HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 09/30/2025 - Memorandum from Delynn Coldiron re Pro/Con Statements for Select Ballot Measures
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Memorandum
Date: September 25, 2025
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
From: Delynn Coldiron, City Clerk
Subject: Pro/Con Statements for Select Ballot Measures
The Clerk’s Office received a request for the pro and con statements given for four of the ballot
measures together with who submitted the comments. This memo provides the requested
information.
Ballot Issue 2A: Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP) Tax Extension
Comments FOR the item:
Voter Information Guide rules require a pro and con statement to be included. No pro
statements were received from others and City staff prepared the following:
Fort Collins has a long history of “paying as we go” as opposed to bonding or borrowing
money for much of the City infrastructure. This .25-cent tax has been a key mechanism to
make this possible. The 10-year sunset of the tax allows enough time to plan and
implement major projects while providing a designated check-in for the next decade of
projects. Through this tax, the City commits to what will be built and then engages the
public on the next desired package.
The current package includes projects that are geographically dispersed and cover a wide
range of interests. This package closely reflects pervious package funding distributions
with:
Transit/Transportation/Bicycle & Pedestrian Infrasturcture = 42% of total package
Parks & Recreation = 25% of total package
River & Environment = 20% of total package
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Affordable Housing = 10% of total package
Cultural Amenities = 3% of total package
Please vote YES/FOR Issue 2A.
From Dianna Murphy:
This measure allocates $5 million for a bike park—plus $15,000 per year in maintenance
costs—even though the location has not been publicly disclosed. Combined with $11 million for
other bike infrastructure, the City would spend over $16 million on bike-related projects, while
affordable housing—the City’s top public priority—receives far less.
With federal and state cutbacks straining the city’s budget voters question the timing to fund a
large recreational project.
From Kathryn Dubiel:
Our elected officials put the CCIP (Community Capital Improvements Project) Tax on the ballot
with a list of deliverables that has something for everyone--basically a community wishlist. They
should have been more deliberate in asking for our money. In a time where economic futures
are uncertain, we should not be funding special interest projects that don't have community-
wide benefit. It seems that our elected officials are putting us in the middle when it was their job
to include a list of projects that taxpayers could support. Instead, the current proposal protects
them from blame. If the measure passes, it's not their fault that your taxes went up and how
those taxes are spent. If it fails, it's not their fault and you won't get any of the worthwhile
projects you wanted to support. Forcing the voters to impose this tax is a "Win/Win" for elected
officials. VOTE NO and send this back to them for a better ordinance in 2026. NO WISHLISTS.
From Kathryn Dubiel:
Unfortunately, in the middle of the list of projects that this tax will fund is the "community bike
park (with O&M)." This is not a recreational activity that is identified by community-wide surveys
as a high unmet need. However, Affordable Housing is a recognized unmet need. Placing the
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bike park project on this list forces taxpayers to fund something with little community support
and impact. VOTE NO.
Ballot Question 2H: Expressing Support for the Civic Assembly
Recommendations for the Hughes Site
Comments FOR the item:
From Carin Avila:
This proposal conserves the former Hughes Stadium site as Public Open Lands, as directed by
voters in 2021, and fulfills the will of the voters to use the site as “parks, recreation, open
lands, natural areas, wildlife rescue and restoration”. Importantly, it:
conserves the most important habitat as Natural Areas and provides trail connectivity to
existing Natural Areas;
includes a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and nature center to provide education,
research, and stewardship opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to connect
with nature. Demonstration gardens and grassland restoration activities will showcase
what people can do in their neighborhoods, backyards, and beyond to improve habitat
for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, benefiting our entire community.
keeps open the possibility of retaining the disc golf course and sledding hill;
provides a family-friendly bike park with a high-quality learning environment for riders of
all ages and abilities, while also providing a learning environment in regard to trail
etiquette and stewardship.
allows for additional multi-use trails through multiple areas of the property for all types of
users
Costs would be shared across city departments and nonprofit partners, rather than relying solely
on Natural Areas funds. This will protect the Natural Area’s ability to conserve additional
properties with higher ecological value elsewhere across the community.
This proposal will deliver lasting, wide-reaching benefits—protecting our natural areas,
expanding recreation, strengthening community connections, and ensuring that every resident
can enjoy and share in the value of these spaces for generations to come. Importantly,
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It creates equitable access to nature. The initiative ensures that Hughes will be open
and welcoming to everyone in Fort Collins, providing inclusive access to recreation,
education, and exploration for families, birders, bikers, students, and neighbors — to
connect with nature in various ways.
It supports future generations. Youth will benefit from a safe bike park, outdoor
learning opportunities, and hands-on education and conservation experiences, building a
lifelong connection to the outdoors.
It’s fiscally responsible. Costs are shared across city departments and nonprofit
partners, reducing the burden on Natural Areas funds and ensuring broader community
benefit.
It protects and restores wildlife habitat. About one-third of the property (that with the
highest ecological value) will be conserved as a Natural Area, and a new collaborative
wildlife rehabilitation and conservation center is proposed. Ecological restoration and
long-term stewardship will be prioritized, inspiring stewardship beyond this property.
It preserves popular community uses while expanding opportunities for other
valued uses. Existing amenities, such as the sledding hill and disc golf course, could
remain available while opportunities for new trails and connections to surrounding
natural areas and a bike park would be added.
This proposal represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect and enhance our natural
areas, create a collaborative space to showcase wildlife conservation and land stewardship, and
honor the community’s desire for recreation—giving the potential to preserve the current uses of
sledding and disc golf and to expand opportunities for biking.
Please vote YES/FOR Issue ____.
From Colin Garfield:
Supports a variety of uses: natural areas, environmental education, wildlife conservation
(including rescue and rehabilitation), trail systems, a city park with bike features and
gathering spaces, native and xeric landscaping, disc golf, and winter sledding.
Encourages collaboration between public and private entities to fund and manage trails,
facilities, and land restoration.
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Enables cost-sharing across multiple city departments—such as Parks and Natural
Areas—for both acquisition and ongoing management.
Allows ecologically valuable portions of the site to be designated as Natural Areas, while
reserving degraded areas for more intensive community uses.
Received the strongest support from the Civic Assembly, a representative group of Fort
Collins residents. The multi-use concept was the top recommendation; a 100% Natural
Area designation was the least favored.
Includes a proposed Conservation Campus (also called the Wildlife and Nature Campus)
to offer environmental education and volunteer opportunities for all ages.
Commits to consulting with Indigenous communities regarding site decisions.
Provides long-term flexibility to adapt the site’s use as Fort Collins evolves, in alignment
with the original ballot measure.
Please vote YES/FOR Issue ____.
Comments AGAINST the item:
From Kathryn Dubiel:
The ordinance before the voters in Question 2H "expresses support" for the Civic Assembly's
recommendations. One glaring example of how that is NOT TRUE is that the only use and
concept for the use of the Citizen-owned Hughes Property that received 100% support from the
delegates to the Civic Assembly is to establish the use of a portion of the property by indigenous
groups. Also given supermajority vote of 100% by the delegates is the requirement that
indigenous groups be involved in the planning for any development plans for the property.
DON'T BE MISLED by the claim that this Ballot Question respects or supports the Civic
Assembly's Final Report. Leaving out this key constituency's role and use of the Property gets
a NO VOTE from informed voters.
From Melissa Rosas:
There are several key issues of concern with this ballot measure, centered on the risk of high-
impact development on one of the last large, city- owned open spaces along the foothills. The
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proposal also contradicts the intent of a 2021 voter-approved measure which called for the land
to be preserved for natural areas, open space, and low-impact recreation.
Conflicting Goals: The measure allows for a bike park, wildlife rehabilitation facility, and other
developments that would occupy more than 75% of the 165-acre site. There are no guarantees
on minimum acreage for any use, meaning as little as one acre could be dedicated to natural
areas while the rest remains open for unrestricted development. The City has not disclosed
details of potential private partnerships or whether public land could shift into private hands. A
large bike park is not a use that serves all ages, incomes, or abilities, leaving out older adults,
people with mobility challenges, and those unable to afford participation. This directly
contradicts the original voter mandate for low-impact, publicly accessible recreation.
Environmental Impact: The Hughes site lies in a critical ecological corridor that supports deer,
elk, moose, coyotes, and numerous bird species. Development would fragment habitat, reduce
biodiversity, be destructive to the ecological integrity in the Foothills to Plains ecotone and
disrupt wildlife migration. Adding roads, parking lots, and buildings would also increase the
urban heat island effect and the City's overall carbon footprint.
Traffic and Accessibility: The site is poorly located for regional users. It is not easily accessed
from I-25 or nearby communities such as Loveland, Windsor, and Wellington. A more central,
accessible location would better serve regional users while supporting local businesses.
Lack of Transparency and Planning: There are concerns over the transparency of the selection
process for the development's "Private Opportunity" component.The Civic Assembly process
used to shape this plan did not reflect the Assembly's highest-ranked options, raising further
concerns about transparency. The City has not released the feasibility study for the bike park,
leaving voters in the dark on costs, alternatives, and impacts
Unclear Funding and Long-Term Costs: The proposal has no identified funding source.
Taxpayer obligations and long-term maintenance costs remain unknown, as does the impact of
increased traffic on surrounding infrastructure.
Natural Area Protection: The proposal fails to provide clear details on how much of the site will
be protected as a natural area. The lack of commitment to preserving a substantial portion of
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the land raises concerns that the site may be subject to incremental development over time,
undermining its status as a City Natural Area.
Climate and Ecological Considerations: At a time when preserving open space and reducing
emissions are essential to meeting the City's climate goals, this measure moves in the opposite
direction. Paving over open land would accelerate biodiversity loss, increase heat, add to the
City's carbon footprint and would conflict with the City's climate action goals.
Potential for Incomplete Implementation: With no defined funding sources, timeline, or
development plan—and in the context of the City's current budget shortfalls—there is no
assurance this project can be funded or maintained.
Summary: This proposal for the Hughes site development leaves the voters with many
unresolved questions about land use, environmental impact, financial transparency, equity and
alignment with voter intentions. The measure lacks sufficient clarity, raising concerns about its
potential to undermine ecological preservation. With a lack of a specific site plan, the lack of
specified funding sources and the fiscal impacts unknown, this measure threatens to impose
serious financial burdens on taxpayers now and well into the future.
Ballot Issue 302: Natural Areas Tax Extension
Comments FOR the item:
From Linda Stanley:
This ballot measure will continue the current Fort Collins ¼ of 1 percent Natural Areas sales and
use tax. It is not a tax increase, and it is not a new tax.
In 1992, Fort Collins’ residents voted to protect natural areas in and around the community by
approving the Natural Areas ¼ cent sales and use tax. Thirty-three years later, the Natural
Areas program is a national model for land conservation, ecological restoration, and outdoor
access, protecting thousands of acres of natural areas and providing 114 miles of trails.
Compared to other City programs, the Natural Areas program has one of the highest favorability
ratings among residents.
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Yet, unlike most City programs, the Natural Areas Program relies almost entirely on sales tax
revenue that must be renewed regularly by voters.
A YES vote on Issue __ will ensure the long-term sustainability of the Natural Areas Program. If
passed by voters, it will:
Protect natural areas, open spaces, and critical wildlife habitat in and around Fort
Collins;
Expand access to nature through responsible recreation opportunities like walking,
hiking, and biking, while deepening community connection through outdoor education;
Ensure that long-term operations and maintenance needs can be met and that the
ecological health of protected lands is a priority; and
Leverage local partnerships with Larimer County, GOCO, and others—stretching every
dollar further to maximize conservation impact.
Key accountability provisions include the following:
The funds cannot be diverted to any other uses. They are used for protection of new
natural areas and for the management and operations of all City of Fort Collins natural
areas.
A citizen advisory committee, the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board (LCSB),
oversees use of the funds. Expenditures are guided by the Natural Areas Strategic
Framework, recently adopted by City Council.
An annual report to the public regarding use of revenues is required, as are quarterly
financial reports for review by City Council and the LCSB.
Purchase of lands is from willing sellers only.
Our Natural Areas Program is not just part of Fort Collins — it helps define who we are as a
community. Moreover, the Natural Areas Program has earned our community’s trust by being
an excellent steward of taxpayer dollars for more than three decades.
It’s time to preserve our Natural Areas legacy forever while protecting even more natural areas,
expanding access to nature and recreation, and restoring conserved lands to support native
habitats and wildlife.
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Please vote YES/FOR Issue ____.
Comments AGAINST the item:
From Dianna Murphy:
This initiative may overcommit long-term public funds without adequate checks and
balances
This proposal removes the expiration date of the existing 0.25% sales tax, eliminating future
voter oversight and flexibility to reassess community needs. Concerns are that it Limits
Future Flexibility: Locking in spending formulas for decades ties the hands of future City
Councils, regardless of changing priorities or economic conditions. Funds could be spent
on projects outside city limits or for purposes like water and mineral rights acquisition, with
unclear direct benefit to Fort Collins residents.
From Kathryn Dubiel:
Recent statements by the current Director of the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas program
force me to conclude that unless we can trust the truthfulness and transparency of the
City's management, we should not be giving them a blank check. This tax proposal will
provide this City program with funding IN PERPETUITY which removes the requirement that
voters be asked to renew it based on how their money is spent. VOTE NO. VOTE FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY.
Ballot Question 303: Making the Hughes Site a 100% Natural Area
Comments FOR the item:
From Kathryn Dubiel, Melissa Rosas and Michelle Haefele:
A YES vote on this Citizen-initiated Ordinance to make Hughes a Natural Area establishes
the entire 165-acre site as protected natural habitat, provides public access, and a wide
range multi-use outdoor activities open to all users and their abilities, including hiking,
running, biking, bird watching and more. It ensures the protection of a 100% Natural Area
within Fort Collins made possible by the purchase of the land when the majority of voters
approved the ballot measure in 2021.
Located in our Foothills, this vital ecological corridor connects the Maxwell and Pineridge
Natural Areas. This unique area supports a wide range of wildlife and is one of the last large
open spaces remaining within city limits. Designating the entire site as a Natural Area
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would protect this important habitat and provide a legacy of open land for future
generations.
Since 1992, Fort Collins has had its own dedicated funding through sales tax for the
acquisition and ongoing management of Natural Areas. Designation of the land as a
Natural Area can be implemented immediately without additional taxes or funding
sources.
This Citizen measure offers a clear, lasting commitment to preservation, low-impact
recreation, and wildlife conservation. It reflects both the growing concerns among
residents that our open lands are disappearing and the importance of protecting them in
Fort Collins.
Supporters of this measure believe that the people of Fort Collins can continue to be
leaders in conservation and community-driven planning. Voting Yes on this measure is a
vote to protect nature and preserve our natural areas for the public and wildlife to enjoy
forever.
Please vote YES/FOR Issue ____.
Comments AGAINST the item:
From Carin Avila:
The former Hughes Stadium site is already zoned as Public Open Lands, a designation that
strictly prohibits residential and commercial development. Requiring the site to be rezoned
exclusively as a Natural Area would create significant downsides for the Natural Areas
program—limiting future land acquisition and restoration efforts. It would also eliminate
opportunities for other community-wide benefits.
First, designating Hughes 100% as a Natural Area would mean a significant loss in the
amount of land that can be conserved as Natural Areas in the future.
According to the purchase agreement, City of Fort Collins departments must pay the
portion of the original acquisition costs of the Hughes site according to the acreage
controlled by that department. This means that Natural Areas would be responsible for
all acquisition costs of Hughes - $12.5 million plus interest costs. The Natural Areas
Program will be required to pay back the City’s general fund for payments already made
to acquire this land and make all bond payments associated with this purchase. With the
Hughes site being 165 acres, this is a cost of over $75,000/acre.
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Such a large outlay of funds by Natural Areas will reduce future purchases and
restoration of critical prioritized lands planned for conservation and public access,
especially since the Natural Areas Department has not identified this site as a priority
area for acquisition.
On the other hand, the multi-use proposal (Issue ?) would designate approximately 60
acres of the former Hughes stadium site as Natural Area, resulting in a reduced cost to
Natural Areas while preserving the most ecologically important acreage.
Under this measure, the Natural Areas Program would be required to restore the property to
native vegetation. Because much of the site is overrun with non-native, invasive species,
this effort would demand significant resources—diverting time, funding, and staff away
from restoration projects that are already top priorities.
Further, Natural Areas zoning is a highly restrictive legal category. Under Natural Areas’
regulations, activities like disc golf and sledding are not permitted, and thus, they could
eventually be eliminated. It would also prohibit the creation of a wildlife rescue,
rehabilitation, and education center—representing a significant loss for a community that
deeply values both its wildlife and opportunities to learn about conservation. In addition,
families, youth, and outdoor enthusiasts would lose out on additional opportunities to
learn and grow skills in biking, science, and conservation.
Finally, this initiative is not consistent with the successful 2021 ballot initiative, which
stated that this site should be rezoned as Public Open Lands for “parks, recreation, open
lands, natural areas, wildlife rescue and restoration”. The multi-use proposal on this ballot,
on the other hand, fulfills the wishes of the voters while still protecting this site as Open
Lands.
Please vote NO/AGAINST Issue . ___
From Colin Garfield:
Restricts the entire 165-acre site to a single use, limiting its ability to serve the broader
and diverse needs of Fort Collins residents.
Requires a $13 million investment from the Natural Areas Department—far exceeding its
annual land acquisition budget—and could hinder the department’s ability to preserve
other sites citywide.
Would entirely eliminate popular current uses such as disc golf and sledding
Involves significant ongoing costs to restore the former stadium and parking lot to a
condition comparable to existing Natural Areas.
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The Natural Areas Department has not identified Hughes as a priority for Natural Area
designation.
Does not mandate consultation with Indigenous communities.
Was the least supported option in the Civic Assembly process, receiving only 16% of
participant support.
Please vote NO/AGAINST Issue ____.
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