HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 05/06/2025 - Memorandum from Ginny Sawyer re Council Priorities – Q1-2025 UpdatePage 1 of 10
City Manager’s Office
City Hall
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 1, 2025
To: Mayor and Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
From: Ginny Sawyer, Project Manager
Re: Council Priorities – Q1-2025 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. Following this memo,
updates will be provided in July and November. (https://www.fcgov.com/council/)
Priority Updates
1.Operationalize City Resources to Build and Preserve Affordable Housing
Expedite review of affordable housing projects:
•Work underway with consulting team from Raftelis, with initial findings and
recommendations presented to City staff in March.
•Staff participated in regional Prop 123 workshop in April to collaboratively strategize with
other municipalities and the State around practices to fast track the development review
process.
Expand programs for healthy and stable housing:
•The City is participating in efforts to develop a county-wide homelessness strategic plan
to identify and fill service and housing needs for unhoused and precariously housed
residents.
•City revised code to allow more accessory dwelling units (ADU) and is working toward
becoming an ADU supportive community.
•Rental registration is now required with around 70% of Landlords currently registered.
The Rental Housing Program hosted a rental housing summit in early April with invited
landlords and renters to discuss and troubleshoot concerns around the rental market.
•The competitive funding process is underway; for the first time, general funds dedicated
to homelessness response are included in this process and will be awarded to projects
serving households experiencing homelessness.
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Reduce fees for affordable housing projects and evaluate all newly proposed City regulations
and fees for anticipated impact on cost to build housing:
•Continuing to provide fee credits for Affordable Housing units serving households at 30%
AMI.
•Working toward completing and implementing recommendations from the High Density
Utilities study, calibrating capital expansion fees, and conducting indoor water
conservation program pilot to reduce water supply requirements.
•Parking minimums removed for multifamily development allowing more capacity for
housing and saving funds by not requiring extra parking spaces.
Create sustainable, long-term source(s) of dedicated local funding for housing:
•Continuing to explore options for revolving fund to provide short-term loans or longer-
term equity in affordable housing developments.
•Investigating partnerships with the Urban Renewal Authority, philanthropy and
community development finance institutions to increase available funding for housing
development.
Identify City resources that could be dedicated to affordable housing; work with housing
authority and partners to leverage resources into new/preserved units:
•Continued exploration of potential future development of the Remington parking lot.
•Land Bank Technical Team reviewed site analysis for the Tilden Land Bank (projected to
have the capacity to provide around 300 units); continuing to work with Land Bank
Technical Team and developer partners to identify best time to deploy property,
particularly given uncertainty around federal funding and financing for developers.
•Monitoring options to purchase additional land bank property. Staff are convening
internally to review Land Bank policy, clarify goals, and determine if changes in program
design or implementation could better advance housing goals.
•Coordinating with Larimer County and City of Loveland to conduct a state-mandated
Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which will include recommendations to increase
affordable housing development and preservation; proposals for consultants have been
received and the review team aims to select a consultant by May.
Council touchpoints:
•June 17, 2025 Council consideration of:
o Assignment of Private Activity Bond Capacity (we do this annually.)
o Updating Municipal Code Housing Affordability Terms to conform with Land Use
Code language.
2.Improve Human and Social Health for Vulnerable Populations
Expand human service funding; align with top community needs:
•Competitive funding process for Human Services, Homelessness and Affordable
Housing will be completed in late April. 72 total funding proposals were received,
requesting $6.7M (approx. $3.5M available).
•Council received a memo in Q1-2025 profiling the Human Services & Homelessness
Priority Platforms. These new guiding documents are now used to influence SSD staff
work plans and FY25 competitive grant funding.
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Continue and expand programs that provide direct support to vulnerable populations:
•Grocery Tax Rebate Program: 1,001 Grocery Tax Rebate applications processed in Q1-
2025 (29% increase over Q1-2024) with $193k in rebates paid to income qualified
residents.
Embed equity throughout City programming and operations:
•Equity Readiness Assessments - 9 Newly funded projects have been identified as
priority to conduct equity readiness assessments. These will take place during Q2-Q3.
•Equity Indicators Update Project Updates will be published by end of May 2025.
•Underserved Communities:
o April is Autism Acceptance Month:
o Cultural programs: Juneteenth, PRIDE Celebration and Laino/Hispanic Heritage
Month are being planned
o Community Connectors Monthly Meetings: April: Mobile Home Park Water
Quality Testing with Utilities staff and Councilmembers Potyondy and
Gutowsky. June: Transfort Optimization Study Engagement
Address environmental concerns including air quality and oil & gas policies:
•Healthy Homes - In Q1 the Healthy Homes team provided:- 25 in-home Air Quality (AQ)
assessments- 9 DIY AQ assessments- 132 short-term radon tests- 12 long-term radon
tests- 13 furnace inspections- 13 weatherization installations
•Air Quality Monitoring - The City/County Air Quality - Monitoring Advisory Committee
continues to meet and host engagement events. In Q1, this included an event with the
Middle School Outreach Ensembles (group sponsored by CSU), featuring air quality
related games and an original musical piece about air quality.
Oil and Gas:
•While oil and gas operations have ceased, work continues to assess contamination and
make progress towards remediation and reclamation. In Q1, this included an
environmental assessment on a property that previously held wells and storage.
Continue and expand programs that provide direct support to vulnerable populations:
•The Gardens on Spring Creek has joined the Get FoCo family so now residents have a
reliable pathway to take advantage of Gardens For All.
•Immigration Legal Fund - Contracts for 2025-2026 were signed with four service
providers for the BFO-allocated funding and for a donation from Colorado Health
Foundation: Alianza NORCO, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN),
Interfaith Solidarity and Accompaniment Coalition (ISAAC), and Church World Service.
o Church World Service, a new local service provider, filed 8 new immigration
cases and held 8 additional consultations. 5 of the cases filed were adjustment of
status (to lawful permanent status) for Cuban immigrants. 4 consultations related
to asylum claims.
o The other service providers were focused on contracting and urgent responses to
changes in the immigration system and deportation processes at the federal
level.
•Eviction Legal Fund - Contracts were signed for 2025-2026 BFO-allocated funding with
two service providers: Colorado Poverty Law Project (CPLP) and Interfaith Solidarity and
Accompaniment Coalition (ISAAC).
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o 7 people received direct legal representation in court; 33 received legal services
other than direct representation through legal clinics or "Ask a Lawyer" days; 40
renters were served. 5 tenant responses in eviction cases were filed and 11
clients were referred to other support programs like rental assistance.
•Community Consultants Program - Projects for 2025 for Community Consultants were
selected. The program is currently on hold pending budget availability.
•Mobile Home Park Program - A Council Work Session on Mobile Home Park
Enforcement at the local and state levels was held February 11, 2025. Staff was asked
to follow up with additional details on the possibilities for consideration outlined in the
Work Session with another Work Session later this year. Staff is meeting with internal
and external stakeholder groups to confirm logistics, staff time, cost, and barriers for
options.
•Climate 2050 Mobile Home Improvement Grant applications opened April 1, 2025 and
Staff reviewed 2024 eligible applications for inclusion in the 2025 grant review, saving
residents time and effort in reapplying.
•Neighborhood Mini-Grant Programs - $4,700 in mini-grant funding was awarded to 7
neighborhood projects including a pop-up skate event, food resiliency workshop, Little
Free Library, low-water tree planting, and three block parties.
•Round 2 Neighborhood Mini-Grant applications and Neighborhood Night Out Grant
applications opened April 15, 2025. Neighborhood Night Out grants are limited to
Designated Opportunity Neighborhoods and affordable housing neighborhoods this year.
Council touchpoints:
•Council will receive funding recommendations from the Human Services & Housing
Funding Board in June 2025.
•A Work Session on Mobile Home Park Enforcement/Code Changes to follow-up with
more specific options for Council consideration will be scheduled in Fall 2025.
3.Pursue an Integrated, Intentional Approach to Economic Health
•Business Support: Food Trucks and Outdoor Vendors - in partnership with Sales Tax
and Poudre Fire Authority, are working to inform and coordinate internal processes
around food truck and outdoor vendors for education, licensing, and inspections.
•Citywide Retail Strategy - in partnership with Planning, Development and Transportation
(PDT), Finance, and Urban Renewal Authority (URA), an initial kickoff meeting to the
development of a holistic approach to evaluate citywide conditions, such as current &
future state of assets, consumer behaviors, changes/habits to identify strategies and
action plan opportunities to align with 15-Minute Cities. Anticipate convening a
stakeholder group meeting to share preliminary findings in Q2 - 2025.
•Other activities - EHO staff continues to support the 15-Minute City Analysis/Place
Based Assessments and Commercial Corridors and Centers in partnership with
Planning, Development & Transportation by providing data, research, and insights from
businesses.
•Barriers to Business Study
o Cities Work/Institute of Justice did interviews & roundtable discussions with
businesses the first week of April.
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o Additional stakeholder interviews with business support partners is anticipated in
Q2 - 2025.
•City's Business Assistance Policy & Package - Initiating research and strategy
development to update the City's policy to better support business expansion and
redevelopment - anticipate a Q4 - 2025 discussion with City Council.
Workforce Support
•Local Industry Grant Hire, Train, Retrain (LIGHTR) Workforce Grant
•In partnership with Larimer County Economic & Workforce Department (LCEWD), the
LIGHTR program was developed to address challenges and opportunities in upward
mobility workforce training for small businesses.
•The $50,000 grant program received 39 applications totaling over $105K in requests.
Nearly $50K of the allocated training grants have been distributed. A follow-up is
anticipated at the end of Q2 - 2025.
Northern Colorado Workforce Data Profile Update
•In Partnership with the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce and LCEWD, the
Northern Colorado workforce data profile (Larimer and Weld Counties) is being updated.
•Initial findings will be presented at the Annual Talent Summit on April 23, 2025. This
work will contribute to NoCo Works and the development of a Northern Colorado Talent
Plan.
Job Quality and Access Tool (JQA)
•The development of a Job Quality and Access (JQA) Tool for Larimer and Weld
Counties will assist in visualizing underrepresented groups by occupation, identify career
pathways that lead to in-demand occupations, and prioritize occupations to focus future
workforce development efforts.
•The results can also include other characteristics such as place of work versus
residence, geographic distribution of workers, transportation access which can support
15-Minute City efforts.
•Anticipated delivery in Q2 - 2025
Council touchpoints:
•May 27, 2025 work session focused on this priority.
4.Advancing a 15-minute City by Igniting our Neighborhood Centers
The Future of Commercial Centers and Corridors/Land Use Code
•Community engagement is on-going and draft concepts are in development. April Work
Session with Council will confirm next steps and areas of focus for regulatory updates.
15 Minute City Place Based Assessment
•Draft report is complete and under review.
Partnership Conversations
•Discussing ways to partner with the County and PSD on 15-minute city goals. Strategy
session is expected in Q2 2025 with follow-up to Council.
Economic Health
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•Advancing scope for Retail Strategy. Exploring learnings from Place Based Assessment
to determine program and other potential areas to support businesses. Overlapping
efforts with Council Priority #3 Econ Health.
Council touchpoints:
•April 22, 2025 work session – Land Use Code update
•May 2025 work session – Economic Health Strategic Plan
5.Accelerate Zero Waste Infrastructure and Policies
Staff continues to work on the following elements to accelerate zero waste infrastructure and
policies:
Leverage Existing Infrastructure to increase Yard Trimmings Composted
•City staff and Republic services collaborated to successfully roll out the contracted
hauling program in fall of 2024. The contracted hauling program includes yard trimmings
automatically. Residents may decline the service and receive a $5 decrease in their
monthly bills.
•With the new system and cost barriers, 46% more households now have curbside yard
trimmings collection (an additional 11,400 homes).
•The program has not been in place long enough to have data about increased yard
trimmings collected, but increased collection is likely to result in more yard trimmings
composted.
Identify Pathways to Construction & Demolition (C&D) and Food Scraps Infrastructure
•Fort Collins received a state grant for consulting support to identify pathways to
composting or C&D infrastructure. The project started in summer 2024 and included
extensive engagement with potential partners and analysis.
•The feasibility analysis will wrap up late early fall of 2025, after which City staff will share
results to ensure alignment on next steps. Should the City choose to move forward, next
steps would be to select a type of infrastructure, seek to identify a property, then move
forward with engineering analysis specific to that property. From site analysis to
complete construction is likely a 3 – 5-year process.
Potential Future Next Moves
•Numerous additional opportunities to make progress on Zero Waste have been
identified. In a resource-constrained environment, staff will be supporting Council to
strategically prioritize those opportunities.
Council touchpoints:
•Council work session in Q3/4 2025 to share findings of feasibility study and direct next
steps
6.Reduce Climate Pollution and Air Pollution Through Best Practices, Emphasizing
Electrification
Buildings
•Staff continues development of a local Building Performance Standards (BPS) Policy
framework with City Council, focusing Q1 and Q2 2025 on a pilot to test assumptions of
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policy development. Staff have enrolled 3 out of 5 buildings in a pilot to explore technical
and financial resources and completing a customer journey map activity to identify
building owner pain points and improvements in implementation strategy.
•The Zero Carbon New Construction Code project is on track with development and
potential incorporation into building energy code. Staff continue work on the project plan
and held several advisory group meetings in Q1, ultimately bringing building code
recommendations to the broader code review committee in Q2 2025. Code Review
Committee meetings are underway with initial discussions on building code starting in
Q2.
•Incentives focused programs continue to have success, although at a declining rate of
participation. Staff continue to evaluate infrastructure (distribution grid and operational
technology) necessary to support energy transition and grid of the future.
Electrification of Transportation/Fleet Vehicles:
•An update to the Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap (EVRR) will be finalized by early
May. Next steps will be to prioritize strategies and develop near-term implementation
plans E.g., identify roles and responsibilities for staff and community partners, develop
budget estimates and timelines, identify potential funding sources, etc.
•Phase 1 of Panasonic SMART grant pilot project is underway.
o Operation Services, Utilities and Finance departments are pursuing award
negotiations for Phase 2 for fleet vehicle and electric vehicle charging
infrastructure.
o Staff are exploring how to support developers for level 3 charging opportunities
and revisiting code requirements
Conversion of 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).
Council touchpoints:
•May 13, 2025 Work Session on Council Priority #6: Reduce Climate Pollution and Air
Pollution Through Best Practices, Emphasizing Electrification. Item will include an update
on a strategic refresh of Our Climate Future as well as discussion of strategies for
Electrification of Buildings, Conversion of Small Engine Equipment, and Electrification of
Transportation/Fleet Vehicles
7.Protect Community Water Systems in an Integrated Way to Ensure Resilient Water
Resources and Healthy Watersheds
Water Efficiency Plan (WEP)
•The draft WEP has been posted on Our City (ourcity.fcgov.com/wep) for public comment
and will be up through June 23, 2025.
•Staff will promote the public comment opportunity through a variety of tactics including
social media posts, April bill insert, emails to those who signed up for notifications, and
announcements on MyWater.
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•Staff will also be visiting with Boards and Commissions and receiving preliminary review
of the draft from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (the state’s approving agency).
We will incorporate this feedback into the final WEP and plan to seek Council approval in
September, with the first reading of a City Council Resolution planned for September 2,
2025.
Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP)
•A third workshop was held on April 25, at which the SAMP was finalized. The SAMP will
serve as the strategic guide for implementing comprehensive asset management across
the Water Utilities.
One Water Plan & Action Framework
•Phase I – One Water Action Framework Report is complete and provides summary of
strengths and opportunities within the Fort Collins “water system” and key next steps for
advancing One Water.
•Phase 2 – Scope of work for Phase 2 is currently in development and will address the
development of a Fort Collins One Water Plan including refinement of goals and
strategies. One Water Plan development is expected to begin in late May.
Halligan Water Supply Project
•Public information session held on 2/12/2025 for Livermore residents
•The Halligan 1041 permit was recommended for approval by the Larimer County
Planning Commission on 2/19/2025, and was formally approved by the Larimer County
Board of Commissioners 3/24/2025.
•401 Water Quality Certification – still in review
•60% Dam Design is complete
o Advancements from 30% design
o 60% design TAC 60% design review (SEO reviewing in parallel)
•CSU Halligan Dam Physical Flow model complete
o Tours/visits to spillway physical model happening at the CSU Hydraulics Lab
Council touchpoints:
•May 27, 2025 work session to highlight progress around One Water Planning
•Anticipate July 2025 (not yet scheduled) –Council approval of updated Water Efficiency
Plan via resolution.
8.Advancing a 15-minute City by Accelerating our Shift to Active Modes
Strategic Trails Plan: Draft plan in review by staff, community, Boards/Commissions. On track
for Council adoption Q3 2025
Multi Modal Investment: Project updates:
•Street Improvements: Centre Street protected bike lane is complete; LaPorte Ave Mult-
Modal improvements will be complete by June 2025.
•Siphon Overpass: Under construction to be complete by end of summer 2025.
•Power Trail Underpass: Begin construction this season; groundbreaking event in
progress.
•Construction season is kicking off for a total of $67m in transportation capital projects.
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Council touchpoints:
•April 22 Work Session: Staff report on School Safety Assessments
•May 20, 2025 Council regular meeting to consider adoption of Strategic Trails Plan
•July 8, 2025 Council work session – Which Wheels go Where: Micromobility
9.Develop a Use Plan for the Hughes Property
The first weekend of the Civic center deliberation occurred on April 12 and 13 with 20 randomly
selected delegates. The Assembly heard over 5 presentations from varied interests and
participated in both large and small group conversations.
The second weekend will take place May 3 and 4 and is designed to end with a
recommendation that will be presented to Council.
Council touchpoints:
•May 27, 2025 work session to provide Civic Assembly recommendation & report.
10. Make Government more Accessible, Approachable & Fun
Digital Accessibility:
•Several staff training courses began in late Q1 and will continue through Q2. The
training helps staff ensure digital platforms and documents are accessible.
Digital Experience Platform:
•Implementation work continued in Q1 as the final website design was completed. Staff
are reviewing existing content and analytics to inform what will be built into the new site.
•Training for the content management system began and will continue into Q2.
Development of the new Access Fort Collins platform was completed and the mobile app
is in development with internal testing to begin in Q2.
Customer Experience:
•Work is also underway to onboard a new employee and customer experience platform
(Qualtrics) to assess both employee and community satisfaction, identify friction points
and opportunities for improvement.
FUN:
•The Communications & Public Involvement Office (CPIO) launched a new social media
series called City in :60, featuring Councilmembers and City leaders sharing timely
updates to the community.
•CPIO also created a fun Council meeting promo video for April Fool's Day that went viral
with over 350,000 views and 20,000 shares on Instagram.
•Other fun activities included the annual State of the City address, Winter Bike to Work
Day, the Transportation Projects Fair, a Women's History Month activation at City Hall
with live music, and a new CityWorks 101 cohort.
Council touchpoints:
•Council listening sessions at various community events
•City in 60 social media videos
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11. Modernize the City Charter
Five ordinances placing various Charter amendments on the November 2025 ballot were
adopted on second reading on April 15. One remaining issue for consideration, updates to the
process for filling Council vacancies, will be the subject of a work session discussion on May 20,
with a possible ordinance placing a related Charter amendment on the ballot, to be presented to
Council in June.
Council touchpoints:
• May 20, 2025, work session on Council vacancies
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