HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - COMPLETE AGENDA - 12/10/2024Fort Collins City Council
Work Session Agenda
6:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 10, 2024
300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521
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City of Fort Collins Page 1 of 2
City Council
Work Session Agenda
December 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Jeni Arndt, Mayor
Emily Francis, District 6, Mayor Pro Tem
Susan Gutowsky, District 1
Julie Pignataro, District 2
Tricia Canonico, District 3
Melanie Potyondy, District 4
Kelly Ohlson, District 5
Council Information Center (CIC)
300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins
Cablecast on FCTV
Channel 14 on Connexion
Channel 14 and 881 on Comcast
Carrie Daggett Kelly DiMartino Delynn Coldiron
City Attorney City Manager City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
6:00 PM
A) CALL MEETING TO ORDER
B) ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Community Report: District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin
The purpose of this item is for the District Attorney to provide a yearly update from his office.
2. Council Priority to Update and Modernize the City Charter.
The purpose of this item is to update Council on the Charter Update Project and obtain feedback
from Councilmembers on the proposed approach and amendments.
3. Rooted in Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
The purpose of this item is to provide an overview and to seek Council feedback on the draft,
Rooted in Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
4. Appeals Procedure – Draft Code Update.
The purpose of this item is to present and discuss a proposed code update related to the appeals
procedures, contained in Chapter 2, Article II, Division 3, of the Fort Collins Municipal Code. The
update rewrites this section of code to address a variety of issues and considerations discussed
by the Council in prior work sessions.
C) ANNOUNCEMENTS
Page 1
City of Fort Collins Page 2 of 2
D) ADJOURNMENT
Upon request, the City of Fort Collins will provide language access services for individuals who have limited
English proficiency, or auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities, to access City servic es,
programs and activities. Contact 970.221.6515 (V/TDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado) for assistance.
Please provide advance notice. Requests for interpretation at a meeting should be made by noon the day
before.
A solicitud, la Ciudad de Fort Collins proporcionará servicios de acceso a idiomas para personas que no
dominan el idioma inglés, o ayudas y servicios auxiliares para personas con discapacidad, para que
puedan acceder a los servicios, programas y actividades de la Ciudad. Para asistencia, llame al
970.221.6515 (V/TDD: Marque 711 para Relay Colorado). Por favor proporcione aviso previo. Las
solicitudes de interpretación en una reunión deben realizarse antes del mediodía del día anterior.
Page 2
File Attachments for Item:
1. Community Report: District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin
The purpose of this item is for the District Attorney to provide a yearly update from his office.
Page 3
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 1 of 1
December 10, 2024
WORK SESSION AGENDA
ITEM SUMMARY
City Council
PRESENTER
Gordon McLaughlin, Larimer County District Attorney
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Community Report: District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is for the District Attorney to provide a yearly update from his office.
Page 4
Item 1.
8th Judicial
District
Attorney
Annual Report
2024 Fort Collins City
Council
Page 5
Item 1.
8th Judicial District
Larimer & Jackson Counties
(pop. ~370,000)
6th most populous JD
www.larimer.gov/da
@DA8Colorado
on Facebook & Twitter
Page 6
Item 1.
Mission
The District Attorney’s office serves
to seek justice and ensure the safety
of our community in an equitable
manner. Every day we work to
thoughtfully prosecute crime, protect
victims of crime, address systemic
bias, rectify injustice, and provide
transparency about our work. We are
zealous advocates for the truth and
fair practitioners of justice.
Vision
To protect and serve Larimer and
Jackson counties, while creating a
stronger community where the
application of criminal justice is
more equitable and no longer at odds
with social justice.
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Item 1.
Page 8
Item 1.
Case Roadmap
Page 9
Item 1.
Current Programs & Projects
Diversion
•Divert cases away from traditional CJ
resolution –address root causes
•In 2023:
•452 Juveniles –52% success rate
•182 Adults –94% success rate
Fentanyl Causing Death
•New law started in July 2022
•Charged 7 distribution causing death
cases since July 2023
•First conviction in the state
Community Engagement &
Accountability
•www.larimer.gov/da
•@DA8Colorado (Twitter & FB)
•Community Presentations / Annual
Report
•Citizens Academy
Problem Solving Courts
•Competency Docket -efficient
treatment & services for those w/ MH
needs
•Statewide/nationwide model
•Veterans Court –coming soon!
Collaborative Task Forces
•Economic Crime: Never Summer Yurts
(107 victims & $24k in restation)
•Drug Crime: 78,323 dosage units of
fentanyl seized in 2023
•Grand Jury Indictments –8.5lbs
fentanyl, 32lbs meth, 45 firearms…
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Item 1.
Current Programs & Projects
Domestic Violence Team
•DDA, Investigator, & Advocate
•High risk case assessment & earlier victim
support
•Investigation of DV firearm restrictions
•Victim Rights Week (April 25th Event)
Warrant Clearance
•Resolve case (restitution, treatment, etc.)
•Accountability & resources
•Cleared 125 warrants in 2023
•Loveland Warrant Event 4/6 (72 warrants
cleared)
Award Winners
•Judge Conrad Ball Award: Victim Witness Manager
Kate Perrill
•Colorado District Attorney Prosecutor of the Year:
Chief Deputy District Attorney Amanda Duhon
•Colorado Drug Investigators Assoc. Prosecutor of
the Year: Complex Crimes Deputy DA Lynzi Mass
Legislation
•2023:
•Strengthening of Auto Theft Laws
•Indecent Exposure Penalties
•2024:
•Fixes to Victim Services Funding
•Social Media Accountability
•Preventing Felons from Possessing Firearms
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Item 1.
Significant Fort Collins Case Update
•Tyler Zanella
–2023CR000799
–Pled guilty to 7 Counts of Assault in the 3rd Degree-At Risk Person (F6)
–Sentenced to 12.5 Years
•10.5 in the Department of Corrections after 2 years in the Larimer County Jail
•Adrian Pacheco
–2024CR000397
–Murder 1-After Deliberation (F1)
–Ongoing
•Marc Risheill
–2024CR000842
–Enticement of a Child (F5) and Attempted Sex Assault on a Child (F5)
–Ongoing
Page 12
Item 1.
Number of Cases Filed (FCPS)
Page 13
Item 1.
FCPS Total Case Filings
Page 14
Item 1.
FCPS Case Filings by Type
8th JD FCPS
Page 15
Item 1.
Case Resolution
(8th JD)
2023
30% Fee/Fine/Community Service
7% Credit for Time Served
41% Probation
5% Probation + Jail
*Youth Corrections
are less than 0.5%
9% Jail
3% Community Corrections
5% Department of Corrections
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Item 1.
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Item 1.
Thank You!
Please
Reach Out
In Person: Loveland Police & Courts Building (810 E 10th St)
Larimer County Justice Center (201 LaPorte Ave)
Online: Larimer.gov/da (Data Dashboard, CIRT Findings, Victim
Services, Events, etc.)
Email: 8thdist-da@co.larimer.co.us
Phone: (970) 498-7200
Facebook: DA8Colorado
Twitter: @DA8Colorado
Page 18
Item 1.
File Attachments for Item:
2. Council Priority to Update and Modernize the City Charter.
The purpose of this item is to update Council on the Charter Update Project and obtain
feedback from Councilmembers on the proposed approach and amendments.
Page 19
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 1 of 6
December 10, 2024
WORK SESSION AGENDA
ITEM SUMMARY
City Council
STAFF
Sara Arfmann, Assistant City Attorney
Delynn Coldiron, City Clerk
Carrie Daggett, City Attorney
With Geoff Wilson, Special Legal Counsel
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Council Priority to Update and Modernize the City Charter.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to update Council on the Charter Update Project and obtain feedback from
Councilmembers on the proposed approach and amendments.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. What feedback do Councilmembers have about any of the potential cleanup or clarification items
identified?
2. Are there other Charter provisions Councilmembers would like staff to review further or propose
amendments for?
3. Would an additional work session or other discussion be beneficial in advance of presentation of
Charter amendment ordinances for consideration?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
On February 27, 2024, Council adopted eleven resolutions establishing 2024-2026 Council Priorities.
Among the adopted resolutions is Resolution 2024-024, Adopting a 2024-2026 Council Priority to
Modernize and Update the City Charter. The Resolution describes the Priority as follows:
Modernize and Update the City Charter
Although small parts of the Charter get reviewed and updated on a regular basis, due to changes in state
laws and election procedures, there is a need to modernize and update the City Charter, which has not
been done in a comprehensive way in over 25 years.
The Council further discussed this Priority at the May 14 Work Session, identifying as the objectives for
this work:
Page 20
Item 2.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 2 of 6
1. Comprehensive review of City Charter to align with state law and legal developments;
2. Update language in Charter to be inclusive;
3. Focus on cleanup and modernization rather than policy changes;
4. Evaluate form and timing options for presenting updates to voters; and
5. Fresh look at how Charter language is presented for ease of reading and clarity.
City legal staff continues to monitor for legal developments that impact Charter language and identify
changes that may be needed or beneficial. However, retaining a special legal counsel with expertise and
experience working with municipal charters throughout Colorado adds a new perspective to the review and
focuses resources more intentionally and systematically as well as supplements the capacity to carry out
this work. Considering this, on July 16, 2024, Council adopted on second reading Ordinance No. 089,
2024, appropriating $25,000 to support the retention of outside special counsel to assist with the work on
this project. The City Attorney retained special legal counsel Geoff Wilson of the law firm of Wilson Williams
Fellman and Dittman LLP in July 2024.
Staff from the City Attorney’s Office, City Clerk’s Office and City Manager’s Office have been working with
special legal counsel retained for this project, Geoff Wilson of the law firm Wilson Williams Fellman Dittman
LLP, to identify aspects of the City Charter to be modernized, reconciled with statutory and other legal
changes, simplified and revised for readability.
One or more corrections to the election-related articles of the Charter will also be part of this discussion.
In particular, there is a correction needed to increase the total number of days allowed for circulation of
initiative petitions to match the 77 days intended by Council in its Charter work last summer.
After a thorough review of the City Charter (attached and linked here: Fort Collins Charter) to identify
opportunities for updating and modernization, the following items were noted for discussion with Council:
Cleanup Items
1. Modernization of Language
a. Art IV, Sec. 7 Publication: Currently the Charter requires publication be done through a local
newspaper of general circulation in the city. Options on how to modernize this requirement:
i. Remove the requirement to publish in a newspaper and instead require the notice to be posted
on the City’s website and to be posted at City Hall to ensure those without internet access also
have a place to check for notices; or
ii. Alternatively, this requirement could be removed from the Charter and just state that the method
for publication will be set by ordinance.
iii. Examples language:
1. The requirements for publication of ordinances contained herein may be satisfied by
publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City by posting a copy thereof at the
location or locations designated by resolution of the council, by posting on the city's website,
by posting on the Internet, or in any other manner determined by the council to adequately
advise the public.
2. Placement on the City's internet website or other technologies adopted by the City, and
placement of a copy in the City Library;
3. The method of official City publication of ordinances shall be set by ordinance.
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Item 2.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 3 of 6
b. Art IV, Sec 3 Residency requirements: Provision regarding residency requirements of
department heads appointed prior to March 6, 1985, no longer applicable because no qualified
persons remain.
i. Recommend deleting this exception.
c. Reformatting of Charter provisions (throughout) for readability.
d. Replace outdated language for gender neutrality and to eliminate unclear uses of the term
“shall.”
2. Alignment with State Law
a. Art II, Sec.11 Meetings, quorum, executive session: Currently, the Charter provides for
executive sessions to be held only to: (1) discuss personnel matters; (2) consult with attorneys
representing the city regarding specific legal questions involving litigation or potential litigation
and/or the manner in which particular policies, practices or regulations of the city may be affected
by existing or proposed provisions of federal, state or local law; (3 consider water and real property
acquisitions and sales by the city; or (4) consider electric utility matters if such matters pertain to
issues of competition in the electric utility industry.
i. State law additionally allows for more executive session purposes. For example: (1) any matter
required to be kept confidential by federal or state law and/or in accordance with the
requirements of the workplace harassment policy; and (2) specialized details of security
arrangements or investigations.
ii. Options:
1. Could expand the current list to include all items included in the statute;
2. Keep the current list, which includes specific authority related to utilities and
telecommunications, and add a catch all including any other authorized matter under the
Open Meetings Law; or
3. Could take out the current list and instead state that executive sessions are permitted as
allowed under state law.
iii. Examples language:
1. Executive sessions may be held in compliance with the Colorado Open Meetings Law, as
now in effect and as may be amended from time to time.
2. Keep current list, which includes specific authority related to utilities and
telecommunications, and add “Any other matter authorized by the Colorado Open
Meetings Law, CRS § 24-6-401, et seq., as amended.”
b. Art V, Sec. 6 Maximum mill levy: states that no mill levy shall exceed fifteen mills on each dollar.
i. Post TABOR this mill levy limit isn’t needed, in fact similar limits have been repealed as voters
will decide any “limit.”
ii. Recommend deleting this in light of TABOR.
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Item 2.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 4 of 6
c. Art V, Sec.19.3 Revenue securities: provides that Council may issue securities made payable
solely from revenues derived from capital projects, etc, without an election.
i. Similar to the above, post TABOR the authority to issue “revenue” securities without an
election is dead letter.
ii. Recommend deleting this provision.
d. It may be beneficial to more directly reference other state laws, such as the Colorado Open
Meetings Law.
3. Add Clarification
a. Art II, Sec.6 Ordinances, resolutions, motions: This section is extensive, unformatted, and
covers a few topics, including that any Councilmember may request that an ordinance be read in
full at any reading of the same.
i. Recommend breaking this Section up into sub-sections for clarity and making it simpler to read.
Also recommend deleting the read in full provision to ensure the efficiency of council meetings.
ii. Optional sub-sections: (1) procedure for voting; (2) requirements for ordinance content; (3)
procedure for passing an ordinance; and (4) exceptions for emergency ordinances.
iii. Recommend clarifying that Council permits the City administration to impose administrative
penalties, without prior Council approval, in emergency situations.
b. Art II, Sec. 7 Ordinances, publication & effective dates:
i. Similar to above, Section 7 could be either reorganized with sub sections, or Sections 6 and 7
could be combined and reorganized together for simplification.
ii. Optional sub sections for this section: (1) publication procedures for ordinances; (2) exceptions
for emergency ordinances; (3) signature requirements; and (4) requirements for a public
hearing and notice requirements.
iii. To avoid the need to repeal and reenact ordinances when there has been a late or failed
publication, add language allowing for a “cure” of a failed publication and providing that the
ordinance is not effective until published.
c. Art II, Sec. 18(a)(3) Vacancies: currently states that a vacancy exists when a Councilmember
“fails to attend all regular and special meetings of the council for sixty (60) consecutive days unless
excused by Council resolution.
i. Recommend clarifying when the 60 “consecutive“ days of failure to attend begins to run and
does not clearly provide for what happens when a meeting is cancelled OR changing the
requirement to a specific number of missed council meetings. Options:
1. Start the clock the day of the first missed meeting and run for 60 days, regardless of any
cancelled meetings outside of their control; or
2. Start the clock as above but provide an exclusion for any cancelled meetings (unless
cancelled as a result of the members attendance causing no quorum), meaning the clock
would start on the first missed meeting and run to the date of the next regularly scheduled
meeting, but if that is cancelled then the clock pauses until the next regularly scheduled
meeting; or
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Item 2.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 5 of 6
3. State that a Councilmember may not have more than a set number of absences from
regular Council meetings during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months.
d. Art. XIV Transitional Provisions: the transition paragraphs currently included can create
confusion as to other sections in the Charter and the Code.
i. Recommend repealing this to eliminate confusion since these provisions are no longer
needed.
4. Corrections
a. Art. IX, Sec. 2(e)(2) Recall: As a result of moving to rank choice voting this subsection should
clarify the percentage of votes from the preceding election is based on the total of first choice
votes cast. This was addressed in one place but not caught in the other.
i. Recommended change: “…percent of the total of first choice votes cast the last preceding
regular city election…”
b. Art. X, Sec.2 (e)(1) Initiative: In the newly passed language, Charter, Article X, Section 2(e)(1)
states that a petitioner will have 63 days to circulate an initiative petition after the City Clerk’s
approval of the form due to an error in the ordinance placing this item on the ballot. That needs to
be changed to 77 days to meet Council’s original intentions.
i. Recommended change: change 63 days to 77 days
Clarifications raising Policy Questions
1) Art II, Sec 2 (d) Qualifications of candidates and members, challenges: currently a protest as to a
Councilmember’s qualifications can be raised at any time and the Charter assigned the determination
of eligibility to the City Clerk pursuant to a procedure established by Council. Under the Charter’s
election provisions, the eligibility of a candidate is determined pursuant to statutory procedures.
Options:
i. Conform to state law which requires a protest be filed within 5 days of the statement of
sufficiency for a candidate, recommend that the clock start after accepting a nomination
or upon filing as a write in; or
ii. Provide for the use of the courts to determine the qualifications of a Councilmember; or
iii. Mirror other municipalities and state that Council is the judge of the qualifications of its
own members.
1. Example language: The Council shall be the judge of the election and
qualification of its own members and of the grounds for the forfeiture of the office
of Councilmember subject to review by the courts in case of a contest.
2) Art II, Sec. 18 Vacancies: Provision providing for delaying appointments to fill Council vacancy if 45-
day period to appoint overlaps with 45 days prior to election, this could lead to a lengthy vacancy on
Council. Additionally, the last two paragraphs in subsection (a) should be turned into their own
subsection(s) to clarify and make citing to them easier.
a. Recommendation: require that Council appoints the replacement officeholder unless the
appointment is too late to allow for candidates to seek nomination for the office at the next regular
election, in which case the appointment would wait until after the new Council is sworn in after the
regular election.
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Item 2.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 6 of 6
3) Art. IV, Sec 9(b)(1)(a) Conflicts of interest, sales to the City: This provision prohibits any
councilmember, or their relative, from having a financial interest in the sale to the City of any real or
personal property, etc. Recommend providing some exceptions to this prohibition.
a. Recommendation: Consider whether this absolute prohibition is necessary in light of the general
requirements for conflicts disclosure and removal from the decision making process. Or
b. Consider an exception where the City is in need of particular real property to carry out City purposes
or projects (subject to the conflicts disclosure requirements).
4) Art. IV, Sec. 9 (b)(2) Conflicts of interest, sales to the City: This provision arguably could prohibit
an employee from renting or leasing City provided housing.
a. Recommendation: provide an exception for rentals or leases to employees so long as the
renting/leasing employee has no involvement in the decision making.
NEXT STEPS
Based on the work session discussion, staff will prepare Charter amendment language for further
consideration either at a Council work session or for submittal to the voters. Further evaluation of how
these items may be combined and how many ballot questions would be required to accomplish the
changes will also be needed and may be a beneficial topic for further work session discussion.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Fort Collins Charter
2. Charter Amendments Presentation
Page 25
Item 2.
FORT COLLINS CHARTER
PREAMBLE
We, the people of Fort Collins, Colorado, under the authority of the Constitution of the State of
Colorado, do ordain, establish and adopt this Charter for our municipal government.
ARTICLE I. - FORM OF GOVERNMENT, POWERS, SEAL
Section 1. - Name, boundaries.
The citizens of Fort Collins, in the County of Larimer, State of Colorado, within the boundaries of
the municipal corporation as now established and heretofore existing under the name of Fort
Collins, or as hereafter established in the manner provided by law, shall continue to constitute a
body corporate and politic in perpetual succession, under the name of the City of Fort Collins, as a
home-rule municipal corporation under Article XX of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The
official seal for the city shall consist of the word "SEAL" surrounded by the words "City of Fort
Collins, Colorado."
Section 2. - Form of government.
The municipal government provided by this Charter shall be known as the "Council Manager
government." Pursuant to its provisions and subject only to the limitations and exceptions imposed
by the state Constitution and by this Charter, all powers of the city shall be vested in an elective
Council, hereinafter referred to as "the Council." All powers of the City of Fort Collins shall be
exercised in the manner prescribed by this Charter or, if the manner be not therein prescribed,
then in such manner as may be prescribed by ordinance.
(Ord. No. 15, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 3. - Succession to rights and liabilities.
The municipal corporation, the City of Fort Collins, shall continue to own, possess and hold all the
real and personal property heretofore owned, possessed, or held by the city, and shall continue to
manage and dispose of all trusts in connection therewith and succeed to all the rights, benefits,
and liabilities of the city.
Section 4. - Powers of city.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The city shall have all the powers granted to municipal corporations and to cities by the
Constitution and general laws of this state, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry
into execution all the powers granted. The enumeration of particular powers by this Charter shall
not be deemed to be exclusive, and in addition to the powers enumerated or implied, or
appropriate to the exercise of such powers, it is intended that the city shall have and may exercise
all powers of local self-government which, under the Constitution of this state, it would be
competent for this Charter specifically to enumerate.
ARTICLE II. - CITY COUNCIL
Section 1. - Membership; terms.
Composition of Council. The Council shall consist of seven (7) members, including a Mayor and
Mayor Pro Tem, elected as provided in this Article.
Method of election. The Mayor shall be nominated and elected from the city at large. The
remaining six (6) members shall be nominated and elected by Districts. The election of District
Councilmembers shall alternate between the election of representatives for Council Districts 1, 3
and 5 and the election of representatives for Council Districts 2, 4 and 6.
Council district boundaries. The city shall be divided into six (6) contiguous, reasonably compact
districts, each of which shall consist of contiguous, undivided general election precincts and, to
the extent reasonably possible, an equal number of inhabitants. The districts shall be numbered
consecutively in a clockwise fashion beginning with the northeast district, which shall be District 1.
The Council shall establish by ordinance the process for adjusting district boundaries and giving
notice of any proposed boundary changes, and the manner of protesting such proposed changes.
Terms. Except as otherwise provided in Section 18 of this Article and Section 3(d) of Article IX, the
term of office of the Mayor shall be two (2) years, and the term of office of all other members of
the Council shall be four (4) years each; provided, however, that all such officers shall serve until
their successors have been elected and have taken office. The terms of the Mayor and other
members of the Council shall begin when they take the oath of office, which shall occur as the
first order of business at a special Council meeting on the second Tuesday of January next after
the election, or, if appointed, the first regular or special Council meeting following their
appointment.
(Ord. No. 23, 1981, 2-17-81, approved, election 4-7-81; Ord. No. 94, 1972, 1-4-73, approved, election 2-20-73;
Ord. No. 197, 1986, § 1, Parts A, B, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 154, 1988, 12-20-88,
approved, election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 100, 1990, 9-4-90, approved, election 11-6-90; Ord. No. 15, 1997, § 1, 2-4-
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 011, 2011, § 1, 2-15-11, approved, election 4-5-11; Ord. No. 001,
2017, § 2, 1-17-17, approved, election 4-4-17; Ord. No. 081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
Section 2. - Quali cations of candidates and members; challenges.
An individual shall be eligible to be a candidate for the office of Councilmember if at the time of
the election he or she is a citizen of the United States; is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; has
been for one (1) year immediately preceding such election an elector of the city; and, in the case
of a District Councilmember, has continuously resided in the District from which he or she is to be
elected since the date of accepting any nomination for election under Article VIII, Section 3, of this
Charter.
No person prohibited by the Colorado constitution from serving in public office in Colorado shall
be eligible to be a candidate for, or hold, the office of Councilmember.
No person shall be eligible to stand for election to more than one (1) elective office at any single
municipal election. During a term of office, no member of the Council shall be an employee of the
city or hold any other elective public office. No person shall be elected or appointed to any city
office, position or employment for which the compensation was increased or fixed by the Council
while such person was a member thereof until after expiration of one (1) year from the date when
such person ceased to be a member of the Council.
Any registered elector may file with the City Clerk a written protest challenging the qualifications
of any member of the Council. Any such protest shall be resolved by the City Clerk as
expeditiously as possible but no more than forty-five (45) days from the date of filing of the
protest, pursuant to a procedure established by the Council by ordinance. In order to resolve
such protests, the City Clerk shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and
require the production of evidence. No protest shall be filed prior to the date of appointment or
the date of issuance of the certificate of election of a Councilmember, whichever is applicable, nor
shall any such protest, other than a protest based upon the fact of a felony conviction, be filed
more than fifteen (15) days after said date.
The fact that a Councilmember may be determined to have lacked any qualification for the office
of Councilmember during all or any portion of his or her term of office shall not affect the validity
of any action taken by the Council during such Councilmember's term of office.
(Res. No. 71-12, 2-11-71, approved, election 4-6-71; Ord. No. 5, 1983, approved, election 3-8-83; Ord. No.
202, 1986, § 1, Part X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 100, 1990, 9-4-90, approved, election 11-
6-90; Ord. No. 20, 1991, § 1, 2-19-91, approved, election 4-2-91; Ord. No. 20, 1993, § 1, 2-16-93, approved,
election 4-6-93; Ord. No. 15, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 062, 2023, § 2, 4-18-23,
approved, election 11-7-23)
Section 3. - Compensation of members.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(c)
For the purpose of this Section, Area Median Income shall mean Area Median Income for a single-
person household for the Fort Collins/Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area, as determined and
adjusted annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Commencing in 2023, compensation for members of the City Council shall be paid biweekly and
adjusted annually as follows:
For the Mayor: seventy-five percent (75%) of Area Median Income.
For the Mayor Pro Tem: sixty percent (60%) of Area Median Income.
For all other Councilmembers: fifty percent (50%) of Area Median Income.
Although members of City Council are generally not considered City employees, compensation for
service on City Council shall include the option to participate in the City organization's healthcare-
related benefits, on the same terms those benefits are available to City employees.
(Ord. No. 12, 1977, 2-15-77, approved, election 4-5-77; Ord. No. 198, 1986, § 1, Part A, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 100, 1990, 9-4-90, approved, election 11-6-90; Ord. No. 16, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97,
approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 082, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
Editor's note— See § 2-575 of the City Code for current salaries of Councilmembers.
Section 4. - Organization.
The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Council and shall be recognized as head of the city
government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor of the state for purposes of military
law. The Mayor shall execute and authenticate legal instruments requiring the signature of the
Mayor. The Mayor shall also perform such other duties as may be provided by ordinance which are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.
At the special meeting at which newly-elected officers take their oath of office as described in
Section 2(d) of this Article, the Council shall elect a Mayor Pro Tem for a two (2) year term from
among the members of the Council to act as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor. If
a vacancy occurs in the position of Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem shall become Mayor as provided in
Section 18(b) below.
If a vacancy occurs in the position of Mayor Pro Tem, whether through resignation or otherwise,
the Council shall at the first regular or special meeting after the occurrence of such vacancy elect a
new Mayor Pro Tem to serve for the remainder of the vacated term.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(Ord. No. 11, 1969, 2-27-69, approved, election 4-8-69; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part X, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 100, 1990, 9-4-90, approved, election 11-6-90; Ord. No. 15, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97,
approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 001, 2017, § 2, 1-17-17, approved, election 4-4-17; Ord. No. 011, 2021, §
2, 1-19-21, approved, election 4-6-21; Ord. No. 081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
Section 5. - Powers.
All powers of the city and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the Council
except as otherwise provided by this Charter. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Council shall
have power to:
appoint and remove the City Manager;
establish, change, consolidate or abolish administrative offices, service areas or agencies by
ordinance, upon report and recommendation of the City Manager, so long as the administrative
functions and public services established by this Charter are not abolished in any such
reorganization. The city shall provide for all essential administrative functions and public services,
including, but not limited to the following:
fire suppression and prevention;
police services;
finance and recordkeeping;
electric utility services;
water supply and wastewater services;
street maintenance;
storm drainage;
planning and zoning.
adopt the budget of the city;
authorize the issuance of bonds by ordinance as provided by this Charter;
inquire into and investigate any office, service area, or agency of the city and the official acts of
any officer or employee thereof, and to compel by subpoena attendance and testimony of
witnesses and production of books and documents;
adopt plats;
adopt and modify the official map of the city;
provide for independent audits of all funds and accounts of the city.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part A, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 15, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01,
approved, election 4-3-01)
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Item 2.
Section 6. - Ordinances, resolutions, motions.
The Council shall act by ordinance, resolution, or motion. The ayes and nays shall be recorded on
the passage of all ordinances, resolutions, and motions. Every Councilmember present shall vote; if
a member fails to vote when present, he or she shall be recorded as voting in the affirmative. All
legislative enactments and every act creating, altering, or abolishing any agency or office, fixing
compensation, making an appropriation, authorizing the borrowing of money, levying a tax,
establishing any rule or regulation for the violation of which a penalty is imposed, or placing any
burden upon or limiting the use of private property, shall be by ordinance, which shall not be so
altered or amended on the final passage as to change the original purpose.
All ordinances, except the annual appropriation ordinance and any ordinance making a general
codification of ordinances, shall be confined to one (1) subject which shall be clearly expressed in
the title. All ordinances shall be formally introduced at a regular or special Council meeting in
written or printed form by any member of the Council and considered on first reading and action
taken thereon. No ordinance, except an emergency ordinance, shall be finally passed on the first
reading or at the meeting at which it is first introduced. An emergency ordinance may be formally
introduced at a special Council meeting and action taken thereon, including final passage at such
special meeting. Reading of an ordinance shall consist only of reading the title thereof, provided
that copies of the full ordinance proposed shall have been available in the office of the City Clerk at
least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time such ordinance is introduced for each member of the
City Council, and for inspection and copying by the general public, and provided further that any
member of the City Council may request that an ordinance be read in full at any reading of the
same, in which case such ordinance shall be read in full at such reading. Final passage of all
ordinances except emergency ordinances shall be at a regular Council meeting. Emergency
ordinances shall require for passage the affirmative vote of at least five (5) members of the Council
and shall contain a specific statement of the nature of the emergency. No ordinance granting any
franchise or special privilege which involves a benefit to any private person or entity shall ever be
passed as an emergency ordinance.
The enacting clause of all ordinances passed by the Council shall be as follows: "Be it ordained by
the Council of the City of Fort Collins."
(Ord. No. 3, 1961, 2-23-61, approved, election 4-4-61; Ord. No. 94, 1972, 1-4-73, approved, election 2-20-73;
Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part X, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part A, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 7. - Ordinances, publication and e ective date.
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Item 2.
Every proposed ordinance, except an emergency ordinance, shall be published in full at least seven
(7) days before its final passage on the city's official internet web site. In addition, each such
ordinance shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city by number and title
only, together with a statement that the full text is available for public inspection and acquisition in
the office of the City Clerk and on the city's internet web site. Both publications shall contain a
notice of the date when said proposed ordinance will be presented for final passage. The City Clerk
shall, within seven (7) days after final passage of any such ordinance, publish such ordinance in the
same method as is required for the first publication. All ordinances, except emergency ordinances,
shall take effect on the tenth day following their passage. An emergency ordinance shall take effect
upon passage and shall be published as provided above within seven (7) days thereof.
Standard codes and codifications of ordinances of the city may be published by title and reference
in whole or in part.
Ordinances shall be signed by the Mayor, attested by the City Clerk and published without further
certification.
The Council may enact any ordinance which adopts any code by reference in whole or in part
provided that before adoption of such ordinance the Council shall hold a public hearing thereon
and notice of the hearing shall be published twice in the newspaper of general circulation,
published in the city, one (1) of such publications to be at least eight (8) days preceding the hearing
and the other at least fifteen (15) days preceding the hearing. Such notice shall state the time and
place of the hearing and shall also state that copies of the code to be adopted are on file with the
City Clerk and open to public inspection. The notice shall also contain a description which the
Council deems sufficient to give notice to persons interested as to the subject matter of such code
and the name and address of the agency by which it has been promulgated. The ordinance
adopting any such code shall set forth in full any penalty clause in connection with such code.
(Ord. No. 11, 1967, 2-9-67, approved, election 4-4-67; Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73;
Ord. No. 205, 1984, approved, election 3-5-85; Ord. No. 15, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord.
No. 93, 2005, § 1, 9-6-05, approved election 11-1-05)
Section 8. - Disposition of ordinances.
A true copy of every ordinance, when adopted, shall be numbered and recorded in a book marked
"Ordinance Record," and adoption and publication shall be authenticated by the signatures of the
Mayor and the City Clerk, and by the certificate of the publisher, respectively. The ordinances as
adopted by the vote of the qualified electors of the city shall be separately numbered and
recorded.
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Item 2.
(1)
Section 9. - Ordinance codi cation.
The Council shall cause the permanent ordinances to be codified. Such codification may be of the
entire body of permanent ordinances or of the ordinances on some particular subject and may be
re-enacted by the Council or authenticated in such other manner as may be designated by
ordinance. No codification ordinance shall be invalid on the grounds that it deals with more than
one (1) subject. The first codification shall be completed within five (5) years of the effective date of
this Charter and subsequent codifications shall be made thereafter as deemed necessary by the
Council, and all permanent ordinances adopted thereafter shall be codified at least once a year.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part P, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 10. - Proof of charter and ordinances.
This Charter and any ordinance passed by the Council may be proved by a copy thereof certified to
by the City Clerk under the seal of the city and, when printed in a book or pamphlet form
purporting to be authorized by the city, the same shall be received as prima facie evidence by
courts without further proof.
Section 11. - Meetings, quorum, executive session.
The Council shall hold regular meetings at such time and place as it may prescribe by ordinance
and shall prescribe the manner in which special meetings may be called. Notice of any special
meeting shall be given to all Councilmembers no less than one (1) day prior to such meeting. All
meetings shall be open to the public. A majority of the members of Council shall constitute a
quorum sufficient to transact business. A smaller number can adjourn a meeting to a later date
and time, and in the absence of all members, the City Clerk may adjourn any meeting for not
longer than one (1) week. In the event of an emergency, natural disaster, or unforeseen
circumstance that renders the holding of a meeting undesirable or impracticable, the City Manager
may, with agreement of the Mayor, cancel a City Council meeting and shall make a reasonable
attempt to notify the public and the other members of Council of such cancellation before the
scheduled time of the meeting. No other action, except to adjourn, may be taken by the Council in
the absence of a quorum, unless the absence of a quorum is due to the filing of conflict of interest
disclosure statements by all absent members, in which event at least three (3) remaining members
may transact business. By majority vote of those present and voting, the Council may approve any
action of the Council except the passage of emergency ordinances and the approval of executive
sessions. By two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting, the Council may go into executive
session, which shall be closed to the public. Executive sessions may only be held to:
discuss personnel matters; or
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Item 2.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
consult with attorneys representing the city regarding specific legal questions involving
litigation or potential litigation and/or the manner in which particular policies, practices or
regulations of the city may be affected by existing or proposed provisions of federal, state or
local law; or
consider water and real property acquisitions and sales by the city; or
consider electric utility matters if such matters pertain to issues of competition in the electric
utility industry.
(Ord. No. 94, 1972, 1-4-73, approved, election 2-20-73; Ord. No. 12, 1977, 2-15-77, approved, election 4-5-77;
Ord. No. 19, 1993, § 1, 2-16-93, approved, election 4-6-93; Ord. No. 14, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election
4-8-97; Ord. No. 002, 2017, § 2, 1-17-17, approved, election 4-4-17)
Section 12. - City Clerk.
With the approval of the Council, the City Manager shall appoint a City Clerk who shall act as Clerk
of the Council and who while so employed shall be a resident of the Fort Collins Urban Growth
Area. The City Clerk shall:
give notice of Council meetings;
keep a journal of Council proceedings;
authenticate by his or her signature and permanently record in full all ordinances and
resolutions; and
perform other duties required by this Charter or by the City Manager.
(Ord. No. 209, 1984, 1-15-85, approved, election 3-5-85; Ord. No. 13, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-
8-97)
Section 13. - Council not to interfere with administrative service.
Except for purposes of inquiry, the Council and its members shall deal with the administrative
service of the city solely through the City Manager, and neither the Council nor any member shall
give orders to any subordinates of the City Manager either publicly or privately.
Section 14. - Licenses, permits.
The Council may provide for licenses and permits, and fees therefor, for regulatory purposes. The
Council shall provide an administrative procedure for the hearing and determination of appeals
relating to issuance, suspension or revocation of such licenses and permits. The Council itself may
hear and decide appeals.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part Q, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
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Item 2.
(a)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Section 15. - Surety bonds.
The Council shall require the City Manager, the Financial Officer, and other employees transacting
financial business of the city to furnish bonds with such surety and in such amounts as the Council
may determine.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part I, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 16. - Contracts with other governmental bodies.
The Council may, by ordinance or resolution, enter into contracts with other governmental bodies
to furnish governmental services and make charges for such services, or enter into cooperative or
joint activities with other governmental bodies.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73)
Section 17. - Independent annual audit.
The Council shall provide for an independent audit at least annually by a certified public
accountant of all books and accounts of the city, and shall publish a summary thereof once in the
manner provided for publication of legal notices within seven (7) months after the end of each
fiscal year.
(Ord. No. 206, 1984, 1-15-85, approved, election 3-5-85; Ord. No. 014, 2021, § 2, 1-19-21, approved, election
4-6-21)
Section 18. - Vacancies.
A vacancy exists when a Councilmember:
dies, resigns, or moves from the city or the District from which elected or appointed;
assumes another elective office;
fails to attend all regular and special meetings of the Council for sixty (60) consecutive days
unless excused by Council resolution;
is judicially declared mentally incompetent;
is convicted of a felony that disqualifies the Councilmember from serving in public office in
Colorado under the Colorado Constitution, or is declared by the City Clerk, more than sixty
(60) days after the date of issuance of the certificate of election of such Councilmember, to
have previously been convicted of a disqualifying felony pursuant to a written protest filed
under Section 2 of this article; or
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Item 2.
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
in the case of an appointed member of the Council, is declared by the City Clerk to lack any qualification for
the office of Councilmember.
Except for the office of Mayor, any vacancy on the Council shall be filled within forty-five (45) days
by appointment of the Council. The person so appointed shall serve until the next regular election,
when the electors will select a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, if any. This
selection process shall be subject to the following exception: If the time for filling the vacancy by
appointment would fall within forty-five (45) days prior to any regular election, and the remaining
unexpired term of the Councilmember to be replaced is more than two (2) years, then the vacancy
shall be filled by the newly constituted Council following their election, within forty-five (45) days
after their terms of office begin.
Under this exception, the term of office of the Councilmember appointed shall run for the
remainder of the replaced Councilmember's term. Any person appointed to fill a Councilmember's
vacated position shall have all the qualifications required of regularly elected Councilmembers. In
the case of a vacancy representing a member elected from a District, any person appointed or
elected to fill such vacancy shall be from the same District, as such District is constituted at the
time of the appointment or election.
The following shall apply to filling vacancies in the office of Mayor:
If the position of Mayor becomes vacant more than forty-five (45) days prior to the next
regular election, the Mayor Pro Tem shall become Acting Mayor, and the Council shall elect a
new Mayor Pro Tem. Both the Acting Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem shall serve until the next
regular election, at which time the office of Mayor shall be filled by the electors for a new
term, and the Acting Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem shall resume their duties as Councilmembers
for the remainder of their unexpired terms of office, if any. The vacancy on the Council
created by the Mayor Pro Tem assuming the office of Mayor shall be filled in accordance with
the provisions of Section 18(a) above.
If the position of Mayor becomes vacant within the forty-five (45) days prior to any regular
election, the duties of the Mayor shall be immediately assumed by the Mayor Pro Tem, who
shall serve as Acting Mayor until said regular election, at which time the office of Mayor shall
be filled by the electors for a new term. Pending the election and the commencement of the
term of the newly elected Mayor, the Council shall consist of six (6) members, and the Council
shall elect an interim Mayor Pro Tem. After the election, the Acting Mayor and Interim Mayor
Pro Tem shall resume their duties as Councilmembers for the remainder of their unexpired
terms of office, if any.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Mayor Pro Tem or any Councilmember from standing for
election to the office of Mayor.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part L, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 154, 1988, 12-20-88, approved,
election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 100, 1990, 9-4-90, approved, election 11-6-90; Ord. No. 15, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97,
approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 062, 2023, § 2, 4-18-23, approved, election 11-7-23)
ARTICLE III. - CITY MANAGER
Section 1. - Appointment, quali cations.
The Council shall appoint and fix the compensation of a City Manager, who shall be the chief
executive officer and head of the administrative branch of the city government. The City Manager
shall be appointed on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications, with
special reference to actual experience in and knowledge of accepted practice in respect to the
duties of the office. Prior to appointment, the City Manager need not be a resident of the city, but
during his or her tenure in office the City Manager shall reside within the city.
No member of Council shall be appointed City Manager during the term for which he or she has
been elected nor within one (1) year after the expiration of such term.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 13, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97)
Section 2. - Powers, duties.
The City Manager shall be responsible to the Council for the proper administration of all affairs of
the city and to that end shall have power and be required to:
appoint and, when necessary for the good of the service, remove all heads of service areas and
employees of the city except as otherwise provided by this Charter;
prepare the budget annually and submit it to the Council and be responsible for its
administration after adoption;
participate in discussions of the Council in an advisory capacity;
prepare and submit to the Council as of the end of the fiscal year a complete report on the
finances and administrative activities of the city for the preceding year, and make written or oral
reports to the Council when required by it as to any particular matter relating to the affairs of the
city within his or her supervision;
keep the Council advised of the financial condition and the future needs of the city, and make
recommendations to the Council;
enforce the laws and ordinances of the city;
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Item 2.
(a)
(1)
(2)
(3)
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required of the City Manager by the
Council not inconsistent with this Charter.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01,
approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 3. - Absence of City Manager.
To perform his or her duties during temporary absence or disability, the City Manager may
designate a qualified employee of the city by letter filed with the City Clerk. If the City Manager fails
to make such designation, the Council may by resolution appoint a qualified employee of the city to
perform the duties of the City Manager until he or she returns or his or her disability ceases.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 13, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97)
Section 4. - Removal of City Manager.
The Council shall appoint the City Manager for an indefinite term and may remove a City Manager
by majority vote of the Councilmembers. If a City Manager is removed by this method, at least
thirty (30) days before such removal takes effect, the Council shall by majority vote of its members
adopt a resolution stating the reasons for the removal, which resolution may also provide for
interim suspension. Upon such removal or suspension by this method the Council shall cause to be
paid to the City Manager any unpaid balance of his or her salary for the current month and the
salary for the next calendar month.
(Res. No. 72-30, 4-6-72, approved, election 5-23-72; Ord. No. 12, 1977, 2-15-77, approved, election 4-5-77;
Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part B, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
ARTICLE IV. - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. - Appointive boards.
The Council may, by ordinance, establish appointive boards and commissions. The ordinance
establishing such boards and commissions shall:
prescribe the powers, duties, and operating procedures of the board and commission;
establish the terms of office of the board or commission members, including initial
overlapping terms;
establish the amount of compensation, if any, to be paid to the board or commission
members; and
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Item 2.
(4)
(b)
state whether the board or commission shall have alternate members authorized to vote
when serving in the absence of regular members.
All board and commission members shall be subject to removal by the Council with or without
cause. Any vacancy during the unexpired term of any member shall be filled by the Council for
the remainder of the term. Each board and commission shall choose its own officers from among
its members. The Council may change any or all of the powers, duties and procedures of any
board or commission and may abolish any board or commission which is not required by this
Charter or law.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part C, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 18, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97)
Section 2. - Administrative branch.
The administrative branch of the city government shall be composed of the offices, service areas
and agencies established by ordinance upon report and recommendation of the City Manager.
Administrative functions and duties may be assigned and distributed among offices, service areas
or departments thereof, or agencies of the administrative branch by regulations issued by the City
Manager. The City Manager shall have power, whenever the interest of the city requires, to assign
any employee of one (1) service area to perform duties in another service area.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part D, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 3. - Residency requirement.
Directors of a city service area or a group of city service areas, deputy city managers, and assistant
city managers shall reside within the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area during their tenure in office,
but need not reside within the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area prior to their appointment. City
department heads may live outside the Urban Growth Area during their tenure in office, but only if
their places of residence are within five miles of the city limits, as measured by a straight line
connecting the parcel of property upon which the residence is situated to the nearest boundary
line of the city. City department heads appointed prior to March 6, 1985, shall not be subject to this
residency requirement.
(Ord. No. 209, 1984, 1-15-85, approved, election 3-5-85; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part E, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 13, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 21, 2001, § 1, 2-20-01,
approved, election 4-3-01; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 4. - Oath of o ce.
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Item 2.
Before entering upon the duties of the office, each member of Council, the City Manager, the City
Attorney, the City Clerk, the Judge of the Municipal Court, and each director of a service area shall
take, subscribe before, and file with the City Clerk an oath or affirmation that he or she will support
the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Colorado, this Charter, and
the ordinances of the City of Fort Collins, and that he or she will faithfully perform the duties of the
office or position. The City Clerk shall take and subscribe the oath before a notary public.
(Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 5. - Records to be public.
All city records shall be available for public inspection, subject only to reasonable restrictions. Upon
payment of a reasonable fee, a copy or a certified copy of any city record shall be furnished by the
custodian thereof. A certified copy of any city record shall be prima facie evidence of its contents.
Section 6. - Ordinances remain in force.
All ordinances, resolutions, rules, or regulations in force in Fort Collins, a municipal corporation, at
the time this Charter takes effect shall continue in full force and effect until superseded, amended,
or repealed, except that those inconsistent with this Charter are hereby repealed.
Section 7. - Publication.
Whenever legal notice or other publication is required by this Charter, or by ordinance, rule, or
regulation, such notice shall be published at least once in a local newspaper of general circulation
in the city, which is devoted to dissemination of news of a general character, unless a different
form of notice is specified in this Charter or in the ordinance, rule, or regulation requiring the
notice.
(Ord. No. 19, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 8. - Charter amendments.
This Charter may be amended at any time in the manner provided by the laws of the State of
Colorado. The Council may prescribe by ordinance, upon recommendation of the City Clerk, a
general form of petition for citizen-initiated Charter amendments which shall contain warnings and
notices to signers as necessary.
(Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part D, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 9. - Con icts of interest.
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Item 2.
(a)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Definitions. For purposes of construction of this Section 9, the following words and phrases shall
have the following meanings:
Business means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise,
association, organization, self-employed individual, holding company, joint stock company,
receivership, trust, activity or entity.
Financial interest means any interest equated with money or its equivalent. Financial interest shall
not include:
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as an employee of a business, or as a
holder of an ownership interest in such 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 the officer, employee or relative;
the interest that an officer, employee or 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;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a recipient of public services when
such services are generally provided by the city on the same terms and conditions to all
similarly situated citizens, regardless of whether such recipient is an officer, employee or
relative;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a recipient of a commercially
reasonable loan made in the ordinary course of business by a lending institution, in such
lending institution;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a shareholder in a mutual or common
investment fund in the holdings of such fund unless the shareholder actively participates in
the management of such fund;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a policyholder in an insurance
company, a depositor in a duly established savings association or bank, or a similar interest-
holder, unless the discretionary act of such person, as an officer or employee, could
immediately, definitely and measurably affect the value of such policy, deposit or similar
interest;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as an owner of government-issued
securities unless the discretionary act of such owner, as an officer or employee, could
immediately, definitely and measurably affect the value of such securities; or
the interest that an officer or employee has in the compensation received from the city for
personal services provided to the city as an officer or employee.
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Item 2.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(b)
(1)
a.
b.
c.
(2)
Officer or employee means any person holding a position by election, appointment or employment
in the service of the city, whether part-time or full-time, including a member of any authority,
board, committee or commission of the city, other than an authority that is:
established under the provisions of the Colorado Revised Statutes;
governed by state statutory rules of ethical conduct; and
expressly exempted from the provisions of this Article by ordinance of the Council.
Personal interest means any interest (other than a financial interest) by reason of which an officer
or employee, or a relative of such officer or employee, 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. Personal interest shall not include:.
the interest that an officer, employee or 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 an officer, employee or 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; or
the interest that an officer or employee has in the compensation, benefits, or terms and
conditions of his or her employment with the city.
Public body means the Council or any authority, board, committee, commission, service area,
department or office of the city.
Relative means the spouse or minor child of the officer or employee, any person claimed by the
officer or employee as a dependent for income tax purposes, or any person residing in and sharing
with the officer or employee the expenses of the household.
Rules of conduct concerning conflicts of interest.
Sales to the city. No officer or employee, or relative of such officer or employee, shall have a
financial interest in the sale to the city of any real or personal property, equipment, material,
supplies or services, except personal services provided to the city as an officer or employee,
if:
such officer or employee is a member of the Council;
such officer or employee exercises, directly or indirectly, any decision-making authority on
behalf of the city concerning such sale; or
in the case of services, such officer or employee exercises any supervisory authority in his
or her role as a city officer or employee over the services to be rendered to the city.
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Item 2.
(3)
(4)
(5)
Purchases from the city. No officer, employee or relative shall, directly or indirectly, purchase any real or
personal property from the city, except such property as is offered for sale at an established price, and not
by bid or auction, on the same terms and conditions as to all members of the general public.
Interests in other decisions. Any officer or employee who has, or whose relative has, a
financial or personal interest in any decision of any public body of which he or she is a
member or to which he or she makes recommendations, shall, upon discovery thereof,
disclose such interest in the official records of the city in the manner prescribed in subsection
(4) hereof, and shall refrain from voting on, attempting to influence, or otherwise participating
in such decision in any manner as an officer or employee.
Disclosure procedure. If any officer or employee has any financial or personal interest
requiring disclosure under subsection (3) of this section, such person shall immediately upon
discovery thereof declare such interest by delivering a written statement to the City Clerk,
with copies to the City Manager and, if applicable, to the chairperson of the public body of
which such person is a member, which statement shall contain the name of the officer or
employee, the office or position held with the city by such person, and the nature of the
interest. If said officer or employee shall discover such financial or personal interest during
the course of a meeting or in such other circumstance as to render it practically impossible to
deliver such written statement prior to action upon the matter in question, said officer or
employee shall immediately declare such interest by giving oral notice to all present, including
a description of the nature of the interest.
Violations. Any contract made in violation of this Section shall be voidable by the city. If voided
within one (1) year of the date of execution thereof, the party obtaining payment by reason of
such contract shall, if required by the city, forthwith return to the city all or any designated
portion of the monies received by such individual from the city by reason of said contract,
together with interest at the lawful maximum rate for interest on judgments.
(Res. No. 71-12, 2-11-71, approved, election 4-6-71; Ord. No. 155, 1988, 12-20-88, approved, election 3-7-89;
Ord. No. 10, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election
4-3-01; Ord. No. 003, 2017, § 2, 1-17-17, approved, election 4-4-17)
Section 10. - Penalties for violation of Charter.
Any violation of a provision of this Charter shall be deemed a misdemeanor. Any person convicted
of such violation may be punished by a fine or imprisonment, or by both such fine and
imprisonment, the maximum amount and term of which shall be no less than that established by
ordinance for misdemeanor violations of the city Code. Said maximum penalty shall be set by the
Council by ordinance. Any officer or employee of the city convicted of such a violation shall be
deprived of his or her office or employment and shall be ineligible to any city office or employment
for two (2) years thereafter.
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Item 2.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 162, 1988, 12-20-88, approved,
election 3-7-89)
Section 11. - Construction of words.
Whenever such construction is applicable, words used in this Charter importing singular or plural
number may be construed so that one (1) number includes both; words importing masculine
gender may be construed to apply to the feminine gender as well; and the word "person" may
extend to and include firm and corporation; provided that these rules of construction shall not
apply to any part of this Charter containing express provisions excluding such construction or
where the subject matter or context is repugnant thereto.
(Ord. No. 19, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 12. - Construction of Charter.
In the event any section or part of a section of this Charter shall be declared unconstitutional or
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remaining sections and parts of
sections shall not be affected thereby.
Section 13. - Outgoing o cers.
All officers of the city whose terms of office terminate shall deliver to their successors all papers,
records, and property of every kind in their possession or custody by virtue of their office, and shall
account to them or to any authority designated by the council, for all funds, credits, or property of
any kind with which they are properly chargeable as such officials.
Section 14. - Eminent domain.
In carrying out the powers and duties imposed upon it by this Charter or by the general statutes,
the city shall have power to acquire within or without its corporate limits lands, buildings, and
other properties, and any interest in land and air rights over land, and may take the same upon
paying just compensation to the owner as provided by law.
Section 15. - Improvement districts.
A public work or improvement, the costs of which in whole or in part are to be assessed by the city,
may be initiated by the Council on recommendation of the City Manager, or on petition of property
owners in such number and in such form as may be prescribed by ordinance. The Council shall by
ordinance prescribe the method of making such improvements and the assessments for their cost.
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Item 2.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part S, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 16. - Limitation of actions.
No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished in the city's Municipal Court for any violation of
this Charter unless a summons and complaint or penalty assessment notice for the violation is
served on such person within one (1) year of the commission of the violation.
(Ord. No. 17, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
ARTICLE V. - FINANCE ADMINISTRATION
Part I - Budget and Financial Management
Section 1. - Fiscal and accounting year.
The fiscal and accounting year shall be the same as the calendar year. "Budget term" shall mean
the fiscal year(s) for which any budget is adopted and in which it is to be administered. Council
shall set by ordinance the term for which it shall adopt budgets in accordance with this Article.
(Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 2. - Budget estimates.
On or before the first Monday in September preceding each budget term, the City Manager shall
file with the City Clerk a proposed budget for the ensuing budget term with an explanatory
message. The proposed budget shall provide a complete financial plan for each fund of the city and
shall include appropriate financial statements for each type of fund showing comparative figures
for the last completed fiscal year, comparative figures for the current year, and the City Manager's
recommendations for the ensuing budget term.
(Ord. No. 23, 1981, 2-17-81, approved, election 4-7-81; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 3. - Public record, hearing.
The City Manager's proposed budget shall be a public record and open to the public for inspection
and copy. The Council shall, within ten (10) days after the filing of said proposed budget with the
City Clerk, set a time certain for public hearing thereon and cause notice of such public hearing to
be given by publication. At the hearing, all persons may appear and comment on any or all items
and estimates in the proposed budget. Upon completion of the public hearing the Council may
revise the budget estimates.
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Item 2.
(Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 4. - Adoption of budget and appropriation of funds.
After said public hearing and before the last day of November preceding the budget term, the
Council shall adopt the budget for the ensuing term. The adoption of the budget shall be by
ordinance. Before the last day of November of each fiscal year, the Council shall appropriate such
sums of money as it deems necessary to defray all expenditures of the city during the ensuing
fiscal year. The appropriation of funds shall be accomplished by passage of the annual
appropriation ordinance. Such appropriation of funds shall be based upon the budget as approved
by the Council but need not be itemized further than by fund with the exception of capital projects
and federal or state grants which shall be summarized by individual project or grant.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 23, 1981, 2-17-81, approved, election 4-7-81;
Ord. No. 10, 1991, § 1(a), 2-19-91, approved, election 4-2-91; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-
8-97)
Section 5. - Levy.
The annual appropriation ordinance shall also include the levy in mills, as fixed by the Council,
upon each dollar of the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the city, such levy
representing the amount of taxes for city purposes necessary to provide, during the ensuing fiscal
year, for all properly authorized expenditures to be incurred by the city, including interest and
principal of general obligation bonds. The Council shall thereupon cause the total levy to be
certified by the City Clerk to the county consistent with applicable state statutes, which shall extend
the same upon the tax list of the current year in a separate column entitled "City of Fort Collins
Taxes," and shall include said city taxes in his or her general warrant to the County Treasurer for
collection. If the Council fails in any year to make said tax levy as above provided, then the rate last
fixed shall be the levy fixed for the ensuing fiscal year and the Financial Officer shall so certify.
(Ord. No. 23, 1981, 2-17-81, approved, election 4-7-81; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts I, X, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 10, 1991, § 1(a), 2-19-91, approved, election 4-2-91; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97,
approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 6. - Maximum mill levy.
The mill levy shall not exceed fifteen (15) mills on each dollar of assessed valuation of taxable
property within the city for all purposes. Any mill levy in excess of the fifteen (15) mills aforesaid
shall be absolutely void as to the excess and it shall be unlawful for the Assessor to extend and for
the Treasurer to collect any such excess.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Section 7. - E ect of appropriation and levy.
After the commencement of the fiscal year, the annual appropriation ordinance and levy shall be
irrepealable and the several amounts stated in the adopted budget and annual appropriation
ordinance as proposed expenditures for such fiscal year shall be deemed appropriated for the
purposes therein specified.
(Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 8. - Appropriations not to exceed revenue; appropriation required for expenditures and obligations.
No appropriation shall be made by the Council which exceeds the revenues, reserves or other
funds anticipated or available at the time of the appropriation, except for emergency expenses
incurred by reason of a casualty, accident or unforeseen contingency arising after the passage of
the annual appropriation ordinance.
It shall be unlawful for any service area, officer or agent of the city to incur or contract any
expense or liability or make any expenditure for or on behalf of the city unless an appropriation
therefor shall have been made by the Council. Any authorization of an expenditure or incurring of
an obligation by any officer or employee of the city in violation of this provision shall be null and
void from its inception.
Nothing herein shall apply to or limit the authority conferred by this Article in relation to bonded
indebtedness, or to the collection of moneys by special assessments for local improvements; nor
shall it be construed to prevent the making of any contract or lease providing for expenditures
beyond the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, so long as such contract or lease is made
subject to an appropriation of funds sufficient to meet the requirements of Section 8(b) above.
(Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-
01)
Section 9. - Supplemental appropriations.
The Council, upon recommendation of the City Manager, may make supplemental appropriations
by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year; provided, however, that the total amount of such
supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year,
shall not exceed the then current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues and all other funds
to be received by the city during the fiscal year. This provision shall not prevent the Council from
appropriating by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year such revenues and funds for
expenditure as may be available from reserves accumulated in prior years, notwithstanding that
such reserves were not previously appropriated.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 013, 2021, § 2, 1-19-21, approved, election 4-
6-21)
Section 10. - Transfer of appropriations.
During the fiscal year, the City Manager may transfer any unexpended and unencumbered
appropriated amount within the same fund.
During the fiscal year, the Council may, by ordinance, upon the recommendation of the City
Manager, transfer any unexpended and unencumbered appropriated amount or portion thereof
from one (1) fund or capital project account to another fund or capital project account, provided
that:
the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged;
the purpose for which the funds were initially appropriated no longer exists; or
the proposed transfer is from a fund or capital project account in which the amount
appropriated exceeds the amount needed to accomplish the purpose specified in the
appropriation ordinance.
(Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 11. - Lapsed appropriations.
All appropriations unexpended or unencumbered at the end of the fiscal year shall lapse to the
applicable general or special fund, except the Council may designate in an ordinance appropriating
funds for capital projects and for federal, state and private grants and donations that such funds
shall not lapse until the completion of the capital project or until the earlier of the expiration of the
federal, state or private grant or donation or the city's expenditure of all funds received from such
grant or donation.
Nothing herein shall limit the ability of the Council to terminate a capital project or a federal, state
or private grant or donation at any time prior to completion of the project or prior to expiration of
or the city's expenditure of all funds from the grant or donation.
(Ord. No. 23, 1981, 2-17-81, approved, election 4-7-81; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97;
Ord. No. 013, 2021, § 2, 1-19-21, approved, election 4-6-21)
Section 12. - Deposit of public funds.
The cash balance of the city shall be deposited or invested in a manner approved by the Council by
ordinance or resolution.
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Item 2.
(Ord. No. 6, 1975, 2-18-75, approved, election 4-8-75; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 13. - Collection of taxes.
Unless the Council otherwise provides by ordinance or resolution, the County Treasurer shall
collect city taxes in the same manner and at the same time as general taxes are collected under the
laws of the State of Colorado. In like manner, the Council may provide for collection of special
improvement assessments by said Treasurer. All laws of this state for the assessment of property
and the levy and collection of general taxes, sale of property for taxes and the redemption of the
same shall apply and have the same effect with respect to all taxes for the city as general taxes,
except as modified by this Charter. On or before the tenth day of each month or as frequently as
the Council may prescribe by ordinance, the County Treasurer shall report and pay to the Financial
Officer the amount of tax collections of the city for the preceding month. The estimated costs of tax
collections and losses shall be included in the budget.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part I, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part B, 12-16-86,
approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 14. - Audit and payments.
No demand for money against the city shall be approved, allowed, audited, or paid unless it is in
writing, dated and sufficiently itemized to identify the expenditure, and payment thereof approved
by the Financial Officer and the person or service area creating the obligation.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part I, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 15. - Appropriations forbidden.
No appropriation shall be made for any charitable, industrial, educational, or benevolent purposes
to any person, corporation, or organization not under the absolute control of the city, nor to any
denominational or sectarian institution or association.
Section 16. - City not to pledge credit.
The city shall not lend or pledge its credit or faith, directly or indirectly, or in any manner to or in
aid of any private person or entity for any amount or any purpose whatever, or become
responsible for any debt, contract, or liability thereof.
(Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part D, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Part II - Municipal Borrowing
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Item 2.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
Section 18. - Forms of borrowing.
The city may borrow money and issue the following securities to evidence such indebtedness:
short-term notes.
general obligation securities.
revenue securities.
refunding securities.
special assessment securities.
tax increment securities.
any other securities not in contravention of this Charter.
(Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part E, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97)
Section 19.1. - Short-term notes.
The city is hereby authorized to borrow money, by Council action and without an election, in
anticipation of the collection of taxes or other revenues and to issue short-term notes to evidence
the amount so borrowed. Any such short-term notes payable in whole or part from ad valorem
taxes shall be issued after the annual levy of taxes and be payable in full within twelve (12) months
from their date, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Charter.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-74)
Section 19.2. - General obligation securities.
Except as otherwise provided in this Part II of Article V of this Charter, no securities payable in
whole or in part from the proceeds of ad valorem taxes of the city shall be issued until the question
of their issuance has, at a special or regular election, been submitted to a vote of the electors of
the city and approved by a majority of those voting on the question. The aggregate amount of such
securities as are described in this Section, excluding securities which have been refunded and
defeased, shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within
the city as shown by the last assessment for city purposes. Securities issued for water purposes
may be issued by Council action without an election and shall not be included in the determination
of such debt limitation.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part F, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87)
Section 19.3. - Revenue securities.
The city, by Council action and without an election, may issue securities made payable solely from
revenues derived from the operation of the project or capital improvement acquired with the
securities' proceeds, or from other projects or improvements, or from the proceeds of any sales
tax, use tax or other excise tax, or solely from any source or sources or any combination thereof
other than ad valorem taxes of the city.
The Council may, by ordinance, establish any one or more of the city's water, wastewater, storm
drainage or electrical utilities as an enterprise of the city. The Council may also, by ordinance,
authorize any such city-owned enterprise, acting by and through the Council, sitting as the board
of the enterprise, to issue its own revenue bonds or other obligations (including refunding
securities) on behalf of the city, which revenue bonds or other obligations shall be payable solely
from the net revenues (including special assessments) derived from the operation of the
enterprise. Such revenue bonds or other obligations may be additionally secured by mortgages
on or security interests in any real or personal property of the city used in the operation of the
enterprise. Such revenue bonds or other obligations shall be issued by ordinance of the board of
the enterprise, adopted in the same manner and subject to referendum to the same extent as
ordinances of the Council.
The Council shall not appoint any persons other than its own members to serve on the board of
the enterprise or delegate to any other person or entity the powers reserved to the board of the
enterprise hereunder. Neither shall the Council authorize the board of the enterprise to acquire,
construct or install or hold title to or dispose of any city-owned property used in the operation of
the enterprise, to impose or adjust rates, fees, tolls or charges for the use of any such property or
for any service or commodity furnished by the enterprise, to levy special assessments or to
exercise any power reserved to the Council or other city officials by this Charter or otherwise (other
than the power to issue revenue bonds and other obligations).
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 18, 1993, § 1, 2-16-93, approved, election 4-
6-93)
Section 19.4. - Refunding securities.
The Council may authorize without an election issuance of refunding securities for the purpose of
refunding and providing for the payment of outstanding securities or other obligations of the city
as the same mature, or in advance of maturity by means of an escrow or otherwise. The ordinance
authorizing the issuance of such refunding securities may provide that the interest rate or principal
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
amount of the refunding securities be higher or lower than that of the securities being refunded,
provided that in the case of general obligation securities the total principal and interest payable on
the refunding securities does not exceed that of the securities being refunded. No refunding
securities (other than water refunding securities and tax increment refunding securities) issued for
the purpose of refunding revenue securities shall be issued without an election if such refunding
securities are made payable in whole or part from ad valorem taxes of the city.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part G, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87)
Section 19.5. - Special assessment securities.
Securities for any special or local improvement district, secured as provided in this Section, shall
not be subject to any debt limitation nor affect the city's debt incurring power, nor shall such
securities be required to be authorized at any election.
The city may include property owned by it within any special or local improvement district and
provide for the assessment of such property as it would any other property located within the
special or local improvement district. The city may without an election elect to pay any such
assessment in installments, and any such assessment, regardless of the source of payment
thereof, shall not be included within the limitation contained in Section 19.2 of Article V of this
Charter.
When all outstanding securities for a special or local improvement district have been fully paid
and money remains to the credit of the district, it may be transferred to a surplus and deficiency
fund. Whenever there is a deficiency in any special or local improvement district fund to meet the
payment of outstanding securities and interest due thereon, the deficiency may be paid out of
the surplus and deficiency fund.
Whenever three-fourths (¾) of the securities issued for a special or local improvement district
have been paid and cancelled and for any reason the remaining assessments are not paid in time
to redeem the final securities for the district, the city shall pay if so provided in the ordinance
authorizing issuance of the bonds, the securities when due and levy additional ad valorem taxes
necessary therefor and reimburse itself by collecting the unpaid assessments due the district.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part H, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 160, 1988, 12-20-88, approved, election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 161, 1988, 12-20-88,
approved, election 3-7-89)
Section 19.6. - Terms and disposal of securities.
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The terms and maximum interest rate of all securities shall be fixed by the ordinance authorizing
the borrowing and providing for its payment and all securities shall be sold or exchanged as
determined by the Council. If bonds are publicly sold, Council action awarding the sale of securities,
and thereby establishing the interest rates and price paid for the securities, may be by resolution.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73)
Section 19.7. - Limitation of actions.
No action or proceeding, at law or in equity, to review any elections, acts or proceedings, or to
question the validity of or enjoin the issuance or payment of any securities issued in accordance
with their terms, or the levy or collection of any assessments, or for any other relief against any
acts or proceedings of the city done or had under this Part II of Article V of this Charter, shall be
maintained against the city, unless commenced within thirty (30) days after the election or
performance of the act or the effective date of the resolution or ordinance complained of, or else
be thereafter perpetually barred.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73)
Section 19.8. - Tax increment securities.
The city, by Council action and without an election, may issue tax increment securities payable
from ad valorem tax revenues derived from the increased valuation for assessment of taxable
property within a plan of development or other similar area as defined by applicable state statutes.
Such securities shall be issued in accordance with such statutes or any ordinance adopted by the
Council not inconsistent with this Charter. Any securities issued pursuant to this Section shall not
be included in the determination of the debt limitation contained in Section 19.2 of Article V of this
Charter.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part I, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87)
Section 20. - No additional limitations.
Section 6 of Part I of Article V of this Charter shall have no application to the payment of securities
issued hereunder. Except as provided by this Part II of Article V of this Charter, there shall be no
limitations on the authority of the city to incur indebtedness or to issue securities.
(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73)
Part III. - Financial Administration Unit
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Section 21. - Financial o cer.
The City Manager shall appoint a Financial Officer who shall have special knowledge of municipal
accounting, taxation, budget making, and finance. Such Officer shall be the ex-officio City Treasurer
and head the administrative unit assigned the financial affairs of the city.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part G, 12-16-85, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97)
Section 22. - Powers and duties.
The Financial Officer shall have charge of the financial records and general and special funds of the
city, and shall collect, receive, and disburse all money belonging to the city, and shall have all other
duties required to administer properly the financial affairs of the city; to that end the Financial
Officer shall have authority and shall be required to:
maintain a general accounting system for the city government and each of its offices, service
areas, and agencies; exercise budgetary control over the same in accordance with the budget and
annual appropriation ordinance; prescribe the form of receipts, requisitions, warrants, and other
evidence of income and disbursements; audit before payment all bills, invoices, payrolls, and
other claims and charges against the city government; and with the advice of the City Attorney,
determine the regularity, legality, and correctness of such claims, demands, or charges;
advise the City Manager of the budget requirements of the Financial Administration Unit and
furnish estimates and information concerning other service areas, agencies, and boards as
requested by the City Manager;
advise service areas of remaining allotments;
disburse funds in a manner which will assure that budget appropriations are not exceeded and
that payments are not illegally made;
collect and hold all city funds; invest funds as directed by the Council by resolution or ordinance;
be responsible for all trust funds;
serve as custodian of all bonds, documents, and other evidences of indebtedness owned by the
city or under its control;
issue all licenses and collect the fees therefor; collect or receive funds of every description
belonging to, due to, or accruing to the city, including fines, forfeitures, penalties, taxes, water
rentals, sewer fees, and electric revenues;
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(i)
(j)
submit to the Council through the City Manager periodic statements of all accounts and funds, sufficiently
itemized in detail to show the exact financial condition of the city at a frequency established by the Council;
examine and approve all purchase contracts, orders, and other documents by which the city
incurs financial obligations, having previously ascertained that moneys have been appropriated
and allotted and will be available when the obligations become due and payable;
advise the City Manager of any financial irregularity in any service area.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part G, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-85; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part J, 12-16-86,
approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-
01, approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 23. - Separate utilities accounts.
The accounts of each utility owned and operated by the city shall be maintained in a separate fund
and kept separate and distinct from all other accounts of the city. Each utility fund shall be
accounted for utilizing the basis of accounting appropriate for an enterprise fund, and shall contain
a reasonable allowance for depreciation and obsolescence. All expenses incurred by service areas
in rendering services to any utility owned and operated by the city shall be fully paid by such utility
on a "cost of service" basis as determined by the City Manager. Each utility shall be fully paid for all
services rendered by such utility to other city service areas. If the utility is subject to a payment to
the general fund in lieu of taxes and franchise fees, an estimate shall be made of the amount of
taxes and franchise fees that would be chargeable against such utility if privately owned, and the
amount of such payment, as determined by the Council under Article XII, Section 6 of this Charter,
shall be charged against the utility fund.
(Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part K, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 24. - Responsibility for funds.
All money belonging to the city and in the custody of city employees shall be paid daily to the
Financial Officer.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part J, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 25. - Creation of funds.
The Financial Officer may create such funds as he or she deems appropriate to carry out the
provisions of this Part III. The funds of the city shall include a general fund which shall be used to
account for all financial resources of the city except those required to be accounted for in another
fund.
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(Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part L, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97)
Part IV - Purchasing
Section 26. - Powers and duties.
The City Manager or designee shall appoint a Purchasing Agent who shall contract for all supplies,
materials, and equipment required or used by all service areas and agencies of the city, including
businesses and enterprises operated by the city.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts H, W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97,
approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-01)
Section 27. - Competitive bidding.
Before the Purchasing Agent makes any purchase of or contract for supplies, materials, or
equipment, he or she shall give ample opportunity for competitive bidding under such rules and
regulations, and with such exceptions as the Council may prescribe by ordinance.
(Ord. No. 12, 1967, 2-9-67, approved, election 4-4-67; Ord. No. 6, 1980, 1-16-80, approved, election 2-26-80;
Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts W, X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; )
Section 28. - Emergency purchases.
In case of emergency affecting the public peace, health, or safety, the Council may waive all
provisions for competitive bidding and direct the Purchasing Agent to purchase necessary supplies
in the open market at not more than commercial prices.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 29. - Contracts for improvements.
All city improvements constructed by an independent contractor shall be executed pursuant to a
written contract. Any such improvement, the cost of which exceeds an amount to be determined
by ordinance of the Council, shall be insured by a performance bond or other equivalent security
and submitted to a competitive bidding process resulting in award to the lowest responsible bidder
or a competitive proposal process; provided, however, that the Council may, by ordinance,
authorize the Purchasing Agent to exempt improvements from the competitive bidding and
competitive proposal processes.
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In the event that Council authorizes the city, rather than an independent contractor, to proceed
with the construction of an improvement, the services of the city shall be charged as a part of the
cost of the improvement.
(Ord. No. 6, 1980, 1-16-80, approved, election 2-26-80; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part W, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 12, 1991, § 1, 2-19-91, approved, election 4-2-91; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97,
approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 30. - Contracts for service.
The Council shall establish by ordinance a maximum term for contracts for service which may be
executed by the city without Council approval. No contract for service for a longer term shall be
made by the city, unless authorized by ordinance, which ordinance shall not be passed as an
emergency ordinance.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 13, 1991 § 1, 2-19-91,
approved, election 4-2-91)
Section 31. - Contracts e ective only when bond funds available.
No contract for the acquisition of property or the construction of improvements or other
expenditures which is to be financed by bonds or other obligations shall be effective until the
proceeds of the bonds or obligations have been received by the city.
Improvements to be paid for by special assessments shall be excepted from the provisions of this
Section.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts I, W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 12, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved,
election 4-8-97)
ARTICLE VI. - CITY ATTORNEY
Section 1. - Appointment.
The Council shall appoint and fix the compensation of a City Attorney. The City Attorney shall be
licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado during his or her tenure in office, but need not be
so licensed prior to appointment. The City Attorney shall serve at the pleasure of the Council.
Assistant and/or Deputy City Attorneys may be appointed as determined by the Council and they
shall perform duties as assigned by the City Attorney, including attending Council meetings in the
place of the City Attorney.
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(Ord. No. 18, 1973, 2-15-73, approved, election 4-3-73; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, X, 12-16-86,
approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. 13, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 2. - Functions.
The City Attorney shall be the legal adviser of the Council and all employees of the city in matters
relating to their official powers and duties. He or she shall represent the city in all legal
proceedings, draw all ordinances, and prepare all other legal documents, attend all Council
meetings and perform all services incident to the position as may be required by this Charter,
ordinances, or the Council.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 3. - Special counsel.
The Council may, upon the request of the City Attorney in special cases, employ special counsel if
deemed necessary and advisable under the circumstances.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
ARTICLE VII. - MUNICIPAL COURT
Section 1. - Municipal court.
There shall be a Municipal Court vested with original jurisdiction of all causes arising under the
City's Charter and ordinances. The Council shall appoint the judge or judges of Municipal Court for
two (2) year terms. Council shall designate a Chief Judge to carry out related duties as adopted by
the Council by ordinance, and shall fix the compensation of the Municipal Judges. Such
compensation shall in no manner be contingent upon the amount of fees, fines or costs imposed
or collected. Each Municipal Judge shall be licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado during
his or her tenure in office, but need not be so licensed prior to appointment. As Council determines
necessary, the Council may designate one (1) or more reputable and qualified attorneys to serve as
temporary judge. The Council may remove a Municipal Judge for cause.
Rules of procedure, costs and fees shall be enacted by the Council upon recommendation of the
Chief Municipal Judge.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 5, 1989, 1-17-89, approved,
election 3-7-89; Ord. 13, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 004, 2017, § 2, 1-17-17,
approved, election, 4-4-17)
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Section 2. - Penalty for violation.
The Council shall provide for enforcement of its ordinances. The maximum penalty for a violation
of the ordinances of the city shall be set by the Council by ordinance.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts R, V, W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
ARTICLE VIII. - ELECTIONS
Section 1. - Applicability of state constitution.
The Council shall provide by ordinance for the manner of holding city elections. All ordinances
regarding elections shall be consistent with the provisions of this Charter and the state
Constitution. Any matter regarding elections not covered by the state Constitution, this Charter or
ordinance of the Council shall be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado relating to
municipal elections, or coordinated municipal elections, as applicable.
(Res. No. 71-12, 2-11-71, approved, election 4-6-71; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 080, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22; Ord. No. 081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22,
approved, election 11-8-22)
Section 2. - City elections.
A regular city election shall be held on the first Tuesday in November of every odd-numbered year.
All other municipal elections shall be known as special city elections and shall be called by
ordinance and shall be held in accordance with the provisions of this Charter and any ordinances
adopted pursuant thereto. All municipal elections shall be nonpartisan.
In order to implement a change of regular city elections from April of each odd-numbered year to
November of each odd-numbered year, the term of the Mayor and each Councilmember shall be
extended to such time as a successor elected in November of the appropriate odd-numbered year
(consistent with Article II, Section 1(b)) takes office, unless otherwise ended due to an event of
vacancy or recall. Such change in term length shall have no effect on the number of terms any such
officer may be elected under the applicable term limits.
(Ord. No. 23, 1981, 2-17-81, approved, election 4-7-81; Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part B, § 2, 12-16-86,
approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 154,
1988, 12-20-88, approved, election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No.
081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
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(a)
Section 3. - Nomination; withdrawal from nomination.
Any person who is qualified at the time of nomination for the office to be filled may be nominated
for the elective office by petition. A nominating petition for the office of Mayor shall be signed by
not less than twenty-five (25) registered electors. A nominating petition for District Council office
shall be signed by not less than twenty-five (25) registered electors residing in that District. A
registered elector may sign one (1) petition for each office for which the elector is entitled to vote
at the election. If an elector should sign more petitions than entitled, said elector's signature shall
be void as to all petitions which the elector signed.
Nominating petitions must be filed with the City Clerk. The Council shall enact an ordinance
specifying the time frame for circulation and submittal of nominating petitions and the deadline for
withdrawal from candidacy for municipal office. Such time frame shall not be changed within one
hundred eighty (180) days immediately prior to the election. No nominating petition shall be
accepted unless the candidate completes a verified acceptance of the nomination certifying that he
or she is not a candidate, directly or indirectly, of any political party, and that he or she meets the
qualifications for office and will serve if elected.
A person who has been nominated may withdraw from candidacy by filing a written request to do
so with the City Clerk before the deadline established by Council ordinance for such withdrawal,
and no name so withdrawn shall be placed upon the ballot.
(Ord. No. 12, 1977, 2-15-77, approved, election 4-5-77; Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part E, § 3, 12-16-86,
approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11,
1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
Section 4. - Petitions.
Form; circulation. The Council shall prescribe by ordinance, upon recommendation of the City
Clerk, the form for a nominating petition which shall include such warnings and notices to signers
as may be deemed appropriate by the Council, as well as the candidate's verified acceptance of
nomination. The signatures on a nominating petition need not all be subscribed on one (1) page,
but to each separate section of the petition there shall be attached a signed statement of the
circulator thereof, stating the number of signers on that section of the petition, and that each
signature thereon was made in the circulator's presence and is the genuine signature of the
person whose name it purports to be. When executed, such statement shall be accepted as true
until it shall be proved false. If any portion is proved false, that portion of any petition shall be
disregarded. Following each signature on the petition of nomination shall be written the printed
name and the residence address of the signer, and the date of signing. All nominating papers
comprising a petition shall be filed as one (1) instrument.
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(c)
Sufficiency of petition. Upon receipt of a nominating petition, the City Clerk shall forthwith
examine the petition, and within five (5) days after the filing of the petition, notify the candidate in
writing of the results of the examination, specifying the particulars of insufficiency, if any. Within
the regular time for filing petitions, an insufficient petition may be amended and filed again as a
new petition, in which case the time of the first filing shall be disregarded in determining the
validity of signatures thereon, or a different petition may be filed for the same candidate. The
petition for each candidate elected to office shall be preserved by the City Clerk until the
expiration of the terms of office for such person.
No person shall receive any compensation whatever for signing a nominating petition.
(Ord. No. 12, 1977, 2-15-77, approved, election 4-5-77; Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part E, § 4, 12-16-86,
approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 158,
1988, 12-20-88, approved, election, 3-7-89; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No.
005, 2015, § 1, 1-20-15, approved, election of 4-7-15)
Section 5. - Board of Elections for City-administered elections.
There is hereby created a Board of Elections consisting of the City Clerk, Chief Deputy City Clerk,
and Chief Judge. The Board shall be responsible for any election duties specified in this Charter and
for such additional duties related to the conduct of elections by the City as may be established by
the Council by ordinance.
(Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part H, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-
86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 022, 2007,
§1, 2-20-07, approved, election 4-3-07; Ord. No. 015, 2021, § 2, 1-19-21, approved, election 4-6-21; Ord. No.
081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
Section 6. - Appearance of names on ballot.
Every ballot shall contain the names of all duly nominated candidates for offices to be voted for at
that election, except those who have died or withdrawn. The names shall be arranged in
alphabetical order of surname for each office, and shall not contain any title or degree designating
the business or profession of the candidate. The candidate's name may be a nickname, but shall
not include any punctuation marks setting out the nickname.
(Ord. No. 129, 1999, § 1, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99)
Section 7. - Certi cation of election results.
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(1)
(2)
No later than the date specified by Council by ordinance and, after verifying the total number of
legal votes cast for each candidate and measure voted upon, the Board of Elections shall
complete a certificate declaring the results of the election. The candidate receiving the highest
number of votes for a particular office, as determined pursuant to this Section 7, shall be
declared elected to that office. In event of a tie, the selection shall be made by the Board of
Elections by lot after notice to the candidates affected. In case the candidate elected fails to
qualify within sixty (60) days after the date of issuance of the certificate of election, tabulation of
results in that contest shall be rerun with the disqualified candidate being eliminated prior to any
tabulation and the candidate with the resulting highest vote shall be elected, and the candidate
failing to qualify shall forfeit his or her office whether or not such candidate has taken the oath of
office. If there is no other elected successor who qualifies, the office shall be deemed vacant, and
shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the council, as provided in Article II,
Section 18. In the event of a mandatory recount or recount by request, the Board of Elections
shall complete an amended certificate declaring the results of the election no later than the fifth
day after the completion of the recount.
For coordinated city elections (which are not administered by the City), the election shall be
determined and certified and any tie vote or recount shall be administered, as provided in the
applicable state law. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for a particular office,
as determined pursuant to Section 7(c), shall be declared elected to that office.
Ranked voting methods. Beginning in 2025, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes
for a particular office will be determined using a ranked voting method.
For a City-administered election, the ranked voting method will be in accordance with
specifications adopted by the City Council by ordinance.
For a coordinated election, the ranked voting method will be in accordance with, and as
provided by, applicable state law.
(Ord. No. 197, 1986, § 1, Parts C, M, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W,
12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 129,
1999, § 2, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99; Ord. No. 022, 2007, §1, 2-20-07, approved, election 4-3-07;
Ord. No. 001, 2017, § 2, 1-17-17, approved, election 4-4-17; Ord. No. 080, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved,
election 11-8-22; Ord. No. 081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
Section 8. - Campaign contributions.
The Council shall act by ordinance to establish a limit on the amount that any person or entity may
contribute in support of a candidate for Council on the ballot at any city election.
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No political party or city employee, directly or indirectly, and no public service corporation, nor any
other person, firm or corporation, owning, interested in, or intending to apply for any franchise or
contract with the city shall contribute or expend any money or other valuable thing, directly or
indirectly, to assist in the election or defeat of any candidate.
(Ord. No. 6, 1980, 1-16-80, approved, election 2-26-80; Ord. No. 208, 1984, 1-15-85, approved, election 3-5-
85; Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part M, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W,
12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 129,
1999, § 2, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99)
Section 9. - Corrupt practices.
Any person who violates at a city election any state law, provision of this Charter or ordinance of
the city shall, upon conviction thereof, be disqualified from holding any city position or
employment for two (2) years, or any elective city office for four (4) years.
(Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Parts J, M, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W,
12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 129,
1999, § 2, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99)
Section 10. - Validity of City-administered elections.
No City-administered election shall be invalidated if it has been conducted fairly and in substantial
conformity with the requirements of this Charter.
(Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part M, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W, 12-
16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 129,
1999, § 2, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99; Ord. No. 081, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-22)
Section 11. - Further regulations.
The Council may, by ordinance, make such further rules and regulations as are consistent with this
Charter and the Colorado Constitution in order to carry out the provisions of this Article.
(Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 129, 1999, § 2, 8-17-99, approved,
election 11-2-99)
ARTICLE IX. - RECALL
Section 1. - The recall.
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(a)
(b)
(c)
Power. Any elective officer of the city may be recalled from office, through the procedure and in
the manner provided herein, by the registered electors entitled to vote for a successor of such
incumbent officer. For purposes of this Article, in the case of recall of the Mayor, the words
"registered elector" shall be construed to mean persons residing within the city who are
registered to vote as of the date they signed the petition for recall. For purposes of this Article, in
the case of a proposed recall of District Council representatives, the words "registered elector"
shall be construed to mean persons who are registered to vote within the particular affected
Council District of the city as of the date they signed the petition for recall of the District Council
representative. No recall petition shall be circulated or filed against any officer until the officer
has actually held office for at least one (1) year in the officer's current term, nor within six (6)
months of the end of such term. The procedure to effect a recall shall be as provided in this
Article.
Commencement of proceedings; affidavit. One (1) or more registered electors may commence
recall proceedings by filing with the City Clerk an affidavit of not more than two hundred (200)
words stating the reasons for the recall of the officer sought to be removed. A separate affidavit
shall be filed for each officer sought to be recalled. Within forty-eight (48) hours after the filing of
the affidavit, the City Clerk shall mail a copy by certified mail to the affected officer. Within five (5)
days after the date of the City Clerk's mailing, the affected officer may file with the City Clerk a
sworn statement of not more than three hundred (300) words in defense of the charges. The
affidavit and the response are intended for the information of the registered electors, who shall
be the sole and exclusive judges of the sufficiency of the ground or grounds assigned for the
recall, and said ground or grounds shall not be open to judicial review. Within ten (10) days after
the date by which any statement in defense must be filed, a petition for recall of the officer shall
be submitted to the City Clerk for approval of the form of the petition in accordance with Section
2(b) of this Article. The petition shall be circulated, signed, verified and filed in the manner
provided in Section 2 of this Article. If no petition for recall has been submitted to the City Clerk
for approval of its form within the time period specified above, the recall proceedings shall be
terminated.
Call of election. A recall election shall be for the dual purposes of voting on the recall of the officer
sought to be removed and the election of a successor. Upon the City Clerk's presentation of a
petition certified sufficient for recall, the Council shall set a date for the election which shall be
held on a Tuesday not less than sixty (60) nor more than ninety (90) days from the date of
presentation of the certified petition to Council. However, if any other city election is to occur
within ninety (90) days from the presentation of the certified petition to Council, the recall
election shall be postponed and consolidated with such other city election. The order setting a
date for the recall election shall not become effective until five (5) days from the presentation of
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Item 2.
(d)
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(c)
the certified petition to Council. If the officer resigns within the five-day period, the vacancy may be filled by
appointment. If a vacancy occurs in the affected office after the effective date of the order, the election to
fill the vacancy shall nevertheless proceed.
Disqualification for office. No person who has been recalled or has resigned after the City Clerk's
presentation to Council of a certified, sufficient petition for recall of such person shall serve the
city in any elected or appointed capacity within two (2) years after such removal or resignation.
(Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part A, § 1, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-
16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 157, 1988, 12-10-88, approved, election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 11, 1997,
§ 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. 128, 1999, § 1, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99)
Section 2. - Petitions.
Separate petitions required. A separate petition shall be circulated and filed for each officer
sought to be recalled.
Form and content.
Approval of form. No petition shall be circulated until the City Clerk has approved the form for
circulation. The City Clerk shall first determine that the petition form contains only the
matters required by this Article. The Council shall prescribe by ordinance, upon
recommendation of the City Clerk, a general form of petition which shall contain warnings
and notices to signers as necessary. The City Clerk's approval under this Section shall not
constitute an approval of the content of the petition, but rather, shall start the running of the
time periods provided for circulation and filing of petitions for recall.
Statement of purpose. The petition shall be addressed to Council and shall contain or have
attached to each section throughout its circulation a copy of the charges set forth in the
affidavit on file with the City Clerk, and if requested by the person sought to be recalled, a
copy of the statement in defense.
Signatures. Only registered electors may sign the petitions authorized under this Article. Each
signer must sign his or her own signature and each signature shall be followed by the printed
name of the signer, the street and number address of his or her residence, and the date of
signing. No person shall knowingly sign his or her name more than once for the recall of the
same incumbent.
Circulation of petition. The petition may be circulated and signed in sections with each section
consisting of one (1) or more sheets securely fastened at the top, provided that each section
contains a full and accurate copy of the text of the petition and the names and addresses of the
designated representatives for the petition. All sections shall be filed as one (1) instrument. Only
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Item 2.
(d)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(e)
(1)
(2)
(f)
persons eighteen (18) years of age or older may circulate the petition for signatures. The circulation of any
petition by any medium other than personally by a circulator is prohibited. No person shall receive any
compensation whatever for signing a recall petition.
Affidavit of circulator. A circulator shall attach to each section of the petition circulated, an
affidavit signed by the circulator under oath before a notary public stating the following:
the circulator's address of residence;
that the circulator is eighteen (18) years of age or older;
that he or she personally circulated the section;
that each signature was affixed in the circulator's presence;
that to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief each signer was at the time of signing
a registered elector of the city;
that to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief each signature is the genuine
signature of the person whose name it purports to be;
that each signer had an opportunity before signing to read the full text of the petition; and
that the circulator has not paid or offered to pay any money or other thing of value to any
signer for the purpose of inducing or causing the signer to affix his or her signature to the
petition.
A petition verified by the valid affidavits of its circulators in each of its sections shall be prima facie
evidence that the signatures thereon are genuine and true.
Number of signatures required.
First recall attempt. The petition must be signed by registered electors equal in number to at
least twenty-five (25) percent of the entire vote cast at the last preceding regular city election
for all candidates for the office, to which the incumbent sought to be recalled was elected as
one of the officers thereof, said entire vote being divided by the number of all officers elected
to such office at said election.
Subsequent recall attempts. After one (1) recall petition and election, a recall petition filed
against the same officer during the same term for which elected must be signed by registered
electors equal in number to at least fifty (50) percent of the entire vote cast at the last
preceding regular city election for all candidates for the office to which the incumbent sought
to be recalled was elected as one of the officers thereof, said entire vote being divided by the
number of all officers elected to such office at said election.
Place of filing, time limits. Petitions for recall shall be filed with the City Clerk within thirty (30)
days of the City Clerk's approval of the form for circulation. Each petition shall designate by name
and address not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) registered electors who shall represent
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Item 2.
(g)
the signers of the petition in all matters affecting the petition, and shall be endorsed by such persons.
Sufficiency of petition; amendment. Within five (5) working days of the filing of a petition the City
Clerk shall ascertain by examination of the petition and the registration books whether the
petition is signed by the requisite number of registered electors and contains the required
particulars and affidavits. If the petition is insufficient, the City Clerk shall so certify and forthwith
notify all of the designated petition representatives in writing, specifying the particulars of
insufficiency.
Registered electors desiring to protest the sufficiency of a petition may file a written protest, under
oath, in the office of the City Clerk within ten (10) days of the filing of the petition. The protest shall
set forth with particularity the grounds of protest and the names and defects in form protested.
The reasons assigned for recall may not be protested. Upon the filing of a written protest, the City
Clerk shall set a time for hearing such protest, which shall be no more than seven (7) days
thereafter. At least five (5) days before the hearing, the City Clerk shall mail a copy of the protest to
all of the designated petition representatives together with a notice of the time for hearing. All
records and hearings shall be before the City Clerk who shall have the power to issue subpoenas to
compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents. All records and hearings
shall be public, and all testimony shall be under oath. The hearing shall be summary in nature and
concluded within thirty (30) days after the petition was filed. The City Clerk shall decide and certify
the results of the hearing within ten (10) days after the hearing is concluded.
In case the petition is deemed insufficient, whether following the initial determination by the City
Clerk, or following protest proceedings, it may be withdrawn and amended within fifteen (15) days
from the filing of the City Clerk's certificate of insufficiency. The City Clerk shall, within five (5) days
after such amendment, examine the amended petition and the registration books and certify the
result. If the petition is still insufficient, or if no amendment is made, the City Clerk shall return it to
one (1) of the designated petition representatives without prejudice to the filing of a new petition
for the same purpose.
When and if a petition or amended petition is deemed sufficient, whether following the initial
sufficiency determination by the City Clerk in the absence of a protest, or following protest
proceedings, the City Clerk shall so certify and present the certified petition to the Council at the
next regularly scheduled meeting. The City Clerk's certificate shall then be a final determination as
to the sufficiency of the petition.
(Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part A, § 2, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-
16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 157, 1988, 12-20-88, approved, election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 158,
1988, 12-20-88, approved, election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No.
88, 2000, § 1, 8-15-00, approved, election 11-7-00)
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Section 3. - Elections.
Generally. Elections on recall shall be conducted in the same manner as provided generally for
regular or special city elections in this Charter. All Charter provisions related to nomination and
qualification of candidates shall apply to recall elections.
Nominations on recall. Anyone desiring to become a candidate at the recall election shall do so by
nominating petition as required in Article VIII of this Charter. The deadline for filing a nominating
petition for a recall election shall be as established by ordinance of the Council. If more than one
(1) officer is sought to be recalled, then the nominating petition must specify which incumbent
the candidate seeks to succeed. The name of the person against whom the recall petition is filed
shall not appear on the ballot as a candidate for the office.
Ballots. There shall be printed on the official ballot, as to every officer whose recall is to be voted
on, the statement of grounds and, if requested by the affected officer, the officer's statement in
defense followed by the words, "Shall (name of person against whom the recall petition is filed)
be recalled from the office of (__________)?" Following such question shall appear the words, "Yes"
indicating a vote in favor of the recall and "No" indicating a vote against such recall. On such
ballots, under each question, there shall also be printed the names of those persons who have
been nominated as candidates to succeed the person sought to be recalled.
Election results. If a majority of those voting on the question of the recall of any incumbent from
office votes "No," the incumbent continues in office. If a majority votes "Yes" for the incumbent's
removal, the incumbent shall thereupon be deemed removed from his or her office upon the
taking of the oath of office by his or her successor. If the officer is recalled, the candidate for
succession receiving the highest number of votes at the election determined in accordance with
Article VIII, Section 7, shall be declared elected for the remainder of the incumbent's term. The
candidate elected shall take office upon taking the oath of office, which shall occur as the first
order of business at the next regular or special Council meeting. In case the candidate elected
fails to qualify within sixty (60) days after the issuance of a certificate of election, the candidate
with the next highest vote shall be elected, and if there is no other elected successor who
qualifies, the office shall be deemed vacant, and shall be filled by appointment by the remaining
members of the Council, as provided in Article II, Section 18.
(Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part A, § 3, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W,
X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No.
006, 2015, § 1, 1-20-15, approved, election of 4-7-15; Ord. No. 080, 2022, § 2, 7-5-22, approved, election 11-8-
22)
Section 4. - Further regulations.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
The Council may, by ordinance, make such further rules and regulations as are consistent with this
Charter and the Colorado Constitution in order to carry out the provisions of this Article.
(Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part A, § 4, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-
16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
ARTICLE X. - INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Section 1. - The initiative.
Power. The registered electors of the city shall have the power at their option to propose
ordinances or resolutions to the Council, and, if the Council fails to adopt a measure so proposed,
to adopt or reject such ordinance or resolution at the polls. The procedure for initiative shall be
as provided in this Article.
Commencement of proceedings; notice. One (1) or more registered electors may commence
initiative proceedings by filing with the City Clerk a written notice of intent to circulate an initiative
petition. The notice commencing proceedings shall contain the full text of the proposed
ordinance or resolution and shall state whether a special election is requested. After such notice
has been filed, the City Clerk shall approve the petition for circulation in accordance with Section
5(b) of this Article. The petition shall be circulated, signed, verified, and filed in the manner
prescribed in Section 5 of this Article.
Number of signatures required. The petition must be signed by registered electors of the city
equal in number to at least ten (10) percent of the total ballots cast in the last regular city
election, except when a special election is requested by the petitioners, the petition must be
signed by registered electors equal in number to at least fifteen (15) percent of the total ballots
cast in the last regular city election.
Petition deadlines. The initiative petition shall be filed no more than sixty (60) days after the City
Clerk's approval of the form for circulation. Unless a special election is requested, the petition
must also be filed at least ninety (90) days prior to the next regular city election. If the petition
requests a special election in conjunction with a Larimer County Coordinated or General Election,
the City Clerk shall establish a submittal deadline for the petition that will enable the measure to
be considered at such election, which deadline shall be consistent with all pertinent provisions of
the Colorado Revised Statutes governing the conduct of such elections, and, if applicable, with
Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, and shall advise the petition representatives in
writing as to the submittal deadline.
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(1)
Action by Council. Upon presentation of an initiative petition certified as sufficient by the City Clerk, the
Council shall either (1) adopt the proposed ordinance or resolution without alteration within thirty (30)
days, or (2) submit such proposed measure, in the form petitioned for, to the registered electors of the city;
provided, however, that if the proposed measure requires voter approval in advance under Article X,
Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, alternative (1) above shall not be available to the Council and the
proposed measure shall instead be submitted to a vote of the registered electors. If the initiative petition
proposing such a measure requests a special election, the proposed measure shall be submitted to a vote
of the registered electors on the first possible date permitted by Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado
Constitution. If a special election is not requested, the proposed measure shall be submitted to a vote of
the registered electors at the next regular city election. In the case of a proposed measure that does not
require voter approval in advance under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, the proposed
measure, if not adopted by the Council under alternative (1) above, shall be submitted to a vote of the
registered electors at the next regular city election or, if the initiative petition proposing such measure
requests a special election, the proposed measure shall be submitted to a vote of the registered electors at
a special election to be called by the Council within one hundred twenty (120) days of the presentation of
the certified petition to the Council, unless any other regular or special city election is to occur within said
period, in which case the proposed measure shall be submitted at such other regular or special city
election. All ordinances submitted to the Council by initiative petition and adopted by Council without the
vote of the electors shall be subject to the referendum in the same manner as other ordinances.
(Ord. No. 6, 1980, 1-16-80, approved, election 2-26-80; Res. No. 83-22, 1-18-83, approved, election 3-8-83;
Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part B, § 1, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-
16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 21, 1993, § 1, 2-16-93, approved, election 4-6-93; Ord. No. 11,
1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 127, 1999, § 1, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99;
Ord. No. 101, 2002, § 1, 8-20-02, approved, election 11-5-02; Ord. No. 004, 2015, § 1, 1-20-15, approved,
election of 4-7-15)
Section 2. - The referendum.
Power. The registered electors of the city shall have the power at their option to approve or reject
at the polls, any ordinance, or portion of ordinance, adopted by the Council, except ordinances
making the annual property tax levy, making the annual appropriation, calling a special election,
or ordering improvements initiated by petition and to be paid for by special assessments.
Commencement of proceedings.
One (1) or more registered electors may commence referendum proceedings by filing with the
City Clerk within ten (10) days after final passage of the ordinance in question, a notice of
protest against the going into effect of the ordinance. The notice shall be brief and need not
state any reasons, but shall identify the ordinance or part thereof, or code section it proposes
to have repealed.
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Item 2.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(1)
(2)
(3)
Not later than ten (10) days after the filing of the notice, the proponents shall present to the
City Clerk the final form for the referendum petition conforming to the requirements of the
Article.
If the notice and petition form are timely presented, the City Clerk shall approve the petition
form for circulation, in accordance with Section 5(b) of this Article.
The petition shall be circulated, signed, verified, and filed in the manner prescribed by Section
5 of this Article.
Number of signatures required. The petition must be signed by registered electors of the city
equal in number to at least ten (10) percent of the total ballots cast in the last regular city
election.
Petition deadlines. The referendum petition shall be filed within twenty (20) days after the City
Clerk's approval of the petition for circulation. If a completed petition is not subsequently filed
within the requisite time after the City Clerk's approval of the petition for circulation, the
referendum effort is null and void and the petition shall not be circulated further.
Action by Council.
The City Clerk's certification of a petition as sufficient for referendum automatically suspends
the operation of the ordinance in question pending repeal by Council or final determination
by the electors.
The Council shall reconsider the ordinance at the next regular meeting of the Council, or at an
earlier special meeting of the Council called for this purpose, following the receipt of the
certification of the petition by the City Clerk, and shall adopt an ordinance to repeal the
ordinance in question, or part sought to be repealed, on first reading, with second reading no
later than the next regular meeting.
If the ordinance, or that part sought to be repealed, is not repealed by final action on such
repealing ordinance, the Council must refer the same to a vote of the registered electors at
the next regular or special city election scheduled for any other purpose. Alternatively, the
Council may call a special election for that specific purpose.
(Ord. No. 6, 1980, 1-16-80, approved, election 2-26-80; Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part B, § 2, 12-16-86,
approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11,
1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 127, 1999, § 1, 8-17-99, approved, election 11-2-99;
Ord. No. 102, 2023, § 2, 8-15-23, approved, election 11-7-23)
Section 3. - Council use of initiative and referendum.
The Council may submit any question or proposed ordinance or resolution, or refer any adopted
ordinance or resolution, to the vote of the people at a regular or special election in the same
manner and with the same force and effect as is provided for citizen initiated and referred
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Item 2.
(a)
(b)
(1)
a.
b.
c.
d.
(2)
a.
b.
c.
measures.
(Ord. No. 6, 1980, 1-16-80, approved, election 2-26-80; Res. No. 83-22, 1-18-83, approved, election 3-8-83;
Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part B, § 3, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-
16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 4. - Repeal or amendment of initiated measure.
An initiated measure submitted to the registered electors of the city by the Council, with or without
a petition therefor, and adopted by electoral vote cannot be repealed or amended except by a
subsequent electoral vote. This provision shall not apply to ordinances or resolutions adopted by
the City Council and referred to the voters.
(Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 5. - Petitions.
Separate petitions required. A separate petition shall be circulated and filed for each measure
sought to be initiated or referred to the vote of the electors.
Form and content.
Approval of form for circulation.
No petition shall be circulated until the City Clerk has approved the form for circulation.
The City Clerk shall first determine that the petition form contains only the matters
required by this Article.
The Council shall prescribe by ordinance, upon recommendation of the City Clerk, a
general form of petition which shall contain warnings and notices to signers as necessary.
The City Clerk's approval under this Section shall not constitute an approval of the content
of the petition, but rather, shall start the running of the time periods provided for
circulation and filing of petitions.
Petition content.
The petition shall be addressed to Council.
An initiative petition shall contain or have attached to each section throughout its
circulation the full text of the proposed ordinance or resolution and shall contain a
general statement of purpose fairly and accurately summarizing the proposed ordinance
or resolution, indicating that the petition is to be circulated in support of the initiated
ordinance or resolution and specifying whether a special election is requested.
A referendum petition shall contain or have attached to each section throughout its
circulation the full text of the ordinance sought to be referred, clearly identifying the
protested portions if only a partial repeal is sought. In the case of bond ordinances, the
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Item 2.
(3)
a.
b.
c.
d.
(c)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(d)
(1)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
full text of the ordinance need not be set forth but the petition shall contain or have attached to each
section throughout its circulation the title and summary of the ordinance in question as prepared by the
City Clerk.
Signatures.
Only registered electors may sign the petitions authorized under this Article.
Each signer must sign his or her own signature and each signature shall be followed by
the printed name of the signer, the street and number address of his or her residence,
and the date of signing.
No person shall knowingly sign an initiative or referendum petition more than once.
In the event that the signature of any person appears more than once on a petition
authorized under this Article, the first signature verified shall be counted and all other
signatures of that person shall be rejected.
Circulation of petition.
The petition may be circulated and signed in sections with each section consisting of one (1)
or more sheets securely fastened at the top, provided that each section contains a full and
accurate copy of the text of the petition and the names and addresses of the designated
representatives for the petition.
All sections shall be filed as one (1) instrument.
Only persons eighteen (18) years of age or older may circulate the petition for signatures.
The circulation of any petition by any medium other than personally by a circulator is
prohibited. No person shall receive any compensation whatever for signing an initiative or
referendum petition.
Affidavit of circulator.
A circulator shall attach to each section of the petition circulated an affidavit signed by the
circulator under oath before a notary public stating the following:
the circulator's address of residence;
that the circulator is eighteen (18) years of age or older;
that he or she personally circulated the section;
that each signature was affixed in the circulator's presence;
that to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief each signer was at the time of
signing a registered elector of the city;
that to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief each signature is the genuine
signature of the person whose name it purports to be;
that each signer had an opportunity before signing to read the full text of the petition; and
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Item 2.
(viii)
(2)
(e)
(f)
(1)
(2)
(i)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(ii)
(A)
(B)
that the circulator has not paid or offered to pay any money or other thing of value to any
signer for the purpose of inducing or causing the signer to affix his or her signature to the
petition.
A petition verified by the valid affidavits of its circulators in each of its sections shall be prima
facie evidence that the signatures thereon are genuine and true.
Time limits; petition representatives. Petitions for initiative and referendum shall be filed with the
City Clerk within the requisite time limits or they will be deemed null and void. Each petition shall
designate by name and address not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) registered electors
who shall represent the signers of the petition in all matters affecting the petition.
Sufficiency of petition.
Examination. Within five (5) working days of the filing of a petition the City Clerk shall
ascertain by examination of the petition and the registration books whether the petition is
signed by the requisite number of registered electors and contains the required particulars
and affidavits. If the petition is insufficient, the City Clerk shall so certify and forthwith notify
all of the designated petition representatives in writing, specifying the particulars of
insufficiency.
Insufficient petition; amendment.
If an initiative petition is deemed insufficient, whether following the initial determination
by the City Clerk, or following protest proceedings, it may be amended by the submission
of additional signatures collected after the City Clerk approved the form of the petition
and within fifteen (15) days from the filing of the Clerk's certificate of insufficiency.
Such signatures must be collected consistent with the requirements for collecting
petition signatures as described in this Article.
Within five (5) working days after such amendment, the City Clerk shall make
examination of the amended petition and certify the result.
If the amended petition is still insufficient, or if no amendment was made before the
expiration of the time permitted for amendment, the petition shall be null and void
without prejudice to the filing of a new petition for the same purpose.
If a referendum petition is deemed insufficient, it may be amended by the submission of
additional signatures collected consistent with the requirements of this Article, but to be
considered, any additional signatures must be submitted within the twenty-day circulation
period after the City Clerk's approval of the petition form for circulation.
Such signatures must be collected consistent with the requirements for collecting
petition signatures as described in this Article.
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Item 2.
(C)
(3)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)The
(ix)
(4)
Within five (5) days after such amendment, the City Clerk shall make like examination of the amended
petition and certify the result.
If the amended petition is still insufficient, or if no amendment was made before the
expiration of the time permitted for amendment, said referendum petition is null and
void and a new petition may not thereafter be filed for referendum of the same
ordinance.
Protests.
Registered electors desiring to protest a determination by the City Clerk that a petition is
either sufficient or insufficient may file a written protest, under oath, in the office of the
City Clerk within ten (10) days of the filing of the petition. The protest shall set forth with
particularity the grounds of protest and the names and defects in form protested.
Upon the filing of a protest, the City Clerk shall set a time for hearing such protest, which
shall be no more than seven (7) days thereafter.
At least five (5) days prior to the hearing, the City Clerk shall mail a copy of the protest to
all of the designated petition representatives together with a notice of the time for
hearing.
All hearings shall be before a hearing officer appointed by the City Manager who shall
have the power to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the
production of documents.
All records and hearings shall be public, and all testimony shall be under oath.
The hearing shall be summary in nature and concluded within thirty (30) days after the
petition was filed.
The hearing officer shall decide and certify the results of the hearing within ten (10) days
after the hearing is concluded, and no further protest regarding the petition may be filed.
City Clerk shall make any final determination regarding the sufficiency or insufficiency of a
petition and shall base such determination on the protest hearing results certified by the
hearing officer.
A petition for referendum which has been deemed insufficient after protest may not be
amended or circulated further and no further protest regarding the petition may be filed.
Certification and presentation to Council. When and if a petition or amended petition is
deemed sufficient, whether following the sufficiency determination by the City Clerk in the
absence of a protest, or following protest proceedings, the City Clerk shall so certify and then
present the certified petition to the Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting or special
meeting called for this purpose. The City Clerk's certificate shall then be a final determination
as to the sufficiency of the petition.
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(1)
(2)
(d)
(Res. No. 83-22, 1-18-83, approved, election 3-8-83; Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part B, § 4, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 158, 1988, 12-
20-88, approved, election 3-7-89; Ord. No. 21, 1993, § 1, 2-16-93, approved, election 4-6-93; Ord. No. 11,
1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 88, 2000, § 1, 8-15-00, approved, election 11-7-00; Ord.
No. 004, 2015, § 1, 1-20-15, approved, election of 4-7-15; Ord. No. 102, 2023, § 2, 8-15-23, approved, election
11-7-23)
Section 6. - Elections.
Generally. Elections on initiative and referendum measures shall be conducted in the same
manner as provided generally for regular or special city elections in this Charter.
Ballots. Upon ordering an election on any initiative or referendum measure, the Council shall,
after public hearing, adopt by resolution a ballot title and submission clause for each measure.
The ballot title shall contain information identifying the measure as a city initiated or citizen
initiated measure. The submission clause shall be brief, shall not conflict with those selected for
any petition previously filed for the same election, and shall unambiguously state the principle of
the provision sought to be added. The official ballot used when voting upon each proposed or
referred measure shall have printed on it the ballot title and submission clause and shall contain
the words, "Yes/For" and "No/Against" in response to each measure.
Publication; notice of election.
Initiative. An initiated measure being considered for adoption by Council shall be published in
like manner as other proposed ordinances and resolutions. If the initiated measure is
submitted to a vote of the people, the City Clerk shall publish a notice of election in
conformity with the laws of the State of Colorado relating to municipal elections, together
with the ballot title, submission clause and full text of the proposed ordinance or resolution.
The text of a successful initiative measure need not be published in full after the election.
Referendum. If the referred measure is to be submitted to a vote of the people, the City Clerk
shall publish a notice of election in conformity with the laws of the State of Colorado relating
to municipal elections, together with the ballot title, submission clause and full text of the
referred ordinance. If the ordinance in question is a bond ordinance, the summary from the
petition may be published in place of the full text. The full text of an ordinance passed on
referendum need not be published after the election.
Election results. If a majority of the registered electors voting on the initiated measure vote in
favor, the measure is adopted as an ordinance or resolution of the city upon certification of the
election results. If a majority of the registered electors voting on a referred ordinance, vote in
favor of the ordinance, the ordinance shall go into effect without further publication upon
certification of the election results, or at such later date as may be set forth in the ordinance
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itself. If the provisions of two (2) or more proposed or referred measures adopted or approved at the same
election conflict, the measure receiving the highest affirmative vote shall become effective.
Frequency of elections. Any number of proposed ordinances or resolutions or referred
ordinances may be submitted at the same election. Not more than one (1) special election on
citizen-initiated measures shall be held in any twelve (12) months. This limitation does not apply
to the Council which on its own motion may at any time call a special election for the purpose of
considering any measure initiated, or adopted and referred, by the Council.
(Res. No. 83-22, 1-18-83, approved, election 3-8-83; Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part B, § 5, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-
4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 004, 2015, § 1, 1-20-15, approved, election of 4-7-15)
Section 7. - Further regulations.
The Council may, by ordinance, make such further rules and regulations as are consistent with this
Charter and the Colorado Constitution in order to carry out the provisions of this Article.
(Res. No. 83-22, 1-18-83, approved, election 3-8-83; Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part B, § 6, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 11, 1997, § 1, 2-
4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
ARTICLE XI. - FRANCHISES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
Section 1. - Franchise granted by ordinance.
The Council may grant a franchise relating to any street, alley, or other public place within the city
by ordinance, subject to the initiative and referendum powers reserved to the electors of the city.
No exclusive franchise shall ever be granted. Every franchise ordinance shall require for its
adoption the concurrence of a majority of all the members of the Council.
A franchise may be awarded only after a public hearing on the application or proposal. The
applicant for the franchise shall publish a notice of the hearing in a local newspaper of general
circulation once a week for three (3) successive weeks immediately prior to the date of the hearing.
Such notice shall specify the meeting of the Council at which it is intended to apply for the
franchise, the name of the applicant, a general description of the rights and privileges to be applied
for, and the time for and terms upon which the franchise is desired. The hearing on the franchise
application shall not be held unless a publisher's affidavit of publication proving the applicant's
compliance with the notice requirements has been presented to the Council. Publication of the
franchise ordinance by the City Clerk shall be in the same manner as for other proposed
ordinances.
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The procedure for initiative and referendum of an ordinance granting a franchise shall be as
otherwise provided in this Charter, except that the signatures required for referendum shall be
equal in number to five (5) percent of the registered electors, or ten (10) percent of the total ballots
cast in the last regular city election, whichever is less. If the franchise ordinance is referred to the
vote of the electors, the grantee of the franchise shall deposit with the city's Financial Officer an
amount determined by said Officer to be sufficient to pay for the cost of the election. No franchise
election shall be ordered until the grantee deposits such costs.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 204, 1986, § 1, Part A, 12-16-
86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 19, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97)
Section 2. - Franchises to specify streets.
All franchises or privileges hereafter granted to railroads or other transportation systems shall
plainly specify the particular streets, alleys, avenues, and other public property, or parts thereof, to
which they shall apply. All other franchises may be in general terms and may apply to the city
generally.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 3. - Regulation of public utilities.
The right to regulate the rates, fares, and rentals of public utilities and carriers serving the
residents of the city shall always be reserved to the city to be exercised by ordinance. Every person
or corporation operating under a franchise or grant from the city shall annually submit to the
Council a report verified by the oath of the president, the treasurer, or the general manager
thereof. Such reports shall be in the form, contain such detailed information, and cover the period
prescribed by the Council. The Council shall have the power, either through its members or by
authorized experts or employees, to examine the books and affairs of any such person, persons, or
corporations, and to compel the production of books and other records pertaining to such reports
or other matters.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 4. - Books of record.
The Council shall provide and cause to be kept in the office of the City Clerk an indexed franchise
record in which shall be transcribed copies of all franchises granted by the city. Said record shall be
a complete history of all franchises granted by the city and shall include a comprehensive and
convenient reference to actions, contests, or proceedings at law affecting the same, and copies of
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all annual and inspection reports and such other information as the Council may require.
Section 5. - Term, compensation.
No franchise shall be granted for longer than twenty (20) years. Every grant of a franchise shall fix
the amount and manner of payment of the compensation to be paid by the grantee for the use of
the same, and no other compensation of any kind shall be exacted for such use during the life of
the franchise. This provision shall not exempt the grantee from any lawful taxation upon his or her
property, nor from any license, charges, or other impositions levied by the Council, not levied on
account of the use granted by the franchise.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 19, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97,
approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 023, 2007, § 1, 2-20-07, approved, election 4-3-07)
Section 6. - Option to purchase.
Every grant, extension, or renewal of a public utility franchise or right shall provide that the city
may, upon the vote of the electors and the payment therefor of its fair valuation, purchase and
take over the property and plant of the grantee in whole or in part. Such valuation shall be made as
provided in the grant, but shall not include any value of the franchise or right-of-way through the
streets or any earning power of such property.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts L, V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 7. - Railroad tracks.
The Council, upon some fair apportionment of the cost thereof between the railroad and the city
and/or other public authority in interest, may by ordinance require any railroad company to
elevate or lower any of its tracks running over, along, or across any street or alley of the city, or to
take such other measures for the protection of the public, as in the opinion of the Council the
public safety or convenience may require.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 8. - Street cleaning and paving.
Every grant of any franchise or privilege in, over, under, or along any of the streets or public places
in the city for railway purposes, shall be subject to the conditions that the person, firm, or
corporation exercising or enjoying the same shall, unless otherwise provided by ordinance, clean,
keep in repair, and pave and repave so much of a street or other public place occupied by a railway
track as lies between its rails, and between the lines of double track, and for such space outside of
said track as may have been acquired by franchise.
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(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part B, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 9. - Right of regulation.
The grant of every franchise or privilege shall be subject to the right of the city, whether in terms
reserved or not, to make any regulations for the safety, welfare, and accommodation of the public,
including among other things the right to require proper and adequate extensions of the service of
such grant, the right to require any or all wires, cables, conduits, and other like appliances to be
placed underground, and the right to protect the public from danger or inconvenience in the
operation of any work or business authorized by the franchise.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 10. - Revocable permits.
The Council may grant a permit at any time for the use or occupation of any street, alley, or public
place. Such permit shall be revocable by the Council at its pleasure, whether or not such right to
revoke is expressly reserved in such permit.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 204, 1986, § 1, Part C, 12-16-
86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 11. - Franchise renewal.
No franchise shall be renewed before one (1) year prior to its expiration, which renewal shall be
subject to all provisions relating to the original grant of a franchise.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 12. - Leasing of franchises.
No franchise granted by the city shall ever be leased, assigned, or otherwise alienated without the
express consent of the city, and no dealing with the lessee or assignee on the part of the city to
require the performance of any act or the payment of any compensation by the lessee or assignee
shall be deemed to operate as such consent. Any assignment or sale of such franchise without the
consent of the city shall, at the option of the Council, operate as a forfeiture to the city of such
franchise.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 13. - Issuance of stock.
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Every ordinance granting any franchise shall prohibit the issuing of any stock on account thereof by
any corporation holding or doing business thereunder.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 14. - Amendment, renewal, extension or enlargement of franchise.
No amendment, renewal, extension, or enlargement of any franchise, or grant of rights or powers
heretofore granted to any corporation, person, or association of persons shall be made except in
the manner and subject to all the conditions provided in this Article for the making of original
grants and franchises.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 15. - Common use of facilities.
The City may by ordinance require any person or corporation holding a franchise from the city for
any public utility to allow the use of any of its poles, tracks, wires, conduits, and other related
facilities by any other person or corporation to which the city grants a franchise upon the payment
of a reasonable rental to the owner therefor. If the person or corporation desiring to use the same
cannot agree with the owner regarding said rental and the terms and conditions for such use,
within sixty (60) days from offering in writing to do so, the Council after a fair hearing, shall by
resolution fix the terms and conditions of such use and compensation to be paid therefor, which
award of the Council shall be final and binding on the parties concerned.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 204, 1986, § 1, Part D, 12-16-
86, approved, election 3-3-87)
ARTICLE XII. - MUNICIPAL PUBLIC UTILITIES
Section 1. - City may acquire utilities.
The Council upon vote of the electors shall have the power within or without the territorial limits of
the city to construct, condemn and purchase, acquire, and lease waterworks, gasworks, light
plants, power plants, transportation systems, telephone systems, heating plants, and other public
utilities local in use and extent, in whole or in part, and everything required therefor, for the use of
the city and its inhabitants, and any such systems, plants, works, or ways, or any contracts in
relation or in connection therewith which may exist and which the city may desire to acquire or
purchase, in whole or in part, the same or any part thereof may be purchased by the city. An
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election is not required for the purchase of a portion of a utility system which is included in an area
being annexed to the city and which is not the subject of an existing city franchise. Such public
utilities acquired by the city, except waterworks and transportation systems, shall not be paid for
out of general taxes or general obligation bonds, but shall be paid for from revenue derived from
the public utility. Equipment necessary for transportation system may be acquired from the funds
of the equipment fund of the city.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts L, V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 2. - Right of entry.
The directors and employees of city-owned utilities shall have authority in the necessary discharge
of their duties to enter upon any lands, properties or premises, within or without the city limits, for
the examination or survey thereof, or for the purpose of repairing, inspecting, removing, or
connecting the service, reading meters, or any other purpose whatever in connection with the
water, wastewater, electric, and other utilities.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts M, V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 3. - Restriction on sale of water and electric property.
The City shall not sell, lease, or in any manner dispose of the city's water or electric utility system as
a whole unless and except the proposition for such purpose has first been approved by a vote of
the electors. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the sale, lease or exchange of any part
of the water or electric utility systems, which the Council, by ordinance, determines does not
materially impair the viability of the particular utility system as a whole and further determines is
for the benefit of the citizens of Fort Collins. The provisions of this Section shall also not apply to
the sale of water rights no longer useful to the city nor to the exchange of certain water rights for
other water rights which would be more useful to the city.
(Ord. No. 12, 1969, 2-27-69, approved, election 4-8-69; Ord. No. 23, 1981, 2-17-81, approved, election 4-7-81;
Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts N, V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 4. - Control of water.
If at any time the water supply is greater than the immediate needs of the city and its inhabitants,
the Council may authorize the City Manager to permit the use of such surplus water by consumers
outside the city at such rates as the Council may prescribe; provided that no vested right shall
accrue under such permits.
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The use of water belonging to the city, or the use of its water system, whether for domestic or
industrial use, or for use in connection with a franchise or other privilege granted by the city, shall
always be subject to the most comprehensive scrutiny, management, and control by the city, and
nothing shall ever be done by a user which shall interfere with the successful operation of the
waterworks or tend to interfere with the complete performance of the trust for the people under
which such waterworks are held by the city; neither shall such use confer upon any user a right to
water superior to the right of any other user.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 5. - Utility budgeting.
Budgets for all city-owned public utilities shall be prepared and adopted at the same time and to
the same extent as budgets for all other city functions, as specified in Article V of this Charter.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 6. - Municipal utility rates and nances.
The Council shall by ordinance from time to time fix, establish, maintain, and provide for the
collection of such rates, fees, or charges for water and electricity, and for other utility services
furnished by the city as will produce revenues sufficient to pay the cost of operation and
maintenance of the city's utilities in good repair and working order; to pay into the general fund in
lieu of taxes on account of the city-owned utilities such amount as may be established by the
Council by ordinance; to pay the principal of and interest on all bonds of the city payable from the
revenues of the city's utilities; to provide and maintain an adequate working capital fund for the
day-to-day business operations of said utilities; to provide and maintain an adequate fund for the
replacement of depreciated and obsolete property and for the extension, improvement,
enlargement and betterment of said utilities; to pay the interest on and principal of any general
obligation bonds issued by the city to extend or improve said utilities. The provisions hereof shall
be subject at all times to the performance by the city of all covenants and agreements made by it in
connection with the issuance, sale, or delivery of any bonds of the city payable out of the revenues
derived from the operation of its utilities, whether such revenue bonds be heretofore or hereafter
issued.
All net operating revenues of the city's utilities shall be held within the respective utility's fund and
may be expended only for renewals, replacements, extraordinary repairs, extensions,
improvements, enlargements and betterments to such utility, or other specific utility purpose
determined by the Council to be beneficial to the ratepayers of said utilities.
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(Res. No. 71-12, 2-11-71, approved, election 4-6-71; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part N, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 159, 1988, 12-
20-88, approved, election 3-7-89)
Section 7. - Telecommunication facilities and services.
In addition to all the powers granted by this Charter to the Council to acquire, condemn,
establish, construct, own, lease, operate and maintain an electric utility to provide light, power
and other electrical facilities and services, the Council may, by ordinance and without a vote of
the electors, authorize the electric utility to acquire, construct, provide, fund and contract for
telecommunication facilities and services within and outside the City's territorial limits, whether
directly or in whole or part through one or more third-party providers. Alternatively, the Council
may create by ordinance, and without a vote of the electors, a telecommunications utility to
exercise these same powers to furnish telecommunication facilities and services within and
outside the City's territorial limits. If the Council creates a telecommunications utility, it may also
establish that utility as an enterprise of the City in the same manner, with the same powers and
subject to the same requirements and limitations established under Section 19.3(b) of Article V of
this Charter for the City's other enterprises. The Council may also exercise with respect to the
telecommunications utility the same general authority and powers granted to Council in this
Charter with respect to the City's other utilities.
The Council, acting as itself, the board of the electric utility enterprise or as the board of the
telecommunications utility enterprise, shall have the power to issue revenue and refunding
securities and other debt obligations as authorized in Sections 19.3 and 19.4 of Article V of this
Charter to fund the provision of the telecommunication facilities and services authorized in this
Section. The cumulative total principal amount of any such securities and other debt obligations
issued shall not exceed one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000), except that any
refunding of such securities or other debt obligations shall not be included in that cumulative
total. The City's payment of and performance of covenants under the securities and other debt
obligations issued under this subsection (b) and any other contract obligations of the City relating
to the provision of telecommunication facilities and services under this Section, shall not be
subject to annual appropriation so long as annual appropriation is not required under Article X,
Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution.
The Council shall set by ordinance the rates, fees and charges for furnishing the
telecommunication facilities and services authorized in this Section subject to the same
limitations in Section 6 of Article XII of this Charter for setting the rates, fees and charges for
other City utilities, except to the extent this authority is delegated by Council pursuant to
subsection (e) below. In setting such rates, fees and charges, the Council may also include
amounts payable to the City's general fund for a franchise fee, a reasonable rate of return on any
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(d)
(e)
(f)
contributions from the general fund to acquire or construct telecommunication facilities, and the
repayment of any loans from the general fund used to support the provision of telecommunication facilities
and services under this Section, to include the payment of a reasonable rate of interest on any such loans.
In addition to the authority to go into executive session as provided in Section 11 of Article II of
this Charter, the Council, and any board or commission established under subsection (e) below,
may go into executive session to consider matters pertaining to issues of competition in providing
the telecommunication facilities and services authorized in this Section, which shall include,
without limitation, matters subject to negotiation, strategic planning, pricing, sales and marketing,
development phasing and any other matter allowed under Colorado law.
As authorized in Section 1 of Article IV of this Charter, the Council may, by ordinance, establish a
Council-appointed board or commission and delegate to it, in whole or part, the Council's
governing authority and powers granted under this Section concerning the furnishing of
telecommunication facilities and services by the City's electric utility or telecommunications utility,
but not the power to issue securities as provided in subsection (b), above which shall only be
exercised by the Council acting as itself or as the board of the electric utility enterprise or as the
board of the telecommunications utility enterprise. The Council may also delegate by ordinance
to the City Manager, in whole or part, its authority in subsection (c) above to set the rates, fees
and charges for furnishing telecommunication facilities and services. Any Council ordinance
delegating this authority shall set forth the process to be used by the delegate for the setting of
these rates, fees and charges. In addition, the amount of the rates, fees and charges so set by the
delegate shall be determined under the same criteria the Council is authorized and required to
follow in subsection (c) above.
For purposes of this Section, telecommunication facilities and services shall mean those facilities
used and services provided for the transmission, between or among points specified by the user,
of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as
sent and received, to include, without limitation, any broadband Internet facilities and services
using any technology having the capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service to
originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics and video. Telecommunication facilities
and services and "broadband Internet facilities and services" are to be interpreted under this
Section in the broadest possible way to cover the widest range of technologies and technology
infrastructure, regardless of how these terms may be defined by federal or state law.
(Ord. No. 101, 2017, 8-15-17, approved, election 11-7-17)
ARTICLE XIII. - DEFINITIONS
Certain words and phrases used in this Charter are hereby declared to have the following
meanings:
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"Agency" means any organizational unit of the city.
"Allotment" means a portion of an appropriation made available for expenditure during a specified
period of less than one (1) year.
"Appropriation" means the authorized amount of funds set aside for expenditure during a
specified time for a specific purpose.
"City" means the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, a municipal corporation.
"Day" means a calendar day unless otherwise specified.
"Department" means a primary subdivision of a service area headed by a person who, regardless
of title, is directly responsible to the director of the service area.
"Elector or taxpayer for a period of time" means that, if a person is required to be an elector or
taxpayer for a period of time as a qualification to vote, to be a candidate, or to hold an office, then
he or she shall be such during the entire and consecutive number of years next preceding the
specified time.
"Emergency" means an existing condition actually arising from unforeseen contingencies which
immediately endangers public property, health, peace, or safety.
"Emergency ordinance" means an ordinance immediately necessary, on account of an emergency,
to preserve the public property, health, peace, or safety.
"Employees" means all persons in the compensated service of the city except Councilmembers.
"Fort Collins Urban Growth Area" means that geographical area within and adjacent to the City of
Fort Collins identified by Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Fort Collins and
Larimer County as that area identified for annexation and urbanization by the City of Fort Collins
including the Urban Growth Area as it exists on March 5, 1985, together with any amendments or
changes thereto.
"Misdemeanor" means a violation of this Charter or of any city ordinance so designated, and it shall
not have the meaning attached to it in the criminal statutes of the State of Colorado.
"Office" means an administrative, legislative, or judicial position in the service of the city.
"Officer" means a member of the City Council.
"Registered elector" or "elector" means a person residing in the city who has registered to vote in
city elections in the manner required by law.
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"Service area" means a major city administrative unit designated as a service area by the City
Council by ordinance.
"Vote of the electors" means a favorable vote by a majority of the electors voting in an election.
(Ord. No. 209, 1984, 1-15-85, approved, election 3-5-85; Ord. No. 199, 1986, § 1, Part C, 12-16-86, approved,
election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 201, 1986, § 1, Part N, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1,
Parts F, R, V, X, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 1, 2-20-01, approved, election 4-3-
01; Ord. No. 011, 2015, § 1, 2-3-15, approved, election of 4-7-15)
ARTICLE XIV. - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. - Purpose and status of this article.
The purpose of this Article is to provide an orderly transition from the Commission form of
government of the city to the Council-Manager form of government under provisions of this
Charter and to prevent the impairment of any contractual relationships between the city and the
beneficiaries of any retirement plans of the city in effect on the effective date of this Charter or the
owners of any municipal bonds of the city then outstanding. This Article shall constitute a part of
the Charter only to the extent and for the time required to accomplish that purpose.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Part V, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87; Ord. No. 203, 1986, § 1, Part O, 12-16-
86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 2. - Transitional period.
The period from the effective date of this Charter to April 12, 1955, shall be known as the
transitional period. During the transitional period the former Charter of the City shall remain in
effect, except that for the purpose of nominating and electing members of the Council, or filling
vacancies thereon, Article VIII of this Charter shall be immediately operative. This Charter shall be
fully operative at the close of the transitional period.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 3. - Retirement plans.
This Charter shall not affect any contractual relationships existing on the effective date of this
Charter between the city and any officers or employees by reason of any retirement plans then in
effect.
12/5/24, 10:27 AM Fort Collins, CO Municipal Code
about:blank 62/63
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Item 2.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 4. - Outstanding and authorized bonds.
The provisions of this Charter shall not affect municipal bonds outstanding on the effective date of
this Charter. Failure to observe requirements of the former Charter, as amended, governing city
elections shall not invalidate any bonds authorized at any election held prior to the effective date
of this Charter. Bonds authorized at an election held prior to the effective date of this Charter may
be issued in accordance with the provisions of this Charter and when so issued shall be the lawful
and binding obligations of the city in accordance with their import.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts V, W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
Section 5. - Saving clause.
This Charter shall not affect any suit pending in any court on the effective date of its adoption.
Nothing in this Charter shall invalidate any existing contracts between the city and individuals,
corporations, or public agencies.
(Ord. No. 202, 1986, § 1, Parts U, V, W, 12-16-86, approved, election 3-3-87)
12/5/24, 10:27 AM Fort Collins, CO Municipal Code
about:blank 63/63
Page 88
Item 2.
Headline Copy Goes Here
Special Legal Counsel
Geoff Wilson
Delynn Coldiron
City Clerk
Carrie Daggett
City Attorney
City Charter Update
and Modernization
Project
12-10-2024
Page 89
Item 2.
Headline Copy Goes Here
2
Council Priority to Modernize and Update City Charter
Resolution 2024-024, Adopted a 2024-2026 Council
Priority to Modernize and Update the City Charter:
Modernize and Update the City Charter
Although small parts of the Charter get reviewed and
updated on a regular basis, due to changes in state laws
and election procedures, there is a need to modernize and
update the City Charter, which has not been done in a
comprehensive way in over 25 years.
Page 90
Item 2.
Headline Copy Goes Here
3
Questions for Council
•What feedback do Councilmembers have about any of the
potential cleanup or clarification items identified?
•Are there other Charter provisions Councilmembers would like
staff to review further or propose amendments for?
•Would additional work session or other discussion be beneficial
in advance of presentation of Charter amendment ordinances for
consideration?
•What feedback do Councilmembers have about any of the potential cleanup or clarification items identified?
Page 91
Item 2.
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4
Charter Update Project Scope
Objectives Identified in Council’s May 14 Work Session
Discussion:
1.Comprehensive review of City Charter to align with state law
and legal developments;
2.Update language in Charter to be inclusive;
3.Focus on cleanup and modernization rather than policy
changes;
4.Evaluate form and timing options for presenting updates to
voters;and
5.Fresh look at how Charter language is presented for ease of
reading and clarity.
Page 92
Item 2.
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5
Recommended Cleanup Items
1.Modernization of Language
a.Art IV, Sec. 7 Publication: Currently the Charter requires publication be
done through a local newspaper of general circulation in the city
b.Art IV, Sec 3 Residency requirements:Provision regarding residency
requirements of department heads appointed prior to March 6, 1985, no
longer applicable because no qualified persons remain.
c.Reformatting of Charter provisions (throughout) for readability.
d.Replace outdated language for gender neutrality and to eliminate
unclear uses of the term “shall.”
Page 93
Item 2.
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6
Recommended Cleanup Items
2.Alignment with State Law
a.Art II, Sec.11 Meetings, quorum, executive session:Currently, the Charter
provides for executive sessions to be held for a list of purposes that does not
include all of the options identified in state law.
b.Art V, Sec.6 Maximum mill levy: states that no mill levy shall exceed fifteen
mills on each dollar. This is outdated due to the requirements of TABOR.
c.Art V, Sec.19.3 Revenue securities: provides that Council may issue securities
made payable solely from revenues derived from capital projects, etc, without
an election. This is outdated due to the requirements of TABOR.
d.It may be beneficial to more directly reference other state laws, such as the
Colorado Open Meetings Law.
Page 94
Item 2.
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7
Recommended Cleanup Items
3.Add Clarification
a.Art II, Sec.6 Ordinances, resolutions, motions:Section is extensive, unformatted, and covers
a few topics. Allows any Councilmember to request ordinance be read in full at any reading.
b.Art II, Sec. 7 Ordinances, publication & effective dates:
Section 7 could be reorganized with subsections, alone or combined with Section 6. To avoid
the need to repeal and reenact ordinances when there has been a late or failed publication,
add language allowing for a “cure” of a failed publication and providing that the ordinance is not
effective until published.
c.Art II, Sec. 18(a)(3) Vacancies: currently states that a vacancy exists when a Councilmember
“fails to attend all regular and special meetings of the council for sixty (60) consecutive days
unless excused by Council resolution. Clarification of how this is determined is needed.
d.Art.XIV Transitional Provisions: the transition paragraphs currently included can create
confusion as to other sections in the Charter and the Code. These are no longer needed.
Page 95
Item 2.
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8
Recommended Cleanup Items
4.Corrections
a.Art. IX, Sec. 2(e)(2) Recall:As a result of moving to rank choice voting this
subsection should clarify the percentage of voters from the preceding election
is based on the total of first choice votes cast. This was addressed in one place
but not caught in the other.
b.Art.X, Sec.2 (e)(1) Initiative:In the newly passed language, Charter, Article X,
Section 2(e)(1) states that a petitioner will have 63 days to circulate an
initiative petition after the City Clerk’s approval of the form due to an error in
the ordinance placing this item on the ballot. That needs to be changed to 77
days to meet Council’s original intentions.
Page 96
Item 2.
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9
Clarifications with Policy Implications
Clarifications raising Policy Questions
1)Art II, Sec 2 (d) Qualifications of candidates and members, challenges: currently a protest as to a
Councilmember’s qualifications can be raised at any time and the Charter assigned the determination of
eligibility to the City Clerk pursuant to a procedure established by Council. Under the Charter’s election
provisions, the eligibility of a candidate is determined pursuant to statutory procedures.
2)Art II, Sec. 18 Vacancies: Provision providing for delaying appointments to fill Council vacancy if 45 -day
period to appoint overlaps with 45 days prior to election, this could lead to a lengthy vacancy on Council. It
may be helpful to clarify/confirm that Council appoints the replacement officeholder unless the
appointment is too late to allow for candidates to seek nomination for the office at the next regular
election, in which case the appointment would wait until after the new Council is sworn in after the regular
election.
3)Art. IV, Sec 9(b)(1)(a) Conflicts of interest, sales to the City:This provision prohibits any
councilmember, or their relative, from having a financial interest in the sale to the City of any real or
personal property, etc. Recommend providing some exceptions to this prohibition.
4)Art. IV, Sec. 9 (b)(2) Conflicts of interest, sales to the City: This provision arguably could prohibit an
employee from renting or leasing City provided housing. Recommend providing an exception for
rentals/leasing to employees so long as they are not involved in the decision-making process.
Page 97
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10
Next Steps
Staff will prepare Charter amendment language for further
consideration either at a Council work session or for
submittal to the voters.
Further evaluation of how these items may be combined
and how many ballot questions would be required to
accomplish the changes will also be needed and may be a
beneficial topic for further work session discussion
Page 98
Item 2.
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11
Questions for Council
•What feedback do Councilmembers have about any of the
potential cleanup or clarification items identified?
•Are there other Charter provisions Councilmembers would like
staff to review further or propose amendments for?
•Would additional work session or other discussion be beneficial
in advance of presentation of Charter amendment ordinances for
consideration?
•What feedback do Councilmembers have about any of the potential cleanup or clarification items identified?
Page 99
Item 2.
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12
Page 100
Item 2.
File Attachments for Item:
3. Rooted in Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
The purpose of this item is to provide an overview and to seek Council feedback on the draft,
Rooted in Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
Page 101
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 1 of 4
December 10, 2024
WORK SESSION AGENDA
ITEM SUMMARY
City Council
STAFF
Dean Klingner, Community Services Director
Kendra Boot, City Forester
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Rooted in Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to provide an overview and to seek Council feedback on the draft, Rooted in
Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. Do Councilmembers have feedback regarding the Urban Forest Strategic Plan and the Future Growth
Strategies?
2. How can Growth Strategy 3 further support Council Priorities?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Rooted in Community, the Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan provides seven recommended growth
strategies to support and maximize the community benefits that arise from fostering a healthy, urban tree
canopy. The plan outlines the current state of the urban forest, emphasizes why trees are an important
component of our community’s infrastructure, and identifies key opportunities to continue improving the
urban tree canopy for generations to come.
Summary of Preliminary Findings:
Overall, the urban tree canopy has grown/expanded in most land use types over the last 10 years.
Several commercial zoning types as well as “Institutional” (e.g. CSU Jurisdiction) are the areas that
have lost canopy during this period of time.
Eighty-eight percent (88%) of the urban canopy is on private property and the remaining twelve percent
(12%) is on public property.
City Forestry Division provides a high level of service to the community with a budget comparable to
peer cities.
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Item 3.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 2 of 4
Sixty percent (60%) of the public tree inventory are less than 8-inches in diameter and will require
additional resources to manage as trees continue to mature and thrive.
An urban tree canopy analysis was completed to intersect canopy disparities, prioritizing future planting
efforts around the following variables:
o Social, e.g. income, population density, BIPOC, renters
o Health, e.g. asthma, heart disease, mental health
o Environmental, e.g. urban heat and stormwater
o Canopy cover over bus stops and bike lanes
The analysis identified 2,250 acres of High or Very High priority where additional
tree canopy can capture stormwater, reduce urban heat, improve health outcomes,
and benefit vulnerable communities.
Community Engagement
The Urban Forest Strategic Plan conducted numerous community-wide and focus group activities. The
information gleaned from these engagement opportunities informed the development of the draft plan. The
following list comprises the communication tools, channels, and events the project team employed to
garner public input:
‘Our City’ webpage:
Including preview of the first plan draft
Social media:
Ongoing posts and interactions regarding plan status and opportunities for engagement
In-person Public Meetings:
October 2023 (2 meetings) and March 2024 (1 meeting)
o North & south Fort Collins meeting locations
o 160 Participants
o Spanish translation for all materials
o Spanish interpretation provided at all meetings
Community Survey:
September - December 2023
971 respondents
657 write-in comments
In partnership with Our Climate Future Community Consultants and Urban Forest Ambassador
volunteers
Diverse Focus Groups:
9 focus group meetings were held between October - December 2023
49 representatives from local organizations, institutions, businesses, developers, affordable
housing representatives, landscape and tree contractors, and government entities
Boards and Commissions and Climate Equity Committee:
Land Conservation and Stewardship Board – May 8, 2024
Natural Resource Advisory Board – May 15, 2024
Air Quality Advisory Board – May 20, 2024
Page 103
Item 3.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 3 of 4
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – May 22, 2024
Transportation Board – June 12, 2024
Public Preview of 90% draft plan:
54 document downloads
210 page visits
74 newsfeed visits (format compliant per PDF Accessibility Law HB21-110)
Sent to 124 emails with a 75% open rate and 22 clicks
Future Growth Strategies
The following strategies are listed in more detail with supporting initiatives (Foundational and
Transformational Initiatives) in the draft plan. The supporting initiatives serve as a menu of options that
were identified as opportunities through our community and focus group engagement. These options
create pathways for the community and the Forestry Division to focus on and refine over the next twenty
years as the urban forest and community evolves, as Council Priorities change, and as other technologies
or advancements become available.
The proposed Growth Strategies, starting on page 60, are as follows:
1. Strategically invest in growing tree canopy where it will promote resilience and quality of life in Fort
Collins. (p.62)
2. Complete the shift to proactive management of Fort Collin’s public trees. (p.64)
3. Strengthen city policies to protect trees. (p.66)
4. Collect data to track changes to tree canopy over time and to inform Forestry activities. (p. 68)
5. Sustainably resource the Forestry Division to keep pace with growth of the urban forest. (p. 70)
6. Deepen engagement with the community about tree stewardship. (p.72)
7. Expand the network of Forestry Division partners. (p. 74)
For a quick view of Implementation and Metrics of the seven Growth Strategies, see page 78.
Addressing March 2024 Council Work Session themes
Staff heard various feedback and suggestions from Council which are summarized below:
Council: Provide more emphasis on the broad benefits of the urban forest in Fort Collins, including
and especially bird and wildlife habitat.
o Staff Response: The plan addresses the broader benefits of trees throughout the plan but
more specifically is identified in Section 2: Trees Enhance Neighborhood & Community
Vitality (p. 36). An additional section was added: “Trees and Environmental Health” to
provide more emphasis on trees providing food and habitat for wildlife (p. 39).
Council: Provide more connection of the urban forest to the seven City Strategic Outcomes Areas,
i.e. How does the urban forest support Economic Health?
o Staff Response: The plan provides connection and alignment with the 2024 Citywide
Strategic Plan and 2019 City Plan. Each future growth strategy (p. 60) lists each Outcome
Area and how the plan supports it. Additionally, a section at the beginning of the plan
highlights how trees support each of the 7 outcome areas (p. 18). In addition, edits to
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Item 3.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 4 of 4
language for Growth Strategy 3 aim to acknowledge how plans, strategies, and policies
must work in harmony to achieve desired outcomes.
Council: Clarify how trees fit in as we move toward a more water-wise landscape and how trees
can support multiple objectives in a changing climate.
o Staff Response: The plan offers a section on water conservation, drought and climate
adaptation (p. 30-33) and includes initiatives to adapt to a changing climate; and to support
and align with the Water Efficiency Plan (WEP).
Council: Clarify and educate responsibilities for private trees between neighbors as well as other
education and outreach opportunities to help support both community members and tree canopy.
o Staff Response: Several plan initiatives support these efforts listed in both Growth Strategy
3 (p. 66-67) and Growth Strategy 6 (p. 72-73).
Addressing Land Use Code (LUC) and Tree Policies:
An interdisciplinary team from Planning, City Manager’s Office and Forestry will work with a consultant to
analyze the impact of proposed tree policies on future development in Fort Collins related to potential
changes in the Land Use Code. A separate Council Work Session will be scheduled in 2025 to discuss
findings and identify next steps.
Growth Strategy 3: Strengthen City Policies to Protect Trees (p. 66) takes into consideration and
operationalizes input garnered from community engagement events, focus groups, council feedback,
review of the existing City ordinance, and best practice tree protection policies from peer communities.
Proposed edits to this strategy seek to add nuance to potential future policy within this Growth Strategy.
These edits and proposed future work strive to balance Council priorities regarding 15-Minute Cities and
articulate potential trade-offs in policy decisions.
NEXT STEPS
Staff will incorporate feedback from this Council Work Session and finalize the draft Urban Forest Strategic
Plan for Council’s consideration to adopt the Urban Forest Strategic Plan, Rooted in Community in Q1
2025.
Staff will continue to incorporate Council Priorities to balance the needs of the community while exploring
tree canopy policy updates in 2025, including a future work session in alignment with future Land Use
Code work.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Urban Forest Strategic Plan (draft)
2. Urban Forest Strategic Plan Technical Appendix
3. Urban Forest Strategic Plan Focus Group Participants
4. Staff Presentation
Page 105
Item 3.
2024
Page 106
Item 3.
“Change is never
easy, and it often
creates discord, but
when people come
together for the
good of humanity
and the Earth, we
can accomplish
great things.
—David Suzuki
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
1 . FORT COLLINS’ URBAN FOREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
2 . TREES ENHANCE NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY VITALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
3 . A HIGH-PERFORMING FORESTRY DIVISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
4 . FUTURE GROWTH STRATEGIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
5 . MOVING FORWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
6 . SELECTED REFERENCES & GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Page 107
Item 3.
Land Acknowledgment
4 Acknowledgments 5
The Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan was created with funding
from the City of Fort Collins.
Kendra Boot City Forester
Ralph Zentz Assistant City Forester
Ernie Wintergerst Senior Supervisor, Forestry
FORESTRY
DIVISION
PLANNING
TEAM
ADVISORY
BOARDS
Air Quality Advisory Board
Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
Natural Resource Advisory Board
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Transportation Board
STEERING
COMMITTEE
Teddy Parker-Renga Colorado State Forest Service
Fred Haberecht Fort Collins resident
Daniel Burcham Colorado State University
Katy McLaren Environmental Services, City of Fort Collins
Nick Armstrong Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Natalie McNeill The Davey Tree Expert Company
Emily Haukeness Parks and Recreation Communications,
City of Fort Collins
Valerie Van Ryn Parks and Recreation Communications,
City of Fort Collins
Mike Calhoon Parks Department, City of Fort Collins
Honoré Depew Environmental Services, City of Fort Collins
CITY COUNCIL Jeni Arndt Mayor
Susan Gutowsky District 1
Julie Pignataro District 2
Tricia Canonico District 3
Melanie Potyondy District 4
Kelly Ohlson District 5
Emily Francis Mayor Pro Tem, District 6
Prepared by Davey Resource Group, Inc. for the City of Fort Collins.
Special thanks to:
The Fort Collins community members and
visitors who shaped this plan .
Page 108
Item 3.
Land Acknowledgment
Land Acknowledgment 7
IMAGE 1. SOAPSTONE PRAIRIE NATURAL AREA NEAR FORT COLLINS .
6
The City of Fort Collins acknowledges and honors the lands
situated within the city as the original homelands of the
Hinono’eiteen (Arapaho), Tsétsėhéstahese (Cheyenne), Numunuu
(Comanche), Kiowa (Caiugu), Čariks i Čariks (Pawnee), Sosonih
(Shoshone), Oc'eti S'akowin (Lakota) and Núuchiu (Ute) Peoples .
This area is an important site of trade, gathering, and healing
for these Native Nations . These lands are home to a diverse
urban Native community representing multiple Native Nations
and Indigenous Peoples . Despite forced removal and land
dispossession, they continue to thrive as resilient members of
our community . We are grateful for Native community members
and honor the rich cultural heritage they bring to our collective
community . We further recognize and value their social,
intellectual, economic, and cultural contributions . The City of Fort
Collins is committed to supporting, partnering, and working with
the Native and Indigenous community .
Page 109
Item 3.
Land Acknowledgment
Executive Summary8
When you come into Fort Collins, Colorado, it doesn’t take long to realize that you
have arrived somewhere special. Whether you live here, work here, or like to visit,
you have probably, at some point, noticed our tree canopy. Fort Collins’ trees add
to the livability of our neighborhoods and surrounding areas. Trees improve our
mental and physical health, provide protection from urban heat, and are an integral
component in our battle against climate change.
FUTURE GROWTH
STRATEGIES
Rooted in Community proposes seven
Growth Strategies for Fort Collins’ urban
forest:
1. Strategically invest in growing tree canopy
where it will promote resilience and quality
of life in Fort Collins .
2. Complete the shift to proactive
management of Fort Collins’ public trees .
3. Strengthen city policies to protect trees .
4. Collect data to track changes to tree canopy over time and to inform forestry
activities .
5. Sustainably resource the Forestry Division to keep pace with growth of the urban forest .
6. Deepen engagement with the community about tree stewardship .
7. Expand the network of Forestry Division partners .
TREE CANOPY IS GROWING IN FORT COLLINS
The urban forest is the collection of trees
that grow on public and private land
across the city . Over a 10-year period, tree
canopy cover in and around Fort Collins
has increased by over 930 acres. Not all
communities can say the same—many cities
are losing canopy at accelerated rates .
However, tree canopy cover varies widely,
ranging from almost no trees in some parts
of the city to over 40% tree canopy cover
in other areas . While nearly all land uses in
the city have gained tree canopy over the
past decade (commercial land is the only
land use type that has lost canopy), we
have work to do to ensure that all residents
are able to experience the benefits of trees .
Themes of the Urban Forest
Strategic Plan
This Rooted in Community is a framework for action . It is a 20-year plan
that establishes a vision for managing the urban forest into the future .
Three themes emerged during the planning process:
Build resilience & wellbeing
of people and trees .
Sustainably grow the Forestry Division
as the urban forest grows .
Expand the community’s knowledge
about tree benefits and stewardship .
TREES ARE AN
INVESTMENT IN OUR
COMMUNITY
Trees are one of the few investments
that appreciate in value over time . Their
benefits are innumerable, from improving
human health and safety to improving
the economic vitality of the community .
THE VISION FOR FORT
COLLINS’ URBAN
FOREST
The City of Fort Collins is committed to
bringing trees and their benefits to people
where they are needed most to support
human health, reduce urban heat, and build
climate resilience .
Rooted in Community outlines a set
of strategies that will build upon the
stewardship of Fort Collins’ urban forest
over the last 160 years . Investments in
urban tree canopy will ensure that tree
benefits will grow and become more
equitable, improving the lives of the people
of Fort Collins for generations to come .
$2.2 million
in benefits is provided annually by
Fort Collins’ trees through cleaner
water, cleaner air, and greenhouse gas
reduction .
Public Engagement for
Rooted in Community
More than 1,180 community members
gave input about this plan via:
• Partner focus groups (9) .
• Public meetings (3) .
• Community survey .
• Public draft preview .
Page 110
Item 3.
Land Acknowledgment
FO
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URBAN FOREST
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Item 3.
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Fort Collins’ Urban Forest
FO
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Fort Collins’
Urban Forest
When viewed from above, the green tree canopy of Fort Collins stands
out against the surrounding steppe, shrubland, and grassland of the
Front Range. These trees bear witness to the sustained stewardship that
has been provided by residents over more than 160 years. Trees have
grown to become one of the hallmarks of the city, enhancing the natural
beauty and hospitability of the Cache la Poudre River valley.
Fort Collins’ urban forest includes trees growing along streets, in public
parks, cemeteries, golf courses, and natural areas, and in the yards of
homes, schools, and businesses. Together, these trees are a dynamic,
living system that provides invaluable environmental, economic, and
societal benefits to enhance the quality of life in Fort Collins.
Themes of the Urban Forest
Strategic Plan
This Urban Forest Strategic Plan summarizes the state of Fort
Collins’ urban forest and outlines a vision for the next 20 years to:
Build resilience & wellbeing
of people and trees .
Sustainably grow the Forestry Division
as the urban forest grows .
Expand the community’s knowledge
about tree benefits and stewardship .
FIGURE 1. THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS .
URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN
This Urban Forest Strategic Plan is a
comprehensive plan for the management,
protection, and improvement of Fort
Collins’ urban forest . It summarizes the
state of the city’s urban forest and the City
of Fort Collins Forestry Division’s program .
Then, it provides seven Future Growth
Strategies with tiered actions that the City
of Fort Collins and its partners can take to
ensure that its urban forest remains healthy and vibrant into the future .
The plan establishes a 20-year vision for managing the urban forest by
answering a series of questions about Fort Collins’ present and future
(Figure 1) .
99%
The proportion of
residents who said that
trees are an important
part of Fort Collins in a
public survey .
What do
we have?
What do
we want?
How are
we doing?
How do we
get there?
Strategic
Planning
Approach
1
3
24
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Item 3.
14 15
FO
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A HISTORY OF
TREES & FORESTRY
IN FORT COLLINS
These were the original homelands of the
Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribes that were
forcibly removed . In the Cache la Poudre
River Valley, trees are mostly found along
waterways .
Gardens and
promenades
with trees are
popularized in
Fort Collins . City Council makes the first allocation
for “Street Forestry” ($700) .
City Forestry Program
proposed by W . D . Thomas,
Jr ., includes introducing
City Forestry Code, arborist
licensing, and survey of unsafe
and infested trees .
Fort Collins is
recognized as a
Tree City USA by
the Arbor Day
Foundation .
The first computer-based
citywide inventory of
public trees is conducted .
MID–1800s
1890s–1920s
1870s–1880s
1920s
1951 1977
1988
The Council
Tree is known
as an important
cultural site for
multiple tribes to
gather for trade .
As part of the
City Beautiful
movement, city
residents plant
elms, oaks, and
maples along
streets in Old
Town .
The City hires
its first Forester,
an independent
contractor with
authority to
perform forestry
services and
allowed to use
City equipment .
A tree sanitation
program begins
in response
to Dutch Elm
Disease .
The Forestry Division
assumes maintenance
of street trees .
1939 1970
1980
10,000+ YEARS BEFORE PRESENT
IMAGE 2. ON THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER, COLORADO (1875) BY THOMAS WORTHINGTON
WHITTREDGE | CREDIT: AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, FORT WORTH, TX .
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Fort Collins’ Urban Forest
“Tree-henge” is planted
in Lee Martinez Park .
City develops first drought
response plan, prioritizing
trees, in response to severe
drought conditions on the
Front Range .
Forestry begins a program
to provide free mulch to
residents .
The City updates its comprehensive
plan, City Plan, as well as its
Transportation and Transit Plans .
City Council sets two tree-
related priorities; one around
tree subsidies and another to
improve tree policies .
1990
2002
2010
2019
2021
Forestry’s biological control
program successfully eradicates
spongy moth .
Forestry begins a wood recycling
program in alignment with the City’s
Zero Waste initiative .
Emerald
ash borer is
detected within
the Growth
Management
Area .
City Council
adopts updated
climate action
goals to reduce
emissions .
Trees in Fort Collins are dedicated as
important community infrastructure in
Municipal Code .
This plan, the first ever Fort Collins Urban
Forest Strategic Plan, is funded .
1991
2008
20202015
2022
2023
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TREES SUPPORT FORT COLLINS’
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
The City of Fort Collins 2024 Strategic Plan outlines seven Key Outcome Areas by
which the City measures progress toward its vision and goals . Trees relate to each of
these seven Outcome Areas through the many benefits that they provide and show
that Fort Collins is a great place to live, work and visit .
1. High Performing Government.
The Forestry Division proactively
maintains public trees and responds
to hundreds of resident requests
each year . It also influences private
tree stewardship through arborist
licensing, tree planting subsidies,
City code implementation, and
tree protection and preservation
requirements for development .
2. Culture & Recreation. Trees add to
the beauty and character of Fort
Collins and encourage people to
spend more time outdoors .
3. Economic Health. Trees in business
districts encourage people to
stay longer and participate in the
local economy . Trees add value to
properties and help residents save
money on energy costs .
4. Environmental Health. Trees provide
habitat for wildlife and absorb carbon
and other greenhouse gasses that
contribute to climate change .
5. Neighborhood & Community Vitality.
Trees improve wellbeing and health
outcomes in people by cleaning and
cooling the air and reducing stress .
6. Safe Community. Well-maintained
trees build a sense of community
and are associated with reductions in
crime .
7. Transportation & Mobility. Trees slow
traffic and make streets and sidewalks
safer and more comfortable for active
modes of transportation .
FORT COLLINS’ TREE CANOPY COVER
HAS GROWN TO 13.7%
Urban tree canopy was measured
across Fort Collins—where it is, how
it is changing, the benefits it provides
to residents, and where potential tree
planting opportunities exist . The analysis
used high-resolution aerial imagery
from 2011 and 2021 to determine the 10-
year change in canopy cover as viewed
from above . It looked at land within the
current city limits as well as the growth
management area, which delineates the
possible future extent of city boundaries .
Average tree canopy cover in Fort
Collins and the growth management
area is 12 .6% (Map 1) . Tree cover varies
widely, ranging from almost no trees in
some parts of the city to over 40% tree
cover (Map 2) . In general, tree cover
tends to be highest within the oldest
parts of the city, where residents
have been planting trees since
the nineteenth century .
From 2011 to 2021, the
city and the growth
management area
experienced an
overall increase
in tree canopy
cover of 936 acres
(+17 .2% tree canopy
compared to 2011)
(Map 3) .
The largest gains in tree cover took
place within low-canopy areas near the
borders of the city, while canopy losses
tended to take place within the more
densely developed commercial and
industrial areas . While the tree canopy
study can tell us where canopy gains
and losses have occurred over time, it
cannot answer specific questions about
the causes of tree canopy change .
However, it is known that the older
age of trees within the urban core,
urban environmental stressors, and
development (both new and infill) are all
possible drivers of canopy change over
the study period .
88%
PRIVATELY
OWNED
12%
PUBLICLY
OWNED
FIGURE 2. FORT COLLINS TREE CANOPY
COVER BY TYPE OF LAND OWNERSHIP .
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Fort Collins’ Urban Forest
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MAP 1. TREE CANOPY COVER IN FORT COLLINS CITY LIMITS AND THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT AREA, MEASURED FROM 2021 HIGH-RESOLUTION AERIAL IMAGERY .
MULBERRY ST
DRAKE RD
EAST COUNTY ROAD 32
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City of Fort Collins, Colorado
Tree Canopy Cover 2021
±0 1 20.5 Miles
City Limits
Canopy Coverage
Growth Management Area
IMAGE 2. TREE CANOPY COVER IN FORT COLLINS .
Tree Canopy Cover
City Limits
• 13 .7% average tree cover .
• Tree cover has grown by
753 acres (+17 .3%) since
2011 .
City + Growth
Management Area
• 12 .6% average tree cover .
• Tree cover has grown
by 936 acres (+17 .2%)
since 2011 .
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EAST COUNTY ROAD 32
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City of Fort Collins, Colorado
Canopy Change by Block Grou
2011 to 2021
Growth Management Area
City Limits
±0 1 20.5 Miles
BlockGroups
Canopy Cover Percent
Greater than 25% Loss
25% to 0% Loss
0% to 40% Gain
40% to 80% Gain
Greater than 80% Gain
MAP 2. TREE CANOPY COVER BY U .S . CENSUS BLOCK GROUP . TREE COVER IS HIGHEST
WITHIN THE OLDEST PARTS OF THE CITY .
EAST COUNTY ROAD 32
DRAKE RDCO
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City of Fort Collins, Colorado
Canopy Percent by Council District
±0 1 20.5 Miles
City Limits
Canopy Cover Percent
0% to 5%
5% to 15%
15% to 25%
Greater than 25%
Growth Management Area
MAP 3. TREE CANOPY CHANGE BY U .S . CENSUS BLOCK GROUP, 2011–2021 . TREE CANOPY
LOSSES WERE HIGHEST IN THE DENSELY DEVELOPED URBAN CORE .
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RESIDENTIAL LAND CONTAINS THE MOST
EXISTING TREE CANOPY—AND THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL FOR MORE
In Fort Collins, residential land contains
over half of the city’s tree canopy (Figure
3) . Tree canopy has grown 15% on
residential land since 2011 . The largest tree
canopy losses by total acreage have taken
place on commercial land, which lost 30
acres (-10%) of tree cover since 2011 .
The largest potential for additional
tree canopy occurs within residential
and mixed-use zoning types, which
together contain 8,083 acres of possible
additional tree canopy .
FIGURE 3. ACROSS FORT COLLINS, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES CONTAIN THE LARGEST
PROPORTION OF CITY TREE CANOPY, AS WELL AS THE LARGEST POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE
TREE CANOPY . TREE COVER HAS GROWN IN MOST LAND USE TYPES SINCE 2011 .
TREE CANOPY COVER BY LAND USE TYPE, 2011–2021
Residential
+15%
+32%
+21%-10%+13%-6%
10,000
12,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
Mixed
Use
Open
Space
La
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A
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(
A
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s
)
Land Use
Commercial Industrial Institutional
Other Land Area
Possible Tree Canopy
Canopy Change, 2011–2021
Tree Canopy Acres, 2011
THE SPECIES COMPOSITION, SIZE, AND
CONDITION OF CITY-MANAGED (PUBLIC) TREES
From 2018–2023, the Forestry Division
and trained volunteers from the City’s
Urban Forest Ambassador program
updated the public tree inventory,
documenting 57,991 trees, 2,668 vacant
planting sites, and 729 stumps within
street rights-of-way, parks, and City-
owned property (Map 4) . Detailed
information about public trees is used
by the Forestry Division to guide
management decisions .
MAP 4. PUBLIC TREES AND PLANTING SITES AS DOCUMENTED IN
TREEKEEPER TREE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE . SELECT TREE INFORMATION
IS SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC ON THE FORESTRY DIVISION’S WEBSITE .
(two thirds) of Fort
Collins’ 57,991 public
trees are street trees .
38,660
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PUBLIC TREES TREND CLOSE
TO RECOMMENDED DIVERSITY
GUIDELINES
Tree diversity helps to make the
population resilient to pests and diseases .
The importance of tree diversity can be
seen in the effects of emerald ash borer,
due to the large number of ash trees in
the community .
There are at least 214 unique species of
trees within the public tree inventory
that represent 56 genera and 26 families .
At a species level, the diversity of public
trees is approaching the urban forestry
industry guideline of no more than
10% of a single species present in the
inventory (Figure 4) .
In 2024, both green ash and honeylocust
exceeds recommended limits for species
abundance (Figure 4) . The abundance
of all ash species is expected to decline
over time due to emerald ash borer . The
Forestry Division is reducing the planting
of honeylocust on public property and
is encouraging developers to shift away
from planting honeylocust as part of
required street tree plantings that are
associated with development .
Genus- and family-level tree diversity
is also important, as many tree pests
and diseases have the ability to
attack multiple related species . It
is recommended that no one genus
should comprise more than 20% of
the tree inventory, and no one family
should comprise more than 30% .
The tree genera and families in the
public inventory remain below these
thresholds; however, the pest and
disease susceptibility of the larger tree
population remains unknown .
FIGURE 4. TOP FIVE SPECIES OF PUBLIC TREES . URBAN FORESTRY INDUSTRY STANDARDS
FOR BIODIVERSITY RECOMMEND THAT ANY ONE SPECIES SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10% OF
THE TOTAL POPULATION (“10% RULE”) .
A public tree inventory
provides information about the
possible management needs
& vulnerabilities of the entire
urban forest .
TOP FIVE SPECIES OF PUBLIC TREES
Green Ash
11%11%
8%
5%4%
10%
12%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Honeylocust Bur Oak
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Common
Hackberry
Littleleaf
Linden
10% Rule
PUBLIC TREES ARE IN
FAIR-TO-GOOD CONDITION
The condition of public trees reflects
significant investments in routine
maintenance as the Forestry Division
moves toward its goal of a five-year
pruning cycle and away from reactive
maintenance, which is comparably more
costly .
More than half of public trees (55%)
are rated to be in Good or Fair-Plus
condition, meaning that their trunks and
crowns are generally healthy and strong
(Figure 5) . An additional one-third
(34%) are rated to be in Fair condition,
indicating that they are healthy and
show no major defects .
PUBLIC OPINION: “PUBLIC TREES SEEM . . .”
Well Cared
For
100%
60,000
70,000
80%
50,000
60%
40,000
40%
30,000
20%
20,000
10,000
0%
0
Somewhat
Cared For
Poorly
Cared For
Re
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p
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s
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Re
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p
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s
e
s
Neglected No
Opinion
FIGURE 5. THE FORESTRY DIVISION VISUALLY
ASSESSES THE HEALTH AND VIGOR OF
TREES BASED ON MULTIPLE FACTORS . 89%
OF PUBLIC TREES ARE RATED AS FAIR OR
BETTER .
FIGURE 6. 971 PEOPLE RESPONDED TO A PUBLIC SURVEY ABOUT TREES IN FORT
COLLINS . OF THOSE, 95% FELT THAT PUBLIC TREES ARE WELL OR SOMEWHAT WELL
CARED FOR .
Condition
28% Good
27% Fair Plus
34% Fair
8% Fair Minus 2% Poor
1% Dead
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28 PUBLIC TREES SKEW YOUNG
A mixed-age tree population balances
the maintenance needs of public
trees over time and protects against
significant canopy loss . Sixty percent
of public trees in Fort Collins are young
(Figure 7), reflecting sustained tree
planting efforts within the city that
have occurred primarily through new
development as the city has grown .
Care of young trees during
establishment, as well as proactive
maintenance of older age classes, will
help increase the proportion of older
trees to balance age classes over time .
As the urban forest grows in the number
and maturity of trees, the benefits that it
provides will also increase . In the next 20
years, at the present rate of planting, the
population of public trees is projected to
shift toward more medium-sized trees .
FIGURE 7. THE RELATIVE AGE OF PUBLIC TREES, ESTIMATED FROM TRUNK DIAMETER .
SIXTY PERCENT OF PUBLIC TREES ARE YOUNG .
THE AGE DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC TREES
Young
(0–8”)
10%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
0%
Established
(9–17”)
Maturing
(18–24”)
Pe
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Relative Age (Diameter Size Class)
Mature
(>24”)
BUILDING RESILIENCE TO FUTURE THREATS
PEST SUSCEPTIBILITY OF
PUBLIC TREES
Pests, diseases, and climate change are
potential threats to the long-term function
and survival of trees . Because tree pests
and diseases often have preferred hosts,
the susceptibility of the urban forest to a
pest or disease can be evaluated based on
its species and genus diversity .
Of the pests and diseases of concern in
Colorado, emerald ash borer threatens
13% of the public tree inventory that
is composed of the genus Fraxinus,
with potential tree losses valued at $22
million (Table 1) . Its potential impacts
on private land are more profound—it is
estimated that up to one-third of Fort
Collins’ urban tree canopy is composed
of ash trees . If Asian longhorned beetle
reaches Fort Collins, it threatens the
greatest number of public trees in the
city (36%), with potential losses valued
at $51 million .
Future indirect impacts of pest and
disease outbreaks include the influx
of wood waste from tree losses and
removals and costs associated with
tree replacement . This calls for a
comprehensive plan to divert wood waste
from landfills and put it into productive
use . Urban forest products that are
made from wood waste and reclaimed
wood reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
support local businesses, and improve the
environment; however, diverting wood
waste requires a high level of planning
and coordination across sectors .
TABLE 1. SUSCEPTIBILITY OF FORT COLLINS’ PUBLIC TREES TO POTENTIALLY IMPACTFUL
PESTS AND DISEASES OF CONCERN IN COLORADO . REPLACEMENT VALUES ARE BASED ON
ACTUAL TREE ATTRIBUTES INCLUDING SIZE AND ARE CALCULATED USING I-TREE TOOLS .
PEST/DISEASE NAME NUMBER OF
SUSCEPTIBLE
TREES
PERCENT OF
PUBLIC TREE
INVENTORY
TREE
REPLACEMENT
VALUE ($)
Asian longhorned beetle 20,687 36%$51,310,744
Spotted lanternfly 8,628 15%$13,100,340
Emerald ash borer 7,388 13%$22,038,024
Pine wilt nematode 3,830 7%$9,957,809
Dutch elm disease 2,351 4%$14,876,845
Spruce Ips beetle 2,046 4%$9,102,307
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CLIMATE VULNERABILITY & RESILIENCE
Future climate predictions include more severe and
intense storms as well as more frequent periods of
extreme heat, drought, and early and late freezes
in Fort Collins, all of which can create challenging
conditions for trees .
Although trees require water to survive, in irrigated
spaces, trees save water by cooling air and surface
temperatures and by capturing natural precipitation,
which reduces the amount of irrigated water that is
lost through evapotranspiration . Planting trees over
turfgrass reduces total outdoor water consumption
by up to 50% . For these reasons, tree planting and
stewardship in public and private spaces aligns with
and benefits Fort Collins’ efforts to conserve water
now and into the future .
Drought
Tolerance of
Public Trees
• At least 4% of public
trees in Fort Collins
have LOW drought
tolerance, and at least
64% have MEDIUM
drought tolerance .
• The public tree
inventory is gradually
collecting
information about
irrigation status .
Mature tree canopy reduces total water use in irrigated landscapes .
Fort Collins’ Urban Forest
31 Strategies for Drought and Climate Resilience
Trees cool the air and take decades to reach maturity . For these reasons, it is
important to ensure the survival of trees during periods of drought . A combination
of emergency response actions and long-term strategies can help reduce tree losses
during drought .
Water new trees during establishment.
Newly planted trees are particularly sensitive to drought stress . They require regular
water during establishment, whether as natural precipitation or supplemental water .
The Forestry Division waters newly planted public trees for two years . In the future,
Forestry is prioritizing irrigated spaces for new tree plantings to ensure their long-
term survival .
Give trees dedicated irrigation.
Dedicated irrigation valves or zones allows for deeper watering of trees than the
rest of the landscape requires . The City is shifting to dedicated irrigation to trees
in anticipation of a warmer climate in the future . All public Capital Improvement
Projects along streets and in new parks now include dedicated irrigation to trees .
Create a drought response plan.
Forestry has begun to collect information about irrigation status as part of its
tree inventory . Inventory information about species and site characteristics can be
used to create an emergency response plan . This helps to identify trees that need
supplemental water during drought and priority locations for new irrigation . In
drought response, trees can be prioritized on factors including the water needs of
trees based on their species or microclimate, and the importance of trees based on
their size, species, and/or cultural value .
Plant more drought-tolerant species where possible.
The increasing availability of drought-tolerant, urban-adapted tree species presents
additional options for future planting . Species recommendations, such as the
trees and shrubs that are recommended by Plant Select, have few specimens in
the existing public tree inventory, demonstrating a potential for increased use .
Collaborative partnerships with local growers will be needed for the continued
management of pests and to secure desired climate-resilient nursery stock .
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• Tree canopy cover in Fort Collins and the Growth
Management Area is 12 .6% and has grown steadily over the
past decade . The extent of tree cover varies widely across
the city and the growth management area, ranging from
almost no trees to over 40% tree cover .
• The largest gains in tree cover took place within low-
canopy areas near the borders of the city, while canopy
losses tended to take place within the more densely
developed and treed urban core .
• The inventory of 61,388 public trees and planting sites in
Fort Collins revealed that the diversity of public trees is
approaching a level that will help the urban forest remain
resilient to pests and diseases . Future management
considerations should include planting species that are
resilient to emerging pests, diseases, and climate change .
• The condition of 89% of public trees is rated as Fair or
better . This is a reflection of investments made by the
Forestry Division in routine maintenance, with a goal of
moving away from reactive maintenance and toward a
five-year pruning cycle .
• Fort Collins’ public trees skew young, reflecting an uptick
in more recent tree plantings that are associated with city
activities and increased development . Future maintenance
needs are expected to increase over time as new trees are
planted and existing trees grow into larger size classes,
which will require additional resources for the Forestry
Division to keep pace .
Summary of
Findings
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2 TREES ENHANCE
NEIGHBORHOOD
& COMMUNITY
VITALITY
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Trees Enhance Neighborhood & Community Vitality
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Trees Enhance
Neighborhoood &
Community Vitality
Trees provide innumerable benefits to the people of Fort Collins,
making the city a more comfortable, healthy, and vibrant place to live.
Tree benefits also help to offset expenditures that are needed for tree
planting and maintenance. Because of the benefits that trees provide,
issues around building more equitable tree canopy relate to larger
conversations about social equity, environmental justice, and resilience.
FORT COLLINS’ TREES PROVIDE
$2.2 MILLION IN BENEFITS EACH YEAR
Some tree benefits can be
assigned a monetary value that
is based on avoided costs—this
includes air pollution reduction,
stormwater runoff mitigation, and
carbon sequestration and storage
(Table 2) . Based on these benefits
alone, Fort Collins’ trees produce
at least $2 .2 million in ecosystem
services each year . This amount
has increased in the past decade
with tree canopy growth . As of
2024, Fort Collins’ trees provide
an additional $346,000 in
services each year than in 2011 .
Of these benefits, public trees
account for more than $69,000
in annual benefits and have an
estimated replacement value of
$112 million . Replacement value is
the cost of replacing a tree with
tree(s) of a similar species, size,
and condition in the same location .
ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS ALL TREES PUBLIC TREES
Annual Benefits Quantity Value 2011–2021
Change
Quantity Value
Air quality:
pollution removal (pounds)
570,300 $942,949 $145,068 21,320 $32,038
Carbon sequestration (tons)5,810 $991,666 $152,564 276 $47,013
Stormwater:
avoided runoff (gallons)
35,130,000 $313,902 $48,292 2,318,837 $20,721
Total Annual Benefits $2,248,517 $345,924 $69,374
Structural Value
Carbon storage (tons)226,820 $38,684,069 $5,951,395 18,616 $3,175,046
Replacement Value $112,489,358
TREES HELP RESIDENTS SAVE MONEY
Trees save energy by providing shade and blocking
wind, which reduces the need for heating and
cooling and lowers energy costs for homes and
businesses . Properly placing three trees around
a home can reduce energy costs for the average
household by $100 to $250 per year . Trees that
shade air conditioning units can help them run
up to 10% more efficiently .
Trees also help residents save money
on health care costs . Trees reduce the
incidences
of medical
complications
due to asthma,
heart disease,
and heat-related
illnesses .
TABLE 2. ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS PROVIDED BY FORT COLLINS’ TOTAL
TREE CANOPY AND ITS PUBLIC TREES, AS ESTIMATED BY I-TREE TOOLS .
American Forests’
Tree Equity Score
The Tree Equity Score by
American Forests measures
the equitability of tree
canopy benefits using climate,
demographic, and socioeconomic
data . A Tree Equity Score ranges
from 0 (least equitable) to 100
(most equitable) .
Fort Collins has an average Tree
Equity Score of 87 out of 100
from American Forests .
American Forests recommends
planting at least 4,574 trees
to bring all block groups
to a Tree Equity Score of
75 or above .
In Fort Collins,
17 block groups
(orange) are High
or Highest priority
for increasing tree
equity . Planting
here will provide
the greatest
impact on resident
wellbeing .
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FIGURE 8. AMONG 971 RESPONSES TO A PUBLIC SURVEY, FORT COLLINS RESIDENTS
WERE ASKED TO RANK THE TREE BENEFITS THAT THEY VALUED THE MOST, WITH A RANK
OF 1 BEING HIGHEST . RESIDENTS PRIORITIZED BENEFITS THAT MAKE THE CITY A MORE
COMFORTABLE PLACE, SUCH AS SHADE, HEAT REDUCTION, AND BETTER AIR QUALITY .
FORT COLLINS RESIDENTS RANK
TREE BENEFITS BY IMPORTANCE
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Trees and Environmental Health
Trees provide innumerable ecological benefits that improve urban environments:
Trees Enhance Neighborhood & Community Vitality
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Trees Cool Our Cities.
High temperatures in urbanized areas contribute to urban heat island effect, in
which impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and sidewalks trap and hold
heat . Urban heat island can raise air temperature in cities up to 7°F higher during
the day and 5°F higher at night compared to neighboring rural areas . Urban heat
island raises energy costs and power plant emissions and increases heat-related
illnesses, which cause more deaths in the United States each year than any other
natural disaster . Large, healthy trees lower temperatures through both shading and
evapotranspiration . Trees reduce peak summer temperatures by 2-9°F and prevent
an average of 1,200 heat-related deaths each year in the U .S, making them a critical
tool to combat the negative health impacts of high temperatures .
Trees Clean the Air.
Trees act as natural air filters, removing pollutants from the air and reducing
their negative impacts on humans and the environment . Through the removal of
air pollutants, trees save over 850 lives and prevent 670,000 incidents of acute
respiratory symptoms in the U .S . each year . Trees are also an important carbon
sink for climate change mitigation through the removal of carbon dioxide and
greenhouse gasses from the air . One large, healthy oak tree growing in Fort Collins
can remove over 30 pounds of pollutants from the air over 20 years .
Trees Intercept and Conserve Water.
Trees intercept and retain stormwater, reducing runoff and water pollutants by 20%–
60%, thereby reducing flooding, erosion, and the level of sediment and pollutants
that enter local waterways . A mature deciduous tree can intercept 700 gallons of
stormwater per year, and a mature evergreen tree can intercept 4,000 gallons of water
per year . Underground, tree roots and decomposition help to increase the amount of
water that soil can hold, allowing for more efficient use of irrigated water . In addition,
the cooling effects of trees during summer months help to reduce the amount of
moisture that is lost through evaporation . Through both processes, trees can retain
water in the soil and reduce irrigation quantity and frequency .
Trees Provide Food & Habitat for Wildlife.
Trees provide habitat and food for a wide variety of wildlife, supporting biodiversity
and maintaining the health of local ecosystems . Oaks can support over 500 species
of pollinators and other beneficial insects . In the Colorado Front Range, broadleaf
deciduous forests outside of riparian areas are relatively new to the region . The tree
canopy of Fort Collins provides migratory birds with an important stopover point . At
the same time, trees can provide refuge for species such as hawks and corvids that hunt
or outcompete native grassland birds and mammals . For these reasons, tree canopy in
natural areas must be thoughtfully placed . In backyards and along streets, however, tree
canopy acts as an important buffer for wildlife within the built environment .
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TREES SUPPORT FORT
COLLINS’ SHIFT TO ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION
Trees support the City’s goal to build a low-stress,
high-comfort active transport network that promotes
a physically active and environmentally sustainable
community (Transportation Master Plan, 2019) . Trees
growing in street rights-of-way help to slow traffic, making
streets safer and more attractive for use by pedestrians
and cyclists . Shade and evapotranspiration cooling
provided by street trees allow for more comfortable walking,
biking, and use of public transit and increase the appeal of
cycling routes . Trees and other vegetation can also reduce
the exposure of cyclists and pedestrians to air pollution .
Encouraging individuals to shift their short vehicle trips
to active transportation modes (e .g ., biking, walking) is
one of the most effective ways to reduce vehicle miles
traveled, a goal of both the City’s transportation master
plan and Our Climate Future plan (2021) .
Bus Stops. Trees provide shade that can make waiting for the bus more
comfortable during summer months . Average tree cover is 18 .3% at the 22
bus stations and 423 bus stops across Fort Collins, a loss of 3 .7% cover
since 2011 (Map 5) .
Bike Lanes. Trees not only shade bike lanes; they also contribute to the
safety of cyclists by slowing traffic . Over the 267 miles of bike lanes across
Fort Collins, average tree canopy cover is 9 .5%, approximately the same as
it was in 2011 (+0 .1%) .
Canopy Cover:
Bike Lanes &
Bus Stops
Bus Stops
• 18 .3% average tree
cover .
• Bus stops have lost
3 .7% tree cover
since 2011 .
Bike Lanes
• 9 .5% average tree
cover .
• Tree cover has
stayed about the
same (+0 .1%)
since 2011 .
BALANCING THE COSTS & BENEFITS OF TREES
As with all infrastructure, tree placement
requires considerations for maintenance
and safety . Trees can increase some of
the maintenance needs of streets and
sidewalks, such as the frequency of street
sweeping . Trees may also cause heaving of
sidewalks where trees have been planted
in narrow parkways (<6 feet width), in
spaces with poor soil preparation and/or
compaction, or in places where the tree
species and the planting site have not been
well matched . In colder months, snow and
ice can persist within the shadows of trees,
creating a slipping hazard for pedestrians .
On the other hand, shade from trees
increases the lifespan of asphalt . While tree
maintenance can be costly, the benefits
of trees often outweigh the additional
maintenance costs . Careful placement of
trees can reduce both risk and cost .
MAP 5. TREE CANOPY COVER WITHIN BIKE LANES (BY STREET SEGMENT) AND WITHIN 30 FT
OF BUS STOPS AND TRANSIT STATIONS .
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A FUTURE OF MORE
EQUITABLE TREE
CANOPY
The tree cover analysis of Fort Collins
identified 15,418 acres of possible tree
planting area within city limits and the
growth management area, on both
public and private land . Possible planting
area excludes places where tree canopy
would conflict with land uses, such as
agricultural fields, recreational fields, and
major utility corridors .
A priority planting analysis ranked
possible tree planting area on a five-
point scale from Very Low to Very High,
based on the potential for trees to
benefit the environment, human health,
and social equity (Map 6) . The analysis
identified 2,250 acres of High or Very
High priority where additional tree
canopy can capture stormwater, reduce
urban heat, improve health outcomes,
and benefit vulnerable communities .
N L
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City of Fort Collins, Colorado
Composite Priority Planting
Growth Management Area
City Limits
±0 1 20.5
Miles
Planting Priority
Very High
High
Moderate
Low
Very Low
MAP 6. COMPOSITE PRIORITY PLANTING AREAS THAT MAXIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL,
SOCIAL, AND HUMAN HEALTH BENEFITS OF TREES .
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45 COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
Findings from the community engagement process demonstrate that the people of
Fort Collins value trees and understand the myriad ways that trees enhance quality of
life in the city .
Residents and urban forestry partners noted these opportunities for future growth
of the forestry program:
Public Involvement in Plan
Development
The Urban Forest Strategic Plan was created with community
feedback that was provided through:
Three Public Meetings
●October 2023 & March 2024 .
●North & South Fort Collins .
●160 participants .
One Community Survey
●September–December 2023 .
●971 respondents .
●657 write-in comments .
●In partnership with Our
Climate Future Community
Consultants .
Nine Partner Focus Groups
●October–December 2023 .
●49 representatives from local
organizations, institutions,
businesses, and government
entities .
One Public Draft Preview
●August–September 2024 .
●210 page visits, 54 downloads .
●2-week preview and
comment period .
• Residents are invested in the
ongoing management of Fort
Collins’s trees and want to be
involved in decisions about how
the City will help ensure tree
canopy preservation and growth
into the future .
• Forestry Division partners, both
internal and external to City
government, underscored the
collaborative nature of Forestry
staff and the high level of
expertise and service that they
provide .
• Forestry partners want to continue
to foster growth and collaboration
among Forestry, other City
departments, and external
partners, for example, by ensuring
that Forestry is at the table in
other planning efforts .
• Both residents and Forestry
partners are interested in
resources that will help them
be effective stewards of tree
canopy, including informational
resources, financial resources, and
opportunities for involvement in
urban forestry .
• Fort Collins’ trees produce at least $2 .2 million in air
quality, stormwater, and carbon storage benefits each
year . Tree benefits have increased in the past decade
with canopy growth . Today, trees provide an additional
$346,000 in services per year than they did in 2011 .
• Trees support community goals to promote a physically
active and environmentally sustainable community .
Increasing tree canopy cover along bike lanes and near
bus stops can be one component of a comprehensive
approach to encouraging active modes of transportation .
• Many areas of greatest tree canopy loss have occurred
where tree canopy is most needed to build social equity
(see Maps 3 and 6) . Priority planting maps can be used to
guide future planting efforts on both public and private
land, to add trees where they can have the greatest
impact .
• Residents and urban forestry partners are interested
in resources that can assist them with tree planting
and maintenance as well as opportunities for input and
involvement .
• Residents value trees for the myriad ways that trees
enhance the quality of life in Fort Collins .
Summary of
Findings
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3 A HIGH-
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FORESTRY
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The Forestry Division is responsible for the planting and care of
public trees in Fort Collins. In recent years, Forestry has started a
shift toward proactive maintenance. It has set a goal of maintaining
public trees on a five-year pruning cycle, which reduces per-tree
maintenance costs and the number of emergency and service
requests. Forestry is also looking to boost the long-term resilience
of the urban forest as the region contends with new tree pests and
diseases and the stressors of a changing environment.
Fort Collins is within a minority of U .S . cities that manage
their public trees at a high level of service .
THE FORESTRY DIVISION STRIVES TO
PROACTIVELY MANAGE PUBLIC TREES
Fort Collins’ Forestry Division
provides a high level of service
in the management of its public
tree inventory . Over the past
decade, the Forestry Division has
contributed to the city’s steady
canopy growth by increasing the
number of public trees that it
plants and prunes each year . As
the inventory grows through City
tree planting and development,
it will be necessary to scale
Forestry Division operations and
capacity to keep pace .
A High-Performing
Forestry Division
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FORESTRY IS POSITIONING PUBLIC TREE CANOPY FOR GROWTH
Proactive pruning, tree planting, and pest
management are part of comprehensive
urban forestry care that promotes the
growth and survival of trees .
Pruning comprises a majority of yearly
Forestry activities (Figure 9) . As of
2024, Forestry is maintaining trees on a
5–7 year pruning cycle to maintain tree
health and is making progress toward
achieving a five-year pruning cycle
(Figure 10) . In 2022, the City reached
the benchmark for a five-year pruning
cycle for the first time, aided by an
additional one-year budget allocation for
storm response in 2021 that supported
additional pruning activities . This puts
Fort Collins within a minority of U .S .
cities that proactively manage their
public tree inventory on a routine
pruning cycle of any length .
In 2021, the Division achieved a level of
planting that exceeds removals, aided
by $100,000 in private donations for
tree planting . Also in 2021, the Forestry
Division began preventative treatments
of public ash trees for emerald ash borer .
FIGURE 9. MOST OF THE FORESTRY DIVISION’S EFFORTS ARE SPENT ON PROACTIVE
MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC TREES .
ANNUAL FORESTRY ACTIVITIES,
2019–2023
Nu
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P
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T
r
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2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
4,000
2,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
0
Pruned
Removed
Planted
EAB Treated
FIGURE 10. THE FORESTRY DIVISION IS APPROACHING A 5-YEAR PRUNING CYCLE FOR
PUBLIC TREES . STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, TREE HEALTH, LONGEVITY, AND FORM ARE
IMPROVED THROUGH FREQUENT AND PROPER PRUNING .
PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE
OF PUBLIC TREES
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2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
10%
5%
25%
20%
15%
0%
5-Year Pruning Cycle
2015 2017 2019 2021 2023
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A High-Performing Forestry Division
Forestry Division Contributions to a High-
Performing Government
Fort Collins’ Forestry Division, housed within the Parks Department, provides a
high level of service in the management of public trees.
Data-Driven Management. Regularly updating the urban tree canopy
assessment, inventory data, and other information in this Urban Forest Strategic
Plan will assist Forestry with informed decision making . The information in this
Plan can also be used to inform policy updates for the strategic growth and
protection of the urban forest .
Resident Involvement. Urban Forest Ambassadors are trained volunteers
that assist the Forestry Division with inventory data collection . This program
provides residents with an opportunity to learn more about their urban forest
and contribute to its upkeep . Residents are also able to make requests related
to public trees through Access Fort Collins . And more than 900 residents
contributed their ideas to the creation of this Urban Forest Strategic Plan through
participation in the planning process .
Integration with City Plans and Priorities. Trees and tree benefits are
integrated into many City plans, including the City’s strategic plan . There are
future opportunities to increase Forestry involvement in planning efforts .
Implementation of this Urban Forest Strategic Plan will enhance the ways that
urban forestry can be related to city Outcome Areas .
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FORT COLLINS’ ANNUAL FORESTRY BUDGET IS ON PAR WITH
OTHER CITIES WHILE DELIVERING A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE
The Forestry Division is supported by
the City’s General Fund, which is the
main operating fund for the City of Fort
Collins . From 2019–2023, the Forestry
Division’s annual budget ranged from
$2 .34 million to $3 .35 million . The
proportion of total City budget that is
dedicated to Forestry is on par with that
of other U .S . cities (Figure 11) .
Forestry’s budget supports tree activities
that are completed by in-house staff
and contractors . The largest annual
expenditures relate to pruning (Figure 12) .
FIGURE 11. AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL CITY BUDGET, FORT COLLINS IS ON PAR
WITH THE AVERAGE FOR 463 CITIES THAT PROVIDED BUDGETARY INFORMATION TO A
NATIONAL MUNICIPAL FORESTRY CENSUS .
ANNUAL FORESTRY BUDGETS
OF SELECT U .S . CITIES
All Cities
0.5%
0.4%
0.3%
0.2%
0.1%
0.0%
West Region Pop.
100,000–
249,000
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FIGURE 12. MOST OF THE FORESTRY DIVISION’S ANNUAL BUDGET FROM 2019–2023 WAS
SPENT ON PRUNING PUBLIC TREES . PROACTIVE PRUNING HAS BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXPENDITURES BY UP TO 50% . EXPENSES IN THE “OTHER”
CATEGORY INCLUDE SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, AND DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS .
YEARLY FORESTRY EXPENDITURES
BY ACTIVITY
Pruning
$250,000
$300,000
$350,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$0
Planting Removal
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9
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2
3
Emergency
Response
Pest/
Disease
Response
Other
Fort
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ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WILL HELP FORESTRY
KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH
In 2024, the Division employs 17 full-time staff, 5 hourly staff, and receives part-time
assistance from one office assistant . One additional full-time position, housed within
the Zoning Department, supports Forestry needs that relate to development . The
Forestry Division has identified additional needed capacity in the near term:
• Planning & Policy Support. An urban
forest planner will help with grant
writing, policy development, and the
incorporation of the urban forest into
long-range planning .
• Consistent & Safe Operations. An
additional operations crew, fully
equipped, will help Forestry consistently
achieve a five-year pruning cycle .
Additional operations capacity will also
allow for crew rotations among different
tree activities, which is important for
helping existing staff to develop new
skills and remain safe and healthy in
physically demanding positions .
• Contracted Services. In the near term,
an increase in contracted tree services
can help the Forestry Division maintain
the desired levels of pruning and
planting until Forestry has the resources
to support an additional operations
crew . Thereafter, contracted tree
services can supplement staff labor .
• Growing with the Urban Forest. New
development will increase the number of
trees in the public inventory . To maintain
a high level of service, Forestry budgets,
staffing, and resources should scale in
proportion to inflation and increases in
the number of public trees (Figure 13) .
FIGURE 13. WITHIN EXISTING CITY LIMITS, THE PROJECTED PRUNING COSTS UNDER A
FIVE-YEAR PRUNING CYCLE FOR PUBLIC TREE MAINTENANCE ARE PROJECTED TO GROW
AT THE RATE OF INFLATION . THE NUMBER OF NEW TREES AND GROWTH OF TREES INTO
LARGER SIZE CLASSES WILL BE OFFSET BY AN AVERAGE MORTALITY OF 1%–2% PER YEAR
AMONG PUBLIC TREES .
PROJECTED ANNUAL COST
OF 5-YEAR PRUNING CYCLE
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2024 2029 2034 2039 2044
$1,000,000
$500,000
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,500,000
$0
5% Inflation
0% Inflation
FORT COLLINS ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE
15.7% CANOPY COVER BY 2040
Fort Collins is on a path to achieve
15 .7% tree cover by 2040 if the
previous decade’s trend continues .
Increasing the rate of canopy growth
to deliver additional human health and
environmental benefits would require a
concerted effort to increase tree planting
and preservation within both the public
and private sector (Figure 14) .
For example, growing tree cover to 17%–
20% by 2040 would require additional
planting or preservation of approximately
2,600–8,800 trees per year across public
and private lands . The costs of such
an endeavor vary but, using Forestry’s
per-tree expenditure from 2019–2023
as a benchmark, costs are estimated
to be $1 .3 million–$4 .3 million per year,
spread across the public and private
sector . Enhanced tree protection and
preservation provides an alternative to
tree planting to achieve the City’s canopy
goal .
The population of public trees (on City
property) is projected to slow its growth
in the next 20 years as available vacant
planting sites are filled (Figure 15) . This
does not account for additional tree sites
that are added via development, which
has averaged 1,500–2,000 trees per year
in recent years .
FIGURE 14. IF THE CURRENT TREND CONTINUES, TREE CANOPY COVER IS PROJECTED TO
REACH 15 .7% BY 2040 . ACHIEVING HIGHER LEVELS OF CANOPY COVER BY 2040 WOULD
REQUIRE A SUSTAINED INCREASE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TREE PLANTING OVER TIME .
CITYWIDE TREE COVER—
ACTUAL & PROJECTED
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2010 2020 2030 2040
14%
12%
18%
16%
10%
20%20% | 8,736 trees/yr
18% | 4,661 trees/yr
17% | 2,623 trees/yr
15.7%
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FIGURE 15. IF THE CURRENT RATE OF ANNUAL TREE PLANTING AND MORTALITY
CONTINUES, THE PUBLIC TREE POPULATION WILL LEVEL OUT OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS
AS IT APPROACHES THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PLANTING SITES (RED LINE) .
THIS DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR NEW TREE PLANTING SITES THAT MAY BE CREATED BY
DEVELOPMENT .
PUBLIC TREE POPULATION—
ACTUAL & PROJECTED
Nu
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T
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2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
45,000
35,000
65,000
55,000
25,000
Possible Tree Sites
• Over the past decade, the Forestry Division has increased
the number of public trees that it plants and prunes each
year . The City has made significant progress toward its
goal of a five-year pruning cycle .
• The Forestry Division’s budget is on par with the average
forestry budget for U .S . cities, while delivering a level of
service that is well above average .
• The Forestry Division is fully staffed and has identified
needed capacity in grant writing, plan review, and
operations . To provide a high level of service, meet
its annual targets, and promote the health and career
development of Forestry staff, the Forestry Division has
a need for an additional operations crew and associated
equipment in the coming years . Labor from contracted
tree services can supplement Division capacity .
• In the future, Forestry Division resources should scale
with the number of new trees that are added to the public
tree inventory via development, the rate of inflation, and
desired increases in the rate of tree canopy growth .
Summary of
Findings
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4 FUTURE GROWTH
STRATEGIES
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Three themes emerged from the strategic planning process to guide
stewardship of Fort Collins’ urban forest over the next 20 years:
THEMES:
The findings that are detailed above, as well as additional analysis
that is presented in an accompanying technical appendix, informed
the development of seven urban forestry Growth Strategies . Each
Growth Strategy contains two levels of initiatives that can support
implementation of this Urban Forest Strategic Plan . Fort Collins can
select from, and refine, this menu of initiatives over the life of the Plan
according to its capacity, resources, and community goals .
The Growth Strategies of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan reflect seven
Outcome Areas that are detailed in the City of Fort Collins 2024 Strategic
Plan . The most relevant Outcome Areas are listed for each strategy .
BUILD RESILIENCE & WELLBEING OF PEOPLE
AND TREES .
SUSTAINABLY RESOURCE THE FORESTRY
DIVISION AS THE URBAN FOREST GROWS .
EXPAND THE COMMUNITY’S KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT TREE BENEFITS AND STEWARDSHIP .
Future Growth
Strategies
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Outcome Areas:
• Neighborhood &
Community Vitality
• Culture & Recreation
• Transportation & Mobility
• Environmental Health
STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN GROWING
TREE CANOPY WHERE IT WILL PROMOTE
RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN
FORT COLLINS
Growth Strategy 1.
While tree canopy is growing in Fort Collins, it is
not evenly distributed throughout the city . Forestry
can support multiple community goals by targeting
planting and maintenance where trees provide
the most value . Creating a more comprehensive
planting plan to guide planting decisions can help
Forestry shift species composition, source trees,
and spread out maintenance needs .
FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Prioritize equitable planting and maintenance within areas of greatest tree canopy
loss that correspond to priority areas for human and environmental wellbeing .
• Implement a parks planting plan that aligns with the Living Tribute Tree program
to strategically fill vacant planting sites in parks .
• Create a more comprehensive planting plan to fill vacant planting spaces over 10
years, prioritizing underserved areas where trees are needed most . Scale annual
tree planting efforts to replace public tree losses due to natural mortality and
other tree removals .
• Incorporate new species that are adapted to future climate conditions, for
example, drought tolerant, pest/disease tolerant, and acclimated to warmer and
more extreme temperatures .
• Work with water efficiency experts to create educational resources about trees
and irrigation that include species guidance, proper tree watering techniques, and
tree watering protocols for water conservation . Encourage the use of dedicated
irrigation for trees .
• Grow the Community Canopy Program to supply more trees to residents for
planting on private property, prioritizing areas where tree canopy is most needed .
• Influence and utilize Low Impact Development design to capture stormwater to
water trees .
TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Coordinate with other City departments to integrate trees into a complete
streets framework . Prioritize planting and maintenance along bicycle routes .
• Undertake a study of bus stops to understand patterns of recent tree canopy
loss, create solutions to increase tree cover, and reduce conflicts between trees
and bus infrastructure .
• Coordinate with other City departments to use smart growth urban design
principles to develop a comprehensive heat mitigation plan for the built
environment that prioritizes vulnerable populations . Include strategies for
development, land use, and tree preservation .
• Build tree connectivity to parks and schools .
• Develop and set canopy goals for different geographies, for example, by block
group, land use, or district, with a focus on underserved populations .
• Shift species composition of the urban forest toward more climate-adapted
and drought-tolerant species .
• Build species-level diversity of the public tree inventory . Track the use of
cultivars and varieties .
• Explore a citywide tree canopy goal that can inform planting and protection
objectives for private property .
• Provide species guidance for tree giveaways and private planting .
Foundational & Transformational
Initiatives
• Foundational Initiatives. May be simpler to implement,
or more urgent, or strategies that must be completed
before Transformational Initiatives can be tackled .
• Transformational Initiatives. May be more complicated
or difficult to implement, or they may represent
standalone strategies that are complex or on a long
implementation horizon, but overall they may provide
more value to the forestry program and the City’s larger
community goals and Outcome Areas .
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Outcome Areas:
• Economic Health
• Safe Community
• High-Performing
Government
COMPLETE THE SHIFT TO PROACTIVE
MANAGEMENT OF FORT COLLINS’
PUBLIC TREES
Growth Strategy 2.
The Forestry Division strives for a five-year
pruning rotation to maintain the health of
public trees, create safe public spaces in the
community, and reduce the cost of storm and
emergency response .
FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Implement a five-year routine pruning cycle .
• Plan to scale up pruning activities as additional trees are added to the
inventory .
• Use the existing tree inventory to inform management decisions based on
species and size .
• Create an urban forest management plan that details Forestry operations over
the next 5–10 years .
• Incorporate the storm response plan, the City’s strategic plans, Parks Master
Plan, Our Climate Future plan, and other city management plans into urban
forestry operations .
TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Collect more detailed public tree inventory data to guide management that is
based on risk rating, recommended maintenance, and/or related metrics .
• Project tree benefits under different management scenarios .
• Proactively implement climate adaptation strategies for multi-generational tree
survivability and success .
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Outcome Areas:
• Neighborhood &
Community Vitality
• Environmental Health
STRENGTHEN CITY POLICIES TO
PROTECT TREES
Growth Strategy 3.
In 2024, Fort Collins’ municipal code focuses on
the stewardship of public trees; however, only
12% of the City’s tree canopy is publicly owned .
Opportunities to protect trees on both public
and private land—whether through policy or
incentives—can help curb canopy losses, mitigate
heat, and protect community tree benefits .
FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Engage the community in adopting a citywide land use code to improve tree
preservation and protection while balancing other priorities and needs of the
community .
• Draft a heritage tree program that allows for the elective enrollment and
protection of trees that have cultural, historic, or ecological value .
• Create policy summaries or tip sheets that clarify the responsibility for tree
maintenance in spaces including alleyways, property boundaries, and ditches .
• Plan for education and outreach that will guide tree protection for
development scenarios on private land .
• Reference existing good practices—best management practices and manuals,
ISA Certified Arborist requirements, wood utilization program—in city code .
• Develop an adaptable response strategy for current and future threats from
insect and disease .
67 TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Clarify the legal responsibility for trees within vacant and boundary areas (land
without ownership) to encourage the protection and growth of tree canopy .
• Plan for tree preservation and tree canopy expansion within areas in the
Growth Management Area that are to remain as future green space as
identified by the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and the Natural Areas
Strategic Framework .
• Demonstrate the role for trees in outdoor water efficiency by creating water-
smart landscapes that incorporate trees on City property .
• Explore and expand tree protection and preservation policies within the Land
Use Code to apply to non-development scenarios .
• Develop additional policy for newly acquired homeownership who make
changes to their landscapes . Educate and engage with the public about policy
scenarios to gauge public support .
• Require landfill diversion for wood waste that originates from private land .
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Outcome Areas:
• High-Performing
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COLLECT DATA TO TRACK CHANGES
TO TREE CANOPY OVER TIME AND TO
INFORM FORESTRY ACTIVITIES
Growth Strategy 4.
Accurate, up-to-date data informs sound
decision making . Regular urban tree canopy
assessments and tree inventory updates
will provide information that can help the
Forestry Division evaluate progress and refine
management strategies .
FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in five years using 2026 data to
measure canopy change . Collaborate with other City departments to expand
the analysis to include additional land cover types and geographies .
• Map existing public trees that are under threat from pests and/or drought
using inventory data; look for trends that may inform tree activities .
• Complete data fields for all public trees about irrigation status and emerald ash
borer treatment priority .
• Conduct a sample inventory of natural areas in alignment with the Natural
Areas Strategic Framework .
TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in two years to capture early canopy
changes due to emerald ash borer . Apply advanced mapping options to guide
and measure the effects of policy changes .
• Update the public tree inventory on a five-year cycle .
• Use a sample inventory to evaluate tree species composition across the Growth
Management Area to better understand resilience of the urban forest to pests,
diseases, abiotic stressors, and climate change .
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Outcome Areas:
• Economic Health
• High-Performing
Government
SUSTAINABLY GROW THE FORESTRY
DIVISION TO KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH
OF THE URBAN FOREST
Growth Strategy 5.
As the urban forest grows, additional capacity
and a sustainable funding stream will be
needed to keep pace with growth of the public
tree inventory . Additional metrics about tree
activities will be helpful for internal planning,
budgeting, and reporting to both City Council
and the community .
FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Internally track public requests that are submitted via phone and email .
• Regularly report on budget expenditures by tree activity .
• Create work plans to make efficient use of personnel and budget .
• Acquire additional staff for tree planting/preparation and pruning .
• Add capacity for grant writing and reporting .
• Pursue grants and other limited funding opportunities .
• Contribute to local initiatives to expand the green workforce .
• Align strategies with Our Climate Future and leverage funding from the 2050 Tax .
71 TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Use resource management software to track public requests .
• Create an urban forestry planner position .
• Annually or biannually report to the public on tree activities .
• Link tree activities to health, social, and environmental data, and to community
data (transit ridership, cycling/pedestrian stats, city Outcome Areas) as available .
• Add at least one additional, fully equipped Forestry crew .
• Implement a staff rotation schedule . Regularly rotate Forestry staff to different
teams to provide rest from physical labor and build knowledge across the team .
• Increase the space that is available to Forestry for operations, equipment, and
wood waste . Locate space where it can maximize efficiency of fuel use and time .
• Increase the budget for tree maintenance over time as young trees grow .
• Create new sources of sustained funding, such as a Tree Fund, and align with
City Give .
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Outcome Areas:
• Neighborhood &
Community Vitality
• Environmental Health
DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT TREE STEWARDSHIP
Growth Strategy 6.
There is a great amount of support for trees and
urban forestry in Fort Collins from the public,
officials, and the surrounding region . This
public support can help facilitate conversations
about private tree protections and expand
engagement to new community sectors .
FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Engage the public in policy updates that protect trees on private property .
• Continue and grow the Urban Forest Ambassador program .
• Provide educational resources to assist property owners with private tree
planting, maintenance, and preservation .
73 TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Integrate forestry activities with implementation of the Active Modes Plan .
Engage with Active Modes stakeholders including the cycling community .
• Expand engagement and volunteer opportunities into communities with health
and social vulnerabilities .
• Align wood utilization efforts with larger Zero Waste initiatives .
• Engage with parks advocates; see Nature in the City and 15-Minute Walk campaigns .
• Engage with the business sector to promote trees for economic development,
for example, by using trees to provide seasonal interest (e .g ., Holiday Lights)
and create inviting and comfortable spaces .
• Enlist community organizations to engage with their networks on topics
including tree benefits, tree responsibilities, policy development, and volunteer
opportunities .
• Work with other City departments and initiatives to develop and deliver
coordinated education about holistic landscape management that considers
trees, water, and the climate .
• Create resources on wood utilization best management practices for the public .
• Provide financial resources to assist property owners with private tree planting,
maintenance, and preservation .
• Expand volunteer opportunities to assist with activities such as young tree
pruning, watering assistance during drought, or community education .
• Create tip sheets that explain city code and policies in accessible, translated,
and easy-to-understand language .
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Outcome Areas:
• Safe Community
• High-Performing
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EXPAND THE NETWORK OF FORESTRY
DIVISION PARTNERS
Growth Strategy 7.
Technical partnerships within urban forestry
are abundant across the Front Range—see
for example the Colorado Tree Coalition, the
Front Range Urban Forestry Council, and the
Emerging Pests in Colorado (EPIC) Committee .
Increasing Fort Collins’ presence and role
within these collectives can promote greater
knowledge sharing and adaptability for the city
while building staff technical skills . Involvement
can also promote adoption of the latest
guidance and standards .
FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Continue regional work with nursery growers to secure the quantity and types
of climate- and pest-adapted trees that will be needed to meet planting goals .
• Share urban forestry resources and knowledge with neighboring communities .
• Expand staff involvement in regional urban forestry networks; provide
additional opportunities for staff that contribute to career development .
TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES
• Encourage large corporate and institutional campuses to develop tree plans .
• Continue engagement with partners about management of public trees .
• Contribute expertise about trees and urban forestry in regional planning efforts
that relate to climate resilience, complete & green streets, human health, wood
utilization, etc .
• Continue to support the wood waste program and grow the regional network
of urban woodworkers and wood utilization partners .
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The trees in Fort Collins represent the deliberate, sustained
stewardship of its residents over the past 160 years .
Growth of the urban forest over the next two decades, and
adaptation to increase its resilience in the face of future
threats, will similarly require deliberate and sustained care .
The Forestry Division is well positioned to lead this
effort . It has set an example of collaboration and
proactive maintenance . In recent years, the Division has
hit two milestones that promote the growth and health
of public trees, efficient operations, and public safety:
planting that surpasses tree removals, and pruning at a
level that is needed to achieve a 5-year pruning cycle .
To maintain this level of service over the next 20 years,
the City should make near-term plans for a permanent,
modest increase in Forestry Division resources to
consistently meet these management targets . Thereafter,
Division resources should plan to scale with the number
of new trees that are added to the public tree inventory
via development, the rate of inflation, and desired
increases in the rate of tree canopy growth . Grants, as
well as resources such as a Tree Fund, can supplement
City funding streams .
In return, tree benefits to the people of Fort Collins—
including cooler, cleaner air and water efficiency—will
grow and become more equitable, promoting wellbeing
and sustainability over the next two decades and beyond .
“Other holidays
repose upon the
past; Arbor Day
proposes for
the future.
—J . Sterling
Morton
IMPLEMENTATION & METRICS
The following table summarizes metrics and near-term implementation steps by
Growth Strategy . It is not an exhaustive list, and it is expected that this information
will change over time as the Urban Forest Strategic Plan is implemented .
1. STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN GROWING TREE CANOPY
WHERE IT WILL PROMOTE RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF
LIFE IN FORT COLLINS.
Timeframe: 10–15 years .
Create a more comprehensive planting plan that focuses on
underserved neighborhoods and low-canopied areas .
Regional forestry partners, scientists, local nurseries;
transportation partners; grant funds for tree planting .
Metrics:
Success
Looks
Like:
• Tree canopy cover: mean & variability .
• Public trees: number, size, condition, species diversity .
• Number of trees given to residents through the Community
Canopy Program .
• 15-Minute City priority of City Council .
• Third-party metrics and planning frameworks for connectivity
and social equity, such as Safe Routes to Schools and the Tree
Equity Score (American Forests) .
• Growth in tree canopy over time .
• Smaller difference between areas of high and low tree canopy .
• Higher proportion of drought- and pest-resistant trees .
• Reduction in daytime and nighttime summer temperatures and the
difference in temperature across the Growth Management Area .
• Residents will live within a 15-minute walk to nature and will have
trees visible from where they live, work, and play .
Next Steps:
Resources:
Year
0
Year
20
Focus planting in high-
priority neighborhoods .
Increase planting around
multimodal transit .
Planting builds
connectivity to parks &
schools .
Create a more comprehensive planting plan .
Continue Community
Canopy Program .Fill vacant planting sites .
Implementation Timeline
Moving
Forward
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2. COMPLETE THE SHIFT TO PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF
FORT COLLINS’ PUBLIC TREES.
Timeframe: 5 years .
Create an urban forest management plan .
Urban Forest Ambassadors, pruning contractors .
Metrics:
Success
Looks
Like:
• Proportion of public trees pruned each year .
• Per-tree maintenance expenditures .
• Value of tree benefits .
• Expenditures on emergency response .
• Number of public requests .
• Number and credentials of Forestry staff .
• Annual Forestry budget, Forestry allocations, and
supplemental funding .
• A sustained five-year routine pruning cycle .
• An increase in the proportion of mature trees .
• Reduced expenditures for emergency and storm response .
• Growth in tree canopy benefits over time .
• Land use incentives prioritize tree benefits and tree canopy
equity for the people of Fort Collins .
• Proactive climate adaptation strategies for long-term tree
survivability .
Next Steps:
Resources:
Year
0
Year
20
Create urban forest
management plan .
Achieve consistent five-
year pruning cycle .
Increase Forestry
Division capacity .
Implementation Timeline
3. STRENGTHEN CITY POLICIES TO PROTECT TREES.
Timeframe: 5 years .
Begin public outreach about private tree protection,
create tip sheets about existing policies .
City Council, peer cities .
Metrics:
Success
Looks
Like:
• Tree canopy cover by land use .
• Volume of diverted wood waste .
• Number of participants in community outreach activities .
• Gallons of outdoor water consumption .
• An increase in net canopy growth on private property .
• A public register of Fort Collins’ heritage trees .
• Expansion of the wood reutilization network .
• Updated city code that reflects urban forestry best
management practices and industry standards .
• Best management practices for sustainable and water-efficient
landscapes .
Next Steps:
Resources:
Year
0
Year
20
Expand wood waste
diversion program .
Update City code .
Release tips sheets
about City tree policies .
Implementation Timeline
Gauge public sentiment about private tree protection .
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4. COLLECT DATA TO TRACK CHANGES TO TREE CANOPY
OVER TIME AND TO INFORM FORESTRY ACTIVITIES.
Timeframe: Every 2–5 years .
Expand the attributes that are collected within the public tree
inventory; plan for an updated urban tree canopy assessment .
Urban Forest Ambassadors, GIS specialists, ISA Certified Arborists,
consultants
Metrics:
Success
Looks
Like:
• Up-to-date tree canopy studies and data .
• Expanded public tree inventory attributes, including risk and
irrigation status .
• Management and budgeting decisions are grounded in up-to-
date information about public trees and citywide tree canopy .
• Forestry activities are related to City Outcome Areas and other
community goals .
Next Steps:
Resources:
Year
0
Year
20
Expand public tree
inventory .
Summarize public tree
inventories .
Measure tree
canopy .
Measure tree
canopy .
Measure tree
canopy .
Summarize public
tree inventories .
Summarize public
tree inventories .
Measure tree
canopy .
Implementation Timeline
5. SUSTAINABLY GROW THE FORESTRY DIVISION TO
KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH OF THE URBAN FOREST.
Timeframe: 5–10 years .
Increase tracking of resident requests and annual
reporting of tree activities .
City Council, Parks Department, Forestry Division staff .
Metrics:
Success
Looks
Like:
• Grant awards received .
• Annual work plans .
• Annual tree activities by type .
• Budget requests & expenditures, by category .
• Number and tracking of public work requests .
• Number and credentials of Forestry Division staff .
• Number of missed work days due to injury .
• Improved internal tracking on public requests and tree activities .
• Increased public understanding and support of Forestry
Division activities and budget .
• Consistent, measured biannual budget increases .
• Planned, sufficient growth of Division staffing and resources .
• Successful grant requests .
• A sustainable work environment that prioritizes employee
health and wellbeing inside and outside of the workplace .
Next Steps:
Resources:
Year
0
Year
20
Add urban forestry
planner position .
Direct all public work requests
to integrated system .
Begin release of annual
work plans & summaries .
Implementation Timeline
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6. DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT
TREE STEWARDSHIP.
Timeframe: 5–7 years .
Increase community engagement about tree care; expand
Forestry participation in other City departments’ planning efforts .
Urban Forest Ambassadors, Planning and Development Services .
Metrics:
Success
Looks
Like:
• Number of Urban Forest Ambassadors .
• Accessible tip sheets and written resources .
• Public participation .
• City plans that integrate trees .
• Resources provided to the public for tree planting and care .
• Tree ordinances and code updates .
• Forestry staff public appearances, media coverage, web/social
media impressions .
• Growth in the number of volunteers
• An increase in the volume of wood waste that is diverted from
landfills .
• Increased net growth of tree canopy on private land .
• Incorporation of trees in other City plans and initiatives,
prioritizing urban heat and equitable distribution of canopy .
• Expanded funding for tree planting and stewardship on
private land .
Next Steps:
Resources:
Implementation Timeline
Year
0
Year
20
Release public resources about
trees & water conservation .
Continue Community
Canopy Program .
Additional City plans
include trees .
Expand Urban Forest
Ambassadors .
7. EXPAND THE NETWORK OF FORESTRY
DIVISION PARTNERS.
Timeframe: 3–5 years .
Form a committee to guide implementation of the
Urban Forest Strategic Plan .
Colorado Tree Coalition, Front Range Urban Forestry Council,
other regional groups .
Metrics:
Success
Looks
Like:
• Number of regionally sourced trees .
• Number of Forestry staff involved in regional groups/
discussions .
• Institutional/large campus tree plans .
• Regional resources .
• Increase in locally sourced trees .
• An increase in the number of staff who participate in partner
activities .
• Equitable tree plans that are developed by institutions .
• An increase in regional resources about trees .
Next Steps:
Resources:
Year
0
Year
20
Expand regional wood
waste program .
Publish private tree plans .
Convene UFSP
implementation committee .
Implementation Timeline
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REFERENCES &
GLOSSARY
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References
Complete references can be found in the Fort Collins Urban Forest
Strategic Plan Technical Appendix.
AECOM . (2013) . Financing San Francisco’s Urban Forest . San
Francisco, CA . 20 pp .
Eisenman, T . S ., Coleman, A . F ., & LaBombard, G . (2021) . Street
trees for bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicle drivers: A systematic
multimodal review . Urban Science, 5(3), 56 .
Environmental Defense Fund . (2024) . U .S . Climate Vulnerability Index
[web tool] . https://climatevulnerabilityindex .org/
Hauer R .J ., & Peterson W .D . (2016) . Municipal tree care and
management in the United States: A 2014 urban & community
forestry census of tree activities . Special Publication 16-1, College of
Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI .
Trust For Public Land . (2024) . Fort Collins, CO [web page] . https://
www .tpl .org/city/fort-collins-colorado
USDA Forest Service . (n .d .) . i-Tree [Computer software] . www .
itreetools .org
USDA, NRCS . (2024) . The PLANTS Database . National Plant Data
Team, Greensboro, NC . http://plants .usda .gov
USDA Forest Service . (2018) . Urban nature for human health and well-
being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits
of urban trees and green space . FS-1096 . Washington, DC . 24 pp .
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Glossary
Biodiversity: The variety of life that is found in a habitat or ecosystem .
Block Group: Federally defined geographic areas that are variable in
size and typically contain between 600–3,000 residents .
Carbon Sequestration: The removal of carbon from the atmosphere to
be stored within tree tissues .
Conservation: The careful preservation and protection of a resource,
such as water or natural areas .
Ecosystem Services: The collection of social, environmental, and
economic benefits that ecosystems provide to communities .
Environmental Justice: The just treatment and meaningful
participation of all people to mitigate inequities and harms in the
environment .
Equity: Equal access within a community to the same benefits,
opportunities, and outcomes, factoring in systemic inequalities .
Genus (plural, genera): A grouping of closely related species .
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Technology that is used to
capture, store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographic data .
Growth Management Area: The area outside Fort Collins’ city limits
that delineates the possible future extent of city boundaries .
Habitat: The sum of the physical, chemical, and biological environment
occupied by a particular species, population, or community .
Land Use: Describes the human use of land for cultural and economic
purposes .
Possible Planting Area: An area of land where it is possible to plant trees; excludes
places where tree canopy would conflict with existing land uses .
Priority Planting Analysis: A process to rank possible tree planting area based on the
potential for trees to benefit the environment, human health, and social equity .
Resilience: The ability to withstand and recover from stressors such as pests,
diseases, and drought .
Social Equity: The fair, just, and equitable management of resources and institutions
that serve the community .
Stewardship: The responsible care and management of a resource .
Stormwater Runoff: Surface water that is not absorbed after a rainstorm or snow
melt that flows into local waterways .
Tree: A woody plant that reaches a height of 15 feet or more at maturity .
Tree Benefit: A service that trees provide that improves the environment for people,
plants, and wildlife .
Tree Canopy: The upper layer of foliage and branches of trees as seen from above .
Tree Canopy Change: A measure of how tree canopy cover differs from one point in
time to another, expressed in acres and/or as a percentage .
Tree Canopy Cover: The amount of land that is covered by tree canopy as seen from
above, expressed as a percentage of the total land area .
Urban Forest: The collection of trees growing along streets, in public parks and
natural areas, and in the yards of homes, schools, and businesses .
Urban Heat Island: Urban areas that experience higher temperatures than nearby
rural areas due to buildings and paved surfaces that trap and hold heat .
Vulnerability: Being able to be damaged or harmed .
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 1
Technical Appendix
Page 153
Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 2
Technical Appendix
Table of Contents
About This Document ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Strategic Planning Framework ......................................................................................................................... 2
Fort Collins’ Urban Forest .....................................................................................................................................6
Urban Tree Canopy ...............................................................................................................................................6
Public Tree Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Strategies for Resilience and Sustainable Growth ............................................................................. 29
Public Tree Benefits .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Pest Susceptibility ............................................................................................................................................... 31
Climate Vulnerability ........................................................................................................................................ 34
Priority Planting Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 38
Operational Efficiency and Resource Management......................................................................... 45
Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest ............................................................................................ 45
Operations Review ............................................................................................................................................. 54
Community Engagement and Policy Integration ............................................................................. 67
Community Feedback .................................................................................................................................... 67
City Code Review ................................................................................................................................................ 85
Heritage Tree Protection .............................................................................................................................. 90
City Policy and Planning Framework .................................................................................................... 93
References ................................................................................................................................................................... 98
About This Document
This technical appendix, prepared by Davey Resource Group, Inc., is an
accompaniment to the Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan (2024). It provides
more detailed information about the methodology and findings that underlie the
Plan and its recommendations.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 3
Technical Appendix
Strategic Planning Framework
When viewed from above, the green tree canopy of Fort Collins stands out against
the surrounding steppe, shrubland, and grassland of the Front Range. Trees that
have been planted over the past 160 years have grown to become one of the
hallmarks of the city, enhancing the natural beauty and hospitability of the Cache la
Poudre River valley.
The city of Fort Collins is in a period of growth—the city is expected to add 70,000
new residents by 2040 (City Plan, 2019). The shade, cooling effects, and carbon
absorption of trees will make tree canopy a key component in regional approaches
to climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience as the city grows. Trees make
streets and sidewalks safer and more comfortable for cycling, walking, and public
transit. Trees cool the air, helping residents to save on energy costs and reducing the
incidence of heat-related illness. Trees also capture stormwater and help to conserve
irrigation water by cooling the ground and air.
In recent years, the city’s Forestry Division, founded in 1977, has been moving toward
a more proactive approach to managing public trees. This Urban Forest Strategic
Plan summarizes the state of Fort Collins’ urban forest, the near-term outlook for its
public trees, the forestry program, public sentiment, and the City’s planning and
policy framework. Then it proposes seven recommendations with tiered actions that
the City can take to ensure that its urban forest remains healthy and vibrant into the
future.
The Urban Forest Strategic Plan
An urban forest strategic plan is a comprehensive plan for the management,
protection, and improvement of the urban forest. It analyzes the existing condition,
value, and resources of the urban forest and outlines a vision for the future, guided
by input from the community. The plan provides a roadmap for implementation by
prioritizing initiatives and actions to improve the urban forest over time. The
development of an urban forest strategic plan is an important step in ensuring the
long-term sustainability and resilience of the urban forest.
In 2023, the Forestry Division partnered with Davey Resource Group, Inc. to develop
the Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan. The plan uses the principles of adaptive
management to establish a 20-year vision for managing the urban forest (figure 1).
Adaptive management is commonly used for resource planning and management
and provides a conceptual framework for managing the urban forest. It seeks to
develop an effective plan by answering a series of questions about Fort Collins’
present and future:
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 4
Technical Appendix
Adaptive Management Process
1. What do we have? We looked at Fort Collins’ existing urban forest, its current
management, and public perception about trees. We put this into context by
examining climate and social factors and the City’s policy and planning
framework.
2. What do we want? We engaged with City staff, partners, and the public and
incorporated existing planning documents and urban forestry industry tools
to identify priorities for the urban forest and the desired outcomes for the
Forestry program.
3. How do we get there? We looked for gaps, opportunities, challenges, and
desires for future canopy growth, social equity, staffing, and alignment with
Fort Collins' future plans. This guided the creation of goals, initiatives, and
actions that will be needed to achieve the desired outcomes.
4. How are we doing? We developed methods to create responsibility and
accountability for the plan through audits and evaluations. Resulting metrics
and information will feed back into the future adaptive management
approach by providing an updated perspective on “What do we have?”.
Figure 1. The adaptive management planning process used to create the Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
What do
we have?
What do
we want?
How do we
get there?
How are
we doing?
Adaptive
Management
Approach
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 5
Technical Appendix
Trees Support Fort Collins’ Strategic Objectives
Fort Collins’ 2024 Strategic Plan outlines seven Key Outcome Areas by which the city
measures progress toward the vision and goals of its comprehensive plan:
1. High Performing Government
2. Culture & Recreation
3. Economic Health
4. Environmental Health
5. Neighborhood & Community Vitality
6. Safe Community
7. Transportation & Mobility
Trees relate to each of these seven Outcome Areas through the many social, ecological,
and economic benefits that trees provide. Tree benefits and their relationships to the
City’s Key Outcome Areas are detailed throughout this document—look for the tree icon.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 6
Technical Appendix
Fort Collins’ Urban Forest
Fort Collins’ urban forest includes trees growing along streets, in public parks and
natural areas, and in the yards of homes, schools, and businesses. Together, these
trees are a dynamic, living system that provides invaluable environmental,
economic, and societal benefits to enhance the quality of life in Fort Collins.
URBAN TREE CANOPY
An urban tree canopy assessment was conducted by Davey Resource Group, Inc. in
collaboration with the City of Fort Collins to better understand the city’s urban tree
canopy—where it is, how it’s changing, the benefits it provides to residents, and
where potential tree planting opportunities exist. The urban tree canopy assessment
uses aerial imagery to measure the amount of tree canopy on both public and
private property as viewed from above.
The urban tree canopy assessment analyzed 2021 high-resolution aerial imagery of
Fort Collins to determine:
● tree canopy cover by land use and geography: land area that is shaded by
trees when viewed from above, summarized by social and political boundaries
● change in tree canopy cover from 2011–2021 by land use and geography:
how tree canopy cover has changed within social and political boundaries over
the past decade
● ecosystem benefits analysis: estimates the benefits provided by the city’s
entire tree canopy
● priority planting analysis: prioritizes possible tree planting locations by
stormwater, urban heat island, social equity, and human health benefits
● tree placement analysis: characterizes potential planting areas based on their
suitability for large-, medium-, and small-stature trees
The information derived from the urban tree canopy assessment:
1. Establishes a baseline of tree canopy cover for future analysis
2. Estimates the rate of change in tree canopy over the past decade
3. Estimates the public benefits that are provided by existing tree canopy
4. Can help inform decision making about urban forest management, tree
preservation, and future planting
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 7
Technical Appendix
Tree Canopy Cover and Change, City Limits & Growth Management Area
The urban tree canopy assessment measured tree canopy cover within current city
limits. To provide a baseline for growth over the next 20 years, the assessment also
measured tree cover across city limits plus the growth management area.
Within the current city boundaries, Fort Collins has 5,116 acres of tree canopy, equal
to 13.7% tree cover (map 1). The growth management area includes an additional
1,280 acres of tree canopy, bringing the total tree canopy area for city limits plus the
growth management area to 6,396 acres (12.6% cover).
Tree canopy cover derived from 2021 aerial imagery was compared to a 2011 tree
cover analysis that was conducted by PlanIt Geo to examine how tree canopy has
changed across Fort Collins in the prior decade. During this period, Fort Collins
experienced a net gain of 753 acres within city limits and a total gain of 936 acres of
tree canopy across city limits plus the growth management area (equivalent to 708
football fields), a net increase of 17.2% tree cover since 2011.
Map 1. Tree canopy cover in Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area, based on 2021
high-resolution aerial imagery.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 8
Technical Appendix
Tree Canopy Cover and Canopy Change by US Census Block Group
US Census block groups are federally defined geographic areas that are variable in
size and typically contain between 600–3,000 residents. Block groups make for
useful study areas due to the wide variety of sources that use census boundaries to
report social and economic data. In Fort Collins during the 2020 U.S. Census, there
were 137 block groups ranging in size from 2–3,025 acres.
Among Fort Collins’ block groups, tree cover ranges from <0.1% to 41% (map 2). From
2011–2021, 69% of block groups experienced tree canopy growth (maximum growth:
+378% tree cover), while 30% of block groups lost tree canopy (maximum loss: -53%
tree cover; map 3; figure 2).
Map 2. Tree canopy cover within Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area by U.S.
census block group.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 9
Technical Appendix
Map 3. Tree canopy change by U.S. census block group, 2011–2021.
Figure 2. Census block groups in order of largest to smallest by tree canopy acres. Change in tree
canopy acres from 2011-2021 is represented by green bars (net gain) and orange bars (net loss).
0
50
100
150
200
250
Block Groups
2021 Tree Cover
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 10
Technical Appendix
Canopy Cover and Canopy Change by City Council District & Precinct
Among the six city council districts, tree canopy cover ranges from 8.9% to 25.1%
(map 4). From 2011–2021, council districts 1–5 experienced net growth in tree cover
(range: +6.1% in District 5 to +110% in District 3), while District 6 experienced a slight
net loss of tree cover (-0.6%; map 5, figure 3).
Figure 3. Tree canopy cover by council district in 2011 and 2021. Labels indicate net change in tree cover
from 2011-2021.
+7%
+9%
+110%+30%
+6%
-0.6%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
1 2 3 4 5 6Council District
Map 4. Tree canopy cover by city council
precinct and district. district, 2011–2021.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 11
Technical Appendix
Canopy Cover and Canopy Change within Parks
Trees add to the natural beauty of parks and enhance the value of green space for
many types of recreational uses. Trees within parks and natural areas also serve as
important habitat for urban wildlife. For these reasons, planting, maintaining, and
preserving canopy trees, with a focus on native species, are priority actions that are
named in Fort Collins’ Recreate: Parks & Recreation Master Plan (2021).
Among Fort Collins’ 60 parks, cemeteries, and golf courses, average tree cover is
18.9% over 1,379 total park acres (figure 4, table 1), greater than the city average of
13.7% tree cover. Tree cover ranges from no measurable tree canopy at Richards Lake
Park to up to 62% cover at Indian Hills Park. In the study period from 2011–2021, there
was a net gain of 47.7 acres (+1.7%) of tree canopy across the studied parks.
Six future park sites
provide a potential for
up to 102 acres of new
tree canopy area.
Figure 4. Tree canopy cover
within Fort Collins parks.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 12
Technical Appendix
Table 1. Tree canopy cover and change by park. Possible tree canopy includes grassy and vegetated
areas where trees could potentially be planted. Maximum tree canopy is the sum of existing and
possible canopy.
PARK ACRES TREE
CANOPY
CHANGE
2011-2021
POSSIBLE
CANOPY
MAXIMUM
CANOPY
Alta Vista Park 0.6 41% 2% 15% 56%
Archery Range 54 34% 14% 50% 84%
Avery Park 6 45% 8% 36% 81%
Beattie Park 7 23% 5% 17% 40%
Blevins Park 6 33% 23% 59% 93%
Buckingham Park 5 15% 1% 46% 62%
City Park 76 29% 9% 29% 58%
City Park Nine Golf Course 55 28% 5% 1% 29%
Civic Center Park 2 24% -6% 44% 69%
Collindale Golf Course 157 16% 12% 1% 16%
Cottonwood Glen Park 12 12% 119% 60% 72%
Creekside Park 3 29% 37% 39% 68%
Crescent Park 7 0.1% 100% 78% 78%
Eastside Park 2 31% 28% 53% 84%
Edora Community Park 42 25% 34% 40% 65%
English Ranch Park 12 26% 143% 38% 63%
Fossil Creek Community Park 96 4% 241% 51% 54%
Freedom Square Park 0.5 25% -28% 22% 47%
Golden Meadows Park 11 22% 39% 43% 65%
Grandview Cemetery 43 39% 1% 0% 40%
Greenbriar Park 22 17% 75% 49% 67%
Harmony Park 10 11% >600% 64% 75%
Homestead Park 6 16% >600% 73% 89%
Indian Hills Park 2 62% 3% 36% 99%
Landings Park 8 22% 30% 36% 59%
Lee Martinez Community Park 90 33% -2% 47% 80%
Legacy Park 9 16% -21% 75% 91%
Leisure Park 0.9 54% 14% 27% 80%
Library Park 5 51% 9% 21% 72%
Lilac Park 0.7 18% 51% 59% 77%
Miramont Park 10 12% 269% 66% 78%
Oak St Plaza Park 0.3 55% -9% 0% 55%
Old Fort Collins Heritage Park 14 22% 38% 38% 60%
Overland Park 16 15% 56% 48% 62%
Poudre River Whitewater Park 11 15% -43% 47% 63%
Rabbit Brush Park 2 18% 155% 55% 73%
Radiant Park 9 3% 100% 71% 73%
Registry Park 5 2% 363% 78% 80%
Richards Lake Park 6 0% 0% 100% 100%
Ridgeview Park 11 11% 167% 67% 77%
Rogers Park 8 32% 69% 55% 88%
Rolland Moore Community Park 71 22% 27% 36% 58%
Romero Park 0.2 37% 28% 35% 72%
Roselawn Cemetery 28 20% 2% 46% 66%
Rossborough Park 16 26% 45% 69% 95%
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 13
Technical Appendix
PARK ACRES TREE
CANOPY
CHANGE
2011-2021
POSSIBLE
CANOPY
MAXIMUM
CANOPY
Soft Gold Park 17 14% 192% 64% 78%
Southridge Golf Course 127 12% 73% 7% 19%
Spencer Park 0.4 45% -1% 45% 90%
Spring Canyon Community
Park 116 14% 77% 64% 77%
Trees Enhance Culture & Recreation
Trees enhance urban parks and green space by providing shade, beauty, and by
contributing to the ecological function of green islands within the built environment.
Trees along transit corridors build connectivity to parks and green space that eases the
passage of both humans and wildlife.
According to Trust For Public Land’s ParkServe mapping tool, 73% of Fort Collins
residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, which is above average for all U.S. cities
and towns (55%) and on par with the 100 most populous U.S. cities (74%). Increasing tree
canopy within and around these parks is one way that urban forestry can support the
Culture and Recreation. Fort Collins City Council has set a priority for all residents to live
within a 15-minute walk to nature and have trees visible where they live, work, and play.
Trees are not compatible with all recreational uses, however. For example, trees are
undesirable within ballfields, skate parks, and amphitheaters. Recreation centers and
pavilions can limit the area where trees can be planted. Lastly, many of Fort Collins’
natural areas are intended to protect native habitat including grassland and shrubland;
in such places, contiguous tree canopy is not desirable.
Sources: Trust For Public Land; Fort Collins’ ReCreate: Parks & Recreation Master Plan, 2021; Nature
in the City, 2015; Natural Areas Master Plan, 2014.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 14
Technical Appendix
Tree Canopy by Land Use
Examining tree canopy cover and change by land use shows how different land uses
are affecting citywide tree canopy trends, which can be useful for guiding policy
decisions. Land uses that comprise larger areas have the greatest impact on
citywide trends.
In Fort Collins, residential land contains 56% of the city’s urban forest (figure 5). Tree
cover has grown 15% on residential land since 2011. The largest tree canopy losses by
total acreage have taken place on commercial land, which lost 30 acres (10%) of tree
cover since 2011.
The largest potential for additional tree canopy occurs within residential and mixed-
use zoning types, which together contain 8,083 acres of possible additional tree
canopy.
By zoning district, the highest proportions of tree canopy cover occur within the
Neighborhood Conservation Districts (19%–36%), the Low-Density Residential District
(26%), and Manufactured Housing District (24%; table 2). The highest proportions of
tree canopy loss occurred within several commercial zoning districts (-36% to -23%)
and the High-Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood District (-34%). Canopy cover within
the Residential Foothills District is low (5%) but grew by 248% over the past decade.
Figure 5. Tree canopy cover in 2011, net change from 2011–2021, and possible additional tree canopy by
land use type.
+15%
+32%+21%-10%+13%-6%0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
Residential Mixed Use Open Space Commercial Industrial Institutional
Land Use
Other Land Area
Possible Canopy Acres
Canopy Change 2011-2021
Canopy Acres 2011
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 15
Technical Appendix
Table 2. Tree canopy cover and change by zoning district.
ZONING DISTRICT ACRES TREE
CANOPY
CHANGE
2011-2021
POSSIBLE
CANOPY
MAXIMUM
CANOPY
Commercial 2,958 9% -10% 24% 32%
Community Commercial -
North College District 155 4% 7% 27% 31%
28 13% -23% 24% 38%
244 5% -35% 30% 35%
299 14% 34% 22% 36%
Industrial 1,478 3% 13% 34% 36%
Institutional 762 17% -6% 13% 31%
Mixed Use, Low Density 6,434 9% 88% 38% 47%
6,434 9% 88% 38% 47%
Mixed Use, Medium Density 6,103 13% 10% 28% 42%
1,940 17% 23% 30% 47%
159 29% -20% 13% 42%
546 34% -16% 17% 51%
Mixed Use, High Density 56 15% -34% 16% 30%
56 15% -34% 16% 30%
Open Space 7,248 7% 21% 12% 19%
Residential 12,416 23% 15% 31% 54%
8,654 26% 14% 26% 52%
539 36% -4% 20% 56%
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 16
Technical Appendix
Canopy Cover at Bus Stops
Trees an important part of the layered strategies to increase the use of public transit
that are outlined in the city’s transportation master plan. Shaded bus stops make
public transit safer for riders, particularly during hot summer months. Growing tree
canopy cover at bus stops supports Fort Collins’ intent to reduce Vehicle Miles
Traveled by encouraging multimodal transportation (City Plan, 2019).
The urban tree canopy analysis quantified tree cover within 30-ft buffers of bus stops
and bus stations to characterize tree canopy within areas that support the City’s
goals for encouraging multimodal transportation. Average tree cover is 18.3% at 22
bus stations and 423 bus stops across Fort Collins (map 6). Among 263 bus stops that
did not have a built-
in shelter, average
tree cover is 21.2%, a
loss of 2.3% tree
cover since 2011. A
majority of bus stops
have less than 20%
tree cover and
experienced losses
of tree cover since
2011 (figure 6).
Map 6. Tree canopy
cover within a 30-ft
buffer of bus stops and
transit stations and
within bike lanes by
street segment.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 17
Technical Appendix
Figure 6. Tree canopy cover and change (2011–2021) at Fort Collins bus stops.
Tree Benefits for Transportation & Mobility
Over the past several years, Fort Collins has experienced substantial growth in transit
ridership and bicycling. Encouraging individuals to shift their short vehicle trips to active
transportation modes (e.g. biking, walking) is one of the most effective ways to reduce
vehicle miles traveled, a goal of both the City’s transportation master plan and its Our
Climate Future plan (2021).
Trees contribute to Fort Collins’ goals of increasing multimodal transportation use. Trees
growing in street rights-of-way help to slow traffic, making streets safer for pedestrians
and cyclists. Shade and evapotranspiration cooling provided by street tree canopy allow
for more comfortable walking, biking, and use of public transit and increase the appeal
of cycling routes. Trees and other vegetative buffers can also reduce the exposure of
cyclists and pedestrians to air pollution. For these and other reasons, residents are three
times more likely to be physically active when they live in areas with high levels of trees
and vegetation.
Sources: Ellaway et al., 2005; Ozdemir, 2019; Eisenman et al., 2021; Ewing & Dumbaugh, 2009.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
0-20%20-40%40-60%60-80%80-100%
Tree Canopy Cover
>50%
loss
0-50%
loss
0-50%
gain
50-100%
gain
>100%
gain
Tree Canopy Change, 2011-2021
Page 169
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 18
Technical Appendix
Canopy Cover within Bike Lanes
Trees along bike lanes contribute to the City’s goals of building low-stress, high-
comfort bicycle facilities that promote a physically active and environmentally
sustainable community (City Plan, 2019). Trees not only shade bike lanes; they also
contribute to the safety of cyclists by slowing traffic.
Over 267 miles of bike lanes across Fort Collins, average tree canopy cover is 9.5%
(map 6) approximately the same as it was in 2011 (+0.1%). Among street segments
with bike lanes, 82% of segments have less than 20% tree cover; tree canopy change
within these spaces has been variable in the period from 2011–2021 (figure 7).
Figure 7. Tree canopy cover and canopy change, 2011–2021, in bike lanes by street segment.
TREE CANOPY STUDY: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The results of the urban tree canopy assessment, which was based on an analysis of
2021 aerial imagery and compared to a prior analysis of 2011 imagery, show that tree
canopy cover varies widely across Fort Collins and the growth management area,
ranging from almost no trees in some parts of the city to over 40% tree cover. In
general, tree cover tends to be highest within the oldest parts of the city, where
residents have been planting trees since the nineteenth century. Citywide tree cover
is 13.7%; including the growth management area, average tree cover is 12.6%.
From 2011–2021, the city and the growth management area experienced an overall
increase in tree canopy cover of 17.2%. The largest gains in tree canopy cover took
place within low-canopy areas around the periphery of the city, while canopy losses
>50% loss 0-50%
loss
0-50%
gain
50-100%
gain
>100%
gain
Tree Canopy Change, 2011-2021
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
0-20%20-40%40-60%>60%
Tree Canopy Cover
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Technical Appendix
tended to take place within the more densely developed urban core where tree
cover is highest.
Tree canopy cover within parks, bus stops, and bike lanes was analyzed as part of an
effort to evaluate tree canopy in relation to multiple city priorities. Publicly owned
trees in these areas provide benefits that enhance quality of life and contribute to
climate change mitigation. Future investments in the planting and maintenance of
trees in parks and along streets rights-of-way is a dual investment in Key Outcome
Areas including Neighborhood & Community Vitality, Culture & Recreation, and
Transportation & Mobility.
Trees and Economic Health
Economic benefits of trees are derived from both added value and avoided costs.
Cost Savings. Trees save energy by providing shade and blocking wind, which reduce
the need for heating and cooling and lower energy costs for homes and businesses.
Properly placing three trees around a home can reduce energy costs for the average
household by $100 to $250 per year. Trees that shade air conditioning units can help
them run up to 10% more efficiently.
Trees also help residents save money on health care costs. Trees reduce the incidences of
medical complications due to asthma, heart disease, and heat-related illnesses.
Economic Development. Trees and green spaces have a positive impact on the local
economy by increasing property values, attracting tourism, and supporting local
businesses. Mature, healthy trees can increase property values for both residential and
commercial properties by 3%–7% or more, as well as increase values of neighboring
properties. In business districts, trees attract customers. Shoppers spend more time and
money in retail areas with mature, healthy tree canopies and are willing to spend 11%
more for products, services, and parking at businesses with trees in front of them.
Sources: McPherson et al., 2005; Wolf, 2005; Vargas, 2007; Siriwardena et al., 2016; Hughes, 2013.
Vargas et al., 2007; U.S. Department of Energy (n.d.)
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PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY
The Forestry Division is responsible for the care of public trees. From 2018–2023, the
Forestry Division and trained volunteers from the City’s Urban Forest Ambassador
program inventoried 57,991 trees and 3,397 possible tree sites within street rights-of-
way, parks, and city property (map 7). Detailed information about public trees is used
by the Forestry Division to guide management decisions.
Map 7. Public trees and planting sites as documented in TreeKeeper.
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Technical Appendix
61,388 Inventoried Sites
Nearly two-thirds of all inventoried sites were street trees (figure 8). Together, vacant
planting sites and stumps comprise 3,397 potential planting sites where additional
trees can be planted over time (figure 9).
Figure 8. Public trees by location.
Figure 9. Inventoried sites, 2018–2023.
Street Trees
66%
Park Trees
17%
City Facility 5%
Golf Course 5%
Stormwater
Management 4%
Cemetery 1%
Median 1%
Other 1%
57,991
2,668 729
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
Trees Vacant Planting Sites Stumps
Nu
m
b
e
r
o
f
S
i
t
e
s
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Technical Appendix
Tree Diversity
The inventory of public trees cataloged 214 unique species of trees that represent 56
genera and 26 families. Diversity helps to make the tree population resilient to pests
and diseases. Urban forestry industry standards for diversity recommend that no
single species of tree should exceed 10% of the total inventory; no one genus should
exceed 20%; and no one family of tree should exceed 30% of the total tree inventory
(the “10-20-30 Rule” for species abundance).
Top 5 Species of Public Trees Relative to the 10% Rule for Species Abundance
Among inventoried trees, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and honeylocust
(Gleditsia triacanthos and G. triacanthos inermis) exceeded recommended limits for
species abundance (11% of public trees each; figure 10, table 3). The abundance of ash
is expected to decline over time due to emerald ash borer and implementation of
the city’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan (2020), climate
change, and city code. The Forestry Division is reducing the planting of honeylocust
on public property and is encouraging developers to shift away from planting
honeylocust as part of required street tree plantings that are associated with
development.
Figure 10. Top five species of public trees relative to a recommended 10% Rule for abundance of any
single species.
11%11%
8%
5%4%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
green ash honeylocust bur oak common
hackberry
littleleaf
linden
Fort Collins
10% Rule
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Technical Appendix
Table 3. Top five species of public trees.
COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME PUBLIC
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica 6,478
Gleditsia triacanthos*
Quercus macrocarpa
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis 2,864
Tilia cordata
* includes var. inermis
Top 5 Genera of Public Trees Relative to the 20% Rule for Genus Abundance
At the level of genus, which groups similar species of trees, oaks are the most
abundant trees in Fort Collins (15% of inventoried trees; figure 9). All genera remain
below the recommended threshold of 20% abundance.
Figure 11. Top five genera of public trees relative to the 20% Rule for genus abundance.
15%
13%
11%10%
8%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
oak ash honeylocust linden pine
Fort Collins
20% Rule
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Technical Appendix
Top 5 Families of Public Trees Relative to the 30% Rule for Family Abundance
Families are larger groupings of similar trees, containing similar species and genera.
All tree families that are represented in Fort Collins’ inventory are well below
recommended limits of 30% of the total public tree population (figure 10).
Figure 12. Top five taxonomic families of public trees relative to the 30% Rule for family abundance.
16%14%13%13%
10%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
beech legume olive pine mallow
Fort Collins
30% Rule
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Technical Appendix
Trees and Environmental Health
Trees provide innumerable ecological benefits that improve urban environments.
Trees Cool Our Cities. High temperatures in urbanized areas contribute to urban heat
island, in which impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and sidewalks trap and
hold heat. Urban heat island can raise air temperature in cities up to 7°F higher during
the day and 5°F higher at night compared to neighboring rural areas. Urban heat island
raises higher energy costs and power plant emissions and increases heat-related
illnesses, which cause more deaths in the United States each year than any other natural
disaster. Large, healthy trees lower temperatures through both shading and
evapotranspiration. Trees reduce peak summer temperatures by 2-9°F and prevent an
average of 1,200 heat-related deaths each year in the U.S, making them a critical tool to
combat the negative health impacts of high temperatures.
Trees Clean the Air. Trees act as natural air filters, removing pollutants from the air and
reducing their negative impacts on humans and the environment. Through the removal
of air pollutants, trees save over 850 lives and prevent 670,000 incidents of acute
respiratory symptoms in the U.S. each year. Trees are also an important carbon sink for
climate change mitigation through the removal of carbon dioxide and greenhouse
gasses from the air. One large, healthy oak tree growing in Fort Collins can remove over
30 pounds of pollutants from the air over 20 years.
Trees Intercept and Conserve Water. Trees intercept and retain stormwater, reducing
runoff and water pollutants by 20%–60%, thereby reduce flooding, erosion, and the level
of sediment and pollutants that enter local waterways. A mature deciduous tree can
intercept 700 gallons of stormwater per year, and a mature evergreen tree can intercept
4,000 gallons of water per year. Underground, tree roots and decomposition help to
increase the amount of water that soil can hold, allowing for more efficient use of
irrigated water. In addition, the cooling effects of trees during summer months helps to
reduce the amount of moisture that is lost through evaporation. Through both
processes, trees can retain water in the soil and reduce irrigation quantity and frequency.
Trees Provide Food & Habitat for Wildlife. Trees provide habitat and food for a wide
variety of wildlife species, supporting biodiversity and maintaining the health of local
ecosystems. Oaks can support over 500 species of pollinators and other beneficial
insects. In the Colorado Front Range, broadleaf deciduous forests are relatively new to
the region. The tree canopy of Fort Collins provides migratory birds with an important
stopover point. At the same time, trees can provide refuge for species such as hawks and
corvids that hunt or outcompete native grassland birds and mammals. For these
reasons, tree canopy in natural areas must be thoughtfully placed. In backyards and
along streets, however, tree canopy acts as an important buffer for wildlife within the
built environment.
Sources: Michigan Audubon, n.d.; USDA Forest Service, n.d.; US Environmental Protection Agency,
n.d.; McPherson et al., 2002; Cappiella et al., 2005; VerCauteren & Gillihan, 2007; Nowak et al. 2014;
Johnson et al., 2017; National Weather Service, 2021; McDonald et al., 2020; Shah et al., 2022;
Breidt et al. 2022.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 26
Technical Appendix
Condition of Public Trees
In the tree inventory, more than half of public
trees (55%) are rated to be in Good or Fair-Plus
condition, meaning that their trunks and
crowns are generally healthy and strong, and
an additional one-third (34%) are rated to be
in Fair condition, indicating that they are
healthy and show no major defects (figure 11).
Structural integrity, overall tree health, and
form are often improved through proper
pruning. Routine pruning, young tree training,
and other proactive maintenance can help
keep trees within Fair, Fair Plus, and Good
categories over time.
Though it is difficult to move a significant
number of trees from a lower to a better
condition category, structural and routine
pruning on a five-year rotation will help
maintain a majority of trees within Fair to
Good tree condition ratings over time.
Size-Age Classes of Public Trees
The relative age of trees can be estimated from trunk diameter. In Fort Collins, public
trees were classified into four categories based on their trunk diameter at standard
height (DSH): young (0–8 inches DSH), established (9–17 in), maturing (18–24 in), and
mature (>24 in) trees.
Urban forestry industry standards recommend a mixed-age tree population to
balance maintenance needs of the tree population over time and protect against
significant canopy loss within a short period. Sixty percent of public trees in Fort
Collins are in the young size class, reflecting sustained tree planting efforts within
the city, including tree planting that occurs through new development as the city
has grown (figure 12). Care of young trees during the establishment period, as well as
proactive maintenance of older age classes, will help increase the proportion of older
trees to balance age classes over time.
1%
Dead
2%
Poor8%
Fair Minus
34%
Fair
27%
Fair Plus
28%
Good
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
Condition
Nu
m
b
e
r
o
f
I
n
v
e
n
t
o
r
i
e
d
T
r
e
e
s
Figure 13. Condition ratings of public trees.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 27
Technical Appendix
Figure 14. Relative age classes of public trees, estimated from trunk diameter.
PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The inventory of 61,388 public trees and planting sites in Fort Collins revealed that
the diversity of public trees is approaching a level that will help the urban forest
remain resilient to pests and diseases. The importance of such measures is currently
reflected in the City’s response to emerald ash borer, which threatens 13% of its
public tree inventory. Reductions to ash and honeylocust, paired with species-level
diversification of future tree plantings, will help increase diversity over time.
The condition of public trees reflects significant investments in routine maintenance
as the Forestry Division moves toward its goal of a five-year pruning cycle and away
from reactive maintenance, which is comparably more costly. Shifting toward
proactive maintenance can reduce per-tree maintenance costs by as much as 50%
compared with maintenance that relies heavily on storm and emergency response
(AECOM, 2013).
Fort Collins’ public trees skew young, reflecting an uptick in more recent tree
plantings that are associated with city activities and increased development. Future
maintenance needs are expected to increase over time as trees grow into larger size
classes, which will require additional budget and capacity for the Forestry Division to
keep pace.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Young
(0-8")
Established
(9-17")
Maturing
(18-24")
Mature
(>24")
Relative Age (Diameter Size Class)
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Technical Appendix
GOALS FOR FORT COLLINS’ TREE CANOPY AND PUBLIC TREES
The findings of the urban tree canopy assessment and public tree inventory suggest
potential goals for Fort Collins’ urban forest that can guide Forestry Division activities
and priorities over the next 20 years.
● Grow tree canopy in Fort Collins and make it more evenly distributed over
time.
● Mitigate tree canopy losses on public and private property.
● Preserve and expand tree canopy cover at bus stops and along bike routes to
encourage multi-modal transportation.
● Expand tree canopy within and around parks to support compatible
recreational uses, conservation goals, and to build connectivity to green space
that is accessible to all residents.
● Protect and enhance tree diversity to increase the resilience of the public tree
population.
● Establish young trees, and proactively maintain older trees, to improve and/or
maintain the general condition and even the age distribution of public trees
over time.
● Expand collection of inventory data to include information such as risk,
irrigation status, and EAB treatment priority to inform management
decisions.
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Technical Appendix
Strategies for Resilience and Sustainable
Growth
Urban tree canopy and public tree inventory data were further analyzed to
characterize the benefits that are provided by existing trees; evaluate the potential
resilience of the urban forest to future threats from pests, diseases, and climate
change; and to identify priority locations for tree canopy growth to address
environmental, social, and human health needs.
PUBLIC TREE BENEFITS
Two benefits analyses were conducted to quantify the annual benefits and carbon
storage of public trees using i-Tree Eco software from the U.S. Forest Service and
partners. i-Tree Eco models (estimates) the benefits that trees provide based on data
inputs about the location and quantity of tree canopy cover and the species, size,
condition, and location of inventoried public trees. The resulting benefits calculations
reflect the benefits that are provided by Fort Collins’ total tree canopy, as well as the
benefits provided by public trees.
Benefits Provided by Fort Collins’ Tree Canopy
Ecosystem benefits including air pollution removal, carbon sequestration and
storage, and stormwater runoff reduction were estimated from urban tree canopy
assessment data. The resulting model estimates reflect the benefits that are
provided by all of Fort Collins’ trees, including trees on both public and private tree
canopy, across city limits and the growth management area (table 4). In addition,
the change in tree canopy benefits was estimated from the prior 2011 urban tree
canopy assessment to quantify the change in tree benefits from 2011–2021.
Fort Collins’ tree canopy provides ecosystem benefits valued at more than $2.2
million per year in savings to residents and businesses. Annual savings have
increased by $346,000 since 2011 with growth of tree canopy across the city.
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Technical Appendix
Table 4. Ecosystem benefits provided by Fort Collins’ total tree canopy, 2011-2021.
ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS
OF TREE CANOPY
2011 2021 2011–2021
CHANGE IN
VALUE QUANTITY VALUE QUANTITY VALUE
Annual benefits
482,600 $797,881 570,300 $942,949 $145,068
2
3
2.5
4,920 $839,102 5,810 $991,666 $152,564
29,720,000 $265,610 35,130,000 $313,902 $48,292
Total Annual Benefits $1,902,593
Benefits Provided by Fort Collins’ Public Trees
i-Tree Eco modeling software was also used to estimate the benefits of public trees
using data from the tree inventory, including the species, size, and condition of
public trees (table 5). Public trees account for more than $69,000 in benefits each
year and have an estimated replacement value of more than $112 million.
Table 5. Ecosystem benefits provided by Fort Collins’ public trees.
ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS OF
PUBLIC TREES QUANTITY VALUE
Annual benefits
2
2.5
Total Annual Benefits $69,374
Structural Value
Total Replacement Value $112,489,358
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 31
Technical Appendix
Air Pollution Reduction
Trees improve air quality by intercepting and filtering particulate matter from the air,
including dust, ash, pollen, and smoke. Leaves absorb harmful gaseous pollutants
such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide and reduce ozone
formation by shading surfaces and reducing air temperatures. The air cleaning
benefits of trees is important for improving human health outcomes.
In total, the tree canopy of Fort Collins removes 285 tons of air pollutants each year, a
service valued at $942,949. Tree canopy growth from 2011–2021 has resulted in an
additional 44 tons of pollutants being removed from the air each year. Of total air
quality benefits, public trees account for the removal of 11 tons of air pollutants each
year, valued at $32,038.
Stormwater Runoff Reduction
Trees play a significant role in local hydrology and water cycling, helping to reduce
the amount of stormwater runoff that is generated during rain events. The value of
reduced stormwater runoff is calculated based on avoided water treatment costs;
not reflected in this value are also costs related to erosion and flooding.
Public trees in Fort Collins absorb 2.3 million gallons of stormwater each year, valued
at $20,721.
Sequestering and Storing Carbon
Trees are carbon sinks, which means they absorb carbon from the atmosphere. As
they grow, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves during
photosynthesis and store it in their tissue.
Fort Collins’ tree canopy stores an estimated 226,820 tons of carbon in tree trunks,
branches, and roots, valued at $39 million. Each year, all of the city’s trees sequester
(absorb and store) an additional 5,810 tons of carbon. Of this, public trees store 18,616
tons of carbon and sequester an additional 276 tons each year.
PEST SUSCEPTIBILITY
Tree pests and diseases often have preferred hosts. The susceptibility of an urban
forest to a pest or disease can be predicted based on its species and genus diversity.
Early identification of tree pests and diseases can reduce the impact of infestations
on the urban forest.
Of the pests and diseases of concern in Colorado, emerald ash borer threatens 13% of
the public tree inventory—the portion that is composed of the genus Fraxinus—with
potential tree losses valued at $22 million (table 6). If Asian longhorned beetle
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Technical Appendix
reaches Fort Collins, it poses the greatest threat to public trees, with predicted
economic impacts of up to $51 million. Replacement values are based on actual tree
attributes including size and are calculated using i-Tree Tools.
Other pests and diseases not listed here may affect the tree population in Fort
Collins, and many more trees, including those on private property, may be
susceptible to these invasive pests.
Table 6. Susceptibility of Fort Collins’ public trees to pests and diseases of concern in Colorado.
PEST NAME
NUMBER OF
SUSCEPTIBLE
TREES
PERCENT OF
PUBLIC TREE
INVENTORY
TREE
REPLACEMENT
VALUE ($)
Asian longhorned beetle 20,687 36% $51,310,744
Oak wilt 8,706 15% $7,553,465
Honeylocust spider mite 6,284 11% $10,104,137
Nectria
Red turpentine beetle 4,878 8% $10,827,409
Pine wilt nematode
Mountain pine beetle 2,126 4% $3,940,686
Ips
Aspen leaf miner 624 1% $1,757,006
Douglas-fir beetle 77 <1% $155,075
Emerald Ash Borer Response
Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first confirmed in Fort Collins in May 2020. The City’s
response is detailed in the Fort Collins Emerald Ash Borer Management and
Response Plan (2020). There are 7,388 ash trees in the Fort Collins tree inventory—
13% of the total inventoried tree population. Citywide, it is estimated that ash trees
comprise 33% of total tree canopy.
Forestry staff began to identify ash trees that are good candidates for prophylactic
treatment against emerald ash borer in 2016. Treatment of public trees began in
2021; to date, 2,054 trees have been treated. The tree inventory categorizes trees into
priority rankings for treatment and removal and identifies trees that have been
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Technical Appendix
treated by the adjacent property owner. Of these, 4,578 ash trees have been
categorized; however, a plurality of ash trees (2,649; 37%) have not been categorized
into treatment or removal priorities, and their treatment status remains unknown.
Ash trees should be routinely inspected to monitor for EAB infestations and
symptom progression due to the rapidity of decline caused by EAB infestation and
the safety implications of dead and dying trees in the right of way. A tier of
inspection priority is recommended. Priority 1 should be ash trees with an unknown
treatment status, so that these 2,649 trees can be assigned to a treatment group or a
removal schedule.
The 76 trees being treated by the adjacent property owner should also be inspected
regularly. Treatment is required every 2-3 years (depending on intensity and
insecticide used) for the remainder of the tree’s life; as property ownership changes,
trees may fall out of regular treatment schedules. It is important that Fort Collins
maintains the treatment record for these trees so that if adjacent property owners
are no longer able to manage the insecticide treatment, the City is able to efficiently
incorporate trees into their prioritization workflow.
Pest & Disease Resilience Strategies
Trees should be monitored for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases on a
regular basis. This can be done as part of the tree inventory process and during other
routine maintenance activities such as pruning. When a pest or disease is suspected,
act quickly to confirm the identification and begin management. Pay special
attention to tree species that are preferred host plants for pests and diseases, and
proactively remove specimens of invasive, exotic host species. For example, spotted
lanternfly can infest many tree genera but prefers tree of heaven (Ailanthus
altissima). Tree of heaven is currently rare in the state of Colorado; no specimens are
currently noted in Fort Collins’ public tree inventory.
Using the City’s EAB Management and Response Plan as a model, it is
recommended that the City prepare an invasive species management plan to guide
the response to future pest or disease infestations. Use preventative pesticide
treatments on high-value or historic trees that are susceptible to problematic pests
and/or diseases. Lastly, when planting trees, select pest- and disease-resistant
species or cultivars whenever possible.
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Technical Appendix
CLIMATE VULNERABILITY
Although trees require water to survive, in irrigated spaces, they help to conserve
more water than they use. Trees cool air and surface temperatures through
evapotranspiration and shade, which reduces the water requirements of the entire
landscape. For example, planting trees over turfgrass can reduce outdoor water use
by up to 50% (Shashua-Bar et al., 2009). For these reasons, Fort Collins’ tree canopy
will become an increasingly valuable resource for mitigating the effects of climate
change.
Land Surface Temperature
Land surface temperature was measured and averaged across two summer dates to
classify urban heat island effect in Fort Collins (figure 15). The analysis used satellite
data that were collected during the late afternoon on August 10, 2022 and July 3,
2023. On both dates,
high air temperatures of
93–95 degrees were
recorded, which are
close to the average
high temperature of 89
degrees. Areas with
higher tree canopy
cover show up on the
map as having lower
surface temperature.
Figure 15. Land surface
temperature of Fort Collins,
averaged from recorded
Landsat 8 satellite data
across two summer dates in
2022 and 2023.
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Technical Appendix
Climate Vulnerability and Risk Indices
The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index is a web tool that quantifies future climate
vulnerability based on a combination of social, economic, infrastructure, and climate
factors. It compares U.S. census tracts and counties and provides a percentile score
that summarizes each location’s climate vulnerability relative to other census tracts
and counties. In this index, the national vulnerability percentile is the number of
other census tracts or counties that score better than Fort Collins for a given
indicator—a higher score indicates greater levels of vulnerability.
Climate vulnerability of Larimer County ranks in the 13th percentile nationally, which
means that only 13% of other U.S. counties are more vulnerable to climate change
overall. This is LOW overall climate vulnerability. However, at the level of census tract,
Fort Collins has highly variable overall climate vulnerability, suggesting inequality in
the resilience of the city to future climate impacts (figure 16, left). In addition, Fort
Collins ranks HIGH nationally in climate vulnerability that is related to two sets of
factors: climate impacts due to the built environment (figure 16, middle), and the
future impacts of extreme weather events (figure 16, right).
Climate vulnerability factors that relate to the built environment in Fort Collins and
Larimer County compared to other U.S. areas include high levels of impervious
surfaces, toxic air pollutants, vehicle traffic, agricultural pesticides, and a large
number of facilities with existing EPA enforcement or violations that serve as
pollution sources. Notably, low forested land cover relative to other U.S. counties and
census tracts (95th percentile) is included as one factor that raises Fort Collins’
environmental vulnerability.
U.S. Climate Mapping and Resilience Assessment provides more detailed
information about climate projections for Fort Collins. It projects future climate risks
based on two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. A lower-emissions scenario
Figure 16. U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index maps for Fort Collins census tracts showing overall climate
vulnerability (left), vulnerability that relates to the built environment (middle), and vulnerability related
to the likelihood of extreme weather events (right).
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projects the climate effects if humans were to eliminate global fossil fuel
combustion, resulting in no further greenhouse gas emissions, by 2040. The higher-
emissions scenario projects the climate effects if the date of this achievement were
not to occur until the year 2100.
Climate Vulnerability Due to Extreme Weather Events
There are several mid-century climate factors that can affect tree growth and
survival in Fort Collins. The national vulnerability percentile from the U.S. Climate
Vulnerability Index is listed below. For select extreme weather events where there is
additional information, the projections from the U.S. Climate Mapping and Resilience
Assessment are given for lower and higher emissions scenarios (compared to the
reference period from 1975–2005).
● Consecutive dry days: 94th percentile. The maximum number of consecutive
dry days is predicted to be 18 days by mid-century, a change of +0.6 days
compared to 1975–2005.
● Daily maximum temperature: 93rd percentile. The number of days per year
with a high of >95°F is predicted to increase by 5-8 days by mid-century.
● Urban heat island extreme heat days: 82nd percentile. The number of days per
year with an air temperature of >90°F is predicted to increase by 16–21 days,
which due to urban heat island effect will feel hotter within highly built areas
of the city.
● Cold waves: 73rd percentile. Overall, the number of days that remain below
32°F is predicted be reduced by 11-14 days per year, but the threat posed by
cold waves will remain relatively high compared to other parts of the U.S.
● Frost days: 77th percentile. Temperature extremes are predicted to become
more erratic, leading to potentially more early and late frost days that can
damage trees.
Drought Tolerance of the Public Tree Inventory
The public tree inventory has begun adding information about the irrigation status
of trees; at present, irrigation status is known for 16,665 trees. Of these, 14,754 trees
have access to irrigation. The irrigation status of trees is important for evaluating the
risk of the tree inventory to drought and planning emergency response including
hand watering during periods of extreme drought.
An analysis examined drought tolerance of 151 species of trees in the public tree
inventory, which comprise 78% of public trees (45,345 trees), based on species
information from a 2006 study by Niinemets and Valladares (table 7).
● 1,765 public trees in Fort Collins have LOW drought tolerance
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 37
Technical Appendix
● 28,999 public trees have MEDIUM drought tolerance
● 14,581 public trees have HIGH drought tolerance
Together with information about projected climate impacts, including growth in the
number of extreme heat days and consecutive dry days, the city can increase the
resilience of its public tree inventory by planting more drought-tolerant species over
time.
Table 7. Drought tolerance of the 35 most abundant species in the public tree inventory.
DROUGHT TOLERANCE
Populus angustifolia*
Populus sargentii*
Ulmus davidiana
Acer grandidentatum
Acer negundo*
Acer platanoides
Acer saccharinum
Acer saccharum
Acer tataricum
Aesculus glabra
Celtis occidentalis
Fraxinus americana*
Fraxinus pennsylvanica*
Malus domestica
Picea glauca
Picea pungens
Pinus strobiformis
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus robur
Syringa reticulata
Tilia americana
Tilia cordata
Ulmus americana
Elaeagnus angustifolia*
Gleditsia triacanthos
Juniperus scopulorum
Pinus edulis
Pinus nigra
Pinus ponderosa
Pinus sylvestris
Pyrus calleryana
Quercus gambelii
Quercus shumardii
* Planting these species is prohibited by city code
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 38
Technical Appendix
PRIORITY PLANTING ANALYSIS
The tree cover analysis of Fort Collins identified 15,418 acres of possible tree planting
space within the city and growth management area. This space comprises areas on
both public and private land that do not have existing tree canopy. It excludes areas
including agricultural fields, recreational fields, and major utility corridors where tree
canopy would conflict with existing land uses.
The priority planting analysis ranked possible tree planting area on a five-point scale
from Very Low to Very High based on the potential for tree benefits to positively
impact environmental, human health, and social factors (table 8).
Priority Planting Factors
● Environmental: Priority areas for stormwater management were identified
based on proximity to hardscape, proximity to tree canopy, floodplain
proximity, soil permeability, slope, and soil erosion factor. Areas of higher
potential for runoff and erosion were considered higher priority due to their
ability to diminish water quality within urban areas. Priority areas for urban
heat island mitigation were based on land surface temperature calculations
(see figure 15, above). Higher surface temperatures were considered higher
priority due to the adverse effects of elevated microclimates within urban
areas.
o The priority planting analysis identified 1,802 acres of possible planting
area that rank High or Very High in the ability to mitigate stormwater
runoff (figure 17).
o The analysis identified 3,167 acres of possible planting area that rank
High or Very High for urban heat island mitigation (figure 18).
● Social Equity: The priority planting analysis incorporated social equity factors
that correlate with vulnerabilities that can be partially mitigated by tree
benefits based on scientific research. The analysis used U.S. Census data of
income, population density, racial and ethnic minority percent, and home
renter percent. Priority areas for social equity are places where additional tree
canopy would benefit vulnerable populations.
o The priority planting analysis identified 2,287 acres of possible planting
area that rank High or Very High for proximity to residents that have
increased vulnerability to environmental and climate concerns that can
be mitigated by trees (figure 19).
● Human Health: The priority planting analysis also incorporated three human
health concerns that are prevalent in Fort Collins and most impacted by tree
benefits: asthma, heart disease, and mental health disorders (see box, “Trees
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 39
Technical Appendix
Contribute to Neighborhood & Community Vitality”). Priority areas for human
health are areas where these concerns are most prevalent.
o The priority planting analysis identified 3,342 acres of possible planting
area that rank High or Very High for proximity to residents that have
health concerns that can be mitigated by trees (figure 20).
● Composite (All) Priorities: This analysis overlays each of the factors above to
identify priority planting areas where trees can address all issues.
o The priority planting analysis identified 2,250 acres of possible planting
area that rank High or Very High for the combined effects of all the
factors listed above (figure 21).
Table 8. Possible tree planting area in Fort Collins, ranked by priority to address environmental, social
equity, and/or human health factors.
PRIORITY PLANTING ACRES
PRIORITY STORMWATER HEAT ISLAND SOCIAL EQUITY HEALTH ALL
Very Low 10,472 2,007 6,165 5,353 8,218
Low 1,989 3,723 3,565 4,418 3,337
Moderate 1,155 6,521 3,401 2,305 1,613
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 40
Technical Appendix
Figure 18. Priority planting areas for
urban heat island mitigation based
on land surface temperatures.
stormwater management, based on
a combination of environmental
factors that contribute to increased
stormwater runoff.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 41
Technical Appendix
Figure 19. Priority planting areas
where tree benefits can be placed in
proximity to vulnerable resident
populations.
where tree canopy can help mitigate
asthma, heart disease, and mental
health disorders.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 42
Technical Appendix
Figure 21. Priority planting areas that maximize the environmental, social, and human health benefits
of trees.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 43
Technical Appendix
Tree Placement
A tree placement analysis identified 465,507 possible tree planting sites across Fort
Collins, including on both public and private land (table 9). Sites were classified as
being suitable for trees based on small, medium, or large crown size. Large trees
were placed first, as they provide the greatest benefit; then, the remaining planting
area was populated with small- and medium-
statured trees.
The analysis produced a GIS data file with all
planting sites and accompanying information
about priority planting metrics for
environmental, social, and human health factors
(figure 22). Data are provided to the City of Fort
Collins as a standalone GIS tool.
Figure 22. A snapshot taken from the tree placement analysis showing possible planting locations for
small-, medium-, and large-stature trees along a street right-of-way.
TREE
CROWN SIZE
NUMBER OF
PLANTING SPACES
Large 207,695
Total Sites 465,507
Table 9. Possible tree planting sites,
classified by the size of tree that they
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 44
Technical Appendix
RESILIENCE & SUSTAINABLE GROWTH: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Trees provide innumerable benefits to the people of Fort Collins. Select tree benefits
can be assigned a monetary value that is based on avoided costs, including air
pollution reduction, stormwater runoff mitigation, and carbon sequestration and
storage. Based on these benefits alone, Fort Collins’ trees produce at least $2.2
million in ecosystem services each year. This amount has increased in the past
decade with tree canopy growth—today, trees provide an additional $346,000 in
services per year than they did in 2011. These benefits can be used to explain
expenditures for tree planting and maintenance activities to taxpayers and city
leadership. These benefits also form the basis for efforts to preserve and expand tree
canopy as part of climate resilience strategies and to more equitably distribute tree
canopy across the city.
It is important to preserve the function and survival of trees in the face of future
threats from pests, diseases, and climate change. Ash comprises a large portion of
the city’s tree canopy, making emerald ash borer a significant threat into the
foreseeable future. Oak wilt may present a concern for public trees in the future. The
city’s EAB response can serve as a model for expanded pest and disease planning
and management.
Future climate predictions include increases in periods of extreme heat, drought,
and early/late freezes, all of which can be challenging conditions for trees. New
species are coming to Fort Collins in the future that present additional options for
drought tolerance and urban resilience. Species recommendations, such as the trees
and shrubs that are recommended by Plant Select, have few specimens in the
existing public tree inventory, demonstrating a potential for expanded planting.
Collaborative partnerships with local growers will be needed for the continued
management of pests and to secure desired climate-resilient nursery stock.
Comparing maps of canopy change (for example, see map 3) to priority planting
maps for social and human health benefits show that many areas of greatest tree
canopy loss have occurred where tree canopy is most needed to build social equity.
The priority planting and tree placement analyses can be used to guide future
planting efforts on both public and private land where trees can have the greatest
impact.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 45
Technical Appendix
Operational Efficiency and Resource
Management
INDICATORS OF A SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOREST
To better understand and evaluate the level of urban forest care, management, and
engagement in Fort Collins, the city’s forestry program was assessed on 30
sustainable urban forest indicators (tables 10, 11, and 12). The Indicators of a
Sustainable Urban Forest is a program assessment tool that uses industry standards
and best management practices to assess the city’s urban forest, its management,
and the community and stakeholders that influence it.
Fort Collins’ performance level for 30 Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest was
assessed as:
● LOW on 3 indicators (10%)
● LOW-MODERATE on 1 indicators (3%)
● MODERATE on 15 indicators (50%)
● MODERATE-HIGH on 5 indicators (17%)
● HIGH on 6 indicators (20%)
Summarized by each of the three categories of indicators, Fort Collins’ performance
level is:
● The Trees: MODERATE
● The Community & Stakeholders: MODERATE
● The Management Program: MODERATE-HIGH
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 46
Technical Appendix
The Trees: MODERATE
Table 10. Fort Collins’ urban forestry performance level for eight indicators of a sustainable urban forest
that relate to trees and tree canopy.
INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR
INDUSTRY STANDARD
PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Urban Tree
Canopy
Achieve the desired tree
canopy cover according to
goals set for the entire city
and neighborhoods.
Alternatively, achieve 75%
of the total canopy
possible for the entire city
and in each neighborhood.
Canopy is
decreasing.
- and/or -
No canopy
goals have
been set.
Canopy is not
dropping, but
not on a
trajectory to
achieve the
established
goal.
Canopy goal is
achieved, or well
on the way to
achievement.
No canopy
goal has been
set, but canopy
grew 17.2% in
past 10 years.
Equitable
Distribution
of Canopy
Achieve low variation
between tree canopy and
equity factors citywide by
neighborhood. Ensure
that the benefits of tree
canopy are available to all,
especially for vulnerable
populations for whom tree
benefits are of particular
importance.
Tree planting
and public
outreach and
education is not
determined by
tree canopy
cover or
benefits.
Tree planting
and public
outreach and
education is
focused on
neighborhoods
with low tree
canopy.
and public
outreach and
education is
focused in
neighborhoods
with low tree
canopy and a
high need for
tree benefits.
A planting
plan can help
the city plan
canopy growth
for low-canopy,
high-need
neighborhood
s.
Age of Trees
(Size and
Age
Distribution)
Establish a diverse-aged
population of public trees
across the entire city and
for each neighborhood.
Ideal standard:
0-8" DBH: 40%
9-17" DBH: 30%
18-24" DBH: 20%
Over 24" DBH: 10%
Age
distribution is
not
proportionately
distributed
across size
classes at the
city level.
Age
distribution is
evenly
distributed at
city level,
though
unevenly
distributed at
the
neighborhood
level.
Age distribution
is generally
aligned with the
ideal standard
diameter classes
at the
neighborhood
level.
Citywide age
distribution is
60% young
trees.
Condition of
Publicly
Owned
Trees
Possess a detailed
understanding of tree
condition and potential
risk of all intensively-
managed, publicly-owned
trees. This information is
used to direct
maintenance actions.
No current
information is
available on
tree condition
or risk.
Information
from a partial or
sample or
inventory is
used to assess
tree condition
and risk.
Information
from a current,
GIS-based, 100%
complete public
tree inventory is
used to indicate
tree condition
and risk.
Condition
information is
available, and
there is partial
information
about risk.
Condition of
Publicly-
Owned
Natural
Areas
Possess a detailed
understanding of the
ecological structure and
function of all publicly-
owned natural areas (such
as woodlands, ravines,
stream corridors, etc.), as
well as usage patterns.
No current
information is
available on
tree condition
or risk.
Publicly-owned
natural areas
are identified in
a sample-based
"natural areas
survey" or
similar data.
from a current,
GIS-based, 100%
complete
natural areas
survey is utilized
to document
ecological
structure and
function, as well
as usage
patterns.
Limited tree
inventory
within public
natural areas.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 47
Technical Appendix
INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR
INDUSTRY STANDARD
PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Trees on
Private
Property
Possess a solid
understanding of the
extent, location and
general condition of trees
on private lands.
No data is
available on
private trees.
canopy
assessment
reflects basic
information
(location) of
both public and
private canopy
combined.
Detailed
information
available on
private trees. Ex.
bottom-up
sample-based
assessment of
trees.
Current
citywide UTC
assessment
based on 2021
data.
Diversity
Establish a genetically
diverse population of
publicly-owned trees
across the entire city and
for each neighborhood.
Tree populations should be
comprised of no more
than 30% of any family,
20% of any genus, or 10% of
any species.
Fewer than five
species
dominate the
entire tree
population
citywide.
No species
represents
more than 20%
of the entire
tree population
citywide.
No species
represents more
than 10% of the
entire tree
population
citywide.
Fraxinus
pennsylvanica
(11%) and
Gleditsia
triacanthos
(11%) exceed
10%, and there
are plans in
place to
reduce their
population.
Suitability
Establish a tree population
suited to the urban
environment and adapted
to the overall region.
Suitable species are
gauged by exposure to
imminent threats,
considering the "Right
Tree for the Right Place"
concept and invasive
species.
Less than 50%
of trees are
considered
suitable for the
site.
50% to 75% of
trees are
considered
suitable for the
site.
More than 75%
of trees are
considered
suitable for the
site.
reliant on
irrigation for
survival;
predictions of
future
drought,
extreme heat,
and abrupt
cold will pose a
challenge to
many species.
The Players: MODERATE
Table 11. Fort Collins’ urban forestry performance level for nine indicators of a sustainable urban forest
that relate to partnerships and the community.
INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR
INDUSTRY STANDARD
PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Neighbor-
hood Action
Citizens understand,
cooperate, and participate
in urban forest
management at the
neighborhood level. Urban
forestry is a neighborhood-
scale issue.
Little or no
citizen
involvement or
neighborhood
action.
Some active
groups are
engaged in
advancing
urban forestry
activity, but
with no unified
set of goals or
priorities.
The majority of
all
neighborhoods
are organized,
connected, and
working
towards a
unified set of
goals and
priorities.
UFA program;
HOA tree
planting
programs
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 48
Technical Appendix
Large Private
&
Institutional
Landholder
Involvement
Large, private, and
institutional landholders
embrace citywide goals
and objectives through
targeted resource
management plans.
Large private
land holders are
unaware of
issues and
potential
influence in the
urban forest. No
large private
land
management
plans are
currently in
place.
Education
materials and
advice is
available to
large private
landholders.
Few large
private
landholders or
institutions
have
management
plans in place.
Clear and
concise goals
are established
for large private
land holders
through direct
education and
assistance
programs. Key
landholders and
institutions have
management
plans in place.
partners noted
a good
relationship
with Forestry.
CSU
coordinates
with Forestry
on
management
of trees along
their
boundaries.
Opportunity to
increase
cooperation on
campuses for
Broadcom/He
wlitt-Packard,
Poudre School
District,
Woodward
Governor, and
Green
Industry
Involvement
The green industry works
together to advance
citywide urban forest goals
and objectives. The city
and its partners capitalize
on local green industry
expertise and innovation.
Little or no
involvement
from green
industry leaders
to advance
local urban
forestry goals.
Some
partnerships
are in place to
advance local
urban forestry
goals, but more
often for the
short-term.
Long-term
committed
partnerships are
working to
advance local
urban forestry
goals.
Forestry staff
are highly
involved in
regional
conversations
about EAB,
wood waste
utilization, and
other topics.
City
Department
and
Agency
Cooperation
All city departments and
agencies cooperate to
advance citywide urban
forestry goals and
objectives.
Conflicting
goals and/or
actions among
city
departments
and agencies.
Informal teams
among
departments
and agencies
are
communicatin
g and
implementing
common goals
on a project-
specific basis.
and
collaboration
occur across all
departments
and agencies.
City policy and
actions are
implemented by
formal
interdepartmen
tal and
interagency
working teams
on all city
Veg Team
meets to
discuss
vegetation
across city
departments.
Partners noted
that Zoning
and Forestry
may require
closer
cooperation.
Funder
Engagement
Local funders are engaged
and invested in urban
forestry initiatives. Funding
is adequate to implement
citywide urban forest
management plan.
Little or no
funders are
engaged in
urban forestry
initiatives.
Funders are
engaged in
urban forestry
initiatives at
minimal levels
for short-term
projects.
Multiple funders
are fully
engaged and
active in urban
forestry
initiatives for
short-term
projects and
long-term goals.
Shade and
Living Tribute
Trees
programs;
private
donation of
$50,000 per
year in 2022
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 49
Technical Appendix
Utility
Engagement
All utilities are aware of
and vested in the urban
forest and cooperates to
advance citywide urban
forest goals and objectives.
Utilities and city
agencies act
independently
of urban
forestry efforts.
No
coordination
exists.
Utilites and city
agencies have
engaged in
dialogues
about urban
forestry efforts
with respect to
capital
improvement
and
infrastructure
projects.
Utilities, city
agencies, and
other
stakeholders
integrate and
collaborate on
all urban
forestry efforts,
including
planning, site
work, and
outreach/educat
ion.
coordination
between
Forestry and
utilities.
Additional
coordination
may be
needed for
education and
outreach to
private
property
owners.
Utilities and
Engineering/CI
P have
concerns
about
increased
mitigation
requirements
of draft Land
Developer
Engagement
The development
community is aware of and
vested in the urban forest
and cooperates to advance
citywide urban forest goals
and objectives.
Little or no
cooperation
from
developers in
(or awareness
of)
municipality-
wide urban
forest goals and
objectives.
Some
cooperation
from
developers and
general
awareness and
acceptance of
municipality-
wide goals and
objectives.
Specific
collaborative
arrangements
across
development
community in
support of
municipality-
wide goals and
objectives.
exhibit good
understanding
and
acceptance of
city rules. New
LUC updates
demonstrate
capacity for
city goals &
Public
Awareness
The general public
understands the benefits
of trees and advocates for
the role and importance of
the urban forest.
Trees are
generally seen
as a nuisance,
and thus, a
drain on city
budgets and
personal
paychecks.
Trees are
generally
recognized as
important and
beneficial.
Trees are seen
as valuable
infrastructure
and vital to the
community’s
well-being. The
urban forest is
recognized for
the unique
environmental,
economic, and
social services it
provides to the
community.
generally
supportive of
the urban
forest on
public land.
Support for the
private urban
forest needs
further
assessment to
tease apart
public
sentiment
about specific
Regional
Collaboration
Neighboring communities
and regional groups are
actively cooperating and
interacting to advance the
region's stake in the city's
urban forest.
Little or no
interaction
between
neighboring
communities
and regional
groups.
Neighboring
communities
and regional
groups share
similar goals
and policy
vehicles related
to trees and the
urban forest.
Regional urban
forestry
planning,
coordination,
and
management is
widespread.
local
communities
have indicated
an interest in
partnering.
There's an
opportunity to
share planning
and resources
and coordinate
more on
education/outr
each.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 50
Technical Appendix
opportunities
at county level
(Larimer,
Weld), CO
State Forest
Service,
CSU/CSU
Extension, and
Poudre School
District.
The Management: MODERATE-HIGH
Table 12. Fort Collins’ urban forestry performance level for 12 indicators of a sustainable urban forest
that relate to Forestry operations.
INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR
INDUSTRY STANDARD
PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Tree
Inventory
based, current inventory of
all intensively-managed
public trees to guide
management, with
mechanisms in place to
keep data current and
available for use. Data
allows for analysis of age
distribution, condition, risk,
diversity, and suitability.
No inventory or
out-of-date
inventory of
publicly-owned
trees.
Partial or
sample-based
inventory of
publicly-owned
trees,
inconsistently
updated.
Complete, GIS-
based
inventory of
publicly-owned
trees, updated
on a regular,
systematic
basis.
Current
inventory dates
from 2018-2023
Canopy
Assessment
Accurate, high-resolution,
and recent assessment of
existing and potential city-
wide tree canopy cover
that is regularly updated
and available for use across
various departments,
agencies, and/or
disciplines.
No tree canopy
assessement.
Sample-based
canopy cover
assessment, or
dated (over 10
years old) high
resolution
canopy
assessment.
High-resolution
tree canopy
assessement
using aerial
photographs or
satellite
imagery.
Current UTC
from 2021 data
with
comparison to
2011.
Management
Plan
Existence and buy-in of a
comprehensive urban
forest management plan
to achieve city-wide goals.
Re-evaluation is conducted
every 5 to 10 years.
No urban forest
management
plan exists.
A plan for the
publicly-owned
forest resource
exists but is
limited in
scope,
acceptance,
and
implementatio
n.
A
comprehensive
plan for the
publicly owned
forest resource
exists and is
accepted and
implemented.
demonstrates
elements of a
management
plan, such as a
proactive
pruning
program. There
is opportunity
to create a
planning
document that
can be
circulated for
support.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 51
Technical Appendix
INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR
INDUSTRY STANDARD
PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Risk
Management
Program
are managed for
maximum public safety by
way of maintaining a city-
wide inventory,
conducting proactive
annual inspections, and
eliminating hazards within
a set timeframe based on
risk level. Risk
management program is
outlined in the
management plan.
Request-based,
reactive system.
The condition
of publicly-
owned trees is
unknown.
There is some
degree of risk
abatement
thanks to
knowledge of
condition of
publicly-owned
trees, though
generally still
managed as a
request-based
reactive system.
complete tree
inventory with
risk assesment
data and a risk
abatement
program in
effect. Hazards
are eliminated
within a set
time period
depending on
the level of risk.
noted a
decrease in risk
assessment
needs and tree
failures with
shorter pruning
rotation.
Forestry is
trying to shift
away from a
request-based
reactive system.
Maintenance
Program of
Publicly-
Owned Trees
publicly-owned trees are
well maintained for
optimal health and
condition in order to
extend longevity and
maximize benefits. A
reasonable cyclical
pruning program is in
place, generally targeting 5
to 7 year cycles. The
maintenance program is
outlined in the
management plan.
Request-based,
reactive system.
No systematic
pruning
program is in
place for
publicly-owned
trees.
All publicly-
owned trees are
systematically
maintained, but
pruning cycle is
inadequate.
All publicly-
owned trees
are proactively
and
systematically
maintained
and adequately
pruned on a
cyclical basis.
There is
extensive
pruning taking
place, currently
on a 5–6 year
cycle. Young
trees are visited
more
frequently—
every 2-3 years
to manage
clearance.
Maintenance
Program of
Publicly-
Owned
Natural Areas
The ecological structure
and function of all publicly-
owned natural areas are
protected and enhanced
while accommodating
public use where
appropriate.
No natural
areas
management
plans are in
effect.
Only reactive
management
efforts to
facilitate public
use (risk
abatement).
Management
plans are in
place for each
publicly-owned
natural area
focused on
managing
ecological
structure and
function and
facilitating
public use.
plans are in
place for natural
areas by zone,
but with minor
exceptions, they
do not include
tree
management
components; in
many places,
trees are not
desired
Planting
Program
Comprehensive and
effective tree planting and
establishment program is
driven by canopy cover
goals, equity
considerations, and other
priorities according to the
plan. Tree planting and
establishment is outlined
in the management plan.
Tree
establishment
is ad hoc.
Tree
establishment
is consistently
funded and
occurs on an
annual basis.
establishment
is directed by
needs derived
from a tree
inventory and
other
community
plans and is
sufficient in
meeting
canopy cover
objectives.
Data from
Urban Forest
Strategic Plan
can be used to
create a data-
driven planting
plan to address
priorities.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 52
Technical Appendix
INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR
INDUSTRY STANDARD
PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Tree
Protection
Policy
Comprehensive and
regularly updated tree
protection ordinance with
enforcement ability is
based on community
goals. The benefits derived
from trees on public and
private property are
ensured by the
enforcement of existing
policies.
No tree
protection
policy.
Policies are in
place to protect
trees, but the
policies are not
well-enforced
or ineffective.
Protections
policies ensure
the safety of
trees on public
and private
land. The
policies are
enforced and
supported by
significant
deterrents and
shared
ownership of
city goals.
place to protect
trees during
development,
and a
permitting
process is in
place for public
trees. Policies
are enforced,
but there are
currently no
policies to
protect trees on
private land
outside of
development
scenarios.
City Staffing
and
Equipment
Adequate staff and access
to the equipment and
vehicles to implement the
management plan. A high
level urban forester or
planning professional,
strong operations staff,
and solid certified arborist
technicians.
Insufficient
staffing levels,
insufficiently-
trained staff,
and/or
inadequate
equipment and
vehicle
availability.
Certified
arborists and
professional
urban foresters
on staff have
some
professional
development,
but are lacking
adequate staff
levels or
adequate
equipment.
Multi-
disciplinary
team within
the urban
forestry unit,
including an
urban forestry
professional,
operations
manager, and
arborist
technicians.
Vehicles and
equipment are
sufficient to
complete
required work.
adequately
staffed but has
identified near-
term needs to
scale
department
with growth of
canopy.
Equipment is in
good shape
overall, but
some
equipment
needs were
noted. City is
approaching
maximum
capacity of
existing staff.
Funding
Appropriate funding in
place to fully implement
both proactive and
reactive needs based on a
comprehensive urban
forest management plan.
Funding comes
from the public
sector only, and
covers only
reactive work.
Funding levels
(public and
private)
generally cover
mostly reactive
work. Low
levels of risk
management
and planting in
place.
funding from
engaged
private
partners and
adequate
public funding
are used to
proactively
manage and
expand the
urban forest.
Most funding is
from the public
sector, but work
is more than
reactive. Risk
management
and planting
could be
increased.
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Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 53
Technical Appendix
INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR
INDUSTRY STANDARD
PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Disaster
Prepared-
ness &
Response
plan is in place related to
the city's urban forest. The
plan includes staff roles,
contracts, response
priorities, debris
management and a crisis
communication plan. Staff
are regularly trained
and/or updated.
No disaster
response plan is
in place.
A disaster plan
is in place, but
pieces are
missing and/or
staff are not
regularly
trained or
updated.
A robust
disaster
management
plan is in place,
regularly
updated and
staff is fully
trained on roles
and processes.
Storm response
plan in place
Communi-
cation
Effective avenues of two-
way communication exist
between the city
departments and between
city and its citizens.
Messaging is consistent
and coordinated, when
feasible.
No avenues are
in place. City
departments
and public
determine on
an ad-hoc basis
the best
messages and
avenues to
communicate.
Avenues are in
place but used
sporadically
and without
coordination or
only on a one-
way basis.
Avenues are in
place for two-
way communi-
cation, are well-
used with
targeted,
coordinated
messages.
place including
the City's
Access FC
system.
Additional
points of
contact include
phone and
email to various
staff. Outside of
Access FC
system,
communication
may be one-
way and/or
harder to track.
Trees Help Build a Safe Community
Trees enhance neighborhoods by providing a sense of community and safety. This is not
just perception; a 10% increase in neighborhood tree canopy cover has been associated
with a 12%–15% reduction in violent and property crimes. Along streets, trees help to slow
traffic, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Trees also cool streets and
sidewalks, creating more comfortable conditions for walking, biking, and public transit.
In communities with high incidences of crime, trees and shrubs can reduce sight lines. In
such communities, poorly maintained trees can contribute to a perceived lack of care,
which can have negative effects on mental health. An equitable approach to urban
forestry cover seeks to increase the benefits that trees provide while mindfully
addressing real concerns that residents may have about tree canopy in their
neighborhood, such as by ensuring proper maintenance.
Sources: Swift et al., 1997; Kuo, 2003; Ewing & Dumbaugh, 2009; O’Neil-Dunn, 2012; Gilstad-Hayden
et al., 2015; USDA Forest Service, 2018.
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Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 54
Technical Appendix
OPERATIONS REVIEW
An operations review of the Forestry Division was conducted via surveys, staff
interviews, and review of written policies and data. Select metrics lend themselves to
comparison with findings from a 2014 municipal urban forestry census, which
provides benchmarks for forestry programs among U.S. cities by region and
population size (Hauer & Peterson, 2016).
Number of Public Trees per Capita
Fort Collins’ public tree inventory of 57,991 trees is 0.34 public trees per capita (figure
23). While this is lower than the average for U.S. cities, it is also reflective of Fort
Collins’ native shrubland and grassland ecosystems.
Figure 23. The number of public trees per capita for 330 U.S. cities who provided data to a 2014
municipal forestry census, compared to figures for cities with populations from 100,000-249,999, cities
in the West region of the U.S., and Fort Collins.
Public Tree Activities by Year
The Forestry Division pruned 8,832 trees per year, on average, in the years from 2019–
2023 (figure 24). This marks a gradual increase in pruning activities over prior years
as part of efforts to achieve a five-year pruning rotation for all public trees (figure 25).
In 2022, the Division pruned 10,877 trees or 22.4% of the public tree inventory, which
meets the standard for a five-year pruning cycle. Industry standards recommend a
regular pruning cycle of 5–10 years. Only approximately one-half of U.S. cities
proactively prune their trees on a regular cycle of any duration (Hauer & Peterson,
2016).
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
All Cities Pop. 100,000-
249,999
West Region Fort Collins
Page 206
Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 55
Technical Appendix
Beginning in 2021, public tree planting exceeded tree removals (figure 26). In this
year, the Forestry Division also began prophylactic treatments of public ash trees for
emerald ash borer.
Figure 24. Forestry Division tree activities by year, 2019-2023.
Figure 25. Percentage of public trees pruned by year. Public trees less than 18 inches DSH (light green)
and trees 18 inches DSH or larger (dark green) are shown relative to the percentage necessary for a 5-
year pruning cycle.
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Pruned
Removed
Planted
EAB Treated
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Year
18+ in DSH
<18 in DSH
5-Year Pruning Rotation
Page 207
Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 56
Technical Appendix
Figure 26. Number of public trees planted and removed by year.
Staffing
The Forestry Division currently employs 17 full-time staff, 5 hourly staff, and receives
part-time assistance from one office assistant (table 13, figure 27). One additional full-
time staff is housed within the Zoning Department; city council added this position
in 2023 to support forestry needs related to development.
Table 13. Forestry Division staffing, 2024.
STAFF TITLE
City Forester 1 0
Assistant City Forester 1 0
Senior Specialist, Forestry 3 0
Forestry Zoning Inspector (Zoning Dept.) 1 0
Senior Supervisor, Forestry 1 0
Crew Chief, Forestry 3 0
Technician II, Forestry 6 0
Technician I, Forestry 2 0
Hourly Staff 5 0
Office Assistant 0.25 0
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Nu
m
b
e
r
o
f
T
r
e
e
s
Year
Removed
Planted
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Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 57
Technical Appendix
Figure 27. Organizational chart, City forestry staff.
Needed Capacity
Additional capacity needs have been identified for grant writing, development plan
review, and for operations including pruning, removal, planting, stump grinding,
potholing, infrastructure conflicts, and contract management. Grant writing capacity
can assist the Division with securing external funding sources to support expanded
planning, policy development, and operations. In plan review, additional capacity
would help the Division manage a growing number of requests for tree plan and
permit review as staff members are increasingly working with developers to ensure
that tree standards are met.
Operations needs can be summarized as one additional crew that will facilitate staff
rotations to ease physical demands, reduce injuries, and provide opportunities for
cross-training staff in various tree activities.
Credentials and Training
Among 17 existing staff members, fifteen hold Certified Arborist credentials from the
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA; figure 28). The Forestry Division was
compared to 655 U.S. cities that reported on forestry staff credentials in a national
municipal urban forestry census (Hauer & Peterson, 2016). The portion of Forestry
Division staff that have advanced training in arboriculture is similar to, or higher
than, the average among all U.S. cities for ISA Certified Arborist and Municipal
Specialist credentials but slightly lower than the average for cities that are similarly
sized to Fort Collins.
Inspector
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT //
ZONING SERVICES
City Forester
Assistant
City Forester
Senior Supervisor,
Forestry
Chief (4) Technician II (1) Specialist (3)
Technician II (5) Technician I (2)
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Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 58
Technical Appendix
Figure 28. Portion of City forestry staff with ISA credentials compared to forestry staff in 655 U.S. cities
of all sizes (blue dashed line) and a subset of cities with a population between 100,000 and 249,999
(red solid line).
Interviews of Forestry Division staff reported that city government is generally
supportive of training opportunities as budget allows. The Division is highly
participatory in regional working groups and discussions that relate to wood waste
diversion and utilization, pest and disease management, and other forestry topics,
providing team members with advanced regional learning opportunities. The
Division also hosts trainings for external arborists and has Tree Worker Certified
Proctors on staff who assist with annual tests.
Interviews supported a need for a more formal, consistent, and organized training
process, as well as written policy and processes for training that can be referenced.
There is also an opportunity for the Forestry Division to provide wage increases for
advanced certification so that compensation rates keep pace with the labor market.
Facilities
The Forestry Division has two office locations. Staff are divided between the two
offices. Building, wood yard, and mulch space is approaching maximum capacity.
Equipment
The Forestry Division is adequately equipped for its current workload, but
equipment needs require frequent reevaluation (table 14). Staff noted equipment
needs including replacements for equipment that is frequently used and currently
in Fair condition: a grapple, utility lift, and large aerial lift. Staff also noted needs for
additional equipment including a water truck, a small bucket truck, a traffic
attenuator, and trucks that are able to haul a skid steer and/or stump grinder. If an
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Certified Arborist Tree Risk
Assessment
Qualification
Tree Worker Board Certified
Master Arborist
Municipal
Specialist
Fort Collins
All U.S. Cities
Pop. 100,000-249,999
Page 210
Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 59
Technical Appendix
additional operations crew were to be added to the Division, there would be
equipment needs related to outfitting that crew.
Table 14. Forestry Division equipment, quantity, and condition.
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT QUANTITY CONDITION RATING
Aerial lift 3 2 Fair, 1 Good
Chip truck 3 Fair
Chipper 3 Fair
Grapple truck 2 Good
Stump grinder 2 1 Fair, 1 Good
Dump truck 3 Fair
Pickup trucks 8 2 Good, 6 Fair
Electric vehicle 1 Fair
Traffic attenuator 1 Fair
Front loader 1 Fair
Electronic message & arrow board 1 Good
Utility trailer 5 Good
Budget & Funding
The Forestry Division is supported by the City’s General Fund, which is the main
operating fund for the City of Fort Collins. The Division also has a revenue account
that captures restitution and payment-in-lieu monies from development activities.
From 2019–2023, the Forestry Division annual budget ranged from $2.34 million–
$3.35 million (figure 29). As a percentage of the total city budget, Fort Collins is on
par with the average for 463 cities that provided budgetary information to a 2014
municipal forestry census (figure 30).
A significant snowstorm in March 2021 that brought up to 27 inches of snow resulted
in extensive tree damage, which led to an additional allocation of $273,837 to the
Forestry Division for storm response that funded storm cleanup and additional
pruning activities in 2021–2022. In addition, the Division received two private
donations of $50,000 each in 2022 and 2023, designated for tree planting.
Of the cities that provided budgetary information, only one-half (53%) reported that
their annual budget was adequate to meet their city’s forestry needs. Their average
budget shortfall was 45%. Among cities that were similarly sized to Fort Collins, the
percentage who said their annual budget was adequate to meet their forestry needs
dropped to 39%. In these cities, the average budget shortfall was approximately 36%.
Page 211
Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 60
Technical Appendix
Figure 29. Forestry Division annual budget, 2019–2023.
Figure 30. Municipal forestry budgets as a percentage of total municipal budgets for 463 U.S. cities
(adjusted for inflation from 2014 values) compared to the Forestry Division’s 2023 annual budget.
The Forestry Division’s budget supports tree activities that are completed by both in-
house staff and contractors. The largest annual expenditures relate to pruning
(figure 31). From 2019–2023, average expenditures for contractual pruning were
$224,000 per year (table 15). In 2023, the Forestry budget allotted $300,000 for
contractual pruning.
$0
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Fo
r
e
s
t
r
y
D
i
v
i
s
i
o
n
An
n
u
a
l
B
u
d
g
e
t
Year
0.0%
0.1%
0.2%
0.3%
0.4%
0.5%
All Cities West Region Pop. 100,000-
249,999
Fort Collins
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
o
f
Page 212
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 61
Technical Appendix
Figure 31. Average annual Forestry Division expenditures by activity, 2019–2023.
Table 15. Contractual pruning expenditures by year, 2019–2023.
YEAR
2019 $200,000
2020 $200,000
2021 $200,000
2022 $219,384
2023 $300,000
AVERAGE $223,877
Forestry Plans, Policies, and Documents
The following written plans, policies, and documents are maintained by the City or
the Forestry Division regarding tree care:
Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices Manual (2010):
Written standards for arborist licensing, pruning, removal, pesticide application, and
tree protection. The Forestry Division would like to update this manual.
Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan (2020): Details a three-year
treatment plan for the city’s ash trees; procedures for detection, management, and
tree replacement; and projected impacts.
Approved Street Trees List: Species guidance for street trees that are planted by
property owners, developers, and landscapers in the public right-of-way.
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
$300,000
$350,000
Pruning Planting Removal Emergency
Response
Pest/Disease
Response
Other
20
1
9
-20
2
3
Page 213
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 62
Technical Appendix
Parks Department Storm Damage to Urban Forest Rating Policy: Describes how
storm damage is assessed by city quadrant and prioritized. The Forestry Division
would like to update this policy.
Forestry does not yet have the following plans or programs:
● Urban Forest Management Plan
● Risk Management Program
● Public Tree Maintenance Program
● Tree Planting Plan
Forestry Service Requests
The Forestry Division received an average of 131 requests per year from 2019–2023 via
Access Fort Collins, the city’s online service request portal (table 16). An additional
1,453 requests per year were sent via the Division’s email address. The Forestry
Division also responds to service requests that are sent via phone and email to
individual staff members; these requests have not been historically tracked.
Table 16. Forestry service requests from the public, 2019–2023.
YEAR
2019 71
2020 124
2023 131 1,430
Requests via all channels of contact are routed to specific staff members based on
topic. The most common requests relate to tree planting, insect and disease,
maintenance, private tree issues, and arborist licensing. Pruning and removal
requests are sent to Crew Chiefs, who specialize in specific topics. Emergency
requests are typically routed directly to the City Forester, Assistant City Forester, or
Senior Forestry Supervisor.
The typical response time for requests is within one year; a small number of larger
projects and tree replacement requests are completed within two years. With a
move toward a five-year pruning rotation, Forestry has been increasingly responding
to pruning requests with education about the city’s pruning rotation, attempting to
defer individual requests until an entire neighborhood can be scheduled and pruned
at once.
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Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 63
Technical Appendix
Challenges of the existing system include multiple avenues of contact, which can
create duplicate requests if residents reach out via more than one channel with their
request.
Wood Waste Program
The Forestry Division has worked to be zero waste since 2009 by diverting all wood
waste material from landfills. The Division works with local wood workers to
repurpose quality wood waste from the public tree inventory into value-added
products. Other wood waste is provided as mulch to the general public at two
locations. Residents can recycle private tree materials at city and county drop-off
points and privately managed waste facilities. The City of Fort Collins is a member of
the Urban Wood Network, a national network of urban wood professionals and
stakeholders.
Future Tree Canopy Growth
Tree canopy cover is projected for Fort Collins to the year 2040 under current tree
planting practices, and tree planting is estimated for three possible tree canopy
scenarios (table 17). By projecting 2011–2021 tree canopy trends and planting efforts
into the future, Fort Collins is on a path to achieve 15.7% tree cover by 2040 (figure
32). Tree planting and preservation would need to significantly scale up to achieve
17%, 18%, or 20% canopy cover by 2040, involving the planting or preservation of
2,623–8,736 additional trees per year across public and private land. This would entail
additional Forestry Division support for tree planting as well as strong community
involvement to increase tree planting on privately owned land.
Based on Forestry expenditures from 2019–2023 of $490.55 per tree planted, annual
planting budgets for each canopy scenario are estimated to be between $1.3 million–
$4.3 million per year. Because growing citywide tree canopy involves both public
and private tree planting, these costs would be borne by both city government and
the private sector. Preservation of existing trees, such as through enhanced tree
protection policies for private land, may be a more cost-effective way to achieve a
higher canopy goal.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 64
Technical Appendix
Table 17. Tree canopy cover, canopy acres, and estimated trees to be planted under current levels of
public tree planting and three scenarios.
CANOPY COVER 2021:
6,396 ACRES (12.6%)
CANOPY
ACRES
2040
CANOPY
COVER
2040
TREE
CANOPY
CHANGE,
ACRES
(2024–2040)
TREES TO BE
PLANTED/
PRESERVED PER
YEAR, WITH
ANNUAL
PLANTING
COSTS,
PUBLIC +
Current Planting 7,988 15.7% 1,592 538 $263,916
Scenario 1: 17% by 2040 8,643 17.0% 2,246 2,623 $1,286,701
Scenario 2: 18% by 2040 9,151 18.0% 2,755 4,661 $2,286,248
Scenario 3: 20% by 2040 10,168 20.0% 3,772 8,736 $4,285,342
Figure 32. Predicted tree canopy cover under current levels of public tree planting and three scenarios.
OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Fort Collins’ Forestry Division provides a high level of service in the management of
its public tree inventory. The city recently achieved the first year of a five-year
pruning cycle, aided by an additional one-year budget allocation for storm response
in 2021–2022 that supported additional pruning activities. This puts Fort Collins
within a minority of U.S. cities that proactively manage their public tree inventory per
urban forestry industry recommendations of a 5–10 year routine pruning cycle. The
Division also recently achieved a level of planting that exceeds removals in 2022,
aided by $100,000 in private donations for tree planting.
20%
18%
17%
15.7%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
20%
22%
2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036 2038 2040
Ca
n
o
p
y
C
o
v
e
r
(
%
)
Year
Scenario 3:
20% by 2040
Scenario 2:
18% by 2040
Scenario 1:
17% by 2040
Current
Planting
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 65
Technical Appendix
As the inventory grows, it will be necessary to scale Forestry Division operations and
capacity to keep pace. As noted in the public tree inventory, public trees skew to
younger size classes (see figure 14). As these trees grow into larger size classes, per-
tree maintenance costs will increase over time.
Additional capacity will be particularly needed if Fort Collins wants to increase its
rate of canopy growth over time. The City is on a path to achieve 15.7% tree cover by
2040, if the previous decade’s trend continues. To increase canopy cover to 17%–20%
would require the additional planting of or preservation of 2,623–8,736 trees per year
across public and private lands. The costs of such an endeavor vary but, using
Forestry’s per-tree expenditure from 2019–2023 as a benchmark, costs are estimated
to be $1.3 million–$4.3 million per year. Enhanced tree protection and preservation
provides an alternative to tree planting to achieve the City’s canopy goal.
The Forestry Division is currently fully staffed and has identified needed capacity in
grant writing, plan review, and operations. Additional staff capacity in plan and
permit review will become especially necessary with any future adoption of an
expanded land use code and any additional policy changes for tree preservation and
protection. To maintain a five-year pruning cycle as the urban forest grows, it will be
necessary to add an additional operations crew and associated equipment.
Additional operations capacity will help existing staff develop new skills and remain
healthy in physically demanding positions by allowing for crew rotations among
different tree activities.
The Forestry Division could benefit from closer tracking of resident requests and
budget expenditure by tree activity. Such tracking expands the opportunities for
reporting about tree activities relative to the City’s Key Outcome Areas. It also
provides opportunities to more closely track staff time and expenditures related to
resident requests.
Detailed work plans are another method to make efficient use of personnel and
budget. Enhanced data collection for the tree inventory to include maintenance
needs and risk can help inform planning for the routine pruning cycle and reduce
resident requests. Inventory data about vacant planting sites, combined with the
priority planting and tree placement analyses, can be used to create annual planting
plans to plant trees where they are most needed.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 66
Technical Appendix
Forestry Division Contributions to a High Performing Government
Fort Collins’ Forestry Division, housed within the Parks Department, provides a high level
of service in the management of public trees.
Proactive Maintenance. The Division is among a minority of U.S. cities that maintain
public trees on a routine pruning cycle. Routine maintenance is a safer and more cost
effective alternative than reactive pruning that takes place in response to storm damage,
emergencies, and public requests, saving the City up to 50% in pruning costs. The
Division currently maintains public trees on a 5–7 year pruning cycle, with the goal of
attaining a consistent five-year pruning cycle.
Data-Driven Management. The urban tree canopy assessment, inventory data, and
other information that is presented in the Urban Forest Strategic Plan will be regularly
updated to assist Forestry with informed decision making. The information in the Plan
can also be used to inform policy updates for the strategic growth and protection of the
urban forest.
Resident Involvement. Urban Forest Ambassadors are trained volunteers that assist the
Forestry Division with inventory data collection. This program provides residents with an
opportunity to learn more about their urban forest and contribute to its upkeep.
Residents are also able to make requests related to public trees through Access Fort
Collins. And more than 900 residents contributed their ideas to the creation of this
Urban Forest Strategic Plan through participation in the planning process.
Integration with City Plans and Priorities. Trees and tree benefits are integrated into
many City plans, including the City’s strategic plan, and there are future opportunities to
increase Forestry involvement in planning efforts. Implementation of this Urban Forest
Strategic Plan will enhance the ways that urban forestry can be related to city Outcome
Areas.
Sources: AECOM, 2013; Fort Collins 2024 Strategic Plan.
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FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 67
Technical Appendix
Community Engagement and Policy
Integration
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Public engagement took place throughout the planning process to gather
community input and feedback about Fort Collins’ trees. Public engagement
included a public survey and three public meetings. Forestry partnering entities
were also invited to provide feedback in structured focus group meetings.
Public Survey
The Urban Forest Strategic Plan planning team released a public survey in fall 2023
that was open to public participation from September–December 2023. Nine
hundred seventy-one (971) participants completed the survey, which included 14
questions (table 18).
Ninety-nine percent (99%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that trees are
an important part of Fort Collins (figure 33), while 95% agreed that public trees are
well cared for or somewhat well cared for (figure 34). There was mixed agreement
about whether Fort Collins has the right number of trees or too few (figure 35).
In general, respondents favor public land for tree planting, including parks, streets,
schools, and trails, over private property (figure 36). When asked about their support
for various private tree protection mechanisms, including tree removal permits, tree
replacement or payment-in-lieu, and increased education about tree protection
standards during construction, most respondents (75%) supported increased
education (figure 37), while approximately 40% of respondents supported stronger
tree protection mechanisms. Twenty percent of respondents did not support
stronger private tree protection policies.
Participants ranked the top three tree benefits as shade, urban heat island
mitigation, and air quality improvements (figure 38). In an open-ended question
about their hopes for the future of Fort Collins’ urban forest, the most common
response themes included hopes for a healthy urban forest, opinions about species
selection, and a desire for more trees (figure 39; table 19).
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Technical Appendix
Figure 33. Responses to public survey question that asked participants to rate their agreement with
the phrase, “Trees are an important part of Fort Collins” using a five-point Likert scale.
Figure 34. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to complete the phrase,
“Public trees seem…” with one of five response options.
Figure 35. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to complete the phrase,
“Across Fort Collins there are…” with one of three response options.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Strongly
agree
Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
disagree
Re
s
p
o
n
s
e
s
Trees are an important part of Fort Collins.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Well cared
for
Somewhat
cared for
Poorly cared
for
Neglected No opinion
Re
s
p
o
n
s
e
s
Public trees seem...
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Too many trees The right amount
of trees
Too few trees
Re
s
p
o
n
s
e
s
Across Fort Collins there are...
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Technical Appendix
Figure 36. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to answer the question,
“Where is it most important to plant trees?”, with the option to select multiple choices.
Figure 37. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to complete the phrase, “I
support…” with one of four response options.
Figure 38. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to rank tree benefits in order
from most (rank 1) to least (rank 10) important.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Parks Streets Schools Businesses Trails Private
property
Re
s
p
o
n
s
e
s
Where is it most important to plant trees?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Required tree removal
permits for trees above a
certain size
Required replacement
or payment in the
amount of the trees'
appraised value
Increased education
about tree protection
standards during
construction on private
property
I don't support stronger
policies on private
property trees
Re
s
p
o
n
s
e
s
I support...
12345678910
Av
e
r
a
g
e
r
a
n
k
Rank tree benefits in order of most to least importance.
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Technical Appendix
Figure 39. Responses to the open-ended question, “What is your hope for the future of the urban forest
in Fort Collins?”, categorized by theme. A response could be positive, negative, or neutral about a
theme.
Table 18. Public survey questions and responses (971 participants).
QUESTION RESPONSES*
Q1- Trees are an important part of Fort
Collins.
Strongly agree (94%)
Agree (5%)
Neutral (0.2%)
Disagree (0%)
Q1- Having trees is worth the financial
cost of maintaining them.
Strongly agree (86%)
Agree (11%)
Neutral (2%)
Disagree (0.2%)
Q1- Public street trees seem well cared
for in Fort Collins.
Agree (48%)
Neutral (11%)
0 100 200 300
Volunteering
Solar
Cycling
Sidewalks
Streets/Medians
Gardens/Fruit trees
Xeriscape/Water
Equity
Preservation
City Funding/Staffing
EAB
Benefits/Value
Climate Change
Heat/Shade
Maintenance
Tree Planting
City Identity
Private Land Policy
Development
Resident Resources
More Trees
Species
Healthy Urban Forest
Number of Responses
Re
s
p
o
n
s
e
T
h
e
m
e
What is your hope for the future of the
urban forest in Fort Collins?
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QUESTION RESPONSES*
Strongly disagree (0.7%)
Q2- Across Fort Collins there are…
Too few trees (50%)
The right amount of trees (49%)
Q2- In my neighborhood there are… The right amount of trees (60%)
Too many trees (2%)
Q3- Trees in the urban environment
provide many known benefits to the
community, some of which are listed
below. To help us understand how to
best maximize these benefits to meet
community needs, please rank the
benefits below from most important to
yo...
Help reduce crime (9.2)
Increase my property value (7.5)
Reduce flooding/run-off (basement/property) (6.6)
Screen and provide privacy from my neighbors (6.6)
Protect us from noisy roads and highways (6.5)
Help landscape and beautify my property (6.1)
Improve my mental and physical health (6)
Provide habitat for wildlife (4.8)
Improve air quality (reduce air pollution) (4.5)
Prevent the city from becoming a hotter and drier place
(3.9)
Shade to help reduce temperatures and keep my
Q4- Where is it most important to
plant trees in Fort Collins? Please
select your top five.
Parks (88%)
Private property (52%)
Retail/commercial areas (i.e., parking lots) (71%)
Schools (78%)
Streets (parkways and medians) (79%)
Trails (65%)
Other (6%)
Strongly agree (84%)
Agree (13%)
Neutral (2%)
Disagree (0%)
grown between the curb and sidewalk,
in street medians, in parks, cemeteries,
golf courses, and other City facilities,
and are maintained by the City. These
public trees seem:
Well cared for (55%)
Somewhat cared for (40%)
Poorly cared for (3%)
Neglected (0.5%)
No opinion (2%)
Q6- How do you feel about the City of
Fort Collins Forestry Division's response
to tree-related requests in the
community?
Responsive (29%)
Neutral (46%)
Responsive, but not in a timely manner (3%)
a Heritage Tree Program. Heritage Tree
Programs are developed to protect
and maintain trees on both public and
private property in the community that
may be of special species, sizes, or have
I am in support of a Heritage Tree Program (54%)
I am not in support of a Heritage Tree Program (9%)
I don’t know enough to decide (37%)
forest, the City of Fort Collins is
assessing the need to preserve canopy
on private property. Examples of
certain size of diameter (46%)
Required mitigation standards to apply - which means
requiring replacement or payment in the amount of the
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QUESTION RESPONSES*
tree removal guidelines to the building
permit process, home expansion,...
Increasing education around tree protection
standards during construction on private property
(75%)
I don't support stronger policies on private property
Open response (see below)
Q10- Do you live, work, or play in Fort
Collins? Please select all that apply.
I own a home here (77%)
I rent a home/apartment here (16%)
I am visiting (2%)
I work or go to school here (32%)
I own a business here (10%)
Q11- What zip code do you live in?
80526 (29%)
80525 (26%)
80521 (20%)
80524 (17%)
80528 (7%)
80523 (0.3%)
80527 (0.1%)
80522 (0%)
80523 (0%)
Q12- How do you identify your race
and/or ethnicity? Please select all that
apply.
White (798)
Hispanic/Latinx/Spanish Origin (38)
Asian/ Asian American (19)
American Indian/Alaska Native (13)
Middle Eastern/ North African (6)
African American/ Black (4)
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (3)
African (0)
Decline to specify (113)
Q13- What is your age?
65-74 (21%)
55-64 (19%)
45-54 (14%)
35-44 (18%)
18-34 (17%)
12-17 (0.1%)
Under 12 (0%)
Q14- How would you prefer to receive
information from the City regarding
the urban forest? Please select all that
apply.
Email (650)
City website (372)
Social media (@ParksandRecFC) (282)
Community events (253)
Volunteer opportunities (209)
Training or workshops (177)
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Table 19. Public survey write-in comment themes and specific examples. Percentages reflect the
proportion of comments that related to a theme out of 655 total comments. Comments could be
categorized as fitting with more than one theme.
COMMENT THEME EXAMPLES
Healthy/resilient/diverse/
beneficial urban forest;
Grow & maintain the urban
forest (15.7%)
“We can continue to have a beautiful, well managed, resilient urban
forest that will help us cool the city and combat climate change.”
“Keep maintaining the trees we have, while still advocating for more
cover.”
Species (11.5%)
against disease and infestation in this particular climate (as well as a
good guess on what our climate will be in the future).”
“Wider diversity of tree species to guard against loss of canopy trees
from pests or disease.”
More trees (10.8%) parks.”
“Protection of existing trees and encourage and support new tree
growth.”
Financial & educational
support for residents (8.4%)
to new neighborhoods where there are no trees.”
“Informing public of their responsibility to care for trees.”
“I hope to educate more people about the value of trees and be sure
that when any development happens, trees and animal habitats are
given much more consideration than seems to be the case in recent
years.”
Maintenance/ Preservation
(6.5%)
preserved, and that more trees should be planted in areas where they
are appropriate. When this becomes an issue of nuisance, private
property rights, or detriment to public use, all factors should be
considered (including value of the trees) before planting or removing
trees. I hope that Fort Collins can continue to beautify our city by
maintaining healthy trees, both public and private, and adding more
in the right places.”
“For Fort Collins to have more trees, all of the trees well taken care of
and the city be cleaner and habitants breathing fresher air and the city
looking prettier and enchanting. For trees and nature areas to be
preserved and taken care of and not destroyed and not for people to
keep destroying them for construction. Protect prairie areas of the city
too!”
Development (6.1%)
landscaping- they put trees right up next to house and windows for
curb appeal but don’t take into consideration the size at maturity- so
beautiful trees have to be removed.”
“When large trees are removed for redevelopment of a property, the
city, the developer and landowner must take responsibility for the
adequate care of young replacement trees. I see too many dying
young trees in new developments in the city.”
Private land policy (4.7%)
often complicate things and create resentment between citizens and
City departments. I'll support more carrots than sticks for tree issues.”
“I am all for increasing the canopy of Fort Collins, as long as the city is
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COMMENT THEME EXAMPLES
that increased canopy without proper maintenance, could lead to
future potential fire hazards. I'm also concerned about private
homeowners that don't maintain their trees causing that same issue.
I'd like to see the city MORE involved in declaring dead private trees
hazardous, and forcing homeowners to deal with the situation. Easier
said than done I realize however.”
City identity (4.1%) forestry and sustainability in the US.”
“The trees is Fort Collins are incredible. I moved here only 2 years ago
and they’re one of my favorite parts of the city.”
Other (3.9%)
Fort Collins covers. At least recently (last 10000 years). That said, trees
are great.”
“The city needs to be aware that due to the policy of suppressing small
natural fires along the Poudre trail and not removing fallen trees but
piling them up on the side of the trail, has created a potential for a
huge fire hazard that would likely burn entire neighborhoods that are
near by, such as Pateros Creek.”
General positive (3.7%) keeping trees and nature integrated into the city. Thank you.”
“Thanks for the forward thinking efforts from the city!”
Heat/shade (2.5%) and sidewalks to encourage walking/biking and reduce car use.”
“More shady places to walk in summer.”
Climate change (2.4%)
“Increased tree canopy throughout the city. Focus on trees that are
only the best climate-wise for the next 50+ years. This is an investment
in our community to avoid big and costly problems due to climate
change-induced heatwaves, droughts, floods, etc. We have a great
start, but we must continue to prepare.”
Emerald Ash Borer (2.1%)
the emerald ash borer invasion. I'd like to see a concerted effort to
have them all inoculated against this destructive bug.”
“That we can keep up with planting trees to replace those which need
to be removed, i.e., emerald ash borer and other pests which need to
be proactively addressed.”
Benefits/value of trees (2.1%)
quality of life.”
“Science supports the following 1) Trees reduce temperatures 2) Trees
increase mental health 3) Trees support more wildlife I hope we are
able to develop a sustainable urban forest to help with the listed
issues.”
Funding/staffing (2%) municipal arborist field with implementation of the highest quality
and knowledgeable tree care providers in the state.”
“That we continue to support and fund good care for our trees!”
Equity (2%) “More trees all around town but especially in lower income areas and
areas that are largely developed (lots of concrete i.e. Parking lots,
malls, etc.).”
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COMMENT THEME EXAMPLES
Tree planting (1.8%)
“I hope that the city can fill in any gaps that exist, by convincing
property owners to plant more trees where there are currently too few.
I also hope that the program continues indefinitely, or until there is
some other self-sustaining program.”
“Support for young/growing trees. Continued planting.”
Maintenance (1.7%) “Continued strong maintenance of trees especially larger sizes..”
Xeriscape/ water (1.5%)
landscape throughout the city to replace turf and eliminate landscape
with high water needs. Education to the general public about how to
xeriscape and what trees to plant in this area of Colorado.”
“Probably the largest threat to our current city trees is the high cost of
city water. I've seen many trees doing poorly or that have died because
residents choose not to water their trees-likely because of the high
cost of water. This will only become a larger problem as climate warms
and dries.”
Community gardens/ fruit
trees (1.5%)
harvest. This would be great on Precision and Cinquefoil instead of
more apartments.”
“More urban fruit trees for urban foraging!”
Streets/ medians (1.2%)
“More trees along larger roads and in public shopping places. More
trees between sidewalks and the road (including adding a buffer
between sidewalks and roads to make pedestrians feel safer and make
sidewalks more inviting).”
Preservation (1.1%)
higher temperatures that have become the norm during seasons
when it hasn't been hot in the past, and that there are more efforts to
save much older trees that are unhealthy, like the cottonwoods down
by the river. I also hope that there will be more effort by developers to
save as many trees as possible on lands that are slated to be razed.”
“For them to maintain the beauty of this town, and it's many trees, esp
the older and more mature ones downtown on Oak, mountain, etc.
And when clearing land to build new neighborhoods and homes,
making it more difficult to remove existing trees too.”
Sidewalks (0.9%)
area big mistake and just leads to unhealthy trees and root issues
along cement walkways, path, roadways.”
“Trees between the sidewalk and street, and trees in medians are high
priority because they are enjoyed by all citizens.”
Cycling (0.6%) room to grow but don’t present obstacles to seeing cars, bicyclers and
animals. They should be properly trimmed for these reasons, too.”
“Plant trees along bike trails.”
Solar (0.5%)
rights protected from encroaching shade from trees and from new
development encouraged by changing city policies.”
“I would love to see more trees, but the type of trees should match the
size of the property they are planted on. Fort Collins is blessed with a
sunny climate which is good for home solar projects. Since we do not
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COMMENT THEME EXAMPLES
have enough sun to justify any type of solar improvement. Fort Collins
is trying to reduce its carbon footprint, poorly placed large trees
reduce individuals ability to contribute.”
Volunteering (0.2%)
to help with our forest canopy.”
“Home owners have the right to have none to many trees on their
property. The city should not dictate what home owners do. Educating
people on the benefits of having trees which are obvious to most
people would help most. Providing saplings to plant or a volunteer
group to plant trees on people's property that want them would also
be helpful. Educating on the importance of deep watering at least
once a month even through winter is crucial. A lot people do not take
care of trees during the winter.”
Meta (0.2%)
ff
11 choices.”
“This survey is not only well conceived but so easy to use!!!”
Public Meetings
Public meetings were held on October 25 and 26, 2023, and March 2, 2024, and were
attended by more than 150 members of the public. Participants left verbal and
written comments and other feedback that expressed a variety of viewpoints about
trees in Fort Collins (figure 40). Major themes from public comment are collected
below.
Tree Benefits
● Shade, cooling, and wildlife benefits of trees were frequently mentioned.
● Several residents requested additional planting of edible fruit and nut trees.
● There is public interest and concern about water usage, indicating an
opportunity for additional education and outreach regarding trees’ role in
conserving water, drought tolerant species selection, etc.
Species Selection
● Several participants spoke and left comments in support of native tree
species.
● Many participants left opinions about the value and drawbacks of specific
kinds of trees, e.g., oaks, cottonwoods, and talked about their favorite trees.
● There were a smaller number of comments that were skeptical of native
species, for example, comments that questioned the role of native trees
within a grassland ecosystem or that stressed adaptability over nativity.
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● Several residents voiced support for more diversity in trees and shrubs that
are planted in Fort Collins.
● Participants expressed interest in resources that would help them select
appropriate tree species for specific sites, drought tolerant species, etc.
● Emerald ash borer has caused some concern about future pest and disease
resilience and the plan for replacing ash trees that are removed in the future.
Forestry Division
● There was general support for the Forestry Division.
● Some participants are satisfied with the current level of funding for Forestry,
while others wanted to see the Division grow.
● Many residents support expansion of volunteer opportunities, community
involvement, and internships in Forestry.
● Several residents expressed concerns that tree establishment activities could
be improved, e.g., watering, mulching, and increasing the survival of newly
planted trees.
Tree Canopy
● A number of participants commented that commercial properties and streets
are in greater need of additional tree planting/green space development.
● Many comments were made in support of building equitable tree canopy by
strategically investing in tree cover within disadvantaged neighborhoods
and/or in areas with low tree canopy.
Tree Policy
● A large number of comments at public meetings focused on the potential for
new policies and ordinances that would strengthen protections for trees on
private property. Comments were made both in support of, and in opposition
to, such policies.
● There were a number of questions and comments that indicated that
participants want to learn more about policy options to create an informed
opinion.
● In response to discussion and written comments about private tree policy,
there were several requests for separate, added engagement that focuses on
this topic.
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● While residents are divided about tree protection on private residential land,
there was more general support for strengthening tree protection policies
that govern large developments and commercial properties.
Resident Resources
• Homeowners would like to learn more about proper tree care.
● Cost is a difficulty many residents face when planting new trees. Tree care and
removal costs are a burden to homeowners.
● There is strong support for additional resources for private property owners
that support private tree protection, for example, financial resources,
mitigation credits, and outreach and education. Support for resources may be
in addition to, or in lieu of, mandates.
● There were a few requests about guidelines for preventing trees from
blocking solar panels.
Figure 40. An interactive board from the
October 25, 2023, public meeting.
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Partner Focus Groups
In October and November, 2023, the City of Fort Collins held a series of partner focus
group meetings with city departments/divisions and external partners to inform the
development of Fort Collins' Urban Forest Strategic Plan. In total, representatives
from more than 49 partner entities and branches of local government participated
across ten focus group meetings.
Meeting Participants
City of Fort Collins Departments &
Divisions
Cemeteries
Connexion
FC Moves
Forestry
Fort Collins 911
Gardens on Spring Creek
Golf
Light & Power
Natural Areas
Nature in the City
Neighborhood Services
Parks
Planning
Planning, Development,
Transportation
Park Planning & Development
Police Services
Recreation
Streets
Utilities
External Partners
Arthur Irrigation Company
Bartlett Tree Experts
Bath Landscape Design & Irrigation Co.
BHA Design
Blue River Forestry & Tree Care
Broadcom Inc.
Colorado State University
CSU Extension
Davey Tree
Downtown Development Authority
Downtown General Improvement
District
Fort Collins Tree Care Inc.
City of Greeley
Hartford Homes
HF2M Inc.
Housing Catalyst
Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company
Larimer County, Natural Resources
Lumen
Norris Design
Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal
Company
Poudre Fire Authority
Poudre River Public Library District
Poudre School District
Ripley Design Inc.
SavATree
South Side Ditch Company
Transfort
Wisdom Tree Care
Zak George Landscaping
This section provides a description of major themes that arose from the ten
meetings and the needs, issues, challenges, and opportunities that were identified
with each theme.
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Policies & Procedures
● Create Explanatory Resources About City Policies and Procedures.
Stakeholders requested more plain-language written explanations and
illustrations about city code to consolidate and convey information in various
formats and to provide consistency in code implementation across staffing
changes. Examples include tip sheets, best management practices manuals,
and specifications.
● Industry Standards. City policy should refer to written standards that can be
easily updated and that reflect industry best practices. Examples include
standards for boring and utility clearance. Standards should be consistent for
in-house versus contracted labor.
● Code Enforcement. Even with good tree policies on the books, both internal
and external stakeholders noted that the City often lacks the resources to
consistently monitor and enforce those policies. Examples were cited for
development—both tree protection policies during construction and
replacement of mature trees within developments.
● Irrigation Standards. Tree roots can be damaged by improper irrigation.
There is a need for improved education, outreach, permitting, and Forestry
department involvement related to good irrigation practices for trees.
● Tree Metrics and Goals. Stakeholders expressed uncertainty about what tree
metrics and goals they should use for plans and to measure progress. For
example, is the number of trees or canopy cover a more important metric?
● Tree Replacement Policy for Subdivisions. Developers would like to see an
adjustment to the time frame for which they are responsible for tree survival
after new developments are completed. Tree care becomes the responsibility
of homeowners after they move into their houses. In practice, mature trees
are often not being replaced by developers per city code unless there are HOA
funds to replace them.
City and Stakeholder Coordination
● Good Camaraderie and Culture. Both internal and external stakeholder
groups noted existing camaraderie among different City departments that
touch trees and between the City and several external partners. They noted an
intentional effort toward development of personal relationships that facilitates
communication and collaboration. Communication and partnership with
Forestry is established with many organizations and is performing well.
● City Interdepartmental Coordination. Stakeholders noted several
opportunities for improved coordination among city departments; examples
included adding more departments to sidewalk repair maps, collaborating on
a compost program that is under development, and adding Forestry to
planning teams for other City plans.
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o Stakeholders in development and construction noted a need for more
City interdepartmental coordination and communication on tree
species, planting locations, and tree protection requirements,
particularly between the departments of Zoning and Forestry.
o An informal Veg Team was established in the past two years with
representation from different departments that manage vegetation to
discuss shared management objectives and goals. It meets 2-3 times
per year. The Veg Team grew from a need for more formal policy, e.g.,
during plan review.
● Collaboration With and Among External Partners. Stakeholders named
several examples where the City could facilitate broader conversations about
urban forestry with and among external partners. Examples include:
o Facilitate a regional meeting that brings together tree care companies
and foresters to share information and respond to emerging threats.
o It was noted that the City has a good working relationship with
Colorado State University on the maintenance of trees on properties
adjacent to CSU campus. The City and CSU coordinate on maintenance
and treatment contracts for trees in shared spaces.
o There is an opportunity to expand the CSU partnership model to other
partners who steward large tracts of land or campuses. Potential
engagement topics include tree management, planning, and planting
on campus and adjacent properties and setting an example for other
businesses in Fort Collins.
o The City, Poudre Schools, and CSU all operate annual Arbor Day
celebrations that are good opportunities to reach the public. There is
some coordination on annual celebrations to set annual themes. This
may be an opportunity for further coordination.
o The Cities of Greeley and Fort Collins noted opportunities to collaborate
more, for example, to share resources and information. Greeley has a
City plant database with hydrozone as a filter criterion that could be
useful in Fort Collins.
● Consistent Messaging. Coordination with partners to provide consistent
messaging on topics such as EAB, cutting for solar, and property
management.
Public Education & Outreach
● Strong Public Support for Trees. Trees are largely viewed as assets by
community members, partner organizations, and elected officials. City council
recently declared trees to be “living infrastructure”.
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● Trees as Infrastructure. A potential drawback to strong community support
for trees is that they can be viewed as simplified or undervalued assets, which
misses the complexity of their management needs as infrastructure. For
example, residents may complain when trees are removed due to poor health.
This is an opportunity for more education and outreach.
● CSU Extension. The Extension service receives a lot of questions/feedback
about trees from residents and has started programs to address this, e.g., a
Master Gardener program that provides free tree expertise to residents.
● Xeriscaping. Stakeholders noted a need for more public education about tree
establishment and watering in a xeric environment. It is difficult to grow trees
in Fort Collins relative to other places in the U.S.
o Homeowners, HOAs, and irrigation companies could all be better
educated about proper tree watering practices.
● Public Notice. The City could improve its communication to the public about
its own activities; examples given include planned tree maintenance and
removals, if there are alternatives to mitigation planting in suboptimal
locations, planting permits, and ROW designation.
● Homeowner Rights and Responsibilities. Homeowners may not be
adequately educated about their rights and responsibilities for trees in their
yards and within the ditch easement, alleys, and street ROW.
o Home buyers within new developments may need more education
about tree benefits and care to promote survivorship of newly planted
trees. Involving them earlier in the homebuying process to teach and
gather input regarding species and location of trees that will be
planted in their yards may promote survivorship.
● Infrastructure Conflicts. Ditch easements and alleys are often sites for utility
conflicts, which arise from poor management of trees and uncertainty around
rights and responsibilities for maintenance. At the same time, utilities may
have misconceptions about how trees impact infrastructure. There is an
opportunity for better education to the public and within utilities companies.
Right Tree In The Right Place
● Species Selection. Tree species diversity can be challenging in Fort Collins
due to its high desert climate and a growing emphasis on water conservation.
Several needs for support with species selection were noted:
o Species recommendations for naturalized buffers to boost habitat and
capture stormwater. Importance of native/cottonwood forests along
rivers for wildlife and enjoyment by people.
o Ensuring minimum species diversity and adequate Forestry
involvement, particularly for new developments.
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o Balancing species requirements with design and aesthetic preferences.
Tree planting palettes are limited and shift often, which is a source of
frustration for developers and landscape designers. They would like to
see more consideration for design within new developments.
o Mitigation planting recommendations.
o Limited species in streetscapes, but parks present an opportunity to
diversify plantings. Expanded plant palettes for parks.
o Limited space downtown where planting spaces are small.
● Planting Locations. On a topic that closely relates to species
recommendations, stakeholders are looking for more guidance from the City
on proper planting locations.
o Trees along trails are hard to establish (i.e., solitary/exposed) and
maintenance is difficult, which can create conflict within departments.
o Clarification on responsible parties at different planting locations, for
example, along utility ROWs.
o In sites that cycle through site plans > tree planting > dead tree >
required replant—does failure to establish mean that the location isn’t
appropriate for a tree, or does it require a different kind of tree and/or
different management? How is the city handling sites with repeated
tree failure?
o Downtown is very well served by many organizations that include trees
in their programming and budgets. Perhaps other parts of Fort Collins
are in need of similar investment.
● Sourcing Trees. Stakeholders noted that it is becoming increasingly hard to
find new species or hardy ones due to development pressure and increased
tree planting. Local shortages require ordering from more distant wholesale
nurseries. This can affect plant hardiness and species diversity.
● Costs. Tree maintenance costs are burdensome to landowners.
Trees and Other Infrastructure
● Ditch Easements. The rules and stewardship of the land without ownership
along ditch easements were brought up in several stakeholder conversations.
Trees that are not adequately maintained pose a risk to both residential
structures and ditches. Conflicts arise because maintenance of trees within
ditch easements is the responsibility of the homeowner; however, ditch
companies are responsible for the delivery of water. The City is limited in their
authority to regulate ditch easements.
o Homeowners may not be adequately educated about their rights and
responsibilities for the ditch easement.
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o Trees are often not intentionally planted in the easement and are often
not well maintained.
o There’s conflicting information about how tree roots impact ditch
embankments—do they stabilize them or deteriorate them?
Opportunity for better education.
● Alleys. Alleys have abundant trees that are often not well managed, which
creates conflicts with utilities. The rights and responsibilities of homeowners,
the City, and utilities with regard to tree care was noted as a point of
confusion for all three groups.
● Traffic Calming. CSU and the City share a joint interest in trees as traffic-
calming measures, which can be linked to their Vision Zero programs to
eliminate traffic fatalities. Fort Collins is a leading city in the U.S. in bike use
and bike safety. CSU has examples of vegetated medians on their campus
that they think should be replicated throughout the city to make better use of
center turn lanes, promote bike safety, and reduce maintenance costs.
● Street Conflicts. A number of infrastructure conflicts with street trees were
brought up in discussion. A recurring question was whether adjacent property
owners have adequate information/resources to maintain trees in the street
ROW.
● Solar Infrastructure. There is conflicting information for homeowners who
are installing solar arrays about how much tree clearance is needed and
which species are compatible with solar.
● Bike Infrastructure. Trees can block bike racks, and low-hanging branches
are a concern over bike lanes. At the same time, low-stress bike networks are
an effort to make ROW more bikeable and reduce conflict with cars; they
could use more shade.
Threats to the Urban Forest
● Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The City has an EAB management plan but does
not have funding to remove trees that present a hazard to the ROW, which is
the responsibility of adjacent property owners. EAB management in the ROW
requires the City to increase enforcement of city codes.
o There may be an opportunity to collaborate with contractors to offer
payment plans to ease financial barriers.
o There is a need for more EAB education/outreach to homeowners,
renters, and HOAs. Also a need for different agencies to coordinate on
EAB messaging.
● Species Selection/Diversity. Species lists should reflect the latest information
about climate change, with adequate consideration for xeriscaping and
resistance to pests/diseases.
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● Fire Safety. Is there a need for public education about the placement of
evergreen trees close to homes?
● Water Use. As the cost of water increases and the community reduces water
use, it is important to provide adequate water to support trees. Some HOAs
may be limited in the dues they can collect to support tree watering.
CITY CODE REVIEW
City code provides a regulatory framework for the protection, preservation, planting,
and care of public and private trees. Fort Collins’ Code of Ordinances (2023) and Land
Use Code (2023) were reviewed in January 2024 using a set of criteria from the 2016
Municipal Tree Census (Hauer & Peterson, 2016) and International Society of
Arboriculture Ordinance Guidelines (Swiecki & Bernhardt, 2001; table 20). Any
changes to City code after January 2024 are not reflected in this code review.
The review identifies several areas where existing code could be strengthened,
including the following recommendations:
• Reference the Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices
manual within city code. The manual contains procedures and policies related to
arborist licensing, pruning, and other tree activities that the city has relied on
since 2010 but that are not referenced in city code. Referencing the manual and
providing instructions for updating it ensures that its use will persist across
staffing and leadership changes.
○ Update the manual to comply with current best management
practices.
• Establish an insect/disease control strategy, and/or reference external documents
such as the Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan that describe
authority, procedures, and policies for pest and disease control.
• Expand tree protections:
○ Extend tree protection to prohibit damage to trees that are required to
be preserved or protected.
○ Provide credits or incentives for tree preservation.
○ Establish penalties for damage or removal of trees that are to be
preserved, protected, or saved.
○ Expand tree protections that currently only apply to development to
additional scenarios.
• Encode the existing wood waste program and Tree Fund to preserve existing
programs and resources across any future changes in leadership.
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Table 20. City code review. Matrix is adapted from Municipal Tree Care and Management in the United States (Hauer, 2014).
TOPIC ADDRESSED CHAPTER &
SECTION COMMENTS
Credentials
Requires certified arborist for paid private tree work
Requires Certified Arborist for public tree work (X) CO 27-17
This is included in the Tree
Management Standards and
BMP document. CO 27-17
allows for the City Manager to
implement written rules. A
recommended improvement
is to mention this document
Requires licensing of private tree care firms X CO 27-34–40
Defines official authority for public tree management X CO 27-17
Public Tree Management and Protection
Establishes/Authorizes City Forester to regulate public trees X CO 27-17
X CO 27-17
Establishes a community Tree Board or Commission
Defines public trees
Requires annual community tree work plans
Identifies formula for determining monetary tree value (X) LUC 3.2.1 I-7 Applies only to development
Establishes responsibility for public tree maintenance (e.g. City, adjacent
property owner) X CO 24-42, 27-
17, 27-57 is implied but not directly
Requires regular public tree maintenance X CO 27-57
Requires particular types of maintenance (e.g., pruning) X CO 27-58
(X) CO 27-17 Tree Management Standards
and BMPs
Establishes permit system for work on public trees X CO 27-33
Requires payment of fees for the removal of public trees
Establishes provisions for penalties for non-compliance X CO 27-59–62
Restricts tree removal on public property Permit required; see next line
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TOPIC ADDRESSED CHAPTER &
SECTION COMMENTS
Permit or approval required for tree removal, pruning or excavating near
public trees X CO 27-31–32
X LUC 3.2.1 G
X CO 27-19
Establishes provisions for trimming for overhead utility line clearance
Restricts burning of solid wood waste
Establishes a wood utilization program Recommended Improvement
Establishes an insect/disease control strategy Recommended Improvement
Prohibits tree topping (X) CO 27-17 Tree Management Standards
and BMPs
Regulates abatement of hazardous or nuisance trees on private property (X) CO 27-18(c)
Regulates removal of dead or diseased trees X CO 27-58
Tree Fund Recommended Improvement
Tree Planting
Regulates tree species which may or may not be planted on private
property (approved tree list) X LUC 3.2.1 D-4,
Requires tree planting around and within parking lots X
Requires replacement of removed publicly owned trees X LUC 3.2.1 D-2-d Applies only to development
Permits public tree planting - beyond the right-of-way X LUC 3.2.1 D-2-b
X D-1-c
Regulates tree species which may or may not be planted on public
property (approved tree list) X LUC 3.2.1 D-1-c,
Private Tree Protection and Preservation
Restricts tree removal on private property
Permit or approval required for tree removal on private property
Requires preservation of trees during development on private property X LUC 3.2.1 F
Prohibits damage to preserved/protected trees Recommended Improvement
Prohibits damage or removal of trees on another person's property
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TOPIC ADDRESSED CHAPTER &
SECTION COMMENTS
Inventory of trees on site required X LUC 3.2.1 F
Identification of forests/woodlands required
Specific species and/or size tree regulated (e.g. heritage/significant trees) (X) LUC 3.2.1 F Applies only to development
Location of Critical Root Zone/Dripline required X LUC 3.2.1 G-7
Minimum canopy cover requirement set
Identification of riparian buffers, natural areas, preservation zones X LUC 3.2.1 A, M
Tree protection/preservation plan required X LUC 3.2.1 C
Identification of prohibited activities in dripline/critical root zone X LUC 3.2.1 G-3
Tree protection fencing required X LUC 3.2.1 G-3
aeration, vertical mulching, trunk protection, soil protection, irrigation,) on X LUC 3.2.1 G, G-
7, J-2
Provide credits/incentives for tree preservation Recommended Improvement
(X) LUC 3.2.1 C
Requires Grading plan to include protected/preserved trees
Utility plan with trees to include protected/preserved trees X LUC 3.2.1 K
Tree planting requirements for removal of regulated trees X LUC 3.2.1 F, F-1
Fee in Lieu of planting mitigation trees X LUC 3.2.1 F
Tree mitigation survival requirements X LUC 3.2.1 I-4–6
Fine for removal of regulated trees Recommended Improvement
Penalties established for damage and removal of preserved/saved trees Recommended Improvement
Bonding to ensure required trees are planted X LUC 3.2.1 I-4
Bonding utilized to discourage tree removals
Other Ordinances of Note
Defining 'City Forester' X CO 27-16
Alley ROW maintenance X CO 27-31
Right of entry X CO 27-56
Tree spacing X LUC 3.2.1 D-1-c
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TOPIC ADDRESSED CHAPTER &
SECTION COMMENTS
Visual clearance X LUC 3.2.1 L
Requirement of ROW planting X
ROW tree spacing from infrastructure X
Minimum species diversity for development plans X LUC 3.2.1 D-3
Minimum sizes for trees planted X LUC 3.2.1 D-4–5
Buffering requirements X LUC 3.2.1 E-1
Water conservation requirements X LUC 3.2.1 E-3
Required maintenance for development landscape X LUC 3.2.1 I-5
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HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION
Heritage Trees, sometimes also called Landmark or Significant Trees, are mature
trees that receive special recognition and protection due to their ecological, cultural,
and/or historic significance. The designation of heritage tree status acknowledges
the outsized benefits that these trees provide to their communities and seeks to
protect them from damage, removal, and neglect. Typically, protections are either
reinforced through community outreach exercises including education, mapping,
and storytelling, or required by policy or ordinance.
Mature trees provide many benefits to communities, including cleaner water, cooler
and cleaner air, improved human health outcomes, increased safety, and positive
effects on business and commerce. The value of some of these benefits can be
quantified based on avoided costs—for example, trees that cool the air help nearby
residents save on energy costs. However, most of the demonstrated benefits from
trees are not currently quantifiable, and many heritage tree designations are
founded on preserving access to a diverse species or the emotional connection to
specific trees that serve as a backdrop to community events and key historic
moments.
Preservation
The Land Use Code references “significant trees” as being at least 6 inches DSH and
requires their preservation “to the extent reasonably feasible”.
Heritage Tree Programs
To develop suggestions for Fort Collins’ Forestry Division as it considers options for
increased tree preservation and protection, DRG reviewed the existing programs for
heritage or landmark trees of 24 municipalities. Cities were identified based on
internet searches for “heritage tree”, “landmark tree”, “remarkable tree”, and
“significant tree” terms along with “program” or “ordinance”; they were also
identified by other municipal partners and from references contained within
resources about heritage tree programs.
In general, existing heritage tree programs can be characterized into two basic
structures: voluntary programs, where trees are nominated for heritage status based
on ecologic, cultural, and/or historic significance; and mandatory programs, where
trees are automatically enrolled into a heritage tree program once they reach a
certain size. Several cities combine aspects of voluntary and mandatory programs.
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Examined Programs
Austin, TX
Charlotte, NC
Corvallis, OR
Fernandina Beach, FL
Fort Worth, TX
Glenview, IL
Lakewood, WA
Manitou Springs, CO
Menlo Park, CA
Nashville, TN
Palo Alto, CA
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
Salem, OR
San Luis Obispo, CA
San Mateo, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Seattle, WA
Sonoma, CA
Telluride, CO
Washington, DC
Westmont, IL
Whitemarsh, PA
Voluntary Heritage Tree Programs
Thirteen cities with voluntary heritage tree programs were reviewed. Voluntary
programs are those in which public and/or privately owned trees may be nominated
for recognition as heritage trees; trees are not automatically enrolled. All the
reviewed programs applied to trees on public land, and all programs allowed for
nomination of trees based on local landmark status or cultural/historical significance
in addition to, or instead of, size and species constraints.
Seven of 13 cities’ heritage tree programs restrict the removal of designated trees.
Two cities (Telluride and Seattle) have city codes with detailed restrictions governing
heritage trees once designated.
Seven programs map or describe the trees for the public; four cities share heritage
tree characteristics via an interactive map such as an ESRI StoryMap.
Summary of 13 Voluntary Programs
● Requires property owner consent (100% of programs examined)
● Nomination criteria includes social factors (cultural or historical significance,
local landmark; 100% of programs)
● Mapped locations shared with the public (62%)
● Restricts removal (54%)
● Requires certified arborist assessment before or after designation (38%)
● Heritage tree status maintained across land transfers (46%)
● Shared via an interactive web map (31%)
● Provides public maintenance funds (15%)
● Maintenance requires a permit (15%)
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Mandatory Heritage Tree Programs
Thirteen municipal ordinances were reviewed in which trees of a certain size are
automatically enrolled in a heritage tree program, thereby protecting the tree from
removal or significant damage. Seven of these cities additionally permit designation
of a heritage tree based on cultural or historic significance. None of the programs
reviewed applied to park lands only.
In one city (Sonoma, CA), the city assumes maintenance and removal responsibility
for heritage trees, regardless of location. In the other twelve cities, a permit is
required to remove a heritage tree. Most of these cities waive the permit
requirement if the tree is hazardous. Eleven cities require mitigation planting and/or
a fee-in-lieu for heritage trees that are removed.
Summary of 13 Mandatory Programs
● Prohibits removal and damage (100% of programs reviewed)
● Minimum size requirement (100% of programs). Median = 15 inches DSH
(range 8–50 inches DSH)
● Permit required for removal (92%). Permit often waived if tree is hazardous
(69%).
● Mitigation required (85%)
o Planting required: varies in number of stems, by inch, etc (85%).
Sometimes there are species requirements (62%).
o Relocation required (8%)
o Fee-in-lieu (77%): varies from $250 flat fee to value calculated from basal
area
● Species requirements for heritage tree designation (46%)
● Fee for removal (15%; separate from mitigation requirements)
● Requirements vary by land type (15%): in two cases, small residential
properties were exempted, or public/private/developed land had different
requirements
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CITY POLICY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK
The City of Fort Collins is committed to continuously enhancing, improving, and
innovating services for its community. To achieve this, various City and County
departments collaborate in developing plans, studies, and strategies. A
comprehensive assessment of selected City of Fort Collins plans, studies, and
standards was conducted to evaluate the integration of tree preservation,
protection, and planting efforts. The purpose of the review is to identify
opportunities or gaps in these documents and provide recommendations that will
improve Fort Collins’s urban forest resource.
● Fort Collins Water Efficiency Plan (2015)
● Water Shortage Action Plan (2020)
● Fort Collins City Plan (2019)
● Fort Collins Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan (2020)
● Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2021)
Trees Contribute to Neighborhood & Community Vitality
Trees Enhance Streetscapes. Trees beautify streets and encourage residents to spend
time outdoors. Trees along streets and sidewalks help to slow traffic and create more
comfortable conditions for walking, biking, and public transit use.
Trees Improve Public Health. Trees provide opportunities for outdoor recreation,
improve access to nature, and reduce stressors that impact vulnerable populations.
People living in neighborhoods with more canopy cover have been shown to have better
overall health, including lower rates of obesity, more social cohesion, less stress, and
lower blood pressure. Trees significantly decrease the incidence of asthma and heart
disease in a community and help residents feel more at ease. The primary mechanism
for these effects arise from the ability of tree canopy to reduce air pollution, extreme
heat, and stress. Residents are three times more likely to be physically active when they
live in areas with high levels of trees and vegetation. A 2018 study showed that residents
reporting poor mental health decreased by 63% within 18 months after vacant lots near
their homes were planted with grass and trees.
Trees Provide a Sense of Community. Trees in neighborhoods contribute to a sense of
community. In Fort Collins, oaks, pines, and cottonwoods have strong cultural
significance. Tree canopy is often cited by residents as one of the reasons they love living
here.
Sources: Swift et al., 1997; Kuo, 2003; Ellaway et al., 2005; Ewing & Dumbaugh, 2009; O’Neil-Dunn,
2012; Donovan et al., 2013; Roe et al., 2013; Gilstad-Hayden et al., 2015; Ulmer et al., 2016; South et al.,
2018.
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● Fort Collins Our Climate Future Plan (2021)
● Fort Collins Strategic Plan (2022) - lists city council priorities
● Larimer County Internal Climate Action, Resilience, And Education (ICARE)
Report (2023)
Ratings
trees not incorporated
trees incorporated but requires revision or implementation
trees fully incorporated & implemented
Fort Collins Water Efficiency Plan (2015)
Description: Presents the current state of Fort Collins’ water supply system, demand,
and management, as well as the opportunities and corresponding implementation
principles to increase efficiency.
Opportunity/Gaps: Opportunity exists to promote urban trees’ role in improving
stormwater management, explore the impacts of water restrictions on trees, and
include recommendations for ensuring trees receive adequate irrigation.
Recommendation: Publish an updated document to update community members
on the city’s water supply and current water efficiency efforts and provide efficient
tree watering recommendations.
Water Shortage Action Plan (2020)
Description: The Water Shortage Action Plan outlines emergency restrictions to
water use to manage Fort Collins’s water supply in the event of projected shortages.
The Plan includes restrictions to tree irrigation: watering trees is permitted under all
levels of water restrictions, but under higher levels, trees must be hand-watered or
drip/microspray irrigated to maximize efficiency.
Opportunity/Gaps: Tree watering best practices could promote further water
conservation and tree health.
Recommendation: Update plan to include tree watering best practices, or consider a
public outreach campaign to raise awareness of tree watering best practices in the
event of water shortage. Require irrigation for public trees.
Fort Collins City Plan (2019)
Description: Shapes decision making and funding priorities over the next 10-20 years
to implement the vision and goals gathered from community members.
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Opportunity/Gaps: Trees offer numerous “co-benefits” not included in the plan that
can serve as a crucial tool in achieving the city’s goals, including: sequestering and
storing carbon, reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, reducing energy
usage through strategically planting trees around buildings, increasing pedestrian,
cyclist, and driver comfort along streets, sidewalks, and bus stops by providing
shade, providing food with the development of maintained food forests/orchards in
parks and open spaces, and increasing a community’s connectivity, involvement,
safety, and attractiveness.
Recommendation: Creating and maintaining a safe, healthy and resilient urban
forest is recognized as a guiding principle in meeting one of the Plan’s core values of
Environmental Health. Implementation of the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan will
assist in meeting the goals of the City Plan.
Fort Collins Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan
(2020)
Description: Reviews current EAB situation, the city’s plan, and the challenges at a
time when EAB had just been detected in the city.
Opportunity/Gaps: The implementation of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan’s
recommendations may relieve the deferred maintenance impacts and their
negative consequences anticipated in the EAB Management and Response Plan.
Recommendation: Publish an updated document to inform the community on the
current EAB distribution, the treatment’s progress, and the future management
plan.
Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2021)
Description: Envisions the future of parks and recreation, addressing needs and
providing a strategic roadmap for the City to shape the system over the next 20
years.
Opportunity/Gaps: The Plan identifies the promotion of planting, preservation, and
maintenance of canopy trees and native vegetation on public and private land as a
key action in implementing the city’s parks and recreation goals.
Recommendation: Coordinate the implementation of the Urban Forest Strategic
Plan to assist in meeting the goals of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Fort Collins Our Climate Future Plan (2021)
Description: Defines the city's goals for climate, waste, energy, community equity
and resilience, along with their respective implementation strategies.
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Opportunity/Gaps: One of the “next moves” action items identified in the Plan is the
development of an Urban Forest Strategic Plan, and a progress metric of healthy
natural spaces to be the city’s tree replacement rate and percent canopy coverage.
Trees could also be included in the goals relating to building an equitable and
resilient community, reducing energy use, becoming carbon neutral, and increasing
healthy local food sources.
Recommendation: Implementation of the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan will assist in
meeting the goals of the Our Climate Future Plan.
Fort Collins Strategic Plan (2022)
Description: As a companion to the City Plan, the Strategic Plan outlines short- and
mid-term objectives, influences the City’s budgeting process, and guides the
implementation of the City’s services.
Opportunity/Gaps: Trees are identified as an integral piece of the “Neighborhood
Livability & Social Health” strategic initiative, which precisely calls out the
components needed for a healthy urban forest. Although trees’ role in this category
has broad implications, there is an opportunity to further incorporate urban forestry
into other strategic initiatives.
Recommendation: Implementation of the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan will assist in
meeting the goals of the Our Climate Future Plan.
Larimer County Internal Climate Action, Resilience, And Education (ICARE)
Report (2023)
Description: Captures progress of County’s climate goals since the adoption of the
initial ICARE document in 2022, with intent to guide the forthcoming County
Climate and Sustainability Plan. This plan, the completion of which is anticipated in
2024, aims to address climate change and lessen impacts on community members
with innovative mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Opportunity/Gaps: There is opportunity to include the planting, maintenance, and
preservation of trees into the County’s goals.
Recommendation: Collaborate with the Larimer County Climate and Sustainability
Plan process to ensure integration and mutual reinforcement between the Urban
Forest Strategic Plan's priorities, recommendations, and actions, contributing to the
sustainable development and progress of Larimer County.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & POLICY INTEGRATION: SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
Findings from the community engagement process demonstrate that the people of
Fort Collins value trees and understand the myriad ways that trees enhance quality
of life in the city. Feedback that was gathered from the public survey and three
public meetings indicate that residents are invested in the ongoing management of
Fort Collins’s trees and the ways that the City will help ensure tree canopy
preservation and growth into the future.
Residents are particularly interested in resources that will help them be effective
stewards of tree canopy. Examples of resources that were requested include
opportunities to volunteer and intern with Forestry; education and information
about species selection, including drought tolerant, climate adapted, and native
species; opportunities to provide input into citywide forestry management, such as
shaping the diversity and species composition of the urban forest; helping to
recognize and manage pests and diseases; becoming educated about proper tree
care; and having access to financial resources to help defray costs associated with
tree maintenance.
Feedback from Forestry Division partners, both internal and external to City
government, underscored the collaborative nature of Forestry staff and the high
level of expertise and service that they provide. Suggestions from these meetings
focused on building efficiency in partnerships and increasing the number of
resources that can assist partners with their own tree management. Suggested
resources include plain-language explanations of city code and policy, improved
consistency of code enforcement, tree species recommendations, information about
tree best management practices including care and irrigation, clarification about
responsibilities, and resources that can be shared with clients and the general
public. Several suggestions also centered on better integrating urban forestry and
the Forestry Division into existing and future planning efforts that relate to climate
resilience and city priorities.
A review of existing code, policies, and plans highlighted possible areas where the
City can enhance tree protection and preservation. Protection and preservation are
important strategies for canopy growth over time, both because a majority of tree
canopy is contained on land that is not city-owned, and preservation is more
effective (and cost effective) than relying on tree planting alone. Private property
protections are a topic of particular interest to the general public, with strong
opinions on multiple sides. In general, there seems to be stronger existing support
for tree protections that affect development, large tracts of land, and large
redevelopment projects than for ordinances that would affect private residential
property. Many residents expressed a need for more information before taking a
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position. Further engagement would be needed to accurately gauge public support
for any enhanced protection measures. It is recommended that the City conduct
additional, focused engagement on the topic of tree protection ordinances,
particularly those that apply to private residential property.
References
AECOM. (2013). Financing San Francisco’s Urban Forest. San Francisco, CA.
https://default.sfplanning.org/plans-and-programs/planning-for-the-city/urban-forest-
plan/UFP_Financing_Study_Exec_Sum_131216.pdf
Burris, L. (2006). People of the Poudre: An Ethnohistory of the Cache La Poudre River National Heritage
Area, AD 1500-1880. Xplore Interpretive Design, Incorporated.
http://database.history.fcgov.com/digital/collection/rb/id/7014/
Cappiella, K., T. Schueler, and T. Wright. 2005. Urban watershed forestry manual: Part 1. Methods for
increasing forest cover in a watershed. Newtown Square PA: United States Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry.
City of Fort Collins. (2010). Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices. Fort Collins,
CO. https://www.fcgov.com/forestry/pdf/tree-standards-3-31-10.pdf
City of Fort Collins. (2015). Water Efficiency Plan. Fort Collins, CO.
https://www.fcgov.com/utilities/img/site_specific/uploads/WEP_2015-
17_FullDraft_NoWaterMark_v9.pdf
City of Fort Collins. (2019). Fort Collins City Plan. Fort Collins, CO.
https://www.fcgov.com/cityplan/files/city-plan.pdf
City of Fort Collins. (2020). Fort Collins Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan. Fort
Collins, CO. https://www.fcgov.com/forestry/files/eab-management-and-response-plan_042221.pdf
City of Fort Collins. (2020). Water Shortage Action Plan. Fort Collins, CO.
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City of Fort Collins. (2021). Our Climate Future Plan. Fort Collins, CO.
https://ourcity.fcgov.com/ourclimatefuture
City of Fort Collins. (2021). Recreate: Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Fort Collins, CO.
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web.pdf
City of Fort Collins. (2024). Fort Collins 2024 Strategic Plan. Fort Collins, CO.
https://www.fcgov.com/citymanager/strategicplan
Donovan, G.H., D.T. Butry, Y.L. Michael, J.P. Prestemon, A.M. Liebhold, D. Gatziolis, and M.Y. Mao. 2013. The
Relationship Between Trees and Human Health: Evidence from the Spread of the Emerald Ash Borer.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine 44, 2: 139-145
Eisenman, T. S., Coleman, A. F., & LaBombard, G. (2021). Street trees for bicyclists, pedestrians, and
vehicle drivers: A systematic multimodal review. Urban Science, 5(3), 56.
Ellaway, A., S. Macintyre, & X. Bonnefoy. (2005). Graffiti, Greenery, and Obesity in Adults: Secondary
Analysis of European Cross-Sectional Survey. British Medical Journal, 331(7517), 611-2.
Environmental Defense Fund. (2024). U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index [web tool].
https://climatevulnerabilityindex.org/
Ewing, R., & Dumbaugh, E. (2009). The built environment and traffic safety: a review of empirical
evidence. Journal of Planning Literature, 23(4), 347-367.
Page 250
Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 99
Technical Appendix
Fort Collins History Connection. (n.d.). The History of “Council Tree” Avenue.
https://history.fcgov.com/visit/library-ct
Gilstad-Hayden, K., Wallace, L.R., Carroll-Scott, A., Meyer, S.R., Barbo, S., Murphy-Dunning, C., & Ickovics,
J.R. (2015). Research Note: Greater tree canopy cover is associated with lower rates of both violent and
property crime in New Haven, CT. Landscape and Urban Planning, 143, 248–253.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.08.005.
Hauer R.J., & Peterson W.D. (2016). Municipal Tree Care and Management in the United States: A 2014
Urban & Community Forestry Census of Tree Activities. Special Publication 16-1, College of Natural
Resources, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.
Helburg, J. (2009). An Anecdotal History of the Parks and Recreation Department, Fort Collins,
Colorado. City of Fort Collins, Colorado. http://www.fcgov.com/recreation/pdf/anecdotal_history.pdf
Hughes, Nancy. (2013, May 13). Trees Mean Business. California Urban Forests Council.
https://investfromthegroundup.org/trees-mean-business/
Jay Breidt, Kit Gray, Andrew Monson. (2022, April 27). Where to Go Birding in Fort Collins. Audubon
Rockies, Fort Collins, CO. https://rockies.audubon.org/birds/where-go-birding-fort-collins
Johnson, Z. S., Koski, T., & O'Conner, A. (2017). The hidden value of landscapes [PowerPoint slides].
Colorado State University. http://webdoc.agsci.colostate. edu/hortla/Colorado_Water_2017.pdf
Kuo, F. E. (2003). The role of arboriculture in a healthy social ecology. Journal of Arboriculture, 29(3), 148–
155.
McDonald, R.I, Kroeger, T., Zhang, P. & Hamel, P. (2020). The value of US urban tree cover for reducing
heat-related health impacts and Electricity Consumption. Ecosystems, 23, 137–150.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-019-00395-5
McPherson, E.G,. Xiao, Xl, Maco, S.E., VanDerZanden, A., Simpson, J.R., Bell, N., & Peper, P.J. (2002).
Western Washington and Oregon Community Tree Guide: Benefits, Costs and Strategic Planting.
Center for Urban Forest Research Pacific Southwest Research Station.
McPherson, E.G., Simpson, J.R., Peper, P.J., Maco, S.E., & Xiao, Q. (2005). Municipal forest benefits and
costs in five U.S. cities. Journal of Forestry, 103(8): 411-416.
Michigan Audubon. (n.d.). Michigan Native Plants for Bird-Friendly Landscapes.
https://www.michiganaudubon.org/bfc/bird-friendly-plants/
Miller, R. W. (1988). Urban Forestry: Planning and Managing Urban Greenspaces. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall.
National Weather Service. (2021). Weather Related Fatalities and Injury Statistics.
https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/
Niinemets, Ü., & Valladares, F. (2006). Tolerance to shade, drought, and waterlogging of temperate
Northern Hemisphere trees and shrubs. Ecological Monographs, 76, 521–547.
https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9615(2006)076[0521:TTSDAW]2.0.CO;2
Nowak, D.J., Hirabayashi, S., Bodine, A., & Greenfield, E. (2014). Tree and forest effects on air quality and
human health in the United States. Environmental Pollution, 193, 119–129,
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O’Neil-Dunn. (2012). The relationship between tree canopy and crime rates across an urban–rural
gradient in the greater Baltimore region. Landscape and Urban Planning, 106, 262–270.
Ozdemir, Huseyin. (2019). Mitigation impact of roadside trees on fine particle pollution. Science of the
Total Environment 659: 1176-1185.
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The unexpected impacts of trees and parcel size on metered water-use in a semi-arid city. Remote
Sensing, 13(5), 998.
Ren, Feihong, et al. (2023). Trees help reduce street-side air pollution: A focus on cyclist and pedestrian
exposure risk. Building and Environment 229: 109923.
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Item 3.
FORT COLLINS URBAN FOREST STRATEGIC PLAN 100
Technical Appendix
Roe, J.J., Thompson, C.W., Aspinall, P.A., Brewer, M.J., Duff, E.I., Miller, D., Mitchell, R., & Clow, A. (2013).
Green Space and Stress: Evidence from Cortisol Measures in Deprived Urban Communities.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10(9), 4086–4103.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10094086.
Shah, A.M., Liu, G., Huo, Z., Yang, Q., Zhang, W., Meng, F., Yao, L., & Ulgiati, S. (2022). Assessing
environmental services and disservices of urban street trees. an application of the energy accounting.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 186, 106563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106563.
Shashua-Bar, L., Pearlmutter, D., & Erell, E. (2009). The cooling efficiency of urban landscape strategies in
a hot dry climate. Landscape and Urban Planning, 92(3-4), 179-186.
Siriwardena, S.D., Boyle, K.J., Holmes, T.P., & Wiseman, P.E. (2016). The implicit value of tree cover in the
U.S.: A meta-analysis of hedonic property value studies. Ecological Economics, 128, 68-76.
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South, E. C., Hohl, B. C., Kondo, M. C., MacDonald, J. M., & Branas, C. C. (2018). Effect of Greening Vacant
Land on Mental Health of Community-Dwelling Adults: A Cluster Randomized Trial. JAMA network
open, 1(3), e180298. https://doi.org/10.1001/ jamanetworkopen.2018.0298
Swiecki, T.J., & Bernhardt, E.A. (2001). Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating Tree Ordinances.
International Society of Arboriculture. Retrieved from https://wwv.isa-
arbor.com/education/onlineresources/treeordinanceguidelines
Swift, P., Painter, D., & Goldstein, M. (1997). Residential street typology and injury accident frequency.
Swift and Associates.
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Management. Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Brighton, CO. https://www.birdconservancy.org/wp-
content/uploads/2014/06/RMBO_SARE_manual_Jun_06.pdf
Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. (n.d.). “The Council Tree Site - An Arapahoe Perspective.”
Strauss Cabin and Council Tree. https://strausscabinandcounciltree.weebly.com/council-tree.html
Tresner, C. (1977, February 28). Wagar, Dr. Jack and Clinton Wasser. [Typescript (photocopy) of sound
recording]. Fort Collins Public Library Oral History Project. Fort Collins Public Library, Fort Collins, CO.
Trust For Public Land. (2024). Fort Collins, CO. https://www.tpl.org/city/fort-collins-colorado
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a
research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096.
Washington, DC. 24 pp.
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accessed April 24, 2024. https://resilience.climate.gov
Ulmer, J.M., Wolf, K.L., Backman, D.R., Tretheway, R.L., Blain, C.J., O'Neil-Dunne, J.P, & Frank, L.D. (2016).
Multiple Health Benefits of Urban Tree Canopy: The Mounting Evidence for a Green Prescription.
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http://plants.usda.gov
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Community Tree Guide: Benefits, Costs, and Strategic Planting. USDA Forest Service.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr205/psw_gtr205.pdf
Wolf, K.L. (2005). Business district streetscapes, trees, and consumer response. Journal of Forestry,
103(8), 396-400. https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/city_trees_retail_wolf.pdf
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Item 3.
City of Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan
Focus Group Meetings - November 2023
In October and November, 2023, the City of Fort Collins held a series of focus group meetings
with city departments/divisions and external partners to inform the development of Fort Collins'
Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
MEETING PARTICIPANTS
City of Fort Collins Departments &
Divisions
Cemeteries
Connexion
FC Moves
Forestry
FC Police Department
Gardens on Spring Creek
Golf Division
Light & Power
Natural Areas
Nature in the City
Neighborhood Services
Parks Division
Planning & Environmental Planning
Park Planning & Development
Police Services
Recreation
Streets
Transfort
Utilities
Water Conservation
Zoning
Community Stakeholders
Arthur Irrigation Company
Bartlett Tree Experts
Bath Landscape Design & Irrigation Co.
BHA Design
Blue River Forestry & Tree Care
Broadcom Inc.
Colorado State University
CSU Extension
Davey Tree
Downtown Development Authority
Downtown General Improvement District
Fort Collins Tree Care Inc.
City of Greeley
Hartford Homes
HF2M Inc.
Housing Catalyst
Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company
Larimer County, Natural Resources
Lumen
Norris Design
Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal Company
Poudre Fire Authority
Poudre River Public Library District
Poudre School District
Ripley Design Inc.
SavATree
South Side Ditch Company
Wisdom Tree Care
Zak George Landscaping
Page 253
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here
City Forester
Kendra Boot
Community Services Director
Dean Klingner
Urban Forest
Strategic Plan
12-10-2024
Page 254
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here
Page 255
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereFeedback Sought from Council
3
1.Do Councilmembers have feedback
regarding the Urban Forest Strategic
Plan and the Future Growth Strategies?
2.How can Growth Strategy 3 further
support Council Priorities?
Page 256
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here
4
Timeline
1 3
6 5
8 9
Recognized
Trees as
Infrastructure
June 2022
Urban Forest
Strategic Plan Kickoff
2 Community MeetingsFocus Groups
Work Session
UF Strategic Plan Board Visits
June 2023
Oct –Dec 2023
March 2024 May –June 2024
October 2023
4
Community
Survey
Sept -Dec 2023
11
Work Session
UF Strategic Plan
December 2024
Public Preview of Plan
10
7
Final Community Meeting
March 2024
August 2024
2
Work Session
Urban Forest Strategy
& Policy
January 2023
Page 257
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereOutcome Area and Council Priority Alignment
5
Previous Council Priorities 2021-2023
•Tree planting subsidy (GS1, GS6)
•Improve tree policies (GS3, GS5)
Current Council Priorities 2024-2026
•Improve human and social health for vulnerable populations
(GS1, GS2, GS6, GS7)
•Advance a 15-minute City igniting neighborhood centers and
accelerating shift to Active Modes (GS1, GS4, GS6)
•Reduce climate pollution and air pollution through best practices
(GS1, GS2, GS3, GS6, GS7)
Other Council Priority Alignment
•Zero waste (GS3, GS6)
•Protect community water systems in an integrated way to ensure
resilient water resources and healthy watersheds (GS1)
•Modernize and update City Charter (GS3, GS6)
Note: GS = Growth Strategy from Urban Forest Strategic Plan draft
Page 258
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereLand Use and Canopy Cover
6
ACROSS FORT COLLINS
•Canopy has grown in most Land Use
Types
•Residential and Mixed-use greatest
opportunity
•8,083 acres of potential tree
canopy
•Commercial and Institutional have
lost canopy
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Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereLand Use and Canopy Cover
7
ACROSS FORT COLLINS
Possible drivers for canopy loss:
•Trees aging out
•Urban environmental stressors
•Development (both new and infill)
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Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here7 Proposed Growth Strategies
8
1. Strategically invest in growing tree canopy where it will
promote resilience and quality of life in Fort Collins.
2. Complete the shift to proactive management of Fort Collins'
public trees.
3. Strengthen city policies to protect trees.
4. Collect data to track changes to tree canopy over time and to
inform forestry activities.
5. Sustainably resource the Forestry Division to keep pace with
growth of the urban forest.
6. Deepen engagement with the community about tree
stewardship.
7. Expand the network of Forestry Division partners.
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Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here
1. Strategically invest in growing tree canopy where it will
promote resilience and quality of life in Fort Collins.
2. Complete the shift to proactive management of Fort Collins'
public trees.
3. Strengthen city policies to protect trees.
4. Collect data to track changes to tree canopy over time and to
inform forestry activities.
5. Sustainably resource the Forestry Division to keep pace with
growth of the urban forest.
6. Deepen engagement with the community about tree
stewardship.
7. Expand the network of Forestry Division partners.
7 Proposed Growth Strategies
9
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Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereGrowth Strategy 3
10
STRENGTHEN CITY POLICIES TO
PROTECT TREES
Foundational Initiative Examples
•Engage and adopt policies balancing other priorities.
•Draft a heritage tree program with elective enrollment.
•Reference existing good practices in city code.
Transformational Initiative Examples
•Clarify the responsibility for trees.
•Demonstrate role of trees in water smart landscapes.
•Explore and expand tree protection policies into Municipal Code.
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Item 3.
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11
Growth Strategy 3 Next Steps
STRENGTHEN CITY POLICIES TO PROTECT TREES
Potential alternative language: ADAPT CITY POLICIES TO PROTECT TREES
More exploration to be done around tree policy…
How this might be achieved:
•Utilize case studies of past projects for analysis
•Identify potential policy options for infill, greenfield, and other development types
•Analysis will include feasibility study including proforma analysis for various policy scenarios
•Engage with frequent code users to understand pain points for development related to tree policy and test
updated policy options
•Present code user supported options at a Council Work Session in 2025
Page 264
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereFeedback Sought from Council
12
1.Do Councilmembers have feedback
regarding the Urban Forest Strategic
Plan and the Future Growth Strategies?
2.How can Growth Strategy 3 further
support Council Priorities?
Page 265
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here
Thank you!
13
Page 266
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here
Following slides are in Council’s read before packet
Additional slides
Page 267
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereCommunity Engagement
15
971 Community Survey responses
3 Community Meetings
8 Community Events
20 City Departments Engaged
29 External Partners Engaged
5 Different Boards
2 Public Draft Previews
Page 268
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereTree Canopy Cover
16
CANOPY PERCENT BY BLOCK GROUP
●Citywide: 13.7%
●City + GMA: 12.6%
Page 269
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereTree Canopy Change 2011-2021
17
TREE CANOPY CHANGE 2011–2021
●City Limits: +753 acres (+17.3%)
●City + GMA: +936 acres (+17.2%)
Page 270
Item 3.
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18
Bike Lanes and Bus Stops
TREES SUPPORT THE SHIFT TO
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
•Bike lanes
•9.5% average tree cover
•Consistent with 2011
•Bus stops
•18.3%average tree cover
•Have lost 3.7% since 2011
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Item 3.
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19
Priority Planting Areas
15,418 POTENTIAL NEW CANOPY
ACRES
●Classified from Very Low to Very High priority
Social: income, population density, BIPOC, renters
Health: asthma, heart disease, mental health
Environmental: urban heat and stormwater
●2,251 acres of High or Very High priority
●Can help City plant trees for outcomes
Page 272
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes HereWater and Trees
20
CLIMATE RESILIENCE
•Focus on young tree establishment
•Dedicated irrigation to trees
•Drought response plans
•Drought-tolerant, urban-adapted tree species
Fun Fact:
Close to 70%of public
trees are drought tolerant!
Fun Fact:
Mature tree canopy can
reduce outdoor water
consumption by up to 50%.
Page 273
Item 3.
Headline Copy Goes Here
21
March 2024 Council Feedback Incorporated
•More emphasis on broad benefits of trees, including bird and wildlife habitat
•p.36 and p. 39
•More connection of how the urban forest supports the 7 City Strategic Outcome Areas (e.g.
Economic Health)
•Throughout the plan, p. 18, p. 60
•Clarify trees and water
•Drought/climate adaptation section and alignment with Water Efficiency Plan (WEP)
•Clarify and educate on private tree/property owner responsibilities
•Several plan initiatives, GS3, GS6
•LUC and tradeoffs/tensions between community/organization priorities
•GS3 and Tree Protection Policies work session in Q1/Q2 2025
Page 274
Item 3.
File Attachments for Item:
4. Appeals Procedure – Draft Code Update.
The purpose of this item is to present and discuss a proposed code update related to the
appeals procedures, contained in Chapter 2, Article II, Division 3, of the Fort Collins Municipal
Code. The update rewrites this section of code to address a variety of issues and considerations
discussed by the Council in prior work sessions.
Page 275
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 1 of 2
December 10, 2024
WORK SESSION AGENDA
ITEM SUMMARY
City Council
STAFF
Kim Meyer, Interim Community Development & Neighborhood Services Director
Carrie Daggett, City Attorney
Heather Jarvis, Assistant City Attorney
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Appeals Procedure – Draft Code Update.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to present and discuss a proposed code update related to the appeals
procedures, contained in Chapter 2, Article II, Division 3, of the Fort Collins Municipal Code. The update
rewrites this section of code to address a variety of issues and considerations discussed by the Council
in prior work sessions.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. What feedback do Councilmembers have on the proposed updated appeals procedures?
2. What additional issues or solutions are Councilmembers interested in developing further?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
On November 14, 2023, Council held a work session to discuss the current state of the appeals process
when the Council sits as a quasi-judicial body to consider appeals of decisions of boards, commissions, or
other decision makers. The work session reviewed and discussed various elements of that process that
might be updated to create a more fair, consistent, and simple appeals system. The 2023 work session
resulted in direction to staff to present a range of alternatives and possible solutions to Council to simplify
and streamline the process, provide a better experience for all parties and the community, and investigate
some specific elements of the current process that might impact our current state.
On August 27, 2024, a second work session provided specific feedback on issues and elements of the
current process, including who is the appropriate decision maker, who has standing to appeal, what are
allowable grounds for appeal, should there be multiple levels of appeals, what evidence and arguments
are allowed, and some process improvements. The Agenda Item Summary from the August work session
is attached for reference.
The proposed code presented here provides updates and revisions to the overall process and decision
makers at different levels to simplify the appeals process for the community, staff, and Council. A version
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Item 4.
City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 2 of 2
showing marked changes is provided, as well as a “clean” version. Significant elements that propose a
process shift include:
Creating a distinction between persons eligible to appeal and actual appeal parties who have registered
with the Clerk their intention to participate in an appeal instead of lumping both types of persons all
together as parties-in-interest.
Clarifying who is eligible to appeal by requiring participation at the time of the original decision with the
original decision maker (removing receipt of an original hearing notice as a basis for eligibility).
Creating two routes for an eligible person to raise questions about a decision:
o A Council appeal route for Council to examine questions of interpretation and application of Code
that were raised before the original decision maker; and
o An administrative route for an administrative decision maker (from the City Manager’s Office or City
Attorney’s Office) to examine procedural defects such as fair hearing issues.
Creating a completeness review and a screening procedure for any notices of appeal to ensure they
have the required information and they raise viable questions for the hearing before Council.
Requiring any eligible persons who want to become appeal parties to register with the City Clerk and
adding a prehearing conference for all appeal parties.
Clarifying timeframes, submittals of evidence, communication with appeal parties, and composition of
the record on appeal.
Eliminating the organized site visit.
NEXT STEPS
Based upon feedback and direction that staff receives at the work session from Council, staff is prepared
to make any required revisions to the proposed code language. Then, in the first quarter of 2025, staff will
prepare an ordinance for Council’s consideration to approve the revised code.
ATTACHMENTS
1. August 27, 2024, Work Session Summary
2. Proposed Appeal Code Revisions (redlined)
3. Proposed Appeal Code Revisions (clean)
4. Flow Chart of Proposed Appeal Procedure
5. Process Duration Comparison Table
6. Presentation
Page 277
Item 4.
Community Development and Neighborhood
Services Department
281 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
WORK SESSION MEMORANDUM
Date: September 3, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, PDT Director
From: Kim Meyer, Interim Community Development and Neighborhood Services Director
Subject: August 27, 2024, Work Session Summary - Quasi-Judicial Appeals Process
BOTTOM LINE
The purpose of this memo is to document the summary of discussions during the August 27,
2024, Work Session. All Councilmembers were present, with Mayor Jeni Arndt attending
remotely.
DISCUSSION SUMMARY
Council discussed the content for this work session in multiple segments, to discuss and provide
feedback on several elements of the current Quasi-Judicial (QJ) appeal process. Staff provided
a current state, alternatives, and a recommendation for drafting updated code language on each
of these main issues. A robust discussion on this overall topic provided general support from
councilmembers for updating the process in a variety of ways.
To summarize each of the issues addressed:
1. Decision-maker: Council voiced both support and concerns on this issue but overall
communicated that a well-designed and -considered threshold clarifying the boundaries
of staff decisions, versus what would move to hearing and be determined by the Council,
could help streamline the process. Council would want notification of any remand for a
new (de novo) hearing or decision with an original decision maker. Focus on simplifying
the process and minimizing/avoiding impact to the timeline, while balancing access to
Council with ensuring appeals meet the City’s standards such as merit and standing. A
list of recommended decision types that staff consider appropriate for pre-hearing staff
review and decision-making is listed in the Follow Up Items section. In addition to the
topic of staff decision-making, it was clarified that there is flexibility in which
Councilmembers could be part of a Council committee that decides appeals, and that
those committee appointments could shift on a set schedule.
2. Standing to Appeal: General acceptance of the staff recommendation to require
appellants to participate in the original hearing/decision (oral/written) was communicated
by Council. Concerns expressed were largely related to ensuring community members
Docusign Envelope ID: E1C8484C-3E54-4397-80AE-FC1EB4AE6BE2
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Item 4.
Page 2 of 3
receive sufficient notice of projects and hearings. This item elicited questions and
discussion related to the number of instances of neighborhood notifications, overall
timelines, and opportunities to participate. This was a requested Follow Up Item, which
is attached.
3. Permitted Grounds for Appeal: The recommendation is that any stated grounds for
appeal be based on the current record, and that the issue on appeal was raised with the
original decision-maker. Discussion also included a desire to see additional educational
efforts by staff during development review and hearing efforts, and at appeals pre-
hearing conferences, as well as including the ability for staff to screen Notices of Appeal
to ensure the stated grounds were introduced at an original hearing/decision process.
4. Multiple Levels of Appeals: This item generated a request for a chart or table to more
clearly illustrate the various decision makers and the path of appeals to be able to more
fully understand and determine the best options to address any issues related to
administrative/staff, hearing officers, and boards and commission decisions. The
requested table is attached.
5. Evidence & Arguments: This was an expansive discussion centered on ensuring that
the main arguments in an appeal are narrow in focus and relate directly to the record of
the decision being appealed. Council expressed general support for not accepting new
evidence at hearing and removing the Council site visit. Staff was encouraged to work
towards a more predictable hearing experience for all involved.
6. Process Improvements: A variety of topics were brought up in this space aimed at
ensuring better clarity, awareness, and education: pre-hearing conference encouraged,
but not required; utilize technology and recorded webinars to educate and inform; work
on a more streamlined scheduling system; pre-register respondents to improve
predictability.
The best opportunity for impactful participation and community input is during the development
process, and the appeal process can be misleading and create unrealistic expectations and
frustrations. Council provided feedback that staff should focus heavily on communication, look
into creating an informational video of the process, and developing other opportunities for
education, support, and navigation assistance. Council also noted the difficult role they play
during these QJ appeals, which is quite different than their typical community advocacy work.
Council cautioned both that the community will need some time to understand and process any
updates to the appeal, but also voiced an eagerness to keep up momentum in drafting a
proposed amendment to the code language as the issue has lagged over time. Staff needs to
analyze and weigh the cumulative impacts of any proposed changes when drafting new code
language.
The proposed amendment would be intended for regular adoption and effectiveness date and
would therefore impact any new appeal filed after that date.
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NEXT STEPS
Staff will synthesize the responses and discussions on this issue into proposed code language
with the purpose of updating the City’s appeal process to simplify and streamline the process of
quasi-judicial appeals. Proposed code language will be provided to the Council in advance of a
follow up work session, to be quickly followed by a proposed ordinance for hearing.
FOLLOW-UP ITEMS
Several items were requested as follow-up items to better clarify and inform Council of the
current state and proposed changes.
A) List of recommended pre-hearing decisions to be determined by authorized City staff:
i) Determine Standing of Appellant(s).
ii) Pre-register Respondents prior to an appeal hearing and verify their standing.
iii) Administrative review of Notice of Appeal for completeness including whether issues
raised were addressed before the original decision-maker. To the extent a Notice of
Appeal is not complete, staff would return the Notice to the appellant with the
insufficiencies identified and allow a brief opportunity to correct and resubmit the Notice.
iv) Administrative review of Notice of Appeal in relation to alleged Fair Hearing issues –
to allow any remand to the original decision-maker as quickly as possible, or to dismiss
for lack of evidence.
v) Administrative review of all materials submitted by parties-in-interest to ensure they do
not contain new evidence.
B) Timeline of projects and notifications:
i) Attachment A – Timeline of Historic Preservation projects
ii) Attachment B – Timeline of Development Review projects
iii) Attachment C – Print-out of Webpages re: Resident’s Role in Development Review
C) Appeals Flowchart – Current and Proposed:
i) Attachment D - Current Path of Decisions Appealable to City Council
ii) Proposed/TBD – To be provided at follow up Work Session, to illustrate proposed
code amendments.
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Item 4.
Property Owner Submits
Historic Survey Application
Survey
Research and
Preliminary
Evaluation
staff or
consultant)
Attend
Notice
Option to Appeal
to HPC
within 14 days -
Attachment A - Timeline of Historic Preservation projects
Comment
Staff Issues
Determination of
Eligibility
valid 5 years-
Notice
Notice
HPC Hearing:
Issues de novo
Determination of
Eligibility
valid 5 years-
Comment
Determination of
Landmark Eligibility
Landmark Design
Review Process
Property Owner Submits Application
online, email, or in person)
Design Assistance Mini -Grant
if needed)
Attend
Notice
Staff determines level of review
Staff Design
Review
HPC Design
Review
Conceptual
Design Review
Hearing
Decision: Issue or Deny
Certification of
Appropriateness (COA)
valid for 1 year-
Over the
Counter/
Instant
Approval
Weekly Staff
Design Review
Meeting
Comment
Comment
Attend
Final HPC Hearing
and Decision on COA
Notice
Option to
Appeal to HPC
Option to Appeal
HPC Decision to
Council
Council Hearing and
Decision on COA
valid 1 year-
Notice
Attend
Comment
Notice
Option to Appeal
Staff Decision to
HPC
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Item 4.
Development Review
Pre-Submittal
Review
Conceptual Review
Preliminary Design Review
Basic
Development
Review (BDR)
Type 1 - Hearing
Officer
Type 2 - Planning
Zoning
Commission
Annexation,
Rezone or APU
Review
Decision
Review
Decision
Administrative
Hearing
Neighborhood
Meeting
Review
P&Z Hearing
Decision
Neighborhood
Meeting
Review
P&Z Hearing -
Recommendation
Council Hearing
Decision
Inform
Consult
Attend
Website/
staff
contact
Notice
Comment
Attend
Notice
Notice
Attend
Comment
Notice
Attend
Comment
Notice
Attend
Comment
Notice
Attend
Comment
Notice
Attend
Comment
Notice
Notice
Website/
staff
contact
Website/
staff
contact
Website/
staff
contact
Notice
Attachment B - Timeline of Development Review projects
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Item 4.
Menu Translate
Search our website
Development Review
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home /city services /planning and development services /development review
resident's role in development review
Residents' Role in Development Review
Welcome to the Residents' Role in Development Review
page!
The City of Fort Collins is committed to supporting you in understanding new
development projects happening our community.
Learn how to stay informed about new development projects and how your
feedback will be used.
Alerts
ATTACHMENT C
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Item 4.
Stay informed and give feedback
Looking for more ways to get involved? Find opportunities related to Planning
and Development here.
Why Development Review?
As cities and towns grow and change, local governments make sure these
changes meet the needs of the community. These needs can include:
safety and welfare of residents
high-quality, consistent design
protection of environmental resources
public roads, sewers, streetlights and other infrastructure
Why Development Review? Learn more.
Learn about the process and how to plug in:
The Development Review Process
Timeline is for an "average" project. Depending on the project, it could take 2-4
months or up to 5-10 years.
The Building Review Process
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Timeline is for an "average" project. Depending on the project, this could take 1
month or up to several years.
The Development Review Process and the Building Review
Process
Someone has an idea about building something new on land they own or
would like to buy.
They can talk to City departments all at once during a Conceptual Design
Review meeting.
During this meeting they will learn if their idea might work.
The person with the idea might need to have a meeting with neighbors too.
About half of the project ideas in this phase will not move forward.
Phase 0: Gray - Idea Phase
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Item 4.
Learn more about the Gray Phase: Idea Phase
Our Promises to Residents:
We will keep you informed when we have Conceptual Design Review
meetings.
Email newsletter,This Week in Development Review.
Application summaries posted on our webpage.
We will keep you informed and listen to your concerns if there is a
Neighborhood Meeting.
Invitation letters mailed to property owners within 800 feet (or about
1-2 city blocks).
Meeting time, date and location posted on our webpage.
You may attend a neighborhood meeting and have a conversation
with the applicant.
Recording of the meeting will be posted on our webpage.
Someone decides they will build something new on land they own or would like
to buy. They send their plans to the City and pay their fees. The person or team
who are hoping to build something new are called Applicants.
City staff check the plans to see if they meet all the City's rules.
City staff returns the plans with a list of changes that need to be made in order
to follow the City's rules.
The Applicant fixes the plans.
Phase 1(a): Red - Checking Phase: Land Use Code
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This happens again and again until the plan meets all the rules.
Learn more about the Red Phase: Review and Approval
Our Promises to Residents:
We will keep you informed when someone applies to do a project.
Email newsletter,This Week in Development Review.
Plan summaries posted on our webpage.
When a project meets all the city’s rules, it can be approved.
Projects making smaller changes may be approved by the Director of the
Community Development and Neighborhood Services Department.
Projects making larger changes may be approved by an Administrative Hearing
Officer.
Projects making the largest changes allowed under the Land Use Code may be
approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Learn more about the Red Phase: Review and Approval
Our Promises to Residents:
Phase 1(b): Red - Approving a New Land Use
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We will keep you informed when a project has been approved by the
Director of the Community Development and Neighborhood Services
Department.
Letters will be mailed to neighboring property owners when a
decision has been made.
Decisions posted on our webpage.
We will keep you informed and listen to your concerns when a project
is being considered by an Administrative Hearing Officer or by the
Planning and Zoning Commission. We will keep you informed if a project
is approved by either of these.
Letters will be mailed to neighboring property owners prior to a
hearing.
You may attend a hearing and speak to the decisionmaker. You may
also email, mail, or drop off your written comments prior to the
hearing.
You may watch a recording of the hearing.
Letters will be mailed to neighboring property owners when a
decision has been made.
Hearing information and decisions will be posted on our webpage
and in the This Week in Development Review newsletter.
If a new land use has been approved, the project plans will need to meet more
rules for very technical details. These are things like the type of concrete used
to build sidewalks, or the height of curbs and gutters around driveways.
City staff will check the plans and return edits to the applicant. This will happen
again and again until the plan meets all the rules.
Phase 2: Orange - Checking Phase: Engineering Codes
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Item 4.
Learn more about the Orange Phase: Final Development Plans
There is no public participation in this phase. It is strictly an interaction
finalizing technical drawings and plans between the City and a private
property owner.
When the final plans have been approved, they will be filed and recorded with
Larimer County and/or with the City.
There is no public participation in this phase.When the final plans have been
filed and recorded, they will be public records which are available for anyone to
find.
Find Public Records
Phase 3: Yellow - Filing & Recording Phase
Phase 4: Green - Install Public Works
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Now things like roads or sidewalks may be built. Street trees may be planted.
Erosion and sediment controls may be put in.
There is no public participation in this phase.
Building plans will be checked for safety to make sure they meet all the City’s
rules.
You may check on the status of any building permit.
Phase 5: Blue - Checking Phase: Building Code
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Item 4.
Check on the Status of a Building Permit
While the project is being built, the City will inspect it to make sure it is being
built according to the plans and codes.
After the project is built and has passed all of its final inspections, the project
will get a Certificate of Occupancy. This means the project is ready for people to
start using it.
There is no public participation in this phase.
Residents' Toolbox
The Proposals Page contains a complete list of all development proposals that
are currently being reviewed by City staff, as well as information on upcoming
events where the public can engage:
Conceptual/Preliminary Design Reviews
Neighborhood Meetings
Development Proposals currently under review
Phase 6: Purple - Inspection Phase
Find Out What Development Proposals are Being Reviewed
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Item 4.
Hearings and Decisions
Minor Amendments
To search for development proposals currently being reviewed and to learn
more about them, scroll to the "Development Proposals Under Review"
section and search by address, name, project number, sign number or
keyword. Each proposal entry includes a brief description, a link to the public
records archive to view documents related to the submittal, and staff and
applicant contact information.
The Proposals page only includes proposals from the current year.
For information on proposals from previous years, visit:
https://www.fcgov.com/developmentreview/proposals/archive#amendments-
heading
Visit the Proposals Page
All documents submitted by applicants for a development proposal and
responses from City staff are public documents. They can be found in the
City's Public Records Archive. These documents often include:
Site plans
Transportation Impact Studies
Utilities Plans
A narrative about the project from the applicants
And much more...
Hint- when searching in the Archive, using the project's name or address may
not work. The best way to search is by clicking "Project Number Search" and
using the alpha-numerical project number. You can find these numbers in
mailings sent by the City or on the Proposals page.
Visit the Public Records Portal
If you find that this website doesn't fully answer your questions or give you
the tools you need, City staff is always available to help.
The first person to reach out to is the Neighborhood Development Liaison.
This person is the public face of Development Review, and exists to support
members of the public throughout the process by hosting neighborhood
Find Documents Related to Development Proposals
Get Help From City Staff
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Item 4.
meetings, sharing important information, providing customer service and
collecting public input.
Email the Neighborhood Development Liaison
This Week in Development Review Newsletter
Click the Newsletters button at the top of this page to subscribe to our This Week in Development
Review email newsletter
Don't miss out on upcoming events! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive
weekly information on development that may impact you.
Every week, there are new proposals going through the Development Review
process at the City of Fort Collins, and every week the City hosts events for
residents to get involved in them. The TWIDR email newsletter was created to
help any member of the public learn more about Development Review and stay in
the loop about what's going on in their City.
Development Review Home Planning Home Environmental Planning
Home Zoning Home FAQ Page
Fort Collins, Colorado USA Our Organization
Mayor & Council40.585258, -105.084419
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Item 4.
Mission, Vision, Values
City of Fort Collins MVP"
City Budget
Open Book
Sustainability
Careers
Contact Us
Email Subscriptions
Social Media Accounts Performance Excellence
Employee Resources
CityHub
Support Portal
Copyright Privacy Non-discrimination / Title VI Accessibility Social Media
Local Facts and Demographics
Poudre School District
Colorado State University
Front Range Community College
Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Facebook [14]
Twitter [12]
Youtube [6]
Instagram [11]
Flickr [2]
Pinterest [1]
Linkedin [1]
Nextdoor [2]
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ATTACHMENT D
Current Path of Decisions Appealable to City Council
Code Section Decision Type Initial Appeal Secondary Appeal
Municipal Code 2-47 Certain appeals to be taken to City Council
DEVELOPMENT RELATED:
Land Use Code 6.3.12
6.14.2
Director decision (Minor Amendment,
Change of Use, Basic Dev Review, FONSI)
Planning & Zoning Commission City Council
6.3.12 Hearing OAicer City Council
6.3.12 Planning & Zoning Commission City Council
6.18.1 Director decision (applicable to 11 decision
types)
Land Use Review Commission City Council
6.14.3
6.18.1
Land Use Review Commission (Variances,
Director decisions)
City Council
6.19.5 - .8 Hearing OAicer decision – Vested Rights City Council
Municipal Code 5-27.13
18-3
Building OAicial decision Building Review Commission City Council
5-3 Building Review Commission decision City Council
Municipal Code 14-23(b) Historic Preservation StaA determination of
eligibility
Historic Preservation Commission City Council
2-174(b)
14-32
14-55
Historic Preservation Commission decision City Council
OTHER:
City Charter Sec.14 Licenses & Permits, and fees “may be
appealed”
City Council
Municipal Code 10-28
26-520
Utilities Exec Director decision Water Commission City Council
10-28 Water Commission City Council
15-265, -
298, -318,
394
City Manager decision (Pawnbroker, Place of
Entertainment, Secondhand dealer, outdoor
vendor)
City Council
26-351 Utilities Executive Director decision City Council
26-692 City Engineer decision (Utility install license) City Council
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Item 4.
CHAPTER 2 - ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE II. - CITY COUNCIL
Division 3 Appeals Procedure
Page 1 of 13
Division 3 Appeals Procedure
Sec. 2-45. Appeals generally.
An appeal of any final decision expressly appealable to City Council under other provisions of this Code, including
the Land Use Code, shall be initiated by an eligible party and decided by the City Council in the manner set forth in
this Division. (moved from 2-47) Any action taken in reliance upon any decision of a board, commission or otheran
original decision maker that is subject to review or appeal under the provisions of this Division shall be totallysolely
at the risk of the person(s) taking such action until all appeal rights related to such decision have been exhausted,
and the City shall not be liable for any damages arising from any such action. (moved from 2-47(b))
Sec. 2-46. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in
this Section:
Appeal party means an eligible person who has taken steps necessary under Section 2-52(a) and been verified
under Section 2-52(b) to participate in an appeal.
Appellant shall means one or more parties-in-interesteligible persons appealing a decision from a board,
commission or otheran original decision maker to the City Council by the filing of a notice of appeal.
Appellant representative means the individual designated in a notice of appeal as the contact person for all
matters related to that appeal.
Applicant shall means the person who or organization that submitted the application to the board, commission or
otheroriginal decision maker whose decision has been appealed.
Decision maker, administrative means the designee of the City Manager who performs fair hearing reviews under
Section 2-48 and notice of appeal screening under Section 2-51.
Decision maker, original means the board, commission or other decision maker the final decision of which is the
subject of an appeal or a request for administrative review.
Evidence shall means any information, whether in verbal, audio, written, graphic, or other form, presented at th e
appeal hearing to support or refute a particular proposition or conclusion. Evidence shall does not include
argument as to how information offered as evidence should be viewed by the City Council.
Final decision shall means the action of a board, commission or otheran original decision maker by a vote of a
majority of its members when no further rehearing is available before such board, commission or otherthat
original decision maker; provided, however, that a recommendation to the City Council from a board, commission
or other decision maker shall not be considered as a final decision of that board, commission or other decision
maker.
New evidence shall means any evidence, relating to the proposal or application that was the subject of fi nal
decision by a board, commission or otheran original decision maker, that was not provided or presented at the
hearing or as part of the record before such board, commission or otherthat original decision maker. New evidence
does not include evidence in the record that has been modifiedying, highlighteding, underlineding, italicizing or
otherwise marked to emphasizeing certain portions of writings or graphics presented to the original decision
maker as long as any modified graphic presented to the City Council at the appeal hearing is accompanied by a
reference to the location of the original material in the record of the decision being appealed.
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Page 2 of 13
[MOVE TO ALPHA ORDER]Party-in-interest Eligible person shall means a person who or organization that has
standing to appeal the final decision of a board, commission or otheran original decision maker. Such standing to
appeal shall be limited to the following:
(1) The applicant;
(2) Any party holding an ownership or possessory interest in the real or personal property that was the
subject of the decision of the board, commission or otheroriginal decision maker whose action is to be
appealed;
(3) Any person to whom or organization to which the City mailed notice of the hearing of the board,
commission or other decision maker;
(4) Any person who or organization that provided written comments to the appropriate City staff for
delivery to the board, commission or otheroriginal decision maker prior tobefore or at the hearing on
the matter which that is to be appealed;
(5) Any person who or organization that appeared before and provided comments to the board,
commission or otheroriginal decision maker at the hearing on the action whichthat is to be appealed;
(6) The City Council as represented by the request of a single member of the City Council.
Sec. 2-47. Certain appeals to be taken to city council.
An appeal of any final decision expressly appealable to City Council under other provisions of this Code, including
the Land Use Code, shall be decided by the City Council in the manner set forth in this Division.
(Ord. No. 020, 2020, § 2, 2-4-20)
Sec. 2-48. Sec. 2-47. Appeal of final decision permitted; effect of appeal; grounds for appeal ;
limit on subject matter of appeal.
(a) Initiating an appeal. A party-in-interest Any eligible person may appeal to the City Council the final
decision of any board, commission or otheroriginal decision maker to which this appeal procedure
applies in the manner provided in this Division by the filing a notice of appeal with the City Clerk within
fourteen (14) calendar days after the decision that is the subject of the appeal. A separate process for
seeking administrative review of fair hearing issues is provided in Section 2-48.
(b) Risk during pending appeal. Any action taken in reliance upon any decision of a board, commission or
otheran original decision maker that is subject to review or appeal under the provisions of this Division
shall be totallysolely at the risk of the person(s) taking such action until all appeal rights related to such
decision have been exhausted, and the City shall not be liable for any damages arising from any such
action.
(b) Grounds for appeal. Except for appeals by members of the City Council, the permissible grounds for
appeal shall be limited to allegations that the original decision maker board, commission or other
decision maker committed one (1) or more of the following errors:
(1) Failure failed to properly interpret and apply relevant provisions of the Code and Charter in
deciding particular aspects of the decision raised by an eligible person for consideration by the
original decision maker.
(2) Failure to conduct a fair hearing in that:
a. The board, commission or other decision maker exceeded its authority or jurisd iction as
contained in the Code or Charter;
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Item 4.
Page 3 of 13
b. The board, commission or other decision maker substantially ignored its previously
established rules of procedure;
c. The board, commission or other decision maker considered evidence relevant to its
findings which was substantially false or grossly misleading;
d. The board, commission or other decision maker improperly failed to receive all relevant
evidence offered by the appellant; or
e. The board, commission or other decision maker was biased against the appellant by reason
of a conflict of interest or other close business, personal or social relationship that
interfered with the decision maker's independence of judgment.
(c) Limit on subject matter of appeal. Allegations of appeal must follow from issues raised before the
original decision maker. Issues not raised in connection with the original decision are deemed waived
and are not subject to appeal.
(d)(c) Councilmember appeals. Appeals filed by members of the City Council need not include specific
grounds for appeal, but shall must include a statement of each specific question to be considered on
appeal rather than allegations of error.
(1) Upon the filing of any such appeal, the director of the affected City service area shall identify the
specific Code provisions that may pertain to the specific questions raised by suchthe appeal and
shall provide such the information to the City Clerk prior tobefore the date that the notice of
hearing on the appeal is to be mailed by the City Clerk to parties-in-interest under Section 2-52 of
this Division.
(2) The City Clerk will include sSaid information shall then be mailed to the parties-in-interest
together with the notice of hearing.
(3) Councilmembers who file an appeal may participate in hearing suchthe an appeal in the same
manner as they participate in hearing appeals filed by other eligible personsparties-in-interest.
Sec. 2-48. Administrative fair hearing review of final decision permitted; effect of fair hearing
determination.
(a) Fair hearing review. Any eligible person may seek administrative review of procedural defects in
connection with the final decision of an original decision maker to which this Division applies by filing a
request for fair hearing review with the City Clerk within fourteen (14) calendar days after the decision
that is the subject of the requested review.
(b) Fair hearing issues. Procedural defects subject to review include those matters constituting an alleged
failure to conduct a fair hearing in that:
(1) The original decision maker exceeded its authority or jurisdiction as contained in the Code or
Charter;
(2) The original decision maker substantially ignored its previously established rules of procedure;
(3) The original decision maker considered evidence relevant to its findings that was substantially
false or grossly misleading;
(4) The original decision maker improperly failed to receive all relevant evidence offered by the
appellant; or
(5) The original decision maker was biased against the appellant by reason of a conflict of interest or
other close business, personal or social relationship that interfered with the original decision
maker's independence of judgment.
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Item 4.
Page 4 of 13
(c) Review process.
(1) The request for fair hearing review shall be on a form provided by the City Clerk, shall be signed by
all persons joining the request for review, and must include documentation to substantiate the
grounds for the review sought, such as evidence in the record, new evidence relevant to the issues
under review, and written arguments explaining the allegations.
(2) If the eligible person seeking the fair hearing review is not the applicant, the City Clerk will notify
and provide a copy of the request for review to the applicant within two (2) working days of
receiving the request for review.
(3) The applicant may file a written summary of facts and arguments and any documentation to
oppose the allegations no later than five (5) working days after the City Clerk’s notice of the
request.
(4) The administrative decision maker may review any information received from the requesting party,
applicant, City staff or other source, that the administrative decision maker considers relevant to
evaluate the allegations of procedural defects, including the original decision and supporting
documents internally, potentially requesting additional information or clarification.
(d) Fair hearing/procedural defect determination.
(1) The administrative decision maker will review all information received and any other information
obtained by the administrative decision maker related to the allegations, and will make findings
and conclusions as to the issues raised no later than five (5) working days after receipt of the
request, unless the request was made by the a party other than the applicant, in which event the
administrative decision maker will issue a decision no later than five (5) working days after receipt
of the applicant’s response.
(2) If the administrative decision maker determines that no procedural defect raised a significant
question as to whether the decision under review was based on a fair hearing, the administrative
decision maker will provide written notice of that determination to the requesting party and to the
applicant.
(3) If the administrative decision maker determines that a procedural defect occurred that raises a
significant question as to whether the decision under review was based on a fair hearing, t he
administrative decision maker will remand the matter for rehearing.
(4) If the administrative decision maker determines that on remand the original decision maker will be
unable to provide a fair rehearing or will be unable to provide a fair rehearing because a quorum
will not be available, the administrative decision maker must remand the matter for rehearing to a
qualified, alternative decision maker. Additionally, the administrative decision maker may remand
the matter for rehearing to a qualified, alternative decision maker if the public confidence in the
decision on remand would be better served than remand to the original decision maker. (modified
from Sec. 2-56.)
(e) Effect of fair hearing determination. If the administrative decision maker remands the matter for
rehearing, any notice of appeal that was filed on the same matter will be automatically cancelled without
prejudice and the appeal fee will be refunded.
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Item 4.
Page 5 of 13
(f) Fair hearing review fee. In all fair hearing reviews, the person requesting review must remit to the City
Clerk with the request a fee of [FILL IN FEE AMOUNT HERE] [Add escalation clause based on inflation or
some other index?] No fair hearing review will begin until the fee has been received by the City Clerk. Any
fair hearing review for which the fair hearing review fee has not been paid before the deadline for the
filing of the fair hearing review will be rejected as untimely.
(g) Final decision. Any fair hearing review decision under this Section is final and is not subject to further
municipal review or appeal.
Sec. 2-49. Filing of nNotice of appeal; no new evidence.
(a) An appeal shall be commenced by filing a notice of appeal of the final decision of a board, commission or
other decision maker to which this Division applies with the City Clerk within fourteen (14) calendar days
after the action that is the subject of the appeal.
(b)(a) Form of appeal notice. Such The notice of appeal must shall be on a form provided by the City Clerk, must
shall be signed by all persons joining the appeal and must shall include the following:
(1) The action of the board, commission or otheroriginal decision maker that is the subject of the appeal;
(2) The date of such the action;
(3) The name, address, telephone number and the basis for the person’s qualification to appeal as an
eligible personrelationship of each appellant to the subject of the a ction of the board, commission or
other decision maker;
(4) In all appeals except those filed by members of City Council, the grounds for the appeal, including
specific allegations of error of interpretation or application of relevant and specific provisions of Code
or the Charter; and
(5) Aa summary of the facts contained in the record on appeal (no new evidence) which that support
theose appeal allegations, separated into support for each separate allegation, including where in the
record (such as the minute number in a recording, or page and line number in a document) the
appellant raised the issue(s) before the original decision maker;
(6) A written summary of the appellant’s argument accompanied by specific references to applicable
material in the record (no new evidence), separated into argument for each separate allegation;
(5) In the case of an appeal alleging a fair hearing issue under § 2-48(b)(2)c, d or e, above all new evidence
related to such allegations that the appellant wishes for Council to consider at the hearing on the
appeal must be submitted to the City Clerk within seven (7) days calendar days after the deadline for
filing a notice of appeal and must be clearly marked as new evidence;
(67) The name, address, email address, and phone number of the appellant representative who is
authorized to receive notice required to be mailed by the City to the appellant and an indication of the
appellant representative’s preferred means of contact. In the case of an appeal filed by more than one
(1) person, the name, address, email address, and telephone number of one (1) such person appellant
representative who shall beis authorized to receive, on behalf of all persons joining the appeal, any
notice required to be mailed by the City to the appellant under the provisions of § 2-52 of this Division
and an indication of the appellant representative’s preferred means of contact ; and
(7)(8) Any other information required by the City Clerk.
(c)(b) Limit on submittal. No materials other than that specified in Subsection (b) above shall (a) of this Section are
allowed to be included in or attached to the notice of appeal or submitted by the appellant at any time,
except for presentation materials as allowed in Section 2-554(d).
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(d) Appeal fee. In all appeals, except those filed by members of the City Council, the appellant must remit to the
City Clerk with the notice of appeal a fee of [FILL IN FEE AMOUNT HERE] [Add escalation clause based on
inflation or some other index?] No appeal will be reviewed for completeness or sufficiency until the appeal
fee has been received by the City Clerk. Any appeal for which the appeal fee has not been paid before the
deadline for the filing of the appeal will be rejected as untimely. If a fair hearing review was filed on the same
matter and the administrative decision maker remands the matter for rehearing, the appeal for the same
matter will be automatically cancelled without prejudice and the appeal fee will be refunded.
(e The City Clerk will promptly post the notice of appeal and any attached information, and any new evidence
subsequently received pursuant to Subsections (b)(5) above or 2 -55(b)(2), on the City's website, and such
information shall be available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk. [moved to after screening
review]
Sec. 2-50: Completeness review.
(a) Within three (3) working days of receiving the notice of appeal and appeal fee, the City Clerk will review the
notice of appeal in consultation with the City Attorney for completeness and sufficiency.
(b) Completeness includes any obvious defects in form or substance, confirmation that the person(s) submitting
the appeal qualifies as an eligible person (the person has standing to r aise the appeal), confirmation that the
listed code provisions are relevant, and determination that all items in Section 2-49 have been properly
provided.
(1) If a notice of appeal is incomplete, the City Clerk will promptly notify the person authorized to receive
notice that the notice of appeal is incomplete and will specify the incomplete items.
(2) Within three (3) working days of being notified the notice of appeal is incomplete, the notice of appeal
may be resubmitted with the incomplete items cured.
(3) If the notice of appeal is not resubmitted, or if the resubmitted notice of appeal is determined, after
additional review to be incomplete, the appeal shall be terminated, the City Clerk will provide notice to
the appellant representative, and no further action will be taken on the notice of appeal.
(c) When an appeal has been determined to be complete and the appeal fee has been paid, t he City Clerk will
promptly forward the appeal to the administrative decision maker for screening. post the notice of appeal
and any attached information, and any new evidence subsequently received pursuant to Subsections (b)(5)
above or 2-55(b)(2), on the City's website, and such the information shall be available for public inspection in
the Office of the City Clerk. When an appeal has been determined to be complete, the City Clerk will also
order assembly of the relevant record and thereafter will make it available to the appeal parties.
Sec. 2-51: Screening review.
(a) Scope of screening. If a notice of appeal is determined to be complete, whether initially or after
resubmittal, the administrative decision maker will review the subject matter of the appeal to
determine whether:
(1) all persons joining in the appeal are eligible persons;
(2) each ground for appeal was raised before the original decision maker;
(3) each ground for appeal is legally sufficient and raises a valid interpretation or application issue
(4) each ground for appeal has merit based on clearly established evidence in the record of the original
decision; and
(5) no new evidence was submitted.
(b) Screening review process. The administrative decision maker may review any information received as
part of the notice of appeal, or in the record of the original decision, that the administrative decision
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maker deems relevant to evaluate the appeal allegations.
(c) Screening determination.
(1) The administrative decision maker will review all information received and any other information
obtained by the administrative decision maker related to the allegations, and will make findings
and conclusions as to the sufficiency of the appeal and each allegation on appeal no later than ten
(10) working days after receipt of the notice of appeal, except if a simultaneous fair hearing review
was filed under Section 2-48, the ten (10) working days time for completing the screening review
does not begin until after the fair hearing review is determined.
(2) If the administrative decision maker determines that the appeal or any allegation asserted in the
appeal is not proper, does not raise legally cognizable issues for review, or has no merit based on
clearly established evidence in the record of the original decision, the appeal or those allegations
will not be presented to the City Council for review and will be dismissed.
(d) Notification of decision. Upon completion of the screening determination, the administrative decision
maker will notify the appellant and the applicant of the determination and those appeal allegations
that remain active will be set for hearing and appeal party registration will proceed as described in
Section 2-52.
(e) Posting of appeal materials. The City Clerk will promptly post on the appeal page of the City’s website
the notice of appeal and screening determination of the administrative decision maker, and the
information will be made part of the record on appeal and will be available for public inspection in the
Office of the City Clerk.
(f) Final decision. The screening determination under this Section is final and is not subject to further
municipal review or appeal.
Sec. 2-50. Fee for filing of appeal.
In all appeals, except those filed by members of the City Council, the appellant must remit to the City Clerk with
the notice of appealshall be charged a fee of [FILL IN FEE AMOUNT HERE] one hundred dollars ($100.), to be paid
to the City Clerk at the time of the filing of the notice of appeal. [Add escalation clause based on inflation or some
other index?] Any appeal for which the appeal fee has not been paid before the deadline for the filing of the
appeal will be rejected as untimely.
Sec. 2-51. Record on appeal. [moved to Section 2-54, below]
Any appeal to the City Council shall be an appeal on the record of the hearing before the board, commission or
other decision maker together with such additional evidence as may be admitted by the Council for consideration
as provided in this Article. The record provided to the City Council shall include the following:
(1) All exhibits, including, without limitation, all writings, drawings, maps, charts, graphs, photographs and
other tangible items received or viewed by the board, commission or other decision maker at the
proceedings;
(2) A verbatim transcript of such proceedings before the board, commission or other decision maker. The
cost of the transcript shall be borne by the City. If a verbatim transcript of the proceedings does not
exist and cannot be produced, whether due to an equipment malfunction or clerical error , or for any
other reason, the decision that is the subject of the appeal will be re-heard before the decision maker
after notice as required by the relevant provisions of this Code or the Land Use Code, whichever is
applicable, and the appeal shall be terminated.
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(3) If available, a video recording of such proceedings before the board, commission or other decision
maker. The cost of reproducing any such video recording for review by the City Council shall be borne
by the City. Additional copies shall be provided to any party-in-interest requesting the same within a
reasonable period of time prior to the date for hearing the appeal, at a cost not to exceed the actual
reproduction costs incurred by the City.
(4) A copy of notice of the hearing on the decision appealed, along with a list of those to whom such
notice was mailed.
Sec. 2-52. Appeal party registration/sScheduling of the hearing/pre-hearing
conference/consolidation of hearings/no ex parte contacts.
(a) Appeal party registration. Within fourteen (14) calendar days after the complete and screened notice of
appeal is posted on the City’s website, any eligible person who intends to be an appeal party must register
with the City Clerk using a form provided by the City Clerk as follows:
(1) The eligible person(s) who signed the notice of appeal is deemed an appeal party by virtue of
filing a complete notice of appeal.
(2) An eligible person who is not the appellant but wishes to be an appeal party in support of the
appeal must do so through the appellant and as part of the appellant’s presentation and argument on the
appeal.
(3) An eligible person who wishes to be an appeal party opposed to the appeal must submit:
i. a statement of how the person qualifies as an eligible person;
ii. a summary of the facts contained in the record on appeal (no new evidence) that oppose the
appellant’s appeal allegations, separated into support for each separate allegation;
iii. a summary of the appeal party’s argument accompanied by references to applicable material in the
record, separated into argument for each separate allegation; and
iv. the name, address, email address, and phone number of the person and an indication of the
person’s preferred means of contact.
(b) Verification. Within two (2) working days of receiving the registration submittal the City Clerk will review the
submittal and confirm the registrant is an eligible person before the person is deemed an appeal party.
(c) Posting of appeal materials. Upon verification of any appeal party opposed to the appeal under Subsection
(b) of this Section, the City Clerk will promptly post the summary of facts filed by the verified appeal party
and any attached information on the City's website, and the information will be made part of the record on
appeal and will be available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk.
(a)(d) Scheduling of the hearing. In the event of After screening of an appeal is complete and the deadline for
appeal party registration has elapsed, the City Clerk will identify a possible date for shall schedule the hearing
on the appeal for a date as early as reasonably practicable but no fewer thantwenty-eight (28) fourteen (14)
days and no more than seventy seven (77) sixty-three (63) calendar days after the deadline for filing of the
notice of appeal for appeal party registration has elapsed and their appeal materials are posted on the City’s
website under Subsection (c) of this Section. The City Clerk will also identify a possible date for the pre-
hearing conference under Subsection (f) of this Section.
a. Prior toBefore scheduling the hearing, the Clerk shall provide will notify the appellant and applicant
appeal parties with a of the possible hearing date, or dates and the possible pre-hearing conference date
or dates.,
b. The appeal parties must respond within two (2) working days to inform the City Clerk determine if they
believe they have an unavoidable conflicts that makes attendance impossible at such date, or dates, exist.
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c. The City Clerk will set the hearing date at a time that takes into account the unavoidable conflicts
identified to the extent reasonably practicable.
(e) Posting of hearing notice. The City Clerk will post on the appeals page of the City’s website and will shall mail
to the appeal parties written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing and the pre-hearing
conference to the appellant and all other parties-in-interest no less more than twenty-one (21) calendar five
(5) working days after prior to setting the date of said the hearing. Said notice shall also include a copy of the
notice of appeal (excluding attachments, which shall be available as provided in §2-49(c)Section 2-51(e)).
(f) Pre-hearing conference. Not fewer than four (4) working days before the scheduled appeal hearing, the City
Clerk will convene a meeting with the appeal parties to provide information and respond to questions about
the appeal hearing process. Any questions the City Clerk receives outside of the pre-hearing conference will
be addressed at the pre-hearing conference so that all appeal parties may receive the same information.
(b)(g) Consolidation of hearings. All appeals regarding the same decision may will be consolidated and scheduled
together to be heard in a single hearing. Council may in its discretion by majority vote at the time of the
scheduled hearing separate the hearing process for individual appeals as provided under Section 2-53(e).
(c)(h) Extension. At any time prior tobefore the expiration of the time for Council to hear an appeal under
Subsection (ad), the City Manager may in the event of scheduling difficulties or notice defects request that
Council approve by motion or resolution the extension of the time for hearing an appeal for a specified
period.
(d)(i) No ex parte contact. In order tTo afford all parties-in-interest eligible persons a fair opportunity to respond
to the information upon which the City Council is to base its decision on app eal, and in order to preserve the
impartiality of Councilmembers hearing the appeal, all Councilmembers who intend to participate in hearing
the appeal shall, to the extent reasonably possible, avoid communications with parties-in-interest appeal
parties and members of the general public regarding the merits of the appeal prior tobefore the hearing on
the appeal, and all appeal parties and the general public must avoid communications with Councilmembers
regarding the merits of the appeal.
Sec. 2-53. Site inspection.
(a) Councilmembers may inspect the site of an overall development plan, project development plan or other
proposal that is the subject of an appeal, either alone or with City st aff present, for the purpose of gaining a
better understanding of the physical characteristics of the site and the surrounding area.
(1) If a Councilmember wishes to schedule a site inspection with City staff present, he or she shall, no later
than fourteen (14) days after the filing of the notice of appeal, request that the City Manager schedule
such inspection.
(2) Upon receipt of such a request, the City Manager shall forthwith schedule the inspection for a date and
time when he or she believes that a majority of the Councilmembers wishing to inspect the site will be
able to attend.
(3) The City Clerk shall, no less than seven (7) days prior to the date of the site inspection, mail notice of
such inspection to the appellant and to all parties-in-interest to whom notice of the appeal hearing was
sent by the City Clerk under § 2-52 above.
(4) The appellant and all other parties-in-interest shall be entitled to attend such scheduled inspection,
along with any members of City staff whose presence is requested by the City Manager. Failure to mail
notice to any party-in-interest shall not affect the scheduling or validity of any proceeding held or
determination made under this Division. Upon receipt of any notice returned by the U.S. Postal Service
marked as undeliverable for any reason, the City Clerk may exclude the party-in-interest to which such
notice had been mailed from any future mailings related to the appeal that was the subject of the
returned notice.
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(b) Any Councilmembers conducting a site inspection under the provisions of Subsection (a) above, either alone
or with City staff present, shall, at the hearing on the appeal, state on the record any observations they made
or conversations they had at the site which they believe may be relevant to thei r determination of the
appeal.
(c) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to authorize any Councilmember or other officer or employee of
the City to enter upon any parcel of real property that is not open to the public without the permission of the
owner of such property or the permission of such other person or entity as may be lawfully in possession of
the property.
Sec. 2-5453. Procedure at the hearing.
(a) At the hearing on the appeal by the City Council, the presentation of argument on the merits of the appeal
shall be made in the following order and for the times set forth below, subject to modification of such
limitations in time and scope allowed as may be imposedestablished at the discretion of the Mayor or a
majority vote of the Council:
(1) Presentation by City staff explaining the nature of the appeal or appeals and the decision being
appealed;
(2) Comments by Councilmembers who have inspected the site pursuant to Subsection 2-53(a) aboveof
their own accord regarding the date of the inspection and any observations of the site they believe
may be relevant to the Council’s determination of the appeal;
(3) Consideration of any procedural issues identified under Subsection (c) below;
(4) Presentation of argument by the appellant for up to twenty (20) minutes or such other time as City
Council allotsand any party-in-interest in support of the appeal;
(5) Presentation of argument by any party-in-interest who is an opponent ofappeal party opposed to the
appeal for a total of up to twenty (20) minutes or such other time as City Council allots;
(6) If one or more appeal parties has argued to oppose the appeal, r Rebuttal presentation by the appellant
for up to ten (10) minutes or such other time as City Council allotsand any party-in-interest in support
of the appeal;
(7) Rebuttal presentation by any party-in-interest who is an opponent ofappeal party opposed to the
appeal for a total of up to ten (10) minutes or such other time as City Council allots;
(8) Councilmember questions of City staff and parties-in-interestappeal parties; and
(9) Motion, discussion and vote by the City Council.
(b) Factors to be considered in determining whether to modify the period of time for the presentation of
argument on the merits of an appeal shall include, but not be limited to, the complexity of the issues raised
in the notice of appeal, the length of the record on appeal, the potential impact that the determination of
the appeal may have on the community at large and the number of parties-in-interestappeal parties who
wish to address the Council with regard to the merits of the appeal.
(c) Prior to hearing the presentation of argument on the merits of the appeal, the Mayor may, in their his or her
discretion, establish a separate period of time during which the Council may first consider and the Mayor
may determine, subject to override by the Council by majority vote, any procedural issues related to the
hearing of the appeal, including, but not limited to, objections regarding the possible introduction or
exclusion of certain evidence, whether to separate any consolidated appeals of the same decision by
different appellants, the period of time to be allowed for presentation of argument an d rebuttal on the
merits of the appeal and any concerns or objections related to the record on appeal.
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(d) No person making a presentation to the City Council shall be subject to cross-examination except that
members of the City Council and the City Attorney may inquire of such person for the purpose of eliciting
information and for the purpose of clarifying information presented.
(e) In the event of multiple appeals involving the same decision of a board, commission or other an original
decision maker that have been consolidated in accordance with §2-52(b)Section 2-52(f), the Mayor, in his or
herthe Mayor’s discretion, may modify the procedure contained in Subsection (a) above so as of this Section
to expedite the hearing of such appeals, while still ensuring that each appellant can make that appellant’s
own case and that appeal parties for and against each appeal will have equal time.
Sec. 2-51. Record on appeal.
Any appeal to the City Council shall be an appeal on the record of the hearing before the board, commission or
other decision maker together with such additional evidence as may be admitted by the Council for consideration
as provided in this Article. [moved to 2-54(b)]The record provided to the City Council shall include the following,
together with such additional materials as are provided in Sec. ??:
(1) All exhibits, including, without limitation, all writings, drawings, maps, charts, graphs, photograp hs and
other tangible items received or viewed by the board, commission or other decision maker at the
proceedings;
(2) A verbatim transcript of such proceedings before the board, commission or other decision maker. The
cost of the transcript shall be borne by the City. If a verbatim transcript of the proceedings does not
exist and cannot be produced, whether due to an equipment malfunction or clerical error, or for any
other reason, the decision that is the subject of the appeal will be re-heard before the decision maker
after notice as required by the relevant provisions of this Code or the Land Use Code, whichever is
applicable, and the appeal shall be terminated.
(3) If available, a video recording of such proceedings before the board, commission or ot her decision
maker. The cost of reproducing any such video recording for review by the City Council shall be borne
by the City. Additional copies shall be provided to any party-in-interest requesting the same within a
reasonable period of time prior to the date for hearing the appeal, at a cost not to exceed the actual
reproduction costs incurred by the City.
(4) A copy of notice of the hearing on the decision appealed, along with a list of those to whom such
notice was mailed.
Sec. 2-5554. Record on appeal; Wwritten materials; new evidence.
(a) The City Council shall consider an appeal based upon the record on appeal, including any new evidence
admitted for or at the appeal hearing, the relevant provisions of the Code and Charter and any other
applicable legal authorities, the grounds for appeal cited in the notice of appeal, the arguments made by
parties-in-interestappeal parties at the hearing on the appeal, and the City staff report and presentation
prepared for the appeal; provided, however, that issues raised during the presentation of argument but
not raised in the notice of within the allowable scope of the appeal shall not be considered by the City
Council in deciding the appeal.
(b) The record provided to the City Council shall include the following: [moved from Section 2-51 and
modified]
(1) All exhibits, including, without limitation, all writings, drawings, maps, charts, graphs, photographs and
other tangible items received or viewed by the original decision maker at the proceedings;
(2) A verbatim transcript of the proceedings before the original decision maker unless the decision was not
made a hearing (such as a decision by a department director). The cost of the transcript shall be borne by
the City.
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(3) If available, a video recording of the proceedings before the original decision maker. The cost of
reproducing any such video recording for review by the City Council shall be borne by the City. Additional
copies shall be provided to appeal party requesting the same within a reasonable period of time before
the date for hearing the appeal, at a cost not to exceed the actual reproduction costs incurred by the
City.
(4) A copy of the notice of appeal and screening determination.
(5) A copy of all appeal party submittals admitted under Section 2-52(c).
(6) A copy of notice of the appeal hearing.
(7) City staff presentation required under Subsection (d) of this Section and appeal parties’ presentations.
(b)(c) No new evidence shall be presented to the City Council before or during an appeal hearing, and no new
evidence shall be considered on appeal, except as follows:
(1) When offered by an appellant and submitted pursuant to § 2-49(b)(5);
(2) When offered by a party-in-interest opposed to the appeal in response to and regarding appeal
allegations under § 2-48(b)(2)c, d, or e, provided that any such new evidence must be submitted to the
City Clerk within twenty-one (21) calendar days after the deadline for filing the related notice of appeal
and the City Clerk shall not provide any new evidence to Council submitted by any person after the
time for submittal has expired;
(3) When offered by City staff or parties-in-interest in response to questions presented by
Councilmembers at the hearing on the appeal under Subsection 2-54(a) or (d) above; or
(24) When offered by Councilmembers after inspecting the site of the project development plan or other
proposal that is the subject of an appeal pursuant to the provisions of § 2-53 of this Article.
(c)(d) City staff shall prepare for Council consideration the record as described in §2-51 Subsections (a) and (b) of
this Section, together with a staff agenda item summary and presentation materials, which shall become part
of the record of the appeal hearing. Staff shall also provide to the Council the notice of appeal and all
attachments to it, and new evidence provided to the City Clerk in accordance with subsection (b)(2), above.
The Council will determine whether to admit for consideration each item of new evidence offered by any
party, and those materials admitted for consideration shall become part of the record of the appeal hearing.
(d)(e) Any party-in-interest appeal party wishing to submit a presentation of their previously submitted written
facts and argument shall must submit them to the City Clerk a copy of all materials, including digital
presentations, to be presented to the Council at the appeal hearing in digital form and in hard copy no later
than noon on the working day before the day of the appeal hearing, or 4:00 p.m. the business day prior to
the appeal hearing if the Council meeting at which the hearing will be conducted is scheduled to begin earlier
than 6:00 p.m., and such materials shall thereafter be made reasonably available by tThe City Clerk will post
any presentation materials received by the end of the working day before the day of the hearing to any
persons upon on request. In light of the limitations on admission prohibition on submission of new evidence,
admission of any such materials for consideration shall be subject to Council determination at the appeal
hearing. Any party-in-interestappeal party may provide a true and accurate hard copy of any such argument
or presentation to be provided to the for Council at the hearing, and to City staff and the other appeal
partiesreference, so long as no fewer than twenty (20) such copies are provided to the City Clerk along with
the digital presentationbrought to the hearing for distribution.
(e)(f) Any party-in-interestappeal party who believes that new evidence has been improperly offered or
introduced into the appeal hearing may, at any time during the hearing, interrupt the proceedings and object
to the Council's consideration of such evidence. If such an objection is made, the Mayor shall rule on the
objection, after consultation with the City Attorney if necessary, and the evidence shall either be received
and considered by the Council or disregarded by the Council in accordance with the ruling of the Mayor.;
provided, however, that t The Mayor's ruling on this or any other procedural issue raised during the course
of the hearing may be overridden by a majority of the Council. The failure of a party-in-interestan appeal
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party to make such an objection shall constitute a waiver of the same by that party-in-interest appeal party
for the purpose of any court appeal of the Council's decision.
Sec. 2-5655. City Council decision on appeal.
(a) In considering an allegation that a board, commission or other decision maker failed to properly interpret
and apply the relevant provisions of the Code or Charter asserted under Paragraph 2-48(b)(1)Subsection 2-
49(b) of this Article, the City Council shall determine how such provisions should, in the City Council's
judgment, be applied to the evidence contained in the record of the appeal hearing.
(b) At the conclusion of such hearing, the City Council shall uphold, overturn or modify the decision of the board,
commission or otheroriginal decision maker, and may impose such conditions as the Council determines
appropriate to further the purposes of or compliance with the standards governing the decision; provided,
however, that:
(1) The City Council shall instead remand the matter for rehearing if it finds that the appellant was denied
a fair hearing before the board, commission or other decision maker for any of the reasons stated in
Paragraph 2-48(b)(2) of this Article. Notwithstanding any language to the contrary in City Code, if City
Council determines that on remand the board, commission, or decision maker will be unable to provide
a fair rehearing or will be unable to provide a rehearing because a quorum will not b e available, City
Council shall remand the matter for rehearing to a qualified, alternative decision maker determined by
City Council. Additionally, City Council may remand the matter for rehearing to a qualified, alternative
decision maker if the public confidence in the decision on remand would be better served than remand
to the original board, commission, decision maker.
(2) Tthe City Council may also remand the matter for rehearing in order for the board, commission or
otheroriginal decision maker to receive and consider additional information with regard to any issue
raised on appeal. Any such remand shall include direction from the City Council to the board,
commission or otheroriginal decision maker as to the issues to be considered at the rehearing.
(c) No later than the date of its next regular meeting, the City Council shall adopt, by resolution, findings of fact
in support of its decision. The date of passage of such resolution shall be the date of final action of the City
Council for the purpose of any subsequent judicial review of the decision of the City Council.
(d) Subsequent to theAfter adoption of the resolution required under Subsection (c), aboveof this Section, the
Council may amend saidthe resolution at any time in order to clarify or correct it, or to modify the decision in
order to resolve a related legal dispute or to bring the decision into compliance with federal, state or local
law, including the Charter and Code of the City of Fort Collins., provided:
(1) At least fourteen (14) days prior tobefore consideration of any such amendments, written notice that
the Council will consider such amendments must be mailed to the last known address of the appellant,
the applicant, and any other party-in-interest appeal parties who appeared at the related appeal
hearing.
(2) Persons entitled to notice of the consideration of amendments shall have an opportunity to comment
at the time of such consideration.
Secs. 2-5756—2-70. Reserved.
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CHAPTER 2 - ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE II. - CITY COUNCIL
Division 3 Appeals Procedure
Page 1 of 10
Division 3 Appeals Procedure
Sec. 2-45. Appeals generally.
An appeal of any final decision expressly appealable to City Council under other provisions of this Code, including
the Land Use Code, shall be initiated by an eligible party and decided in the manner set forth in this Division. Any
action taken in reliance upon any decision of an original decision maker that is subject to review or appeal under this
Division shall be solely at the risk of the person(s) taking such action until all appeal rights related to such decision
have been exhausted, and the City shall not be liable for any damages arising from any such action.
Sec. 2-46. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this
Section:
Appeal party means an eligible person who has taken steps necessary under Section 2-52(a) and been verified under
Section 2-52(b) to participate in an appeal.
Appellant means one or more eligible persons appealing a decision from an original decision maker to the City
Council by the filing of a notice of appeal.
Appellant representative means the individual designated in a notice of appeal as the contact person for all matters
related to that appeal.
Applicant means the person who or organization that submitted the application to the original decision maker whose
decision has been appealed.
Decision maker, administrative means the designee of the City Manager who performs fair hearing reviews under
Section 2-48 and notice of appeal screening under Section 2-51.
Decision maker, original means the board, commission or other decision maker the final decision of which is the
subject of an appeal or a request for administrative review.
Eligible person means a person who or organization that has standing to appeal the final decision of an original
decision maker. Such standing to appeal shall be limited to the following:
(1) The applicant;
(2) Any party holding an ownership or possessory interest in the real or personal property that was the
subject of the decision of the original decision maker whose action is to be appealed;
(3) Any person who or organization that provided written comments to the appropriate City staff for delivery
to the original decision maker before or at the hearing on the matter that is to be appealed;
(4) Any person who or organization that appeared before and provided comments to the original decision
maker at the hearing on the action that is to be appealed;
(5) The City Council as represented by the request of a single member of the City Council.
Evidence means any information, whether in verbal, audio, written, graphic, or other form, presented at the appeal
hearing to support or refute a particular proposition or conclusion. Evidence does not include argument as to how
information offered as evidence should be viewed by the City Council.
Final decision means the action of an original decision maker when no further rehearing is available before that
original decision maker; provided, however, that a recommendation to the City Council from a board, commission
or other decision maker shall not be considered as a final decision of that board, commission or other decision maker.
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(Supp. No. 149, Update 1)
Page 2 of 10
New evidence means any evidence, relating to the proposal or application that was the subject of final decision by
an original decision maker, that was not provided or presented at the hearing or as part of the record before that
original decision maker. New evidence does not include evidence in the record that has been modified, highlighted,
underlined, italicized or otherwise marked to emphasize certain portions of writings or graphics presented to the
original decision maker as long as any modified graphic presented to the City Council at the appeal hearing is
accompanied by a reference to the location of the original material in the record of t he decision being appealed.
Sec. 2-47. Appeal of final decision permitted; effect of appeal; grounds for appeal ; limit on
subject matter of appeal.
(a) Initiating an appeal. Any eligible person may appeal to the City Council the final decision of any original
decision maker to which this appeal procedure applies in the manner provided in this Division by the
filing a notice of appeal with the City Clerk within fourteen (14) calendar days after the decision that is
the subject of the appeal. A separate process for seeking administrative review of fair hearing issues is
provided in Section 2-48.
(b) Grounds for appeal. Except for appeals by members of the City Council, t he permissible grounds for
appeal shall be limited to allegations that the original decision maker failed to properly interpret and
apply relevant provisions of the Code and Charter in deciding particular aspects of the decision raised by
an eligible person for consideration by the original decision maker.
(c) Limit on subject matter of appeal. Allegations of appeal must follow from issues raised before the original
decision maker. Issues not raised in connection with the original decision are deemed waived and are
not subject to appeal.
(d) Councilmember appeals. Appeals filed by members of the City Council must include a statement of each
specific question to be considered on appeal rather than allegations of error.
(1) Upon the filing of any such appeal, the director of the affected City service area shall identify the
specific Code provisions that may pertain to the specific questions raised by the appeal and shall
provide the information to the City Clerk before the date that the notice of hearing on the appeal
is to be mailed under Section 2-52 of this Division.
(2) The City Clerk will include said information with the notice of hearing.
(3) Councilmembers who file an appeal may participate in hearing an appeal in the same manner as
they participate in hearing appeals filed by other eligible persons.
Sec. 2-48. Administrative fair hearing review of final decision permitted; effect of fair hearing
determination.
(a) Fair hearing review. Any eligible person may seek administrative review of procedural defects in
connection with the final decision of an original decision maker to which this Division applies by filing a
request for fair hearing review with the City Clerk within fourteen (14) calendar days after the decision
that is the subject of the requested review.
(b) Fair hearing issues. Procedural defects subject to review include those matters constituting an alleged
failure to conduct a fair hearing in that:
(1) The original decision maker exceeded its authority or jurisdiction as contained in the Code or
Charter;
(2) The original decision maker substantially ignored its previously established rules of procedure;
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(3) The original decision maker considered evidence relevant to its findings that was substantially false
or grossly misleading;
(4) The original decision maker improperly failed to receive all relevant evidence offered by the
appellant; or
(5) The original decision maker was biased against the appellant by reason of a conflict of interest or
other close business, personal or social relationship that interfered with the original decision
maker's independence of judgment.
(c) Review process.
(1) The request for fair hearing review shall be on a form provided by the City Clerk, shall be signed by
all persons joining the request for review, and must include documentation to substantiate the
grounds for the review sought, such as evidence in the record, new evidence relevant to the issues
under review, and written arguments explaining the allegations.
(2) If the eligible person seeking the fair hearing review is not the applicant, the City Clerk will notify and
provide a copy of the request for review to the applicant within two (2) working days of receiving the
request for review.
(3) The applicant may file a written summary of facts and arguments and any documentation to oppose
the allegations no later than five (5) working days after the City Clerk’s notice of the requ est.
(4) The administrative decision maker may review any information received from the requesting party,
applicant, City staff or other source, that the administrative decision maker considers relevant to
evaluate the allegations of procedural defects, including the original decision and supporting
documents internally, potentially requesting additional information or clarification.
(d) Fair hearing/procedural defect determination.
(1) The administrative decision maker will review all information received and any other information
obtained by the administrative decision maker related to the allegations, and will make findings and
conclusions as to the issues raised no later than five (5) working days after receipt of the request,
unless the request was made by the a party other than the applicant, in which event the
administrative decision maker will issue a decision no later than five (5) working days after receipt of
the applicant’s response.
(2) If the administrative decision maker determines that no procedural defect raised a significant
question as to whether the decision under review was based on a fair hearing, the administrative
decision maker will provide written notice of that determination to the requ esting party and to the
applicant.
(3) If the administrative decision maker determines that a procedural defect occurred that raises a
significant question as to whether the decision under review was based on a fair hearing, t he
administrative decision maker will remand the matter for rehearing.
(4) If the administrative decision maker determines that on remand the original decision maker will be
unable to provide a fair rehearing or will be unable to provide a fair rehearing because a quorum will
not be available, the administrative decision maker must remand the matter for rehearing to a
qualified, alternative decision maker. Additionally, the administrative decision maker may remand
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the matter for rehearing to a qualified, alternative decision maker if the pub lic confidence in the
decision on remand would be better served than remand to the original decision maker.
(e) Effect of fair hearing determination. If the administrative decision maker remands the matter for rehearing,
any notice of appeal that was filed on the same matter will be automatically cancelled without prejudice
and the appeal fee will be refunded.
(f) Fair hearing review fee. In all fair hearing reviews, the person requesting review must remit to the City Clerk
with the request a fee of [FILL IN FEE AMOUNT HERE] [Add escalation clause based on inflation or some
other index?] No fair hearing review will begin until the fee has been received by the City Clerk. Any fair
hearing review for which the fair hearing review fee has not been paid before the deadline for the filing of
the fair hearing review will be rejected as untimely.
(g) Final decision. Any fair hearing review decision under this Section is final and is not subject to further
municipal review or appeal.
Sec. 2-49. Notice of appeal; no new evidence.
(a) Form of appeal notice. The notice of appeal must be on a form provided by the City Clerk, must be signed by
all persons joining the appeal and must include the following:
(1) The action of the original decision maker that is the subject of the appeal;
(2) The date of the action;
(3) The name, address, telephone number and the basis for the person’s qualification to appeal as an eligible
person;
(4) In all appeals except those filed by members of City Council, the grounds for the appeal, including specific
allegations of error of interpretation or application of relevant and specific provisions of Code or the
Charter;
(5) A summary of the facts contained in the record on appeal (no new evidence) that support the appeal
allegations, separated into support for each separate allegation, including where in the record (such as
the minute number in a recording, or page and line number in a document) the appellant raised the
issue(s) before the original decision maker;
(6) A written summary of the appellant’s argument accompanied by specific references to applicable
material in the record (no new evidence), separated into argument for each separate allegation;
(7) The name, address, email address, and phone number of the appellant representative who is authorized
to receive notice required to be mailed by the City to the appellant and an indication of the appellant
representative’s preferred means of contact. In the case of an appeal filed by more than one (1) person,
the name, address, email address, and telephone number of one (1) appellant representative who is
authorized to receive, on behalf of all persons joining the appeal, any notice required to be mailed by
the City to the appellant under this Division and an indication of the appellant representative’s preferred
means of contact; and
(8) Any other information required by the City Clerk.
(b) Limit on submittal. No materials other than that specified in Subsection (a) of this Section are allowed to be
included in or attached to the notice of appeal or submitted by the appellant at any time, except for
presentation materials as allowed in Section 2-54(d).
(c) Appeal fee. In all appeals, except those filed by members of the City Council, the appellant mu st remit to the
City Clerk with the notice of appeal a fee of [FILL IN FEE AMOUNT HERE] [Add escalation clause based on
inflation or some other index?] No appeal will be reviewed for completeness or sufficiency until the appeal fee
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has been received by the City Clerk. Any appeal for which the appeal fee has not been paid before the deadline
for the filing of the appeal will be rejected as untimely. If a fair hearing review was filed on the same matter
and the administrative decision maker remands the matter for rehearing, the appeal for the same matter will
be automatically cancelled without prejudice and the appeal fee will be refunded.
Sec. 2-50: Completeness review.
(a) Within three (3) working days of receiving the notice of appeal and appeal fee, the City Clerk will review the
notice of appeal in consultation with the City Attorney for completeness and sufficiency.
(b) Completeness includes any obvious defects in form or substance, confirmation that the person(s) submitting
the appeal qualifies as an eligible person (the person has standing to raise the appeal), confirmation that the
listed code provisions are relevant, and determination that all items in Section 2-49 have been properly
provided.
(1) If a notice of appeal is incomplete, the City Clerk will promptly notify the person authorized to receive
notice that the notice of appeal is incomplete and will specify the incomplete items.
(2) Within three (3) working days of being notified the notice of appeal is incomplete, the notice of appeal
may be resubmitted with the incomplete items cured.
(3) If the notice of appeal is not resubmitted, or if the resubmitted notice of appeal is determined, after
additional review to be incomplete, the appeal shall be terminated, the City Clerk will provide notice to
the appellant representative, and no further action will be taken on the notice of appeal.
(c) When an appeal has been determined to be complete and the appeal fee has been paid, t he City Clerk will
promptly forward the appeal to the administrative decision maker for screening. When an appeal has been
determined to be complete, the City Clerk will also order assembly of the relevant record and thereafter will
make it available to the appeal parties.
Sec. 2-51: Screening review.
(a) Scope of screening. If a notice of appeal is determined to be complete, whether initially or after
resubmittal, the administrative decision maker will review the subject matter of the appeal to determine
whether:
(1) all persons joining in the appeal are eligible persons;
(2) each ground for appeal was raised before the original decision maker;
(3) each ground for appeal is legally sufficient and raises a valid interpretation or application issue
(4) each ground for appeal has merit based on clearly established evidence in the record of the original
decision; and
(5) no new evidence was submitted.
(b) Screening review process. The administrative decision maker may review any information received as
part of the notice of appeal, or in the record of the original decision, that the administrative decision
maker deems relevant to evaluate the appeal allegations.
(c) Screening determination.
(1) The administrative decision maker will review all information received and any other information
obtained by the administrative decision maker related to the allegations, and will make findings and
conclusions as to the sufficiency of the appeal and each allegation on appeal no later than ten (10)
working days after receipt of the notice of appeal, except if a simultaneous fair hearing review was
filed under Section 2-48, the ten (10) working days’ time for completing the screening review does
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not begin until after the fair hearing review is determined.
(2) If the administrative decision maker determines that the appeal or any allegation asserted in the
appeal is not proper, does not raise legally cognizable issues for review, or has no merit based on
clearly established evidence in the record of the original decision, the appeal or those allegations will
not be presented to the City Council for review and will be dismissed.
(d) Notification of decision. Upon completion of the screening determination, the administrative decision
maker will notify the appellant and the applicant of the determination and those appeal allegations that
remain active will be set for hearing and appeal party registration will proceed as described in Section 2-
52.
(e) Posting of appeal materials. The City Clerk will promptly post on the appeal page of the City’s website
the notice of appeal and screening determination of the administrative decision maker, and the
information will be made part of the record on appeal and will be available for public inspection in the
Office of the City Clerk.
(f) Final decision. The screening determination under this Section is final and is not subject to further
municipal review or appeal.
Sec. 2-52. Appeal party registration/ scheduling of the hearing/ pre-hearing conference/
consolidation of hearings/no ex parte contacts.
(a) Appeal party registration. Within fourteen (14) calendar days after the complete and screened notice of appeal
is posted on the City’s website, any eligible person who intends to be an appeal party must register with the City
Clerk using a form provided by the City Clerk as follows:
(1) The eligible person(s) who signed the notice of appeal is deemed an appeal party by virtue of filing a
complete notice of appeal.
(2) An eligible person who is not the appellant but wishes to be an appeal party in support of the appeal
must do so through the appellant and as part of the appellant’s presentation and argument on the appeal.
(3) An eligible person who wishes to be an appeal party opposed to the appeal must submit:
i. a statement of how the person qualifies as an eligible person;
ii. a summary of the facts contained in the record on appeal (no new evidence) that oppose the
appellant’s appeal allegations, separated into support for each separate allegation;
iii. a summary of the appeal party’s argument accompanied by references to applicable material in the
record, separated into argument for each separate allegation; and
iv. the name, address, email address, and phone number of the person and an indication of the person’s
preferred means of contact.
(b) Verification. Within two (2) working days of receiving the registration submittal the City Clerk will review the
submittal and confirm the registrant is an eligible person before the person is deemed an appeal party.
(c) Posting of appeal materials. Upon verification of any appeal party opposed to the appeal under Subsection (b)
of this Section, the City Clerk will promptly post the summary of facts filed by the verified appeal party and any
attached information on the City's website, and the information will be made part of the record on appeal and
will be available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk.
(d) Scheduling of the hearing. After screening of an appeal is complete and the deadline for appeal party registration
has elapsed, the City Clerk will identify a possible date for the hearing on the appeal as early as reasonably
practicable but no fewer than fourteen (14) and no more than sixty-three (63) calendar days after the deadline
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for appeal party registration has elapsed and their appeal materials are posted on the City’s website under
Subsection (c) of this Section. The City Clerk will also identify a possible date for the pre-hearing conference
under Subsection (f) of this Section.
(1) Before scheduling the hearing, the Clerk will notify the appeal parties of the possible hearing date or dates
and the possible pre-hearing conference date or dates.
(2) The appeal parties must respond within two (2) working days to inform the City Clerk if they believe they
have an unavoidable conflicts that makes attendance impossible at such date, or dates.
(3) The City Clerk will set the hearing date at a time that takes into account the unavoidable conflicts identified
to the extent reasonably practicable.
(e) Posting of hearing notice. The City Clerk will post on the appeals page of the City’s website and will mail to the
appeal parties written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing and the pre-hearing conference no more
than five (5) working days after setting the date of the hearing. Said notice shall also include a copy of the notice
of appeal (excluding attachments, which shall be available as provided in Section 2-51(e)).
(f) Pre-hearing conference. Not fewer than four (4) working days before the scheduled appeal hearing, the City
Clerk will convene a meeting with the appeal parties to provide information and respond to questions about the
appeal hearing process. Any questions the City Clerk receives outside of the pre-hearing conference will be
addressed at the pre-hearing conference so that all appeal parties may receive the same information.
(g) Consolidation of hearings. All appeals regarding the same decision will be consolidated and scheduled together
to be heard in a single hearing. Council may in its discretion by majority vote at the time of the scheduled hearing
separate the hearing process for individual appeals as provided under Section 2-53(e).
(h) Extension. At any time before the expiration of the time for Council to hear an appeal under Subsection (d), the
City Manager may in the event of scheduling difficulties or notice defects request that Council approve by
motion or resolution the extension of the time for hearing an appeal for a specified period.
(i) No ex parte contact. To afford all eligible persons a fair opportunity to respond to the information upon which
the City Council is to base its decision on appeal, and to preserve the impartiality of Councilmembers hearing
the appeal, all Councilmembers who intend to participate in hearing the appea l shall, to the extent reasonably
possible, avoid communications with appeal parties and members of the general public regarding the merits of
the appeal before the hearing on the appeal, and all appeal parties and the general public must avoid
communications with Councilmembers regarding the merits of the appeal.
Sec. 2-53. Procedure at the hearing.
(a) At the hearing on the appeal by the City Council, the presentation of argument on the mer its of the appeal
shall be made in the following order and for the times set forth below, subject to modification of time and
scope allowed as may be established at the discretion of the Mayor or a majority vote of the Council:
(1) Presentation by City staff explaining the nature of the appeal or appeals and the decision being appealed;
(2) Comments by Councilmembers who have inspected the site of their own accord regarding the date of
the inspection and any observations of the site they believe may be relevant to the Council’s
determination of the appeal;
(3) Consideration of any procedural issues identified under Subsection (c) below;
(4) Presentation of argument by the appellant for up to twenty (20) minutes or such other time as City
Council allots;
(5) Presentation of argument by any appeal party opposed to the appeal for a total of up to twenty (20)
minutes or such other time as City Council allots;
(6) If one or more appeal parties has argued to oppose the appeal, r ebuttal presentation by the appellant
for up to ten (10) minutes or such other time as City Council allots;
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(7) Rebuttal presentation by any appeal party opposed to the appeal for a total of up to ten (10) minutes or
such other time as City Council allots;
(8) Councilmember questions of City staff and appeal parties; and
(9) Motion, discussion and vote by the City Council.
(b) Factors to be considered in determining whether to modify the period of time for the presentation of argument
on the merits of an appeal shall include, but not be limited to, the complexity of the issues raised in the notice
of appeal, the length of the record on appeal, the potential impact that the determinatio n of the appeal may
have on the community at large and the number of appeal parties who wish to address the Council with regard
to the merits of the appeal.
(c) Prior to hearing the presentation of argument on the merits of the appeal, the Mayor may, in their discretion,
establish a separate period of time during which the Council may first consider and the Mayor may determine,
subject to override by the Council by majority vote, any procedural issues related to the hearing of the appeal,
including, but not limited to, objections regarding the possible introduction or exclusion of certain evidence,
whether to separate any consolidated appeals of the same decision by different appellants, the period of time
to be allowed for presentation of argument and rebu ttal on the merits of the appeal and any concerns or
objections related to the record on appeal.
(d) No person making a presentation to the City Council shall be subject to cross-examination except that
members of the City Council and the City Attorney may inquire of such person for the purpose of eliciting
information and for the purpose of clarifying information presented.
(e) In the event of multiple appeals involving the same decision of an original decision maker that have been
consolidated in accordance with Section 2-52(f), the Mayor, in the Mayor’s discretion, may modify the
procedure contained in Subsection (a) of this Section to expedite the hearing of such appeals, while still
ensuring that each appellant can make that appellant’s own case and that appeal parties for and against each
appeal will have equal time.
Sec. 2-54. Record on appeal; written materials; evidence.
(a) The City Council shall consider an appeal based upon the record on appeal, the relevant provisions of the Code
and Charter and any other applicable legal authorities, the grounds for appeal cited in the notice of appeal, the
arguments made by appeal parties at the hearing on the appeal, and the City staff report and presentation
prepared for the appeal; provided, however, that issues raised during the presentation of argument but not
within the allowable scope of the appeal shall not be considered by the City Council in deciding the appeal.
(b) The record provided to the City Council shall include the following:
(1) All exhibits, including, without limitation, all writings, drawings, maps, charts, graphs, photographs and
other tangible items received or viewed by the original decision maker at the proceedings;
(2) A verbatim transcript of the proceedings before the original decision maker unless the decision was not
made a hearing (such as a decision by a department director). The cost of the transcript shall be borne by
the City.
(3) If available, a video recording of the proceedings before the original decision maker. The cost of reproducing
any such video recording for review by the City Council shall be borne by the City. Additional copies shall
be provided to appeal party requesting the same within a reasonable period of time before the date for
hearing the appeal, at a cost not to exceed the actual reproduction costs incurred by the City.
(4) A copy of the notice of appeal and screening determination.
(5) A copy of all appeal party submittals admitted under Section 2-52(c).
(6) A copy of notice of the appeal hearing.
(7) City staff presentation required under Subsection (d) of this Section and appeal parties’ presentations.
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(c) No new evidence shall be presented to the City Council before or during an appeal hearing, and no new evidence
shall be considered on appeal, except:
(1) When offered by City staff or parties-in-interest in response to questions presented by Councilmembers at
the hearing on the appeal; or
(2) When offered by Councilmembers after inspecting the site of the project development plan or other
proposal that is the subject of an appeal.
(d) City staff shall prepare for Council consideration the record as described in Subsections (a) and (b) of this Section,
together with a staff agenda item summary and presentation materials, which shall become part of the record
of the appeal hearing. Staff shall also provide to the Council the notice of appeal and all attachments to it .
(e) Any appeal party wishing to submit a presentation of their previously submitted written facts and argument
must submit them to the City Clerk in digital form and in hard copy no later than noon on the working day before
the day of the appeal hearing. The City Clerk will post any presentation materials received by the end of the
working day before the day of the hearing. In light of the prohibition on submission of new evidence, admission
of any such materials for consideration shall be subject to Council determination at the appeal hearing. Any
appeal party may provide a true and accurate hard copy of any such argument or presentation to be provided
to the Council at the hearing, and to City staff and the other appeal parties, so long as no fewer than twenty
(20) such copies are brought to the hearing for distribution.
(f) Any appeal party who believes that evidence has been improperly offered or introduced into the appeal hearing
may, at any time during the hearing, interrupt the proceedings and object to the Counci l's consideration of such
evidence. If such an objection is made, the Mayor shall rule on the objection, after consultation with the City
Attorney if necessary, and the evidence shall either be received and considered by the Council or disregarded
by the Council in accordance with the ruling of the Mayor. The Mayor's ruling on this or any other procedural
issue raised during the course of the hearing may be overridden by a majority of the Council. The failure of an
appeal party to make such an objection shall constitute a waiver of the same by that appeal party for the
purpose of any court appeal of the Council's decision.
Sec. 2-55. City Council decision on appeal.
(a) In considering an allegation that a board, commission or other decision maker failed to properly interpret and
apply the relevant provisions of the Code or Charter asserted under Subsection 2-49(b) of this Article, the City
Council shall determine how such provisions should, in the City Council's judgment, be applied to the evidence
contained in the record of the appeal hearing.
(b) At the conclusion of such hearing, the City Council shall uphold, overturn or modify the decision of the original
decision maker, and may impose such conditions as the Council determines appropriate to further the
purposes of or compliance with the standards governing the decision; provided, however, that :
The City Council may also remand the matter for rehearing for the original decision maker to receive and
consider additional information with regard to any issue raised on appeal. Any such remand shall include
direction from the City Council to the original decision maker as to the issues to be considered at the rehearing.
(c) No later than the date of its next regular meeting, the City Council shall adopt, by resolution, findings of fact
in support of its decision. The date of passage of such resolution shall be the date of final action of the City
Council for the purpose of any subsequent judicial review of the decision of the City Council.
(d) After adoption of the resolution required under Subsection (c) of this Section, the Council may amend the
resolution at any time to clarify or correct it, or to modify the decision to r esolve a related legal dispute or to
bring the decision into compliance with federal, state or local law, including the Charter and Code of the City
of Fort Collins., provided:
(1) At least fourteen (14) days before consideration of any such amendments, written notice that the Council
will consider such amendments must be mailed to the last known address of the appeal parties who
appeared at the related appeal hearing.
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(2) Persons entitled to notice of the consideration of amendments shall have an opportu nity to comment at
the time of such consideration.
Secs. 2-56—2-70. Reserved.
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Item 4.
Final decision by original decision maker
Eligible person
requests fair hearing
review and submits
supporting evidence
and argument and fee
within 14 days
Administrative decision maker
within 5 days either provides
written notice of no
procedural defect or remands
for rehearing
If requestor is not the
applicant, then
applicant submits
supporting evidence
and argument in
opposition within 5
days
Notify any pending appeal
screening to proceed or if
remanded then cancel any
pending appeal without
prejudice
Eligible person files
notice of appeal about
a question raised during
original procedings, plus
facts and arguments and
fee within 14 days
City Clerk within 3
days reviews notice of
appeal for
completeness
Administrative decision
maker screens notice of
appeal for standing and
sufficiency within 10 days
City Clerk posts on website
the complete, screened
notice of appeal and
screening determination
Appeal party
registration
within 14 days
Hearing and pre -hearing
conference scheduled within
14-66 days
City Council considers appeal
and record evidence of viable
issues involving interpretation
and application of Code
END
AppealFair Hearing Review
END
Revised Appeals Processes - Basic Flowchart Dec. 10, 2024
Eligible person
opportunity to
cure and resubmit
within 3 days if
incomplete
Clerk verification
registrant is an
eligible person
within 2 days
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Item 4.
Process Duration Comparison Table Dec. 10, 2024
Fair Hearing Review Appeal-New Procedures Current Procedure
Decision Day
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14 FH review request 14 cd Notice of appeal 14 cd Notice of appeal 14 cd
15
16 Notify applicant if applicant not
req 2 wd
17 Completeness review finished 3 wd
18
19 FH determination if applicant
request 5 wd
20 Cure deadline if incomplete 3 wd
21 Applicant submit response 5 wd
22
23
24
25
26 FH determination if app not
requestor 5 wd
27
28
29
30 Screening complete (1) if no FH or FH app
request 10wd
31
32
33
34
35
36 Screening complete (2) if FH app not
requestor 10 wd
37
38
39
40
41
42 Earliest hearing date 28 cd after
notice of appeal
43
44 Appeal party registration (1) 14 cd
45
46 Appeal party verification (1) 2 wd
47
48
49
50 Appeal party registration (2)
51
52 Appeal party verification (2) 2 wd
53
54
55
56 Pre-hearing conference (1) 4 wd before
hearing
57
58
59
60 Earliest hearing date 14 cd after appeal party
verification (1)
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Item 4.
Process Duration Comparison Table Dec. 10, 2024
61
62 Pre-hearing conference (2) 4 wd before
hearing
63
64
65
66 Earliest hearing date 14 cd after appeal party
verification (2)
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108 Pre-hearing conference (1) 4 wd before
hearing
109
110
111 Last hearing date 77 cd after notice
of appeal
112 Last hearing date 66 cd after appeal party
verification (1)
113
114 Pre-hearing conference (2) 4 wd before
hearing
115
116
117
118 Last hearing date 66 cd after appeal party
verification (2)
119
120
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Item 4.
Headline Copy Goes Here
Interim CDNS Director
Kim Meyer
Appeals Procedure -
Draft Code Update
12-10-2024
Assistant City Attorney
Heather Jarvis
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Item 4.
Headline Copy Goes Here
2
High Level Concerns with Current Process
•Appeals can be complex and
confusing.
•Certain elements of appeal
hearings can be unpredictable.
•Appeals can create an
unrealistic expectation of
different outcomes.
•Grounds for appeal are
frequently found to lack merit at
hearing.
•Processing and preparing for
appeals is burdensome on
Council and other City
resources –as well as the
Appellant and Respondent.
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Item 4.
Headline Copy Goes Here
3
Questions for Council
•What feedback do Councilmembers have on the proposed
updated appeals processes?
•What additional issues or solutions that Councilmembers
interested in developing further?
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4
Summary of Primary Process Changes
•Clarify Eligibility to Appeal
•Require Participation in Original
Hearing
•Separate Processes for Fair Hearing
vs Failure to Apply/Interpret
•Completeness Review & Screening
•Prehearing Registration for
Participants & Prehearing Conference
•Clarify timeframes, submittals,
communication and “the record”
•Eliminate the organized site visit
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Item 4.
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Enhance technical assistance to support
community members for more impactful
participation at all levels of decisions.
Improve communication and clarity of the
overall process for projects at Neighborhood
Meetings, in Notices, and on the Planning &
Historic Preservation webpages.
Non-code Process Improvements
5
Work to better communicate the need to
participate in Hearings with the original
decision-makers to maintain ability to
appeal a decision.
Review existing appeals guides and
templates for revisions –focus on simplicity
and clarity.
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6
Questions for Council
•What feedback do Councilmembers have on the proposed
updated appeals processes?
•What additional issues or solutions that Councilmembers
interested in developing further?
Page 327
Item 4.
Headline Copy Goes Here
7
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Item 4.