HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 11/26/2024 - Memorandum from Ginny Sawyer re Council Priorities – Q3 2024 Update
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City Manager’s Office
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
Date: November 21, 2024
To: Mayor and Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
From: Ginny Sawyer, Project Manager
RE: Council Priorities – Q3-2024 Update
Every two years, following a Council election, the newly seated Council participates in a
planning retreat to identify priorities and confirm strategic direction. City Council adopted 11
priorities for the 2024-2026 term. These priorities were intentionally developed by Council to
encompass both ongoing work, previously identified strategic initiatives, and opportunities to
accelerate workstreams.
Updates are provided quarterly through memo and website updates.
(https://www.fcgov.com/council/)
Priority Updates
1. Operationalize City Resources to Build and Preserve Affordable Housing
A consultant team has been selected for a grant funded local planning capacity "fast track
processing" project. The project kicked off in November and initial work will include conducting a
process mapping exercise to find efficiencies.
Larimer County’s Landlord engagement program is underway, and the County will pay a portion
of the City rental registration fees for participating Landlords.
$400,000 in Utility Fee Offset grants were awarded to 3 sustainable Affordable Housing Projects
with 2050 Tax funding. Staff is exploring ways to support on-going Utility fee relief and an
affordable housing impact fee.
Land Bank Program
Currently considering if a redeploy of ARPA dollars could allow the Land Bank Program to
exercise an option to purchase 2-acres at 1900 Laporte from the Natural Areas Department.
Any action would ensure Natural Areas remains whole.
The ARPA funding spend deadline has been extended for the Montava Land Bank 5-acre
purchase via a Memorandum of Understanding between the City Manager's Office and the
Social Sustainability Department.
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Tilden Land Bank analysis underway to determine whether it is ready to develop.
Council touchpoints:
February 2025 Council Finance meeting will discuss community capital package and
potential of a revolving loan fund for housing.
March 2025 work session focused on Priority 1.
2. Improve Human and Social Health for Vulnerable Populations
Staff has completed drafting and seeking public review on the Human Services &
Homelessness Priority Platforms and anticipates finalizing the documents in December. These
new guiding documents will influence Social Sustainability Department (SSD) staff work plans
and FY25 competitive grant funding.
The Equity Office continues work with City departments and external partners both in the Equity
Readiness space through assessments and through the maturing of the Equity Indicator work.
This is ongoing work and will continue well into the new year.
Staff is engaging underserved communities through events and relationship building. The
Community Connectors Spanish Language Group meets monthly and has been focused on
Strategic Outcome Areas and Council Priorities. In October, the Gardens hosted a community
celebration of Latiné & Hispanic Heritage Month with a day full of free events highlighting this
culture that enriches our community. The installation of the rainbow Crosswalk was unveiled on
October 11 to celebrate National Coming Out Day.
Year 1, of 3, monitoring of air toxics through EPA grant is complete. Sites have been prioritized
based on community interest, such as oil and gas operations and sites with odor complaints.
Prospect Energy wells are shut-in and awaiting permanent plugging and reclamation. The City
is working towards a purchase agreement for contaminated property and working with the
Energy & Carbon Management Commission orphan well program on appropriate winterization
for well sites and subsequent prioritization for reclamation.
The Mobile Home Park Program continues to be impactful through both physical home
improvements and educational workshops and mini-grant offerings. These programs touch
seniors, Spanish speakers, and low-income populations. Home repairs and funding are
allocated based on the life/health/safety risk of repairs needed and the eligibility requirements of
each funding source. Projects were completed in 4 mobile home parks.
Buy the numbers:
2,364 Grocery Tax Rebate applications processed in Q1+Q2 +Q3 with $445k in rebates
provided YTD.
Healthy Homes: Recruited and trained 5 new Healthy Homes Educators, conducted 27 in-
home assessments (11 in Spanish, 16 in English), with 14 HVAC inspections and 20
weatherization projects, repaired and/or replaced multiple furnaces in homes where there
were safety and health risks.
Get FoCo: 947 FC households currently receiving discounted Connexion Internet services.
2,981 FC households enrolled in one or more Get FoCo programs in 2024. Gardens on
Spring Creek income-qualified program added to Get FoCo bring total to 5 programs
available.
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Immigration Legal Fund: 8 new work authorizations, 50 people reached through
educational/self-advocacy sessions, supported 4 asylum cases, 8 Temporary Protected
Status applications, and 4 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases. In Q3, two removal
proceedings were dismissed for clients arriving as unaccompanied minors. ILF is actively
managing 35 cases.
Eviction Legal Fund: Attorneys represented 42 clients in non-court appearances, reached
171 renters through Know Your Rights trainings, distributed educational materials to 193
people, trained 14 eviction mediation and housing hotline volunteers, and served 190
renters and 16 landlords.
Council touchpoints:
Council work session focusing on Priority 2 February 11, 2025. Work session will include
mobile home park local and state enforcement discussion.
Council will receive a memo in Q1-2025 when the Priority Platforms are complete.
Council will be updated when a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the former oil & gas
operator is available for consideration.
3. Pursue an Integrated, Intentional Approach to Economic Health
The Economic Health Office (EHO) is working in multiple areas to ensure effective programing
and to bolster the success of local business.
Some current efforts include working to stand-up the Barriers to Business study which will help
EHO better understand and address business challenges in the community. Similarly, Economic
Impact Studies are being developed to understand the economic impact of Housing Catalyst
and the sports economy locally. This data will help prioritize future funding and strategic
investments to ensure that resources are being devoted where they are needed the most, as
well as where the return on investment yields higher results.
The Multicultural Business and Entrepreneur Center (MBEC) recently received the gold award
from the International Economic Development Council for Entrepreneurship Programs and
following the 2025-26 budget adoption future planning and strategy development is underway to
continue the good work.
EHO is collaborating with the Land Use Code team to engage the business community in the
discussions and working to better understand our community’s usage of neighborhood centers.
Of note, the Larimer County labor force study conducted by TIP Strategies is in discussion for
being updated to see the changes in today’s workforce and trends moving forward.
Council touchpoints: No items currently scheduled.
4. Advancing a 15-minute City by Igniting our Neighborhood Centers
Assessing Commercial Corridors and Centers
Land Use Code (LUC) and Place Based Assessment:
City selected a vendor to integrate a diagnostic of the LUC and the more general needs and
opportunities for our centers and corridors. This will yield a Place Based Assessment by Q1
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2025 and inform the LUC updates to be finalized in Q4 of 2025. The Economic Health Office
(EHO) has been comparing Permitted Uses in the LUC against the retail landscape of Fort
Collins to better understand how our community utilizes our neighborhood centers and what
gaps need filling to better support our 15-Minute City goals. EHO has been looking at data for
visitation to Neighborhood Centers overlaid with traffic patterns to see which Neighborhood
Centers are currently being utilized at a higher rate by multi-modal transportation. This can help
us understand if specific Commercial Uses drive higher visitation by alternative modes. This
effort also promotes opportunities to collaborate with Planning, Development, and
Transportation (PDT) to better understand how small changes in permitted uses, access, and
Right of W ay infrastructure could increase alternative modes visitation.
Simplifying the Permitting Experience:
A vendor has been selected for enterprise software implementation and change management.
Process improvement workshops across the different business units, focused on simplifying
process, are the next step.
Budget Note: The liaison for businesses navigating the permitting process was not funded in
the 25/26 budget, however PDT and EHO are collaborating on potential solutions.
Council touchpoints:
November 19 regular meeting, 1st Reading consideration of software appropriation
Q1 2025: Provide Council Place Based Assessment Report
5. Accelerate Zero Waste Infrastructure and Policies
Staff continues to work on the following elements to accelerate zero waste infrastructure and
policies:
Increasing yard trimmings collection is a major component of City zero waste goals. The launch
of the residential hauling contract with Republic, which includes weekly seasonal yard trimmings
collection, is a major part of this effort. Staff will continue to collaborate with Republic, as well as
supporting community education and customer support.
The identification of pathways for food scraps and construction & demolition (C&D) materials
infrastructure is continuing through conversations with Larimer County to determine partnership
opportunities and the potential for recycling or composting infrastructure. Grant-funded
consultants are also engaged to take a fresh look at potential pathways to infrastructure for
these materials. Consultants will provide a high-level comparative analysis of potential paths for
at the end of January. The City will then select one path for a deeper dive into costs and
implementation needs. That work is anticipated to be completed in June. Staff will discuss these
elements with City Council during a work session in April 2025.
Council touchpoints:
Work session April 8, 2025
6. Reduce Climate Pollution and Air Pollution Through Best Practices, Emphasizing
Electrification
Buildings:
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Staff continues to develop a local Building Performance Standards (BPS) Policy framework
and will be at a Council work session in January. Recent focus has been on community
facing resources to help with awareness and understanding of the policy framework and
what it will mean when implemented.
The Zero Carbon New Construction Code project team is on track with the development and
planned adoption of the building energy code. Staff have finalized two of the three sub-
recipient agreements, are nearing completion of baseline building performance analysis,
and are starting work on development of building energy use and emissions reduction code
targets. In addition, the project team is formalizing the establishment of the
stakeholder/community advisory group, planning a kick-off meeting first quarter of 2025, and
has bolstered building efficiency and zero energy industry workforce training through
industry scholarships and partnerships with Front Range Community College and Northern
Colorado Construction Sector Partnership.
Incentive programs continue to have success, although at a declining rate due to decreased
"low hanging fruit" options left for buildings. Incentives for natural gas appliances and other
equipment have been phased out. Staff continue to evaluate infrastructure (distribution grid
and operational technology) necessary to support energy transition and grid of the future.
Transportation/Fleet Vehicles:
Updating the previous Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap (EVRR) is on track to deliver a
final report with recommendations by end of year. Staff will begin moving into
implementation of the EVRR recommendations/strategies in Q1 of 2025.
Phase 1 of Panasonic SMART grant pilot project is underway and continues until March
2025. Operation Services, Utilities and Finance departments are awaiting notification of an
$11M award for Phase 2 fleet vehicle and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Small Engine Equipment:
Environmental Regulatory Affairs (ERA) and Environmental Services staff are leading efforts
for compliance with CDPHE Air Pollution and Control Division (APCD) Regulation 29
(restricting City and City contractor use of specified gas-powered landscaping equipment
under 10 horsepower from June 1 through August 31 annually, beginning 2025.)
Parks Staff received 7 electric utility carts replacing 7 gas-powered carts utilizing $200K
awarded from the 2050 tax. The gas-powered carts are being removed from service.
Parks and Natural Areas landscaping equipment fleets are approximately 85% and 80%
electric, respectively.
Council touchpoints:
Council work session on Building Performance Standards January 14, 2025
Council work session on this Priority scheduled for April 8, 2025
7. Protect Community Water Systems in an Integrated Way to Ensure Resilient Water
Resources and Healthy Watersheds
Halligan Water Supply Project
Funding Strategy: An updated budget model has been completed and presented to the City
Finance team. Currently, the master schedule is being updated along with needed cash flow
projections. Two State-administered programs have been identified as potential primary
funding sources (Water Project Loan Program and Water Revenue Bond Program), in
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addition to the issuance of municipal bonds. Federal grant opportunities continue to be
investigated but are expected to be limited in scope and opportunity.
Permitting: Larimer County 1041 Permit application has been submitted, approval hearings
with County Planning Commission and the County Commissioners scheduled for Spring of
2025. 401 Water Quality Certification Application to the State expected in early 2025.
Water Supply Requirements (WSR) & Non-Residential Water Allotments
WSR – In November, Council adopted an updated Water Supply Requirement Fee and
Excess Water Use Surcharge which will change the Water Supply Requirement fee to
$63,800 per acre-foot and the excess water use surcharge to $15.59 per 1,000 gallons for
2025
Allotments: Council also approved Annual Water Allotments for Nonresidential Water
Services which will assign water allotments to nonresidential customers that do not have
one.
These ordinances will go into effect January 1, 2025.
Water Efficiency Plan Update
Engagement is 90% complete. Municipal and service-area wide goals and strategies are
being developed with input from engagement and with support from City Staff. The water
demand model is 75% complete.
One Water Strategic Plan Development, Phase I
Information gathering has occurred through plan review, staff interviews, focus groups and
workshops. Work on Phase I is 75% complete, with the development of summary status
report (final deliverable) to be completed by January 31, 2025. Phase 2 planning will
commence February 2025.
Council touchpoints:
Council work session for Water Efficiency Plan February 25, 2025
8. Advancing a 15-minute City by Accelerating our Shift to Active Modes
Fun/Engaging Methods for Neighborhood Safety:
The asphalt art project at Canyon, Sherwood, and Magnolia accomplished the narrowing of
vehicular travel lanes, shortened pedestrian crossing distances and improved sightlines.
16,000 square feet in curb-extensions were defined by traffic striping, plastic delineator
posts, asphalt art and ADA compliant infrastructure. Using these applications together
created a large expanse of asphalt for pedestrian refuge and encourages reduced traffic
speeds. Converting this five-point intersection into a four-way intersection and a separate T
intersection improved sightlines for road users and addressed long-standing concerns of
right-of-way confusion.
The City hosted one of the biggest Open Streets events to date on September 15th along
Sheilds street. This was the first event hosted on an arterial roadway since 2015, and an
estimated 14,000 participants attended nearly doubling previous attendance records.
Fort Collins hosted the National Safe Routes to School Conference in October. The event
brought professionals from around the country to share best practices in the world of safe
routes to school, and to see first-hand the amazing work being done here in Fort Collins.
This included numerous mobile workshops around Fort Collins and at CSU.
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Funding Obtained:
Fort Collins was awarded approximately $1.7 million in funding from the Federal Safe
Streets for All program this past September. This funding includes a Codes and Standards
Audit focused on Active Modes, a Harmony Road Study to design active modes facilities for
Harmony, and the Lake Street Demonstration Project to enhance active modes through
CSU.
Budget Note: Active modes were well resourced in the 2025/2026 Budget. In the next two
years we will advance significant improvements such as increasing maintenance of our active
mode infrastructure, implementing quick build solutions for neighborhood and school safety,
continuing the asphalt art program, and advancing larger scale safety improvements of our high
injury network such as Prospect and Shields.
Council touchpoints:
Council work session January 14, 2025 to discuss 10-year Transportation Capital Improvement
Plan framework and evaluation.
Council work session January 14, 2025 to discuss Strategic Trails Plan community feedback
and initial draft of goals and strategies for feedback.
9. Develop a Use Plan for the Hughes Property
Staff is working in concert with Healthy Democracies, American Public Trust, and the Center for
Public Deliberation to plan and execute a Civic Assembly to develop a use plan for the Hughes
property. Current focus is on developing a communications plan, creation of an informational
packet to be used for discussion guides, and development of representative lottery process.
Assembly is anticipated to occur in May 2025.
A related effort is also underway to determine bile park feasibility across the community. This
study will evaluate potential bike park locations (including Hughes), associated capital and on-
going costs, identification of park amenities and features, and a community engagement
process.
The goal is to complete the bike park feasibility study and have it available for the Civic
Assembly.
Council touchpoints:
Council work session January 28, 2025 to provide an update on civic Assembly
Council work session March/April 2025 timeframe for feasibility update.
10. Make Government more Accessible, Approachable & Fun
The City's Digital Accessibility Team and partner Nelnet helped each department prioritize their
top digital communications platforms/tools to assist with an audit plan to assess accessibility
concerns or gaps. The team is finalizing specific guidance for PDFs to ensure accessibility
across City documents. Nelnet is also building a training plan for City staff to ensure everyone
understands the digital accessibility requirements and how they can ensure compliance.
Digital Experience Platform (DXP) implementation continued with website navigation testing to
inform the final navigation structure, sitemap and design. Additional DXP modules have also
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kicked off design/development, including legislative management, 311 services and
eNewsletters.
The City Manager's Quarterly report was revamped in 2024 and continues to be optimized for
easy storytelling on City achievements and cross-promotion in other City channels. Beginning
with the Q2 report, a link to Council Priority updates was added to the report.
The BlastX team worked with the City to create a Customer Journey Mapping playbook to be
used as a guide for the City to create and maintain customer journey maps and are working to
gather current data sourcing information from each City department. Several City staff from
each department participated in the journey mapping training.
Late summer and early fall brought another round of fun opportunities for the community to
connect with the City and each other, including the Poudre River Fest, Neighborhood Night Out,
the Volunteer Engagement Summit, Open Streets and many more.
Council touchpoints:
Council listening sessions at various community events
Council feedback on website navigation
11. Modernize the City Charter
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 the 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.
Preparations for the December 10 work session are underway.
Council touchpoints:
December 10 Council work session
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