HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 2/13/2024 - Memorandum From Rupa Venkatesh Re: Amended Materials For Agenda Item #2City Manager’s Office
300 Laporte Ave
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-221-6684
rvenkatesh@fcgov.com
CC: Meaghan Overton, Housing Manager; SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health Director; Brian Tholl, Utilities Senior
Manager
MEMORANDUM
Date: February 13, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
From: Rupa Venkatesh, Assistant City Manager
Subject: Amended materials for Agenda Item #2
PURPOSE :
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide updated materials for agenda item #2 of the
Council Work Session.
BACKGROUND
The following were added to the “Proposed Council Priorities Table” attachment:
Added to Priority #1, short term goals: Expand programs for healthy and stable housing
– particularly for unhoused or precariously housed residents, renters, and lower-income
homeowners.
Added to Priority #5, current work underway: “Multicultural Business and Entrepreneur
Center (MBEC) supports bilingual (English and Spanish) business owners and
entrepreneurs access business services, resources, and navigation of City processes”
Added to Priority #5, resource requirements: “2025 BFO to continue MBEC which is
currently ARPA funded”
Added to Priority #5, community engagement: “bilingual outreach at community,
nonprofit, and business events with follow up appointments after outreach”
Removed “infrastructure needs within Utilities to support enhanced electrification” as a
resource requirement for Priority #6. It is in the correct place under Priority #7 in the
published materials.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
ATTACHMENTS
1. Updated Proposed Council Priorities Table
2. Fountainworks Council Retreat Summary
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
1
Strategic Outcome Area: Neighborhood Belonging and Community Vitality (previously Neighborhood Livability & Social Health)
Council Priority #1: Operationalize City resources to build and preserve affordable housing.
Lead: Social Sustainability
Partners: PDT/CDNS, Environmental Services, Economic Health, URA, Utilities, Finance, Operation Services, City Attorney’s Office
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals
*further explanation below
Resource Requirements
Ex. tools:
Sustainable funding
URA
Development review
fund
Evictfon legal fund
City owned resources,
etc.
Meet our Housing Goals
Non silo-ed
departments and
utflizing the breadth of
our organizatfon to
accomplish/make
progress towards goals
Mobile home parks
(MHP) – Implement
local enforcement of
state regulatfons
Implementatfon of the
Housing Strategic Plan
Land Use Code changes
Fee Credit program
Land Bank
City competftfve funds –
federal and city
Propositfon 123
applicatfons for funding
Countywide
homelessness strategic
plan work underway in
2024
24/7 shelter proposal
MHP: Staff will be
gradually implementfng
local enforcement of
some building and
maintenance codes
Expedite review of
affordable housing
projects to achieve
decisions within 90 days
or less
Streamline processes and
regulatfons to encourage
development of more
affordable housing
Evaluate new/updated
City regulatfons and fees
for their impact on the
cost to build and create
optfons to offset
additfonal costs
Identffy city resources
that could be dedicated
to affordable housing and
actfvely seek (re)
development partners
Create sustainable
source(s) of dedicated
local funding for housing
Expand programs for
healthy and stable
housing – partfcularly for
unhoused or precariously
housed residents,
renters, and lower-
income homeowners.
Additfonal dedicated
long-term funding
stream(s)
Council agenda tfme for
complex policy
discussions
Cross-departmental
capacity to seek
redevelopment partners
and leverage City
resources
MHP: Mobilizing
collectfve resources to
inform an integrated
strategy
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
2
Community Engagement
Housing Summit (planned for 2024)
Update to housing dashboard (planned for 2024)
Targeted engagement
MHP: educatfonal sessions and clean up events
*Short Term Goals:
Expedite review of affordable housing projects to achieve decisions within 90 days or less
o Adopt currently proposed updates to LUC to permit administratfve review for affordable projects
o LEAN/Process improvement project to reduce development review tfmelines for affordable housing (applying for grant to support this in Q1)
Streamline processes and regulations to encourage development of more affordable housing
o Adopt currently proposed updates to LUC to expand and improve affordable housing incentfves
o Encourage additfonal housing along centers and corridors (overlap w 15 min citfes, transportatfon prioritfes)
o Minimum housing density requirements in next phase of LUC updates along high-frequency transit and/or centers & corridors
o Address occupancy regulatfons
o Align with State legislatfon around land use, occupancy, housing
Evaluate new/updated City regulations and fees for their impact on the cost to build housing and create options to offset additional cost for
affordable housing projects
o Cross-departmental evaluatfon of fees; build a comprehensive picture
o Build analysis of impact on cost to build housing into scope for major fee and regulatory updates across the organizatfon (ex: impact fees, energy
code, building code, land use code, utflity fees, and similar)
o Identffy opportunitfes and funding sources across the organizatfon to subsidize/offset costs for affordable housing
o Expand fee credit program beyond 30% AMI units and recalibrate credit amount to reflect true cost of development fees
Identify City resources that could be dedicated to affordable housing and actively seek (re)development partners to leverage those resources into new
or preserved housing units
o Real estate assets – inventory and assess, prioritfze, mobilize
o Land bank parcels – update dispositfon study, identffy ready to develop sites, mobilize
o Funding – BFO, affordable housing capital fund, new sales tax (OCF Big Move 7)
o URA – investfgate ways to leverage funds, prioritfes, propertfes
Create sustainable source(s) of dedicated local funding for housing
o Housing impact fee
o Housing linkage fee
o Tax initfatfve
o Bond issuance (ex: San Antonio, Portland, Austfn, San Francisco)
o Private/philanthropic investment (ex: Denver social impact bond)
o And more
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
3
Council Priority #2: Improve human and social health for vulnerable populations.
Lead: Equity Office and Social Sustainability
Partners: Recreation, Utilities, Neighborhood Services, Finance, Economic Health, Environmental Services
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Operatfonalize DEI
across the city
organizatfon (budgets
for space, educatfon,
removing income
verificatfon for city
requirements,
recruitfng and retaining
diverse talent)
Barriers to access
Mobile Home Park
Enforcement program
(local level policy)
Food insecurity
Implement best
practfces for air quality
monitoring and actfon
(beyond ozone)
Oil & Gas city-owned
actfve wells in
northeast Fort Collins
Engage underserved
communitfes to identffy
their needs
Address food insecurity,
including student
populatfon, ex. Rams
Against Hunger
Address indoor air
quality
Identffy barriers,
resources and
challenges to
operatfonalize DEI,
including affordable
housing and mobile
homes
Limit/eliminate local
income verificatfon for
services
Increase number of low
income access to city
services
Non siloed departments
and utflizing the
breadth of the
organizatfon to
accomplish issue
How are we serving our
vulnerable populatfons?
What do they need?
Consider CSU students
Air Quality
Oil and gas wells
Equity Office to provide a
2023 Impact Report by
end of February 2024
Get FoCo program
(grocery tax rebate
program, recreatfon
discounts, etc.)
Annual competftfve
funding process for both
HUD and City funds to
support housing and
human services
specifically for low-
income residents (total of
approx. $3m annually –
combined Federal and GF
funds – not including
ARPA funds)
City property leases to
nonprofit service
providers (ex: Teaching
Tree, Seasonal Overflow
Shelter, Teen Actfvity
Center, Center for Family
Outreach, FoCo Café,
Housing Catalyst)
Childcare services
(including reduced fee,
REC) and Childcare
system support
(funding/partnership,
SSD)
Synthesize November
2023 Centers for Public
Deliberatfon Community
Report, the CSU
Symposium Equity Asset
Mapping report and the
Community Survey to
identffy common themes
and barriers
Develop and implement
plans to remove or
mitfgate obstacles and
expand funding and
services to our
underserved community
members
Identffy top community
prioritfes where the City
should focus funding and
assistance
Consolidate or
coordinate programs – a
“one stop shop.”
Take direct actfons to
ensure compliance and
reduce O&G operatfons
in and around FC;
especially in NE Fort
Collins.
Mitfgatfon strategies are
focused on assuring
compliance with State
Human Services Grant
Funding: awards to
nonprofits and partners
providing direct services
to vulnerable and low-
income residents (elderly,
households in poverty,
persons experiencing
homelessness, those with
various
medical/behavioral
health needs, children &
youth).
Equity Grant Funding:
awards to social justfce
and direct service
organizatfons and
partners that support
community-led programs
that ignite, inspire, and
foster a community
culture of belonging,
uplift mental and physical
health, and support the
basic needs in the
community.
Immigratfon Legal Fund:
program funding to
maintain current services
and expand for asylum
cases and work permits.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
4
Immigratfon Legal Fund -
funding for contract
vendors to provide legal
services for immigratfon
issues. 262 cases since
2022, with approx. 100
resolved.
Creatfng the foundatfon
of wealth building
through
entrepreneurship/busine
ss ownership
Add new regulatory
ozone site and contfnue
community-led air toxics
monitoring.
regulatfons regarding
several ongoing issues,
open complaints and
alleged violatfons.
2024 Mini-BFO request:
Healthy Homes program
funding to implement
more residentfal home
improvements in
underserved
communitfes
Support evaluatfon of
Utflitfes rates and fees for
eliminatfng barriers
associated with building
and transportatfon
electrificatfon
2025 BFO for a
community engagement
manager in Equity Office
to include contractual
community connectors
program for multf-
cultural representatfon
2025 BFO for an in-house
translator in Equity Office
Air Quality/Adaptfon:
Resources to update
public spaces and
facilitfes to be more
smoke-ready in
antfcipatfon of wildfire
impacts
Community Engagement
Human Servies Prioritfes Platiorm project is underway – Stage I includes engagement with nonprofit leaders, Boards/Commissions, residents,
regional funders.
Proposed community connectors program and community engagement manager to be introduced in 2-25 BFO to help engage with community to
identffy their needs and barriers to access.
Air quality/adaptatfon – During poor air quality events (e.g., wildfires and high ozone days), outreach is provided on how community members can
monitor the Air Quality Index and protect themselves.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
5
Council Priority #3: 15-minute City: Ignite our neighborhood centers.
Lead: CDNS and Economic Health Office
Partners: Social Sustainability, Natural Areas, Parks, FC Moves, Transfort
Example Public/Private partners: Urban Renewal Authority, Business Improvement Districts, Downtown Development Authority, Housing Catalyst, neighborhood
associations
Priority Input How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Identffy and remove
barriers to achieve 15-
min city
Minimize obstacles to
implementatfon of 15-
min city through public
outreach, public-private
partnerships,
consolidatfng funding
Use metrics to measure
success (e.g., walk
score, bike lane miles)
Easier and faster
adaptfve reuse in our
centers
Show businesses the
“happy path” to
permitting
Identffy and remove
barriers to achieve 15-
min city
Land use code updates
for process
improvements, clear and
predictable standards
and implement strategies
for commercial centers
and corridors
Small Business Technical
Assistance Program
(ARPA) which offers staff
support and mini grants
to offset costs of design
and engineering services
Business process
improvements and digital
transformatfon solutfons
for permitting and
inspectfons
Cross functfonal City
team to assist businesses
navigatfng review and
permitting
“Shift Your Ride:
Neighborhood” program
Support for site selectfon
for small businesses
Staff started exploring
the potentfal of URA tools
1) Regulatory Improvement:
Develop scope, process and
tfmeline for the next phase of
Land Use Code updates
2) Business Process
Improvement: Improve
existfng tools, processes, and
resources for new businesses,
short term tenants
3) Building internal
capacity/knowledge: Prepare
an internal, high-level
assessment of neighborhood
centers
4) Public/Private
Partnerships (P3): Explore
and determine optfmal P3
opportunitfes
5) Awareness/Coalition
Building: Test and
demonstrate diverse ways to
raise awareness and support
6) Integration opportunities:
Identffy other opportunitfes
to integrate the 15-min City
Analysis into work planning.
(e.g., Transit System
Optfmizatfon Study)
1) Additfonal funding needed
to complete next phase
2) Focus on cost neutral
solutfons in 2024; additfonal
resources for digital
transformatfon in 2025; Small
Business Technical Assistance
Program (ARPA) will end in
2024
3) Focus on cost-neutral but
future resourcing may include
incentfve programs, mini
grants, staffing for navigators,
etc.
4) Future resourcing for
MBEC and Larimer Small
Business Development
Centers
5) Exploring 2025 funding for
more neighborhood-scale
events and collaboratfons
with businesses (can include
sponsorships, vendor fees
and other revenue sources)
6) Dependent on opportunity
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
6
Community Engagement (tied to each of the numbered short-term goals and resource requirements)
1) Robust, citywide community engagement at the onset of the process untfl final adoptfon. Community will inform problem identfficatfon,
establishment of guiding principles and recommended solutfons.
2) Targeted to various customers and users of our system. Will consult in problem identfficatfon and improvements to processes, tools, and technology.
Further outreach may be necessary to inform of anything new.
3) One-on-one engagement with businesses and nearby neighborhoods calibrated to the different centers.
4) Stakeholder discussions with various board members and leaders.
5) Shift Your Ride: Neighborhoods program will connect neighborhood residents and businesses; Mayor and Council could consider attending or co-
hostfng events as an effectfve way to grow awareness and coalitfons of support in their Districts.
6) Dependent on opportunity.
Council Priority #4: Improve animal welfare through public education.
Lead: CMO
Partners: Neighborhood Services, NOCO Humane
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Do not support
commercial breeding
facilitfes.
Educatfon that it is
illegal to have cats off
leash and it is
destructfve to
environment and birds.
Educate public on
impact of outdoor cats
(establish a program)
Consider local breeding
facility
Identffy ways to protect
and impact bird
populatfons threats
Hear public opinion
How does City policy
reflect City of Fort
Collins stance on animal
welfare?
City contracts with NOCO
Humane to enforce local
animal welfare
requirements in the
municipal code.
Retail pet shops are
required to be licensed
under state law through
Pet Animal Care Facilitfes
Act (PACFA)
The Nature on the City
project has funded
several conversion
projects from turf grass
to natfve habitats and
Coordinate with NOCO
Humane on educatfon
and outreach regarding
off-leash cats
Expand research
regarding municipalitfes
in Colorado with different
rules on retail pet sales
Additfonal funding and
staff resources would be
necessary to partner with
NOCO Humane to create
an educatfon and
outreach campaign
related to off-leash cats
and their impact on the
environment and
songbirds.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 03A9DC93-AA23-481D-AF05-7AC95CED1FCD
Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
7
pollinator gardens to
support natfve wildlife
and decrease the use of
water resources.
Community Engagement
Educatfon and outreach campaign.
** Additfonal informatfon from retreat re: puppy mills are provided as attachments.
Strategic Outcome Area: Economic Health
Council Priority #5: Pursue an integrated, intentional approach to economic health.
Lead: Economic Health
Partners: CDNS, Sales Tax/Finance, Utilities, CMO, Urban Renewal Authority, Environmental Services, Cultural Services, Downtown Development Authority
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Intentfonal
establishments of
business hubs that are
in alignment with our
values and goals (e.g.,
clean energy, CSU
partnership, PSD, front
range, etc.)
Attract young families
and innovatfve green
tech/biotech to Fort
Collins. Remove the
barriers to a healthy
balanced workforce.
Diversify business
Identffy and remove
barriers for a robust
workforce (healthy mix
of entry, mid, senior
levels)
Need to evaluate to
remove barriers include
streamline processes,
cost of doing business,
with a focus on
independent, small
business
Increase opportunitfes
to train in certain
sectors through
partnerships with
different entftfes
Internal Business
Engagement Actfon Plan
(BEAP)
NoCo Works (two county
workforce initfatfve with
private and public
partners)
CO-WY Climate Resilience
Engine receive NSF grant
of $15M over next two
years, totaling $160M
over 10 years.
Multfcultural Business
and Entrepreneur Center
(MBEC) supports
bilingual (English and
Spanish) business owners
and entrepreneurs access
business services,
Barriers to business
report – work with
different teams and
potentfally the Instftute
of Justfce to do a scan of
the current state to
determine what those
barriers to business are
Test a Business
Development Liaison
positfon based on
learnings from the
Capital Projects Business
Liaison
Focus business retentfon,
expansion, and attractfon
(BREA) efforts in
bioscience, life science,
climate solutfons, and
Potentfal shared 1.0 FTE
Funding to support
assessment work, BREA
strategies, and workforce
pilots
2025 BFO to contfnue
MBEC which is currently
ARPA funded
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
8
Resources for business
sustainability and
vitality
Focused energy on an
industry Fort Collins can
be known for
Measure and create
longevity of businesses
(small and large)
through support and
retentfon
Affordability/retentfon
Attract workforce
Show business the
“happy path” and how
to overcome hurdles
Doing business in Fort
Collins should be: less
silo-ed between
departments with initfal
communicatfon, more
holistfc process; provide
a navigator to the
business
resources, and navigatfon
of City processes.
circular economy supply
chain.
Deepen the relatfonship,
coordinatfon, and
economic opportunitfes
with CSU, FRCC, PSD,
OEDIT, and Innosphere
Ventures to address
workforce and economic
mobility.
Futureproof the
Multfcultural Business
and Entrepreneur
program’s bilingual
business
connectors/navigators.
Community Engagement
Ongoing relatfonship management with primary employers and small businesses with an emphasis on underserved and historically marginalized
communitfes.
Contfnued engagement with local and regional partners, workforce development entftfes, educatfonal instftutfons, business serving organizatfons and
others.
Connectfon to building owners, land owners and developers.
Bilingual outreach at community, nonprofit, and business events with follow up appointments after outreach
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
9
Strategic Outcome Area: Environmental Health
Council Priority #6: Create pathways for Zero Waste infrastructure and policies.
Lead: Environmental Services
Partners: Larimer County, Water Reclamatfon, Streets
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Real progress on Road
to Zero Waste
Food should not be
wasted nor scarce in
our community
Utflize food waste
through compostfng
Food waste reductfon
or diversion – what is in
our local control?
Compostfng – if we
can’t divert, what are
other ways to avoid the
landfill.
Explore optfon to buy a
biodigester.
Decrease food waste
with community
partnerships and
diversion, e.g.,
compostfng
Reduce constructfon
waste
Measurable progress on
the Road to Zero Waste
Clearly identffy what
initfatfves would impact
city goals for waste
Identffy what is most
impactiul to prioritfze in
order to reduce waste
whether it is
constructfon and
demolitfon waste,
plastfcs, recycling and
re-use of rare earth
materials, etc.
Explore and understand
all optfons
Our Climate Future has
identffied the top-priority
areas of focus for
meaningful progress on
our waste diversion
goals: 1) Constructfon
and demolitfon materials,
2) Food scraps & yard
trimmings, 3) Municipal
industrial “waste” (soils &
aggregates)
Contracted trash and
recycling service to over
41,000 households in
Fort Collins to start
September 2024-
services include weekly
recycling and weekly yard
trimmings (seasonally)
Existing requirements
that new construction,
remodels and
demolitions to recycle
cardboard, metal,
aggregates and wood
Enforcement through
permit documentation as
well as site visits
Engaging in statewide
C&D collaborations with
Infrastructure pathways:
Develop clear pathway to
local/regional
construction &
demolition waste sorting
facility to enhance
opportunitfes for
recycling of building
materials and for
local/regional food scrap
processing
facility/facilities to
enhance opportunitfes
for keeping materials out
of landfills
Policies leveraging
existfng infrastructure:
Implement the
contracted hauling
program to expand yard
trimmings collectfon;
develop policy for
commercial/multf-family
yard trimmings
Once infrastructure
pathways identffied:
Engage in policy/program
development for
residentfal and
commercial food scraps
Additfonal staff resources
required to manage City’s
industrial waste
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
10
a goal of market
development for C&D
materials
as well as constructfon
and demolitfon materials
Community Engagement
Contfnued robust educatfon and outreach to support residents and businesses.
Council Priority #7: Reduce climate and air pollution through electrification.
Lead: Our Climate Future Leadership
Partners: Utflitfes (Energy Services), Sustainability (Environmental Services), Community Services (Parks and Natural Areas), Operatfon Services
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Advance Our Climate
Future Big Moves –
electrificatfon and
decarbonizatfon of
buildings through
educatfon/public
outreach, partnerships
and funding
consolidatfon (ex.
Ithaca)
Substantfal progress
toward climate actfon
goals
Quantftatfve data on
progress
Accelerate
electrificatfon of new
buildings
Increase number of
buildings that are
decarbonized
Increase in the uptake
of loans and rebates
Retrofit the current
buildings being electric
Develop Zero Carbon
building code for new
construction
Distributed Energy
Resources (DER)
incentives and electricity
management for
development of Virtual
Power Plant.
Home Energy Reports, EV
educatfon strategies,
Building Energy and
Water Scoring program
Epic Homes and
Efficiency Works
incentfve programs, Epic
Homes Financing
Implement OCF Council
Roadmap to
simultaneously address
climate, energy and
waste goals while
improving our
Adopt policies and
performance standards
for energy use in existfng
buildings
Evaluate and identffy
resources for improving
local electric distributfon
infrastructure to support
building and
transportatfon
electrificatfon
Contfnue electric
conversion of City-
owned, gas-powered
equipment (e.g., lawn &
garden equipment, small
utflity vehicles, fleet
vehicles)
Strategic allocatfon of
2050 Tax funds through
2024 & 2025/2026
budget processes
Contfnue to build capital
stack and administratfve
Existfng methods to
increase building and
transportatfon
electrificatfon can be
accelerated/scaled (e.g.,
more technical resources
and incentfves for
building owners to
improve buildings and
equipment, vehicle fleet
conversions, etc.)
Infrastructure needs
within Utflitfes to support
enhanced electrificatfon
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
11
community’s equity and
resilience
resources to expand
customers electrifying
their homes using the
Epic Loan revolving loan
fund
Community Engagement
Contfnue to build Shared Leadership approach for Our Climate Future outcomes, including with local instftutfons, Larimer County, Platte River Power
Authority – the City cannot do it alone
Put people at the center of the solutfons for community leadership and an equitable, just transitfon to the clean energy future
City Climate Equity Committee (CEC) is advising staff on project/program development and implementatfon to bring diverse perspectfves with lived
experience and direct community connectfons.
City/County Air Quality Monitoring Advisory Committee (AQ-MAC) is leading a community driven discussion on prioritfes in air quality monitoring and
effectfve risk communicatfon.
Effectfvely manage stakeholder relatfonships to minimize engagement fatfgue but ensure community voice is heard.
Increased focus on communitfes of concern (aka under-resourced) and support for accessing available resources.
Council Priority #8: Protect surface water in an integrated way and ensure resilient water resources.
Lead: Water Utilities
Partners: Natural Areas, Parks, City Manager’s Office
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Look at acquiring
additfonal propertfes
along Poudre River
Additfonal habitat
restoratfon, monitoring
river health, increasing
flows
Accelerate actfons to
protect and enhance
the Poudre River
Preventfon of above
ground infrastructure
on public lands along
the river
Habitat restoratfon,
protectfon, and access
(e.g., no fencing)
Enhance flows in the
Poudre River
Increase partfcipatfon in
community programs
and educatfon for water
awareness and
conservatfon.
Compile informatfon on
the ditch companies (%
of government
Water Efficiency Plan
2024 – we are developing
new goal(s) and
prioritfzing various water
conservatfon and
efficiency strategies to
optfmize outcomes
(increased equity in
program partfcipatfon
and ROI). Rain barrels,
consolidatfon
opportunitfes, and
conservatfon
encouragement could all
Develop Fort Collins One
Water Actfon Framework,
Phase 2 – Develops the
One Water Actfon
Framework that identffies
key strategies, goals, and
performance metrics for
the Water Utflitfes, based
on the opportunitfes
identffied in Phase I.
Poudre River Health
Assessment Framework
(RHAF) – assess the
upper and middle river
The identffied short-term
goals would be brought
forth through the
Budgetfng for Outcomes
process.
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
12
Develop an irrigatfon
ditch document for the
City and FMA and
develop policies and
related governance –
who owns the ditch
companies, how much
of each does the City
own, and suggested
ways on managing it
like trees
Water conservatfon
program consolidatfon
Provide creatfve ways
to encourage water
conservatfon to get
community on board on
what they can do as an
individual (e.g., Rain
barrels, irrigate yard,
leverage raw water
wells)
ownership, ways to
manage)
Decrease water usage
per capita as a sign of
increasing conservatfon.
Leverage cross-
departmental and
agency efforts.
be addressed in the
prioritfzatfon process.
Water Supply
Requirements – we are
developing a
methodology for
updatfng the Water
Supply Requirements,
Excess Water Use Fees,
and assigning Water
Allotments. 2024 will be
spent developing a
recommendatfon for City
Council to approve in
QTR 4 2024 with
adoptfon in QTR 1 2025.
Fort Collins One Water
Action Framework,
Phase I (2024) – we are
developing a holistfc
approach to
management of all water
resources (raw water,
drinking water,
wastewater, stormwater)
for improved and
expanded beneficial
outcomes. Phase I
involves informatfon and
data gathering to
describe the water
landscape of the Fort
Collins community and
establishes the Water
Utflitfes’ One Water
reaches through Fort
Collins using the RHAF to
understand current
conditfons and identffy
most impactiul
opportunitfes to improve
ecological health of the
river in the face of
current and future
stressors.
Poudre Flows Initfatfve –
A regional effort to keep
more water in the river
from the Poudre Canyon
to the confluence of the
South Platte, while not
compromising the
benefits of the water
rights.
Poudre Water Quality
Network – contfnue to
build out the capabilitfes
of the monitoring
network by developing
community-facing
dashboard that enables
real-tfme visualizatfon of
water quality conditfons.
Leverage regional
partnerships and
opportunitfes to improve
stream flows, habitat,
and related goals.
NISP Response &
Engagement – consultfng
support for 1)
engagement in River-
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Vision and guiding
principles.
Poudre River Watershed
Protection – We engage
in numerous partnerships
with community groups,
water utflitfes, suppliers,
and land management
agencies to plan and
implement watershed
health projects that
reduce risks associated
with wildfire and protect
and enhance water
quality, water supply
infrastructure and
watershed functfon.
Water Quality
Monitoring Programs –
lead three ongoing
collaboratfve monitoring
programs focused on
protectfng drinking water
quality and minimizing
water quality impacts in
the Poudre River from
urban runoff, stormwater
influence and reclaimed
wastewater discharges.
These programs support
regulatory compliance
with drinking water and
wastewater regulatfons.
Source Water Protection
Plan – working with
wide master planning,
and 2) resource-specific
technical evaluatfon of
proposed mitfgatfon
strategies and impacts, as
needed.
Leverage regional
partnership and
opportunitfes to improve
stream flows, habitat and
other related goals
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
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regional partners to
update the 2016 plan,
which identifies potential
pollution risks paired
with best management
practices for mitigating
those risks within source
watersheds.
Community Engagement
Ongoing efforts with regional water service providers in Northern Colorado.
Community outreach programs through Water Conservatfon division.
Partfcipate in City and community events.
Movie theatre ads on water conservatfon programs, for example sprinklers and toilets (tfed to Water Efficiency Plan) – Planned for 2024.
Flyers and website development ongoing.
Outreach around Water Supply Requirements, water excess fees and water allotment assignments.
Strategic Outcome Area: Transportation & Mobility
Council Priority #9: 15-minute City – Accelerate our shift to Active Modes.
Lead: FC Moves and Parks/Trails
Partners: CDNS, Streets, Traffic, Engineering, Transfort, Environmental Health, Natural Areas, Police Services
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Community feels safe
moving throughout the
city without a car
Acceleratfon of Vision
Zero plan
50% travel by 2032
Increase bike lane miles
Increase walking and
biking score
Reduce fatalitfes
Community feels safe
moving throughout the
city without a car
Acceleratfon of Vision
Zero Plan
50% of travel by 2032
Count bike lane miles
Decrease fatalitfes
Safe Routes to School
Program
Actfve Modes Plan
implementatfon
Vision Zero Plan
implementatfon
Transportatfon Capital
Project Prioritfzatfon
Study
1. Operationalize Active
Mode Investment:
Prioritfze Actfve Modes
and Safe Routes to
School across all
departments and funding
2. Update Land Use and
Street Design
Standards: Update
policies, standards and
guidelines based on an
The 2024 audit to
identffy regulatory
barriers will inform
additfonal resource
needs in 2025.
Strategic Trails Plan
implementatfon needs
will be evaluated during
this process.
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Safe Routes to School –
quantffy and set a
target
Safe to Routes to
Schools – quantffy and
set target
Increase walking and
bike scores
Transportatfon Capital
Improvement Plan
Shift Your Ride program
Tax renewals: Pavement
Maintenance and CCIP
Transfort System
Optfmizatfon
Adult educatfon and
outreach
audit to be completed in
‘24.
3. Update the Strategic
Trails Plan: The update
will begin in 2024 and
will be integrated into the
Actfve Mode Plan.
4. Expand Existing
Programs: Identffy short
term opportunitfes to
expand existfng programs
such as Safe Routes to
School and Shift Your
Ride for greater impact.
5. Awareness/Coalition
Building: Test and
demonstrate diverse
ways to raise awareness
and support
6. Tax Renewals/BFO:
Leverage upcoming Tax
Renewal efforts and
Budgetfng for Outcomes
(including 2050 Tax) to
centralize and future
proof funding.
7. Bolster Operations and
Maintenance: Explore
ways to bolster
maintenance and
operatfons of existfng
bike and pedestrian
facilitfes.
8. Short Term Tracking and
Metrics: City Staff will
identffy the most critfcal
metrics and tracking
Expansion of existfng
programs will require
additfonal or reallocated
funding and can be
explored during the
25/26 BFO Process
Based on the success of
new engagement in
2024, additfonal
resources will be
required in 2025 to
contfnue or expand.
Current maintenance
budgets for streets,
sidewalks and off-street
trails are struggling to
keep pace with the
growth of the
network. The unique
maintenance needs of
some facilitfes also
require equipment
investments.
City Staff will explore
opportunitfes to leverage
existfng budgets and
advance proposals in the
2025/2026 Budgetfng for
Outcomes Process.
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
16
methods from all plans to
focus reportfng progress
during this two-year
tfmeframe.
Community Engagement
Robust community engagement for the next phase of the Land Use Code update.
Citywide community engagement and outreach efforts for the Strategic Trails Plan to inform the vision and strategies of the plan.
Customer input and demand will inform specific strategies to support programs.
Meaningful, equitable community engagement and smaller scale events to raise community awareness and support.
Strategic Outcome Area: High Performance Government
Council Priority #10: Develop a Hughes Site Master Plan.
Lead: City Manager’s Office, Community Services
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Master Plan for Hughes
that allows connectfon
to nature through
recreatfon – foot, bikes,
skis
Youth-led bike park plan
Support the creatfon of
the wildlife and nature
campus on the former
Hughes site
Retain Hughes as a
natural area wildlife
and nature campus and
low-impact recreatfon
Decisions made based
on broad public input
and community
involvement
There is a place for
every idea even if it’s
not at Hughes.
Solidified Master Plan
within 2 years.
Broad, general
engagement was
conducted in the fall of
2022 to better
understand community
interest in different uses
on the site.
Develop a scope and cost
for a planning process
including community
engagement and site
design.
In parallel, determine
feasibility of a mountain
bike park and a
wildlife/nature campus at
this site or to identffy
alternate locatfons.
To complete an
engagement and
adoptable site plan, some
level of funding would be
required. Consideratfon
for an off-cycle
appropriatfon or wait to
submit an offer for the
2025-2026 budget cycle.
Any implementatfon of a
developed plan would
need to come through
future budget process,
grants, etc.
Community Engagement
There is currently no engagement planned related to the Hughes site.
A scope/tfmeline can be created and presented to Council at a future work session.
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
17
Council Priority #11: Make government more accessible, approachable, and fun.
Lead: CPIO
Partners: Equity Office, all departments
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
More clarity on how
you address the
government
Every resident feels like
they have the same
access and knowledge
Keep Fort Collins fun –
easier to have organic,
fun things in our
community
Address voter turnout
and accessibility,
including educatfon on
Rank Choice Votfng
Communicate clearly to
our community what
our prioritfes are
How do folks want to
engage with the city?
Tell our story and bring
community along with
us rather than just
informing
Youth engagement
Neighborhood
ambassadors
City interactfng with
community other than
in a technical way.
Come to Council at 5:30
to meet your
Councilmember
Robust and inclusive
plan for voter outreach
and educatfon
Rethink how City
communicates with
community
Identffy how we reach
community
Understand how
community wants to
receive informatfon
Think about the City’s
voice on social media
Connect with all ages
Address accessibility to
informatfon (giving and
receiving)
Language access
guidelines
Inclusive engagement
guide
Digital experience
(website, legislatfve
management, other
digital systems)
Customer Experience
roadmap
Digital accessibility
Ongoing community
events (Linden St., Open
Streets, Bike to work day,
etc.)
Ec. Health business
listening sessions,
business
connectors/bilingual
navigators’ outreach,
business appreciatfon
celebratfons, Council/
business features, etc.
CityWorks 101
Cultural Services pop-ups
Council/
community meet and
greets, ex Council
proclamatfon receptfons
Council listening sessions
Youth Advisory board
reboot
Optfmize website and
implement new digital
experience platiorm
(Phased launch through
2024 and 2025)
Digital accessibility
transitfon plan
(implementatfon by July
2024)
Exploratfon of a 3-1-1
service
Identffy and remove
barriers to smaller
neighborhood events
Pilot deliberatfve
democracy innovatfons,
such as “citfzen”
assemblies with partners
like CSU.
Video storytelling
strategy
Develop a multflingual
pay program
Funding to amplify/
promote informatfon
more broadly to the org
(advertfsing, print,
traditfonal
communicatfon channels)
Funding for new website
and ongoing
maintenance
Funding for
staff/technology for 3-1-1
service
2025 BFO for a
community engagement
manager in Equity Office
to include contractual
community connectors
program for multf-
cultural representatfon
2025 BFO for an in-house
translator in Equity Office
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Proposed Council Prioritfes Table
18
Bike to School Day
Utflize social media to
communicate that
residents can interact
with Council in a variety
of ways
Promote
intergeneratfonal
relatfonships to
energize inclusion of
seniors in our
community. e.g., Rams
Against Hunger
Community Outreach
Annual Community Survey and other engagement efforts to learn about barriers and preferred methods of communicatfon and engagement.
Council Priority #12: Continued stewardship of our civic institution.
Lead: City Attorney’s Office
Partners: City Clerk’s Office
Priority Inputs How did Council define
success?
Current work underway Short Term Goals Resource Requirements
Charter Review Complete Charter
Review
Currently review the
charter but not as a
systemic effort
Complete review of
Charter for
inconsistencies and
obsolete language by late
2025
Supplemental outside
counsel
Community Engagement
Depends on nature of review. May not be needed for correctfve changes as opposed to new policy changes.
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Fort Collins City Council Retreat | January 2024 1
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Fort Collins City Council Retreat | January 2024 2
Executive Summary
On January 27, 2024, the City of Fort Collins hosted a City Council Retreat to discuss operational
challenges and priorities for the next 24 months at Colorado State University’s Canvas Stadium.
The retreat was professionally facilitated by Fountainworks, a public sector-focused strategy and
management consulting firm.
The goals of the retreat were to:
• Identify Council priorities for the next 24 months.
• Define success factors for each priority.
The agenda for the retreat included:
• Welcome from Mayor and City
Manager
• Priorities for the Coming Year
• Defining Success for Each Priority
• Other City Business
• Closing Remarks from the Mayor
• Next Steps from the City Manager
This document summarizes the retreat’s agenda and council members’ input. Comments were
captured as the conversation flowed and do not reflect any priority unless noted.
Building Out the Priorities
Ahead of the retreat, Council members
prepared up to 5 top priorities that they hoped
staff would focus on over the next 24 months.
After a brief welcome and warm up exercise,
Council members were asked to share their top
priorities for the next 24 months. Each Council
member had up to 10 minutes to share their
priorities.
A “bike rack” was introduced to capture
Council priorities and additions that did not
directly relate to the 12 main identified
priorities discussed during the retreat. The
items in the bike rack are captured at the end
of the summary.
Main Priorities
Council members identified 12 main priorities for staff to focus on for the next 24 months. For
each priority, Council members were asked to identify what success looks like and determine
what is most important about each priority. The priorities listed below are in order of
discussion, not significance.
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Fort Collins City Council Retreat | January 2024 3
During the discussion, Council members identified 5 items for staff to bring information and/or
recommendations at the next work session on February 13, 2024. These items are notated with
an asterisk (*).
Note that Council members did not address “what’s important?” for every priority as both
Council and staff felt they had a shared understanding of what Council was intending for that
specific priority.
Hughes Master Plan
Define Success:
• Decisions made based on broad public input and community involvement
• There is a place for every idea even if it is not at Hughes
• Solidified Master Plan within 2 years
Electrification and GHG Reduction
Define Success:
• Quantitative data on progress
• Accelerate electrification of buildings
• Air quality!!!
o (Oil and gas) wells
What’s Important?
• Consider relationship to human and social health priority
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Fort Collins City Council Retreat | January 2024 4
Active Modes*
Define Success:
• Community feels safe moving throughout the city without a car
• Acceleration of Vision Zero plan
• 50% of travel by 2032
• Count bike lane miles
• Lower fatalities
What’s Important?
• Safe routes to schools – quantify % and set target
• Increase walking bike scores
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Define Success:
• Lower food waste with community partnerships and diversion*
• Lower construction waste
• Measurable progress on the road to zero waste
• Clearly identify what initiatives would impact city goals for waste reduction
What’s Important?
• Public/private partnership
• Identify what would make the most impact
• Explore and understand all options
Make Government More Accessible, Fun & Approachable
Define Success:
• Robust and inclusive plan for voter outreach and education
• Rethink how City communicates with community
• Identify how we reach community
• Understand how community wants to receive information
• Think about the City’s voice on social media
• Increase opportunities for Council to interact with public informally
• Expand resident interaction beyond operations/business
• Identify other media sources to share information
• Promote the services the City offers
What’s Important?
• Connect with all ages
• Address accessibility to information (giving and receiving)
• FUN
• How does this fit into DEI?
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Fort Collins City Council Retreat | January 2024 5
Human and Social Health
Define Success:
• Identify barriers, resources and challenges to operationalize DEI (including affordable
housing, mobile home)*
• Limit/eliminate local income verification for services
• Increase number of lower income access to City services
• Identify program and statistics for food insecurity
• Staff bring resources for air quality policy and action for Council to consider at work
session
What’s Important?
• How are we serving our vulnerable populations? What do they need?
• Consider CSU students
Economic Health
Define Success:
• Diversify businesses
• Identify and remove barriers for business
• Identify and remove barriers for a robust workforce (i.e. a healthy mix) and training
availability
• Resources for business sustainability and vitality
• Focused energy on an industry FoCo can be known for
o Evaluate process for business at all levels
What’s Important?
• Longevity of businesses (small and large)
• Affordability/retention
• Attract workforce
15-minute City
Define Success:
• Identify and remove barriers to achieve 15-minute city
Water Resources/Quality
Define Success:
• Habitat restoration (ex: fencing)
• Protect and enhance the Poudre River
• Increase participation in community programs for preservation and restoration and
education
• Compile information on the ditch companies (% government ownership, ways to
manage)
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Fort Collins City Council Retreat | January 2024 6
What’s Important?
• Leverage cross-departmental efforts*
Public Education on Animal Welfare (Wild and Domestic)
Define Success:
• Establish a public education program on impact of outdoor cats Consider local breeding
facility
• Identify ways to protect and impact bird population threats
• Solicit public opinion
What’s Important?
• How does City policy reflect FoCo stance on animal welfare*
Complete Charter Review
Define Success:
• Continued stewardship of our high performing government
Affordable Housing
Define Success:
• Operationalize City resources to build affordable housing (sustainable funding, URA,
staff, development review fund, eviction legal fund, City-owned resources, etc.)
Request for Information and Staff Recommendation
While defining success and identifying what is important about their priorities, Council also
requested more information and recommendations from staff about 5 specific initiatives at the
next work session on February 13, 2024. These requests for information and recommendations
are captured below in order of discussion, not importance.
Council Requests:
Staff recommendations on strategies to address active modes
Staff recommendations on strategies to lower food waste with community partnerships
and diversion
o Ex: composting
Information about current City efforts around DEI
Information about current cross-departmental efforts
Information about current City regulation and the definition of a “puppy mill”
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Fort Collins City Council Retreat | January 2024 7
Bike Rack
For initiatives that did not fit into the scope of the 12 identified priorities form the main
discussion and/or were identified as tasks, responses were captured on the bike rack. The bike
rack is designed to capture all items Council wants staff to keep in mind for the future, even if
they are not related to the main 12 priorities.
The responses from the bike rack are listed
below in no particular order.
Bike Rack Responses:
• State Regulations
• Municipal Innovation Fund
• River Diversion
• Align city policies with SB23 -111
• Messaging and education about FCPD
and ICE
• Solar
• 2 tracks for historic review process
• Maintenance for annexed streets
Following the facilitated portion of the retreat,
Council attended to other business. At the end
of the discussion, Council members participated
in a brief close-out exercise by sharing their hopes for the future success in Fort Collins.
After this conversation concluded, City Manager Kelly DiMartino reassured Council that staff
would provide requested information and recommendations at the work session and work to
operationalize these properties.
Mayor Jeni Arndt then adjourned the meeting.
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