HomeMy WebLinkAboutACTION SUMMARY-11/03/2025-RegularCity of Fort Collins Page 1 of 10 City Council Action Agenda
City Council
Regular Meeting Agenda
November 3, 2025 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
300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins
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The action agenda provides a brief overview of actions taken by Council shortly after a Council meeting.
Council minutes are the official record of the meeting and are prepared to be approved by Council
generally at its next meeting. Following approval, minutes are posted at this link: Council Minutes.
PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
5:00 PM
A) PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
PP 1. Declaring the Day of November 8, 2025, as the 30th Anniversary of Art in Public
Places.
PP 2. Declaring the Day of November 10, 2025, as the United States Marine Corps' 250th
Anniversary.
PP 3. Declaring the Day of November 11, 2025, as Veteran's Day.
PP 4. Declaring the Week of November 2-8, 2025, as Law Enforcement Records Personnel
Week.
Proclamations read.
REGULAR MEETING
6:00 PM
B) CALL MEETING TO ORDER
C) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
D) ROLL CALL
5-2. Absent: Arndt, Pignataro
E) CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA REVIEW
F) COMMUNITY REPORTS – None.
G) PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY TOPICS OR ITEMS OR COMMUNITY EVENTS
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H) PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOW-UP
I) COUNCILMEMBER REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Consideration and Approval of the Minutes of the October 21, 2025, Regular meeting.
The purpose of this item is to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2025, Regular meeting.
Approved.
2. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 163, 2025, Appropriating Unanticipated Philanthropic
Revenue Received Through City Give and Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations.
This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, requests an
appropriation of $16,325 in philanthropic revenue received through City Give. These
miscellaneous gifts to various City departments support a variety of programs and services and
are aligned with both the City’s strategic priorities and the respective donors’ designation.
In 2019, City Give, a formalized enterprise-wide initiative was launched to create a transparent,
non-partisan governance structure for the acceptance and appropriations of charitable gifts.
Adopted on Second Reading.
3. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 164, 2025, Making a Supplemental Appropriation for
2025 Transfort Operational Expenses.
This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, makes a
supplemental appropriation for 2025 Transfort operational expenses. The post-pandemic Transit
industry has experienced unprecedented levels of cost increases resulting in estimated operating
cost increases of 50%-70% across the industry for 2025. Transfort is experiencing similar
expense impacts with significant cost increases across the three largest segments of its budget:
personnel, vehicle repair services, and contracted transportation services. Compounding the
impact of Transfort specific expense overruns are citywide fiscal pressures that require a
reduction in the previously allocated General Fund support of the Transit Fund. As a result,
Transfort is requesting a supplemental appropriation of $2.8M from the 2050 Tax Parks Rec
Transit OCF Fund (“2050 Transit Tax”) to support Transfort’s 2025 operational expenses.
Adopted on Second Reading.
4. 4. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 165, 2025, Declaring Certain City-Owned Property
at Fossil Creek Wetlands Natural Area as Right-of-Way.
This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, declares
approximately 0.2 acres of Fossil Creek Wetlands Natural Area as Right-of-Way for the Trilby
Road Bridge Replacement project.
The Trilby Road Bridge Replacement project is one element of Utilities’ comprehensive stream
rehabilitation along Fossil and Stanton Creeks. This portion of the project will facilitate the
installation of a replacement bridge and culvert and permit future bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure. The existing culvert is structurally deficient and blocks fish passage and stream
habitat connectivity. The bridge replacement will restore passage for native fish and
macroinvertebrates and connect a soon-to-be restored reach of Fossil Creek (slated for Fall
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2025/early-2026) to an upstream reach slated for restoration in the next few years. This portion
of the project will also support future bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The additional right-
of-way proposed for the bridge replacement encompasses 8,890.61 square feet or 0.2 acres.
Adopted on Second Reading.
5. Items Relating to Tree Policy.
A. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 169, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Requiring a Commercial Tree Removal Permit.
B. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 170, 2025, Amending Chapter 27, Article 32 of the Code
of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Requiring a Commercial Tree Removal Permit.
C. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 171, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Requiring Additional Enhanced Tree Protection
Measures During Construction.
D. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 173, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Updating Tree Mitigation Exemptions.
E. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 175, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins Amending Tree Planting Spacing Requirements and Tree
Maintenance.
These Ordinances, unanimously adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, present seven
ordinances that provide five tree policies for potential adoption in City Municipal and Land Use
Codes, including an ordinance for tree spacing and Code maintenance. The five policies intend
to update best management practices around tree preservation and mitigation, thus improving
predictability and simplification of the current code.
Associated Ordinances Nos. 172 and 174 are on Discussion due to a split vote.
Moved to Discussion, combined with Item 17 under “Consideration of Items for
Discussion.”
6. First Reading of Ordinance No. 176, 2025, Being the Annual Appropriation Ordinance for
the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority Relating to the Annual Appropriations
for the Fiscal Year 2026 and Fixing the Mill Levy for the Downtown Development Authority
for Fiscal Year 2026.
The purpose of this item is to set the Downtown Development Authority (“DDA”) Budget.
The following amounts will be appropriated:
• DDA Public/Private Investments & Programs: $14,170,326
• DDA Operations & Maintenance: $1,659,200
• Revolving Line of Credit Draws: $11,000,000
• DDA Debt Service Fund: $11,431,611
The Ordinance sets the 2026 Mill Levy for the Fort Collins DDA at five (5) mills, unchanged since
tax year 2002. The approved Budget becomes the Downtown Development Authority's financial
plan for 2026.
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Adopted on First Reading.
7. Items Related to 2026 Utility Rates & Fees.
A. First Reading of Ordinance No. 177, 2025, Amending Chapter 26 of the Code of the City of
Fort Collins to Revise Electric Rates, Fees and Charges.
B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 178, 2025, Amending Chapter 26 of the Code of the City of
Fort Collins to Revise Water Rates, Fees and Charges.
C. First Reading of Ordinance No. 179, 2025, Amending Chapter 26 of the Code of the City of
Fort Collins to Revise Wastewater Rates, Fees and Charges.
D. First Reading of Ordinance No. 180, 2025, Amending Chapter 26 of the Code of the City of
Fort Collins to Revise Stormwater Rates, Fees and Charges.
The purpose of this item is to propose 2026 Utility Rates for Council consideration, which align
with the 2026 City Manager’s Recommended Budget. Monthly utility rates are proposed to
increase 6% for electric customers, 9% for water customers, 8% for wastewater customers, and
6% for stormwater customers.
Staff attended the October 14 Council Work Session to discuss 2026 Rates and Fees prior to
bringing forward the following rate ordinances for adoption.
All Ordinances Adopted on First Reading.
8. First Reading of Ordinance No. 181, 2025, Adopting the 2026 Classified Employee Pay Plan.
The purpose of this item is to recommend the 2026 Classified Employee Pay Plan. Classified jobs
are grouped according to job functions, a business practice commonly used by both the public
and private sectors. Pay ranges are developed by career group (management, professional,
administrative, operations and trades) and level for each job function. The result of this work is a
Classified Employee Pay Plan which sets the minimum, midpoint and maximum pay ranges for
the level within each career group and function. Actual employee pay increases are awarded
through a separate administrative process in accordance with the budgeted amount approved by
Council.
Adopted on First Reading.
9. First Reading of Ordinance No. 182, 2025, Adopting the 2026 Larimer County Regional
Transportation Capital Expansion Fee Schedule.
The purpose of this item is to adopt the 2026 Larimer County Regional Transportation Capital
Expansion Fee Schedule.
Adopted on First Reading.
10. First Reading of Ordinance No. 183, 2025, Amending Section 26-149 of the Code of the City
of Fort Collins Regarding Annual Water Allotments for Nonresidential Water Services with
Permits Issued Before March 1, 1984.
The purpose of this item is to seek approval for revising the methodology for how annual water
allotments for nonresidential customers with permits issued before March 1, 1984, are calculated
prior to applying excess water use surcharges (surcharges) for these customers on December 1,
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2025. Annual water allotments (allotments) are a volume of water measured from December 1 to
November 30 each year.
Nonresidential customers that received a tap prior to March 1, 1984, were not initially assigned
an allotment, even after the City began assigning new nonresidential customers with allotments
on March 1, 1984. Per Ordinance 152, 2024, allotments were assigned to these customers on
December 1, 2024, using a hybrid methodology that assigned the greater of either the tap credit
or average annual water use (based on historical use from years 2019 through 2023). Surcharges
were not to be applied until December 1, 2025, allowing affected customers time to adjust water
use to their allotment, if needed. It also allowed time for customers to ask questions and provide
input to staff. After receiving and discussing feedback, staff is recommending revising the hybrid
methodology in City Code Section 26-149 (e) to assign allotments based on the greater of the tap
credit or average historical use increased by one-half of a standard deviation to account for
variability in weather, patronage, revolving tenants, or other factors.
Adopted on First Reading.
11. Items Relating to E-Ticket and E-Crash Systems Projects Grant.
A. First Reading of Ordinance No. 184, 2025, Making Supplemental Appropriations and
Authorizing the Transfer of Appropriations for the Colorado Department of Transportation E-Ticket
and E-Crash Systems Projects Grant.
B. Resolution 2025-091 Approving an Exception to the Competitive Process for the Purchase of
an Enhanced E-Ticket and E-Crash System from Tyler Technologies.
The purpose of this item is to appropriate $171,613 of unanticipated grant revenue from the
Colorado Department of Transportation’s Section 405C Grant Program and $45,737 from Police
Admin General Funds for the Enhancing E-Ticket and E-Crash Systems Project.
This item also requests an exception to the competitive bid process for the purchase of an
enhanced E-ticket and E-crash system from Tyler Technologies. Approval of this exception may
be used as authorized in City Code Section 8-161(d)(4) as the basis for the City Manager and the
Purchasing Agent to negotiate and agree to the additional purchase of Software as a Service
(SaaS) and related services from Tyler Technologies without further Council approval. This
additional work would be added to an existing contract and would expand on an existing system,
using compatible technology available from the current vendor.
Exception to Competitive Bidding Rationale: Code Section 8-161(d)(1)(c). A particular material or
service is required to maintain interchangeability or compatibility as part of an existing integrated
system.
Ordinance Adopted.
Resolution Adopted.
12. Items Relating to the Front Range Passenger Rail Planning Study.
A. Resolution 2025-092 Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between
the City of Fort Collins and the City of Loveland for the Front Range Passenger Rail Planning
Study.
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B. Resolution 2025-093, Authorizing Acceptance of an Intergovernmental Grant Agreement
Between the City of Fort Collins and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs for the Front
Range Passenger Rail Planning Study.
C. First Reading of Ordinance No. 185, 2025, Making Supplemental Appropriations and
Appropriating Prior Year Reserves for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Energy and
Mineral Impact Assistance Fund to Support the Front Range Passenger Rail Planning Study.
The purpose of this item is to enable the City to receive and expend Energy/Mineral Impact
Assistance Fund (EIAF) Grant funds through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)
for the Front Range Passenger Rail Planning Study.
The funds will be used to conduct a planning study for a proposed Front Range Passenger Rail
system in alignment with the Service Plan Development work being conducted by the Front Range
Passenger Rail District. If approved, the two resolutions and ordinance will: 1) authorize the City
Manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement for the planning study with the City of
Loveland, 2) authorize City staff to accept an intergovernmental grant agreement from the State
of Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and 3) appropriate $200,000 in EIAF grant funds,
$125,000 in City of Fort Collins match, and $75,000 in City of Loveland match for a total of
$400,000 to the project.
Both Resolutions Adopted.
Ordinance Adopted.
13. Resolution 2025-094 Approving Revised Fees for Fort Collins Police Services’ Criminal
Justice Records.
The purpose of this item is to request an increase in fees for criminal justice records for Police
Services. The current fee schedule has been in effect since 2017, and the proposed adjustments
are necessary to keep up with the change in technology and staff expenses. Pursuant to
C.R.S.Section 24-72-306(1), fees proposed by the criminal justice agency shall be established by
the governing body of the municipality.
Resolution Adopted.
14. Resolution 2025-095 Authorizing the Mayor to Execute City-Sponsored 401(a) and 457(b)
Restated Adoption Agreements.
The purpose of this item is to authorize the Mayor to execute restated adoption agreements for
City-sponsored 401(a), Police 401(a) and 457(b) plans inclusive of the changes detailed below.
Resolution Adopted.
15. Items Relating to Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions.
A. Resolution 2025-096 Making Appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission.
B. Resolution 2025-097 Making an Appointment to the Land Conservation and Stewardship
Board.
C. Resolution 2025-098 Making Appointments to the Senior Advisory Board.
D. Resolution 2025-099 Making an Appointment to the Women and Gender Equity Advisory
Board.
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The purpose of this item is to fill vacancies on various Boards and Commissions.
All Resolutions Adopted.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
J) ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Adopted 5-0.
K) CONSENT CALENDAR FOLLOW-UP (This is an opportunity for Councilmembers to comment on
items adopted or approved on the Consent Calendar.)
L) STAFF REPORTS – None.
M) COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
N) CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR INDIVIDUAL
DISCUSSION
O) CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PLANNED FOR DISCUSSION
16. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 168, 2025, Amending Chapter 7.5 of the Code of the
City of Fort Collins to Update the Capital Expansion Fees and the Transportation
Expansion Fees.
This Ordinance, adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, by 5-1 (Nay: Francis), proposes
revisions to the methodologies of calculating the capital expansion fees for updated fees that are
set in better alignment with City land use laws and policy, phasing in fee increases over a two-
year period. This implements an updated study based on studies conducted in 2023. (Inflationary-
only fee adjustments were implemented in 2024 and 2025.)
At Council’s request, staff brought forward for consideration on First Reading four options for
adoption of the revised fees to be effective January 1, 2026:
1. Fees with continued, inflation-only adjustments (“Status Quo Option” or “Option #1”);
2. Fees as proposed September 9, 2025 (“Proposed Option” or “Option #2”);
3. Fees that are a phased-in implementation of the Proposed Option – two versions (“Phased-In
Option” or “Option #3”); and
4. Fees that are a fractional implementation of the Proposed Option – three versions (“Fractional
Option” or “Option #4”).
One additional change has been made to Ordinance No. 168, 2025, for Second Reading:
Recital “I” has been updated to provide Council determinations relating to the two-year
phase-in. In the clean copy of the second reading ordinance, recital “I.” is highlighted to
indicate this change.
Adopted on Second Reading.
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17. Items Relating to Tree Policy.
A. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 172, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Establishing a Three-Year Establishment Period
for Street Trees.
B. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 174, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Enhancing Tree Mitigation.
These Ordinances, adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, by 4-2 (Nays: Arndt, Francis),
amend Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins for the purpose of
establishing a three-year establishment period for street trees, and amend Article 5, Section 10
of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Enhancing Tree Mitigation
Associated Ordinance Nos.169-171, 173 and 175 are on Consent.
These items present seven ordinances that provide five tree policies for potential adoption in City
Municipal and Land Use Codes, including an ordinance for tree spacing and Code maintenance.
The five policies intend to update best management practices around tree preservation and
mitigation, thus improving predictability and simplification of the current code.
Staff reviewed the concern that had been raised at first reading about conflicts with fire
access considerations, and to address this, language has been added to Section 3 of
Ordinance No. 174, 2025, limiting the use of a double row of street trees to only situations
where compatible with emergency access.
Item 5 and 17 combined for consideration.
5. Items Relating to Tree Policy.
A. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 169, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Requiring a Commercial Tree Removal Permit.
B. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 170, 2025, Amending Chapter 27, Article 32 of the Code
of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Requiring a Commercial Tree Removal Permit.
C. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 171, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Requiring Additional Enhanced Tree Protection
Measures During Construction.
D. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 173, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Updating Tree Mitigation Exemptions.
E. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 175, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use
Code of the City of Fort Collins Amending Tree Planting Spacing Requirements and Tree
Maintenance.
These Ordinances, unanimously adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, present seven
ordinances that provide five tree policies for potential adoption in City Municipal and Land Use
Codes, including an ordinance for tree spacing and Code maintenance. The five policies intend
to update best management practices around tree preservation and mitigation, thus improving
predictability and simplification of the current code.
Associated Ordinances Nos. 172 and 174 are on Discussion due to a split vote.
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Ordinance No. 169, 2025 Adopted.
Ordinance No. 170, 2025 Adopted.
Ordinance No. 171, 2025 Adopted.
Ordinance No. 172, 2025, postponed to December 16.
Ordinance No. 173, 2025 Adopted.
Ordinance No. 174, 2025, postponed to December 16.
Ordinance No. 175, 2025 Adopted.
18. First Reading of Ordinance No. 186, 2025, Being the Annual Appropriations Ordinance
Relating to the Annual Appropriations, and Amending the Budget, for the Fiscal Year
Beginning January 1, 2026, and Ending December 31, 2026; and Fixing the Mill Levy for
Property Taxes Payable in 2026.
The purpose of this item is to amend the adopted 2026 Budget. This Ordinance sets the amount
of $843,306,077 to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026. This appropriated amount does not
include what is also being separately appropriated pursuant to Council/Board of Director actions
to adopt the 2026 budgets for the General Improvement District (GID) No. 1 of $381,296, the 2026
budget for GID No. 15 (Skyview) of $1,000, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) 2026 budget of
$7,166,316 and the Downtown Development Authority 2026 budget of $38,261,137. The sum of
all of these Ordinances results in City-related total appropriations of $889,115,826 for 2026. This
Ordinance also sets the property tax year 2025 City mill levy, to be collected in 2026, at 9.797
mills; this mill levy rate has not changed since 1991.
Adopted on First Reading.
19. Public Hearing and Resolution 2025-100 Approving a First Amendment to the
Consolidated Service Plan for Montava Metropolitan District Nos. 1 through 7.
The purpose of this item is to consider approval of an amendment to the existing Consolidated
Service Plan for the Montava Metropolitan District Nos. 1 through 7, requested by the board of
the Montava Metropolitan District, after conducting a hearing on the application, pursuant to City
policy (explained in the Background/Discussion section below). The amendment alters the
maximum debt authorization and authorizes the District to create Special Improvement Districts
to facilitate equitable and efficient financing flexibility. Neither proposed change impacts the
underlying Public Benefits of the proposed project.
Resolution Adopted.
20. Resolution 2025-101, Directing Staff to Take Such Efforts and Actions which may be
Required for the Funding, Financing, and Construction of the Southeast Community
Center.
The purpose of this item is direct City staff to move forward with the work necessary to prepare
and ultimately present to Council for approval the actions needed to fund, finance, and construct
the Southeast Community Center (SECC) based on the project scope, estimated project cost,
and the proposed sources of funding of Option 1.A. in the Funding Options.
Resolution Adopted.
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21. First Reading of Ordinance No. 187, 2025, Making a Supplemental Appropriation and
Appropriating Prior Year Reserves for the Construction of the Southeast Community
Center and Related Art in Public Places.
The purpose of this item is to appropriate $9.5M from the Community Capital Improvement Project
(CCIP) Fund to the Capital Project Fund for the Southeast Community Center (SECC) Project
and for the Art in Public Places (APP) Program. This appropriation provides funding to the
Recreation Department for the design and construction of a LEED Gold Community Recreation
Center in southeast Fort Collins.
Adopted on First Reading.
P) RESUMED PUBLIC COMMENT (if applicable)
Q) OTHER BUSINESS
OB 1. Possible consideration of the initiation of new ordinances and/or resolutions by
Councilmembers.
R) ADJOURNMENT – 8:30 p.m.