series
–Documentaries from Invisible People, including Finland Solved Homelessness: Here’s How,
and From a Tent to a Home: No Longer Homeless
• Following the film, facilitate a discussion about homelessness in your community, the
potential impact of the Supreme Court case, and the need for proven solutions.
• Create an opportunity for attendees to take action. Your agenda should include an action
that can be completed during the event, like writing postcards or sending emails to elected
officials.
• Distribute commitment cards. These handouts should collect participants’ contact
information and ask them how they want to get involved. Include a list of upcoming events or
advocacy opportunities and ask participants to select which activities they plan to attend.
• Follow up with event attendees afterwards. The follow-up email should thank them for
attending, provide digital copies of any resources that were shared, and remind them of
upcoming action opportunities.
– 9 –
Publish an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor
Below are a sample op-ed and letter-to-the-editor that you can adapt and submit to your local
or state newspaper.
Sample Op-Ed
Homelessness is at its highest level on record, and many communities – including [CITY] – are
seeing an increase as more people struggle to afford sky high rents. Homelessness is a crisis
that demands urgent action from all levels of government, but too often, elected officials turn
to responses that are politically expedient, but proven to be ineffective and inhumane, rather
than real solutions. And now, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court could make it easier for
politicians to rely on harmful approaches.
On April 22, the Supreme Court will hear the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v.
Johnson, the most significant Supreme Court case about the rights of people experiencing
homelessness in decades. Amidst the worsening affordable housing crisis, the Supreme Court
will determine whether a local government can arrest or fine people for sleeping outside when
adequate shelter is not available.
Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness. Arrests, fines, jail time, and criminal records
make it more difficult for individuals experiencing homelessness to access the affordable
housing, health services, and employment necessary to exit homelessness. Because of systemic
racism in housing and other sectors, Black and Indigenous people experience homelessness at
far higher rates than white individuals, and they are most likely to be harmed by criminalization.
If the Supreme Court decides that localities can arrest people who have nowhere to sleep at
night, we may see even more resources wasted, lives harmed, and racial disparities deepened.
The affordable housing crisis and the inability to afford housing is the primary cause of
homelessness. Nationally, there’s a shortage of 7.3 million homes affordable and available to
people with the lowest incomes. Without affordable options, 11.7 million renters pay more than
half of their limited incomes on rent, leaving them with few resources to make ends meet. Any
financial shock can cause these households to fall behind on rent and face eviction and, in the
worst cases, homelessness. Despite the clear need, only one in four people eligible for housing
assistance receives any help due to chronic underfunding by Congress.
In [STATE], there are only [# OF AFFORDABLE HOMES] rental homes affordable and available
for every 100 of the lowest-income renters, and someone working full time would need to earn
[STATE HOUSING HOURLY WAGE] an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment – well
above the minimum wage.
We know what works to end homelessness: providing individuals with immediate access to
stable, affordable housing and voluntary supportive services, such as case management,
mental health and substance use services, and employment services, to help improve housing
stability and well-being. This approach is backed by decades of research, learning, and
bipartisan support, and it is credited with cutting veteran homelessness in half since 2010.
Rather than arresting people for being unhoused, policymakers at the local, state, and federal
levels need to use all the tools available to address the affordable housing crisis that fuels
homelessness and to help unhoused people move into stable, affordable homes.
– 10 –
State and local leaders should leverage a wide range of community partners, follow the
evidence on what works, and invest resources effectively. States and communities should
provide rental assistance to help unhoused individuals move directly from homelessness into
stable housing and use hotels and motels as a temporary resource until permanent options are
available. They can ensure emergency shelters are low-barrier and safe and use proactive street
outreach to connect unhoused people to housing and resources. By reducing zoning and land
use restrictions, communities can help keep up with the demand for more housing supply, and
by enacting strong renter protections and creating eviction diversion programs, communities
can help prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.
Congress must also play a critical role in ending homelessness and housing security by
investing in long-term solutions at the scale needed. This starts with making rental assistance
available to all eligible households, preserving and expanding the number of homes affordable
to people with the lowest incomes, providing emergency rental assistance to stabilize families
and avoid homelessness, and strengthening federal renter protections. Congress must expand
access to healthcare, including mental health and substance use services, and it must pay the
workforce on the front lines a living and equitable wage.
Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, policymakers here in [CITY or STATE] and in
Congress should focus on real solutions rather than making it harder for those who are already
struggling to get by.
Sample Letter to the Editor
As homelessness increases in our community, it is critical for elected officials to turn to real
solutions, and not responses that are politically expedient but ineffective and inhumane, such
as fining, ticketing, arresting, or otherwise punishing people for not having a home.
Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness. Arrests, fines, jail time, and criminal records
make it more difficult for individuals to access the housing, employment, and healthcare
needed to exit homelessness. Criminalization is ineffective and expensive and will only fuel
racial inequities in our community.
Instead, the public must demand that elected officials follow the evidence on what works.
Luckily, decades of evidence make clear that the best way to address homelessness is to
provide people with affordable, stable housing and supportive services, like case management,
healthcare, and mental health and substance use services. Rather than allowing our elected
officials to waste resources on failed, inhumane approaches, we must hold them accountable
and demand real investments in what works.
– 11 –
Amplify Social Media from the National Homelessness Law Center and Other Trusted Sources
Social media can shape the narrative around housing and homelessness in your own community.
Well-crafted posts on social media can amplify key messages and contribute to the national
conversation about the need for long-term solutions.
The National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC) is coordinating a video project to lift up the voices
of people with lived experience of homelessness. You can support the project by connecting
NHLC with people who have experienced homelessness and criminalization so the public can
hear directly from them. To learn more, reach out to Jesse Rabinowitz at jrabinowitz@homelesslaw.
org.
You can also follow national organizations leading the response to Grants Pass v. Johnson and
amplify their messages with your networks:
• National Homelessness Law Center: @homeless_law (X)
• Housing Not Handcuffs Campaign: @HNHCampaign
• National Low Income Housing Coalition: @NLIHC (X) @NLIHC (Instagram), @NLIHCDC
(Facebook)
• National Coalition for the Homeless: @NationalCoalitionfortheHomeless (Facebook), @
NationalHomeless (X), @nationalhomeless (Instagram and TikTok)
Check out these examples of how Open Table Nashville and Invisible People are using social
media to explain why this case is such a big deal.
Research demonstrates that social media can most effectively influence elected officials when it
includes certain features:
• The elected official’s account is tagged. This ensures that their staff will see the post.
• The post comes from a constituent. Your post or account should make it clear that you are
based within the elected official’s city, state, or district.
• Multiple constituents post at the same time. A flood of posts that reinforce the same message
or call to action will have a greater impact than a single post. A social media campaign is most
effective when it occurs during a designated window of time, like a coordinated Day of Action.
• The posts demonstrate an affiliation with a group. Tagging local, state, or national
organizations will show that you are part of a larger movement that shares your call to action.
• Include images or videos. Multimedia posts are more eye-catching and are more likely to stick
with the viewer.
– 12 –
Sample Tweets
Criminalization
• At its core, the Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court case asks whether ticketing &
arresting unhoused people for trying to survive when there are no other options is cruel
and unusual punishment. It is. Learn more about the case & how to get involved:
http://johnsonvgrantspass.com
• The research is irrefutable: access to affordable, stable housing and supportive services
is the most effective approach to ending homelessness. It is a bipartisan, evidence-based
practice backed by multiple, national studies: https://tinyurl.com/2p8p5dbr
• Criminalization makes it harder for people to exit homelessness. Instead, we need to invest
in proven and humane solutions. Learn about best practices in responding to unsheltered
homelessness: http://tinyurl.com/46s7t4fb
• Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness. Imposing fines and jail time is
counterproductive, expensive, and dehumanizing. States & leaders should follow the
evidence on what works. Learn more: http://tinyurl.com/46s7t4fb
• Providing access to affordable homes & voluntary services is more effective at ending
homelessness than outdated & dehumanizing strategies like criminalization. Learn about
how criminalization exacerbates homelessness & what communities can do instead:
http://tinyurl.com/mr3b7p4t
Long-Term Solutions
• To end homelessness in our communities, we must invest in proven solutions, like
affordable housing and supportive services, at the scale necessary. Take action today to
advance real solutions to homelessness: https://nlihc.org/take-action
• We know how to end homelessness. The clearest example is veteran homelessness, which
has been cut in half in recent years. Let’s build on lessons learned to end homelessness for
others in need. https://nlihc.org/take-action
• Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness. We can’t lose sight of what ends
homelessness: affordable homes! Congress must pass long-term solutions to ensure that
people with the lowest incomes have a stable, affordable home. Learn more:
https://nlihc.org/housed
• More families are struggling to make ends meet, rents are high, eviction filings are up, and
homelessness is increasing in many communities. We need robust federal investments in
affordable housing more than ever. Take action today: https://nlihc.org/take-action
• To end homelessness, we need to invest in what works. Congress must provide robust
funding for affordable housing & homelessness programs in FY25, and enact the
#EndingHomelessnessAct, #HousingCrisisResponseAct, and #EvictionCrisisAct. Take action
today! https://nlihc.org/take-action
– 13 –
Robust Funding
• Urge Congress not to slash funding for affordable housing and homelessness, and instead
to work together to ensure these vital programs receive the highest allocation of funds
possible in fiscal year 2025. https://p2a.co/2xztqvh
• Federal housing investments reduce homelessness and housing instability and support
thriving communities. Sign the national letter urging Congress to invest in affordable
housing, homelessness, & community development programs in fiscal year 2025.
https://p2a.co/nliqghj
• No one should be forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and putting
food on the table or making ends meet. Tell Congress to expand – not slash – federal
investments in affordable housing in FY25 to help more people afford a roof over their
head. https://nlihc.org/take-action
Ending Homelessness Act
• We can end homelessness if we act with urgency & invest in what works. The
#EndingHomelessnessAct ensures universal rental assistance for every eligible household
& includes other key measures to help end homelessness. Learn more:
https://tinyurl.com/2dnk2usr
• Congress should enact the #EndingHomelessnessAct to create universal rental assistance
and 400,000+ new rental homes for people experiencing homelessness to effectively end
homelessness! Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2dnk2usr
Housing Crisis Response Act
• Enact the #HousingCrisisResponseAct now! The bill would represent the single largest
investment in affordable housing in our nation’s history, creating nearly 1.4 million
affordable & accessible homes, & helping nearly 300,000 households afford their rent.
https://tinyurl.com/yrub556p
• The #HousingCrisisResponseAct would address our nation’s affordable housing crisis by
providing over $150 billion in critical investments to increase housing supply, decrease
housing costs, and end homelessness. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/yrub556p
Eviction Crisis Act
• Families living in poverty spend over half their incomes on rent, leaving no room for
unexpected expenses. The #EvictionCrisisAct can provide a safety net, closing gaps &
preventing households from spiraling into eviction & homelessness.
https://tinyurl.com/34pzkz3e
• Congress should enact the #EvictionCrisisAct now! Let’s learn from pandemic ERA
programs to create a permanent program to stabilize families before they face eviction,
displacement, or homelessness. https://tinyurl.com/34pzkz3e
• Millions are on the brink of eviction & homelessness, with people of color
disproportionately affected. Congress should enact the #EvictionCrisisAct to prevent
eviction and homelessness & reshape the housing landscape for a more equitable future!
https://tinyurl.com/34pzkz3e
– 14 –
Bring Your Elected Officials on a Site Visit
To turn your elected officials into champions of proven solutions to homelessness, invite them
to get a firsthand look at a program that is resolving homelessness in your community. If the
program receives federal funding, invite your federal congressional delegation so they can see
the impact of federal investments.
Here are some tips for planning an effective site visit:
• Choose a time and location for your event. Recruit other organizations to co-host the
site visit. Even if the event is at one organization’s program or property, the presence of
other organizations can demonstrate broad support for your call to action on housing and
homelessness.
• Engage directly impacted individuals in the planning process. If you are organizing a site
visit at an affordable housing development, be sure to engage the resident council, tenant
association, or other tenant leaders.
• Invite your elected officials ahead of time. If an office tells you that the elected official is not
available, consider inviting a staff member to come in their place.
• Promote your event on social media and your organization’s website if it is open to the
public.
• Work with your elected official’s press secretary to coordinate media contacts in advance of
the site visit.
• Task a member of your team with taking pictures during the event and be sure to share on
social media afterwards.
• Work with tenant leaders and property management to identify residents who would be
interested in sharing their stories during the event. Elected officials should hear directly from
people served by housing and homelessness programs.
• Be prepared! In the days leading up to the event, ensure that partner organizations and
elected officials’ offices know the plan for the day. Consider sending a site map or other
materials if there is not a clear meeting place. Consider following up with any offices that
declined or did not respond to your invitation to again invite them to the site visit. Work with
the property manager to ensure that the site is looking its best, and plan for a clear path
around the property or neighborhood.
• Share key information about the property or program, its residents or participants, and
the funding it has received from the city, county, state, and federal government. Share what
this program means to the larger community. Draw a connection between the impact of this
program, the need for greater investments in proven solutions to homelessness, and best
practices for responding to homelessness.
• After the event, send an email thanking the elected officials and their staff. Be sure
to include answers to any questions that were raised or any materials that were requested.
Reiterate your call for the elected officials to support proven, long-term solutions to
homelessness.
– 15 –
TALKING POINTS
What are the major causes of America’s housing and homelessness crisis?
• The underlying cause of America’s housing and homelessness crisis is the severe shortage of
homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes and a widening gap between incomes
and housing costs.
• There is a national shortage of 7.3 million homes that are affordable to people with the lowest
incomes. There are just 34 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-
income renter households. Every state and congressional district is impacted.
• Housing costs are out of reach for too many of the lowest-income renters. A household needs
to earn $28.58 per hour – four times the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour – in order
to afford a decent, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent without spending over 30%
of income on rent alone, or $23.67 for a one-bedroom rental unit. These rents are far higher
than what the lowest-income and most marginalized renters – including seniors, people with
disabilities, and working families – can spend on housing.
• Three in four (74%) of America’s lowest-income households pay at least half of their limited
incomes on rent, leaving few resources to put groceries on the table, cover medical costs,
or meet their other basic needs. One emergency or unexpected expense could send these
households into homelessness.
• Despite the clear need, Congress only provides housing assistance to one in four eligible
households, leaving the rest to fend for themselves. Without this assistance, far too many
people become homeless.
• Because of the housing crisis, an estimated 653,000 people in America experience
homelessness on any given night, and millions more are at risk.
• Because of long-standing historical and systemic racism in housing and other sectors, Black
and Indigenous people experience homelessness at far higher rates than white people. Black
individuals represent 13% of the general population, but they account for 37% of people
experiencing homelessness and more than 50% of homeless families with children. Native
Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives experience the highest rates
of homelessness.
Why is homelessness increasing in many communities?
• America’s severe rental housing affordability crisis pushes more and more people into
homelessness each year. Even as our homelessness response system works to move people
into safe, long-term housing, more people become unhoused than the system can process.
• In 2023, the number of people who exited homelessness to permanent housing increased by
8%. However, the number of people who experienced homelessness for the first time rose by
25%.
• Recent spikes in rents have far outpaced the wages paid to extremely low-income workers.
Thirteen of the nation’s 20 most common occupations pay median wages that are less than
what a full-time worker needs to reasonably afford a two-bedroom rental unit at the national
fair market rent. Ten of those occupations, accounting for more than one-third of the country’s
– 16 –
workforce, pay median wages less than the wage needed to afford a typical one-bedroom
apartment.
• Even after taking into consideration states and counties with higher minimum wages, on
average a minimum wage worker must work 104 hours per week – more than 2.5 full-time jobs
– to reasonably afford a two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent.
• Because housing costs are out of reach for the lowest-income households, any financial shock
can push households out of their homes and into homelessness.
Why are some policymakers turning to misguided and harmful measures to address home-
lessness?
• Homelessness and housing poverty are crises that stem from decades of underinvestment in
affordable housing, healthcare, and community-based services and urgent action is needed.
Instead of meeting their responsibilities to address the underlying causes of homelessness
and produce the housing and shelters that benefit the entire community, some policymakers
are responding to increased visible homelessness by turning to harmful but politically
expedient measures that remove unhoused individuals from public view but do not solve the
homelessness crisis.
• Too often, policymakers and members of the public blame people experiencing homelessness
rather than the systems that have failed them. This “personal failure” narrative leads officials
to focus on ineffective, short-term approaches instead of long-term solutions. Moreover, this
narrative ignores the long-standing historical and ongoing systemic racism in housing and
other sectors that has resulted in people of color being overly represented among those who
experience homelessness.
• Criminalization does not address the root causes of homelessness. People experiencing
unsheltered homelessness are not unsheltered by choice but because they lack access to
affordable housing.
• Individuals experiencing homelessness often live in encampments or other unsheltered
locations because of barriers in accessing quality emergency assistance. Barriers can include
unsafe or poor shelter conditions, restrictive policies, such as sobriety requirements, entrance
fees, and separation from partners or pets, and insufficient resources to fund a robust
emergency response system. Strict entry and exit times at shelters can make it more difficult for
individuals who work different shifts to maintain work or school.
• Criminalization is counterproductive. Arrests, fines, jail time, and criminal records make it more
difficult for individuals experiencing homelessness to access the affordable housing, health
services, and employment necessary to exit homelessness. Landlords are less likely to rent to
people with a criminal record, employers are less likely to hire a worker with a criminal record,
and encampment raids often result in the loss of vital records needed to obtain housing
assistance.
• Criminalization is harmful to marginalized communities. Criminalization disproportionately
harms individuals who are Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, and multiracial, who are
overrepresented in both the homeless and incarcerated populations.
• Criminalization is an ineffective and expensive use of resources. Criminalization laws often
require municipalities to allocate resources to costly crisis interventions, such as police and
– 17 –
jails, rather than to permanent housing solutions that will assist people for the long term. A
growing body of research shows that providing affordable housing and voluntary services is
more cost-effective than outdated approaches, including criminalization, because it reduces
the public costs of the homelessness-jail cycle. With limited state and local budgets, elected
officials should turn to humane, cost-effective policies, not ineffective measures that waste
taxpayer dollars.
What are the long-term solutions needed to end America’s homelessness and housing crisis?
• Policymakers must invest in proven solutions to homelessness: providing individuals with
immediate access to housing and voluntary supportive services.
• Research irrefutably shows that providing stable, affordable, accessible housing and voluntary
supportive services is the most effective approach for ending homelessness. This approach is
backed by decades of research, learning, and bipartisan support.
• These investments benefit the entire community because our cities, towns, and neighborhoods
are strongest when everyone has a stable place to call home.
• Our nation must significantly expand investments to make homes affordable and accessible for
people with the lowest incomes. This must start with ensuring rental assistance is universally
available to everyone in need, preserving and expanding the supply of homes affordable to
people with the lowest incomes, providing emergency rental assistance to prevent evictions
and homelessness, and strengthening and enforcing renter protections. Congress must
expand access to healthcare, including mental health, substance use, and community-based
services, and it must pay the workforce on the front lines a living and equitable wage.
• These solutions must be paired with antiracist reforms to break down barriers that prevent
access to critical resources and that deepen racial disparities.
– 18 –
SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS
Federal Solutions
To fully address the affordable housing and homelessness crises, Congress must:
• Bridge the gap between incomes and housing costs by expanding rental assistance to
every eligible household. Today, only one in four households eligible for rental assistance
receives it.
• Expand and preserve the supply of rental homes and supportive housing affordable and
accessible to people with the lowest incomes.
• Create permanent tools to prevent evictions and homelessness by stabilizing households
experiencing a financial shock.
• Strengthen and enforce robust tenant protections. The power imbalance between renters
and landlords put renters at risk of housing instability and homelessness.
• Expand access to supportive services, including outreach, healthcare, and mental and
substance use services.
Congress should:
• Provide robust funding for affordable housing and homelessness programs in the
fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget. It is critical that Congress provide full funding for Homeless
Assistance Grants, fully renew and expand Housing Choice Vouchers to serve more
households, and invest in eviction prevention tools. Congress must also ensure that workers on
the front lines are paid a living and equitable wage.
• Enact the Ending Homelessness Act of 2023 (H.R.4232) – Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA). This
bill would ensure rental assistance is universally available to all eligible households. The bill
would also prohibit source-of-income discrimination to help increase housing choice and
would invest $5 billion over five years in the national Housing Trust Fund to address the
shortage of affordable housing and combat homelessness. For more information, see Rep.
Waters’s factsheet on the Ending Homelessness Act.
• Enact the Housing Crisis Response Act of 2023 (H.R.4233) – Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA). This
bill proposes $150 billion in critical investments to help renters with the lowest incomes afford
the cost of rent. Investments would include funding for key priorities: $25 billion to expand
rental assistance, $65 billion to repair and preserve public housing, and $15 billion to build
rental homes for those with the greatest needs through the national Housing Trust Fund. If
enacted, this legislation would amount to the single largest investment in affordable housing
in our nation’s history, creating nearly 1.4 million affordable and accessible homes, and
helping nearly 300,000 households afford their rent. For more information, see Rep. Waters’s
factsheet on the bill.
• Enact the Eviction Crisis Act and Stable Families Act (S.2182 and H.R.8327 in the 117th
Congress) – Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Todd Young (R-IN) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-
NY). This bill would create a permanent program to provide emergency rental assistance (ERA)
and housing stability services to renters facing temporary financial setbacks that put them at
risk of housing instability, eviction, and homelessness. The bill would build on the success of
– 19 –
the pandemic-era ERA programs that helped reduce eviction filings and keep households
stably housed.
State and Local Solutions
State and local elected officials should help address unsheltered homelessness by:
• Expanding or sustaining prevention tools, including emergency rental assistance and renter
protections, to keep renters stably housed and prevent evictions and homelessness.
• Providing rental assistance and eliminating barriers to help people living in encampments
move directly into stable housing using a Housing First approach. When permanent housing is
not immediately available, states and localities should use hotels as a temporary resource until
permanent housing is available.
• Increasing the development of supportive and other affordable housing through zoning
and land use reforms and targeting public resources to create deeply affordable rental homes.
• Ensuring shelters and other emergency options are low-barrier, welcoming, and safe.
• Using harm reduction approaches when delivering services in encampments, and
leveraging a wide range of community partners, including the housing authority, the public
health authority, healthcare providers, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations, to deliver
culturally competent services that meet a diverse set of needs.
• Conducting proactive street outreach and engagement to connect people to housing and
resources that meet basic needs, as well as comprehensive health and behavioral health care
and support services.
• Leverage Medicaid for tenancy supports and fund case management services.
• Enacting civil and human rights protections for people experiencing homelessness,
including prohibiting criminalization.
Learn more about best practices in responding to unsheltered homelessness.
04/02/2024– 20 –
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Grants Pass v. Johnson:
• Learn more about the case.
• Learn how advocates can help.
NLIHC Housing First Page: This page includes general introductory information about Housing
First as a strategy to end homelessness, including:
• Why Housing First is a critically important strategy for ending homelessness.
• Evidence supporting Housing First over treatment first and abstinence-based programs.
• Research on the effectiveness of Housing First.
• Information on how Housing First cut veteran homelessness in half.
• An explanation of how Housing First supports recovery from substance use disorders and
people with mental health conditions.
• Key facts about Housing First.
• Housing First Q&A.
• Tips on responding to unsheltered homelessness.
• An explanation of how criminalization makes homelessness worse.
Housing Needs by State: This resource provides state profiles recording the shortage of rental
homes affordable and available in each state for the lowest-income households, the number of
affordable and available homes per 100 renter households at different income levels in states,
housing cost burdens by income groups, and information about the demographic make-up of
extremely low-income renter households.
The resource offers a valuable collection of data sets and includes a compelling factsheet to
present to elected officials and their staff. The Congressional Housing District profiles for your
state can be found under the resources tab on each state profile. These data sheets are especially
helpful for use in meetings with representatives who might not believe statewide data applies to
the people in their districts.
For more information, please contact outreach@nlihc.org.
2Thursday 5:30-7:30 PM
May
2024
Y o u 'r e i n v it e d t o th e
BREAKING WALLS, BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES:
LAUNCHING NOCO'S REGIONAL
YOUTH SHELTER
We are thrilled to invite you to an exciting milestone
event as we break ground and reveal the beginning
stages of the Northern Colorado Regional Youth
Shelter. This monumental occasion marks the
commencement of a project aimed at providing vital
support and resources to youth and young adults in
need within our community.
814 East 16th Street Loveland, CO 80538
RSVP by May 1st
1
City Council
300 Laporte Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Code of Conduct
Purpose:
Fort Collins aspires to be a city that addresses the needs of all members of our community and
strives to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. As a community, we commit to
building a healthy, equitable, and resilient city – for our families, for our neighbors, and for future
generations. The high quality of life we enjoy requires a city that is safe and where all individuals
are treated with dignity and respect. The Mayor and City Council are committed to providing an
environment that exemplifies the highest standards of behavior and is known for its honesty,
inclusivity and transparency. Our elected officials and those they appoint believe that how they
treat others is a direct reflection of our collective character.
Application:
This policy applies to board and commission members appointed by the City Council. The Council
also adopts this policy to establish standards for Councilmember interactions with board and
commission members, staff, and amongst Councilmembers. The term “Appointees” refers to
appointed board and commission members. The term “Members” refers to both appointees and
City Council.
The City Council appoints individuals who:
• Comply with both the letter and the spirit of the laws and policies affecting operations of
boards and commissions.
• Are independent, impartial, and fair in their judgment and actions.
• Participate in assigned duties and functions for the public good.
• Conduct public deliberations and processes openly, unless legally confidential, in an
atmosphere of respect and civility toward each other, City staff, and members of the public.
• Learn and understand the legal and ethical requirements that apply to public officials and
processes.
Therefore, members commit to the following:
1. To uphold the standards of integrity and honesty with the intention of using true and
accurate evidence and/or statements in the decision-making process, and making decisions
based on the best interest of the city and its residents.
2
2. To conduct business of their board or commission that is within the scope of the specific
board or commission functions as described in the Fort Collins Municipal Code.
3. To perform Council liaison assignments and duties as described in the Fort Collins
Municipal Code.
4. Familiarize themselves with, adhere to, and comply with established policies and laws, as
applicable:
• The City of Fort Collins Boards and Commissions Manual
• Colorado’s Sunshine Laws regarding open meetings and public records – as outlined in
the Council Resource Guide
• The City of Fort Collins Charter and Municipal Code; specifically, the ethical rules of
conduct and the open meetings, remote meetings, notice and minutes of meetings,
board or commission action and attendance requirements (see Fort Collins Municipal
Code §§2-71 through 2-79)
• The City Council-adopted Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, which
prohibits harassment, discrimination and retaliation based on a person’s protected
characteristics.
5. Avoid all ex parte communications (communications with anyone about a pending issue
including communication with City staff) about quasi-judicial matters.
6. To be aware of the open records requirement that applies to written notes, calendars,
voicemail messages, and e-mail. All written or recorded materials including notes,
voicemail, text messages, and e-mail that discuss or touch on public business or the
functions of the board or communication will likely be subject to disclosure to a requesting
party.
7. Appointees are encouraged to meet with their Staff or City Council liaison to discuss any
concerns regarding work that may be outside the scope of designated functions, conflicts
of interest, appearance of impropriety, ex parte communications, or gifts. Appointees must
make disclosures to the City Clerk’s Office as appropriate under the circumstances.
8. Make decisions based on the merits of the issue, while treating all persons and decisions
in a respectful and equitable manner and committing to conducting business in a way that
exemplifies transparency and open communication.
9. Respect the legitimacy and authority of decisions that have been finalized –regardless of
personal position on the matter.
10. (For Appointees) Strive to represent the official policies and positions of their board or
commission when serving in the member role. When presenting their personal opinions or
positions in a public meeting, such as a City Council meeting, Appointees shall explicitly
state that they are not representing their board or commission or the City.
3
11. (For Appointees) Avoid actively participating in matters that interfere with a quasi-
judicial commission member’s ability to remain impartial in making decisions.
12. Continue respectful behavior among Members and City staff when communicating in
private. The same level of respect and consideration of differing points of view should be
maintained in private conversations.
13. To use public resources (e.g., staff time, equipment, supplies, or facilities) appropriately
and in a manner that fosters stewardship of the taxpayer and ratepayer dollar.
14. Attend meetings of your board or commission. Because contemplation, deliberation, and
decision-making require collaboration and participation, Appointees are expected to attend
their meetings. Appointees must comply with attendance requirements described in Fort
Collins Municipal Code § 2-79. Appointees commit to attend any required trainings and
even suggested trainings that enhance a member’s ability to serve.
15. To respect fellow Members, staff, and the public by treating all with patience, courtesy,
and civility at all times during the performance of official duties, regardless of differences
of opinion.
16. Avoid making personal, profane, vulgar, slanderous, humiliating, intimidating, or
harassing remarks that disturb, disrupt, or impede the conduct of the meeting or the
completion of the meeting agenda. Similarly, abusive language, intimidation, threats of
violence or harm, or racial or ethnic slurs directed at any person or group of persons are
prohibited. Members are expected to know that problematic behavior can cause the targets
of behavior to feel threatened, humiliated, or intimidated and such conduct is detrimental
to the proper functioning of a public body. Members are expected to avoid publicly
ridiculing or insulting fellow Members, members of the public, and City staff.
17. Act in furtherance of the principle that healthy discourse occurs when individuals of all
backgrounds and personalities are allowed to respectfully speak candidly about matters of
interest, ask difficult questions, challenge ideas and propositions, and work together toward
optimal solutions in a respectful manner.
18. Explain to a person who engages in disrespectful treatment that the behavior is
disrespectful and, if the person who is the target of the behavior feels comfortable doing
so, ask that they discontinue the behavior. If this does not change the behavior the person
who believes they are being treated disrespectfully is strongly encouraged to report the
behavior using the process described in Fort Collins Municipal Code §2-580.
19. Report behavior that is disruptive, humiliating, intimidating, or threatening or otherwise in
violation of this Code of Conduct in the performance of City business, at City-sponsored
events, and in all interactions between members, City staff, or the public to the staff liaison
and the Boards and Commissions Coordinator. Complaints of such behavior will be
processed following procedures in the Fort Collins Municipal Code.
4
Appointees may not be reappointed and are subject to censure or dismissal by the appointing
authority for misconduct, nonperformance of duty, or failure to comply with this Code of Conduct,
applicable policies, and the Fort Collins City Charter and Municipal Code.
I have read and understand the City of Fort Collins Code of Conduct and agree to abide by and
uphold this code to the best of my ability at all times while serving as an appointed or elected
official of the city.
I understand that I may not be reappointed, and may be suspended, censured or removed from my
appointment if my conduct falls below these standards.
Signature: Date:
Printed Name:
Welcome to the City of Fort Collins Boards and
Commissions!
4-8-2023Davina Lau –Boards and Commissions Coordinator
2Thank You from the Mayor
Mission, Vision & Values
3
Exceptional Service for an
Exceptional Community
We foster a thriving and
engaged community through
our operational excellence
and culture of innovation.
PARTNERSHIP
We believe in
shared decision-
making and invest
authentically in
relationships.
We are welcoming,
solution-oriented
and supportive of
each other and
our community.
SERVICE
We work to
understand the
diverse needs of
our customers
and evolve with
the community
to implement
innovative, people-
centered solutions
to provide
outstanding
service.
SAFETY &
WELLBEING
We are
committed to
physical and
psychological
safety in the
workplace
and throughout
the community.
SUSTAINABILITY
We are entrusted
and accountable
to protect and
enhance the
social, economic
and environmental
resiliency of our
community and
organization for
present and future
generations.
INTEGRITY
We earn the trust
of our community
by exemplifying
the highest
standard of ethical
behavior. We
demonstrate
respect, honesty,
inclusivity and
transparency.
BELONGING
We strive to build
equitable, inclusive
and supportive
work environments
that cultivate a
sense of belonging
for employees
and community
members of
all identities to feel
safe and valued.
4What is the purpose of our Boards and Commissions?
•From City Ordinance: “acquiring and
studying information in specific areas and
to make recommendations to City Council on
issues within the board's area of expertise."
•Boards and Commissions bridge the gap
between the public and Council. They provide
valuable perspectives and insight to the topics
they discuss. It is important for Council to
hear their voices and recommendations to
gain an idea of the impact the policies that
Council enacts will have.
•Giving residents a voice through Boards and
Commissions allows them to shape the
quality of life where they live.
5Being an Effective Member of a Board or Commission
2. Learn what you can about the City and its structure, including:
•How the budgeting process works and what the Strategic Plan says.
•Major projects or objectives the organization considering over the next few years.
•What role the major adopted plans play in work plans and budgets.
1. Educate yourself on the role of your Board (and your role as a Board member).
•You should understand the board's role and responsibilities in relation to guiding the City toward the realization of
its mission, goal, and objectives.
•Understand:
-The scope of the board's authority.
-The matters that typically come before the board.
6Being an Effective Member of a Board or Commission
3. Exercise care when making decisions and voting by informing yourself, asking questions, and expecting answers.
4. Take time to prepare for meetings in advance; read the materials that are distributed and think about the issues on the agen da.
5. Always act in the best interest of the public.
6. Consider your ethical responsibilities and follow the Anti -Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and the Code of Conduct.
7. Operate in compliance with the Colorado Open Meetings Law.
7Our Form of Government
The City of Fort Collins is a Council/Manager form of
government. This is different from other cities such as
Denver or Colorado Springs.
The Council-Manager form of government recognizes
the critical role of elected officials as policy makers,
who focus on mapping out a collective vision for the
community and establishing the policies that govern it.
The City of Fort Collins has six different voting districts,
and the residents of each district elect a
Councilmember to represent them for four years.
The Mayor is elected by the community at large to
serve a two-year term.
Our Council has oversight over three city employees:
the City Manager, the City Attorney, and the
Municipal Judge.
Mayor and Council 8
Council Liaisons
Mayor
Jeni Arndt
Councilmember
Susan Gutowsky
Councilmember
Julie Pignataro
Councilmember
Tricia Canonico
Councilmember
Melanie Potyondy
Councilmember
Kelly Ohlson
Councilmember and
Mayor Pro Tem
Emily Francis
•Water
Commission
•Energy Board
•Economic
Advisory Board
•Art in Public Places
Board
•Citizen Review Board
•Parks and Recreation
Board
•Senior Advisory Board
•Transportation Board
•Building Review
Commission
•Land use Review
Commission
•Human Services and
Housing Funding Board
•Women and Gender
Equity Advisory Board
•Historic Preservation
Commission
•Affordable Housing
Board
•Disability Advisory
Board
•Youth Advisory Board
•General Employee's
Retirement
Committee
•Land Conservation
and Stewardship
Board
•Air Quality Advisory
Board
•Natural Resources
Advisory Board
•Active Modes
Advisory Board
•Human Relations
Commission
•Planning and Zoning
Commission
•Cultural Resources
Board
Types of Boards and Commissions 9
Advisory Boards - Type 1 Advisory Boards - Type 2 Quasi -Judicial Commissions
Type 1 advisory boards make
recommendations to the City Council and
City staff on areas of knowledge or
expertise. Recommendations made by
advisory boards are formal opinions to the
City Council on items and subjects that are
on the boards' approved workplans. These
recommendations are limited to advisement
and are not decisive actions.
In addition to serving an advisory function to
the City Council and City staff, the assigned
functions of Type 2 advisory boards give them
the authority to make decisions on certain
matters specified in the City Code. These
decisions then serve as formal
recommendations to City Council or City staff
for their consideration and adoption.
Quasi-judicial commissions are non-judicial
bodies that use formal procedures to
objectively determine facts, interpret the law,
and draw conclusions to provide the basis of
an official action. Decisions of quasi-judicial
commissions are subject to appeal to the City
Council or the courts.
•Active Modes Advisory Board
•Affordable Housing Board
•Air Quality Advisory Board
•Disability Advisory Board
•Economic Advisory Board
•Energy Board
•Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
•Natural Resources Advisory Board
•Parks and Recreation Board
•Senior Advisory Board
•Transportation Board
•Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board
•Youth Advisory Board
•Art in Public Places Board
•Citizen Review Board
•Cultural Resources Board
•Human Services and Housing Funding Board
•Building Review Commission
•Historic Preservation Commission
•Human Relations Commission
•Land Use Review Commission
•Planning and Zoning Commission
•Water Commission
City Charter, Ordinances, and Resolutions 10
The Fort Collins City Charter and Code
provides the basic laws our City follows. Any
changes made to the Code are accomplished
through Ordinances adopted by Council.
Ordinances must be voted on twice – there
will be a first and second reading and must
be Publicly Noticed .
Council will also pass Resolutions. A
Resolution demonstrates Council’s policy
intent and is adopted after a single reading.
Resolutions do not change City law.
The City Charter and Code can be accessed
through the following link: Municipal Code |
Fort Collins, CO | Municode Library
Your Support System 11
Staff Liaisons
Staff Support
Other Board
and
Commission
Members
Your Attorney
Liaisons
(answer legal
questions
and provide
training on legal
issues for a
board or
commission)
Public
Engagement
Specialist
12What does a meeting look like?
Meeting Process
Fixed Order of Business (Typical Example)
1 Call to order.
2 Roll call of members present.
3 Review & Adoption of previous meeting minutes.
4 Member reports.
5 Unfinished business.
6 New business.
7 Announcements.
8 Adjournment.
Motions – How do they work?13
Voting on a Motion
Methods used to vote:
1.By Voice -- The Chair asks those in favor to say,
"aye",those opposed to say "no". Any member may
move for an exact count.
2.By Roll Call -- Each member answers "yes" or "no"
as their name is called. This method is standard, and
each vote must be recorded (Sec. 2-78 "A record
shall be made of each vote by which a board or
commission takes formal action.")
a.Roll call is required if there are any remote
participants of boards/commissions present.
Making Effective Motions
•Allow motions that are in order.
•Obtain the floor properly.
•Speak clearly and concisely.
•Obey the rules of debate.
Most importantly,BE COURTEOUS.
The Chairperson of the Board or Commission 14
The Chair oversees the meeting in an impartial manner with
support from vice or co -chair.
Duties:
•Opens the meeting session.
•Calls members to order.
•Announces the purpose and topics of
the meeting which will be discussed.
•Recognizes members on the floor who are going
to speak.
•Announces results of the vote.
•Keeps the meeting from straying off topic.
•Manages disruptive/distracting actions
and conduct that may arise to ensure business
can proceed.
Attributes
•To maintain impartiality, should not make proposals or
motions unless necessary to carry out the business of
the board or commission.
•Has the ability to vote.
•Has the ability to intervene when necessary.
•Chairperson is an elected person from the group.
•Whenever there is a vote from the group,
the chairperson is then obligated to rule on a motion
based on a majority vote.
Quorum 15
A Quorum is
the minimum number of
voting members who
must be present of a
“deliberative assembly
necessary to conduct the
business of that group”
(Quorum,2013).
How Many Members Constitute a Quorum?
Four members
**These boards and commissions have 7 members, and a quorum
is the four-member minimum majority of membership
• Affordable Housing Board
•Art in Public Places Board
•Citizen Review Board
•Cultural Resources Board
•Building Review Commission
•Planning and Zoning Commission
•Land Use Review Commission
•Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board
Five members
**These boards and commissions have 9 members, and a quorum
is the five -member minimum majority of membership
• Active Modes Advisory Board
• Air Quality Advisory Board
•Disability Advisory Board
•Economic Advisory Board
•Energy Board
•Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
•Natural Resources Advisory Board
•Parks and Recreation Board
•Senior Advisory Board
•Human Services and Housing Funding Board
•Historic Preservation Commission
•Human Relations Commission
•Water Commission
*Because the Youth Advisory Board (“YAB”) may change in size from time to time, a quorum for the YAB shall be
dependent on the size of the Board. A quorum for the YAB shall be as follows:
•For a five (5) member board, a quorum shall be three (3) members; and
•For a six (6) to nine (9) member board, a quorum shall be half the number of members, rounded up to a
whole number.
Minutes
Minutes should be taken at every meeting.
The staff liaison or their designee is responsible
for taking minutes at any meeting of a board.
Board members are responsible for approving
the previous meetings minutes at each regular
meeting. A motion should be made and
seconded to approve the minutes of the last
meeting. Minutes should be approved and
dated by the board.
16
[Board/Commission Name]
REGULAR MEETING
Day, Month XX, 20XX – X:XX PM
[Location/Address]
1. CALL TO ORDER: X:XX PM
2. ROLL CALL
a. Board Members Present -
b. Board Members Absent -
c. Staff Members Present -
d. Guest(s) -
3. AGENDA REVIEW
4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
7. NEW BUSINESS
8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
9. STAFF REPORTS
10. OTHER BUSINESS
11. ADJOURNMENT
a. (TIME ENDED)
Minutes approved by the Chair and a vote of the Board/Commission on XX/XX/XX
Signature:
X/XX/XX– MINUTES Page 1
Attendance Policy
If a member fails to attend regular board or commission meetings, the chair of the board (of if the chair is
the person experiencing the attendance problems, then the vice chair) should contact the Boards and
Commissions Coordinator in the City Clerk’s Office so that they can work with the Council liaison to the
affected board to address the issue.
Any of the following shall automatically cause a member’s appointment to be terminated and shall create a
vacancy on the board:
(1) Two absences from regularly scheduled meetings of the board in any calendar year if, prior to the
meetings where the absences occurred, the member did not submit written notification of such
absence to the staff liaison.
(2) Absence from more than twenty-five (25) percent of regularly scheduled meetings of the board in
any calendar year, with or without written notification to the staff liaison, unless the member has discussed
one or more temporary impediments to attendance with the board chair before this absence threshold is
met.
See Fort Collins Municipal Code § 2-79. The City Council may approve an exception to these attendance
requirements for good cause shown if the affected board member files a written request with the City
Clerk's Office prior to an absence that would trigger a vacancy under this policy.
17
Work Plans & Annual Reports 18
Annual Reports
•The City Code requires all boards to prepare
an annual report on or before January 31st of
each year for the previous year.
•Annual reports should directly correspond to
the work plan prepared by the board for the
year.
Work Plans
•The City Code requires all boards to file
work plans on or before November 30th
for the following year.
•Work plans should set out major projects
and issues for discussion for the following
year.
•A Board’s projects are limited to what is in
its work plan unless it consults with the
City Manager and its Council Liaison first.
Membership Limitations
•No person may serve on any one board for more than eight consecutive years. If a vacancy
occurs on a board, it shall be filled by the City Council for the remaining unexpired portion of
the term unless otherwise specified by the City Council.
•No person will be appointed by the City Council to serve concurrently on more than one board.
This limitation does not apply to committees deemed to be temporary in nature.
•All persons appointed, or reappointed, to any board shall reside within the Fort Collins Growth
Management Area during their service on the board. Any member serving on a board who
relocates outside of the Growth Management Area during their term of service on a board,
regardless of their date of appointment or reappointment, shall resign their membership. These
limitations shall not apply to applicants for, or members of, the General Employees Retirement
Committee.
The Growth Management Area Map can be found here:
http://www.fcgov.com/growth-management-area
19
20
2024 City Council Strategic Objectives
Neighborhood &
Community Vitality
Culture & Recreation
Economic Health
Environmental Health
Safe Community
Transportation & Mobility
High Performing Government
Boards and Commissions Manual 21
This has been a general overview.
For more information, please refer to the Boards and Commissions Manual:
https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/pdf/boards/bcmanual.pdf
QUESTIONS?
22
City Attorney’s Office 23
City Attorney – Carrie Daggett
17 Attorneys
(includes Prosecutors)
3 Paralegals
5 Support Staff
City Attorney’s Office 24
The City Attorney is the legal advisor to the City Council and City employees
in matters relating to their official powers and duties, and is responsible
under the City Charter for:
•representing the City in all legal proceedings;
•drafting all ordinances and preparing all other legal documents for the City;
•attending all Council meetings;
•and performing all services related to the position as required by the City Charter, the
ordinances of the City or the Council.
Each City department has one or more attorneys assigned to assist it.
The City Attorney’s Office also provides legal advice and training to all Boards and Commissions, and
Each Board or Commission has an assigned attorney.
Home Rule City 25
•City Charter: voter approved, as local “constitution”
•City Code: laws enacted by the City Council
City Charter and Code 26
The Charter describes how the City Council may establish Boards and
Commissions and limits what Council and Boards can do:
•Public meetings
•Public records
•Conflicts of interest
•Limit on Council interference with administrative services
The City Code clarifies, describes and builds on these requirements.
Boards and Commissions’ specific powers and functions are established
in the City Code.
Violations of the Charter or the Code are misdemeanor offenses.
Legal Issues for Boards and Commissions 27
✓Liability and indemnification
✓Open meetings
✓Open records
✓Ethics rules
•Conflicts of interest
•Use of confidential information
•Requests for special treatment
•Accepting payments/gifts
✓Speaking in public on your own
behalf vs. on behalf of the Board
28Liability and Indemnity
•City Code Sec. 2-611 – The City assumes liability for and will defend its officers
and employees from civil claims if:
•The claim arises from something the employee did during the performance
of their duties and within the scope of their employment
•The employee’s actions weren’t “willful and wanton”
•The employee let the City know promptly about the incident that may lead to
a claim.
Let us know immediately if someone sues or threatens to sue you for your
actions as a Board or Commission member.
Open Meetings 29
Meeting = a gathering of a quorum or three or more members, whichever is fewer, of any board
or commission, or any committee of such board or commission, at which any public business is
discussed or at which any formal action may be taken.
Notice must be given to the public before holding a meeting of a board, or committee of a board, if a quorum may be in
attendance or formal action could be taken.
o In-person
o Conference calls
o Zoom meetings
o Email exchanges
•Two members of a board or subcommittee may email each other about public business unless two is a quorum of the
board or the subcommittee.
•Board members may also exchange emails about scheduling and other administrative matters.
•Avoid group emails discussing the substantive business of the board.
•Also, don’t email or text each other during a public meeting about matters being discussed in that meeting – such
discussions should occur in public.
•Emails and texts about City business are subject to disclosure under the Colorado Open Records Act.
Open Meetings Exceptions 30
•Chance meeting or social gathering where you aren’t discussing public
business.
•Executive sessions – limited purposes under the Code:
•Meet with attorneys about litigation or how existing or
new laws may affect the City
•Consideration of potential conflicts of interest
•Real property acquisitions and sales by the City
•Personnel matters
•Certain utility matters
•Citizen Review Board – subcommittee meetings
There are special processes to follow for holding an executive session.
✓The Staff Liaison and Board Chair should ask the City Attorney’s Office for advice and
assistance in advance of trying to hold an executive session.
Colorado Open Records Act (CORA)31
Public records = all writings made, maintained or kept by the City.
Includes photos, videos, recordings, digital data, emails.
•Many exceptions, including attorney-client
privilege.
•Generally, if it relates to public business
the City must disclose it if requested.
•This may include emails sent from your
personal account if they are about your
board’s business.
Conflicts of Interest - Financial 32
See Charter and City Code provisions regarding Conflict of Interest:
•City Charter Article IV, Section 9; City Code Section 2 -568
Financial Interest:
•Any interest associated with money or its equivalent.
•Relevant exceptions:
▪The interest that you or your relative has as an owner or employee of a business, in
a decision of any public body, when the decision financially benefits or otherwise
affects such business but entails no foreseeable, measurable financial benefit to
you or your relative.
▪The interest that you or a relative has as a nonsalaried officer or member of a
nonprofit corporation or association or of an educational, religious, charitable,
fraternal or civic organization in the holdings of such corporation, association or
organization.
Conflicts of Interest - Personal 33
Personal Interest:
•Any interest (other than a financial interest) by reason of which you or a relative would,
in the judgment of a reasonably prudent person, realize or experience some direct and
substantial benefit or detriment different in kind from that experienced by the general
public.
•Relevant exceptions:
▪the interest that you or your relative has as a member of a board, commission,
committee, or authority of another governmental entity or of a nonprofit corporation
or association or of an educational, religious, charitable, fraternal, or civic
organization.
▪the interest that you or a relative has in the receipt of public services when such
services are generally provided by the city on the same terms and conditions to all
similarly situated citizens.
Conflicts of Interest - Disclosure 34
A board member who has, or whose relative
has, a conflict cannot:
•vote on an issue
•attempt to influence; or
•otherwise participate in that decision in any
manner.
Any financial or personal interests must be
disclosed to the Board and to the City Clerk.
•Disclosure form is in the Boards and
Commissions Manual, as is a checklist related
to ethical conduct.
Conflict of Interest – What do I do?35
What do I do if I think I have a conflict?
•Review the Charter and Code language – available online.
•Review the checklist in the Boards and Commissions Manual.
•If you are still unsure, talk through it with your Board’s Staff Liaison or attorney
liaison.
If you decide you have a conflict:
•File a disclosure statement with the City Clerk’s Office.
•Do not communicate with or try to influence the Board in any way on the item or
issue for which you have a conflict (except to protect a strictly personal interest, in
the same way the public would communicate.)
•There is also a process for requesting a variance from the City Council.
Additional Ethical Rules 36
Confidential Information:
•Officers and employees may not use confidential information for their own or
others’ personal or financial gain.
•Don’t disclose any confidential information, including information received in
executive session, to anyone inside the City whose duties are unrelated, or
outside the City organization, unless it is necessary to protect the City from
mismanagement of public funds, abuse of governmental authority, or illegal or
unethical practices.
Requests for Special Treatment:
•The City’s Personnel Policies require employees to report to their manager if any
City officer, an officer’s relative, or a related entity requests special consideration,
treatment or advantage.
Additional Ethical Rules 37
Payments, Gifts, Honoraria:
•Don’t accept payment for speeches, debates or other public events or accept any gift or favor which, in the
judgment of a reasonably prudent person, would tend to impair your independence of judgment in the
performance of your official duties.
Exceptions:
•Awards from nonprofits in recognition of your service;
•reimbursement of actual expenses;
•perishable or nonpermanent items insignificant in value, like meals, tickets to events;
•payment of your salary from your “real” job (unless it creates a financial conflict of interest.)
Quasi-Judicial Commissions
City Commissions are “quasi-judicial,” which
means they have decision-making powers
within their areas of expertise.
Commissions apply established City Code or
Land Use Code standards to facts presented
at a public hearing to reach a decision.
Quasi-judicial decisions are appealable to the
City Council or the courts.
Quasi-judicial commissions have special
rules of procedure they must follow.
The City Attorney’s Office provides additional
training for commissions on these
procedures.
38
Speaking on Behalf of the Board 39
Are you representing the Board or speaking on your
own behalf?
✓Identify yourself
✓Acknowledge that you are a Board member
✓Only claim to speak for the Board if the Board has approved the
message and appointed you to deliver it
QUESTIONS?
40
Questions?
For Questions or Comments, Please Contact:
THANK YOU!
Davina Lau
Dlau@fcgov.com/(970)416-2525