HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 10/22/2024 - Memorandum from Katie Donahue re: Natural Areas Strategic Framework, Additional Public Engagement Information – October 22, 2024 Work Session Agenda Item #2Natural Areas Department
1745 Hoffman Mill Road
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-416-2815
kdonahue@fcgov.com
Page 1 of 3
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 22, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
Dean Klingner, Community Services Director
From: Katie Donahue, Director, Natural Areas
Subject: Natural Areas Strategic Framework, Additional Public Engagement Information –
October 22, 2024 Work Session Agenda Item #2
SUMMARY
Regarding the October 22 Work Session agenda item 2: Natural Areas Strategic Framework
Update, this memo supports slides 4 and 5 of the presentation, providing more detail about the
Natural Areas public engagement process.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DETAILS
The AIS and presentation provide an overview of the public engagement conducted to support
the Natural Areas Strategic Framework. This supplementary memo intends to provide additional
details on who and how audiences were engaged.
Boards and Commissions
Land Conservation and Stewardship Board members through one-on-one conversations
with all board members in Q4 2023-Q1 2024 and through discussion items at four board
meetings: November 2023, April 2024, September 2024, and October 2024
Natural Resource Advisory Board members at one meeting in October 2024
Multiple board and commission members at Super Issues meeting in June 2024
Docusign Envelope ID: 1E1565A5-0F14-432C-BDA4-AD705C68C954
Page 2 of 3
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met three times between April to September 2024.
TAC meetings focused on bringing together multiple perspectives to provide in-depth input and
feedback. Invitations to participate in the TAC were extended to the following groups:
Adaptive Recreation Opportunities *
Colorado Native Plant Society *
Colorado Natural Heritage Program *
Colorado State University Native
American Cultural Center *
Colorado State University, Natural
Resources Students of Color *
Colorado State University One Health
Institute *
Fort Collins Audubon Society *
Fort Collins Running Club *
Front Range Community College,
Natural Resources Department *
National Park Service Natural
Sounds and Night Skies Division *
Northern Colorado Back Country
Horsemen
Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters
Overland Mountain Bike Association *
Poudre Heritage Alliance *
Poudre Paddlers
Trust for Public Land
USGS *
Visit Fort Collins
* Indicates groups that were able to participate in one or more TAC meeting or were able to provide input
via conversations outside of the TAC meetings.
Staff met with Historically Underrepresented Groups in small, focused conversations. NAD
provided transportation, food, and gift cards to acknowledge the time they invested in supporting
this effort. Groups represented in focus group meetings were:
Community Members with Accessibility Needs
Arabic Speaking Community Members
Black and African American Community Members
Boys and Girls Club Members (youth)
LatinX Community Members
LGBTQIA+ Community Members
Lived Experience Advisory Council (represents the unhoused community)
Native American and Indigenous Community Members
Docusign Envelope ID: 1E1565A5-0F14-432C-BDA4-AD705C68C954
Page 3 of 3
Partners included individuals, groups, and other City departments that work closely with Natural
Areas. They are often involved in collaborative project work on key initiatives including land
conservation, river health initiatives, adaptive management and monitoring, and trail
connectivity. Partners that Natural Areas engaged included:
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Butterfly Pavilion
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
City of Loveland
City of Greeley
City of Timnath
City of Windsor
Coalition for Poudre River Watershed
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources
Natural Areas Department Volunteers
Poudre Fire Authority
Poudre Valley Community Farms
Town of Wellington
US Forest Service
City of Fort Collins Departments:
o Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office
o Environmental Sustainability
o Parks Department
o Planning, Development, and Transportation
o Social Sustainability
o Water Utility
Docusign Envelope ID: 1E1565A5-0F14-432C-BDA4-AD705C68C954