HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 7/28/2020 - Memorandum From Amanda King And Seonah Kendall Re: Regional Covid-19 Outreach And Engagement
MEMORANDUM
Communications & Public Involvement
215 N. Mason St.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2209
fcgov.com
DATE: July 27, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
Tyler Marr, Interim Director, Information & Employee Services
FROM: Amanda King, Communications & Public Involvement Director
SeonAh Kendall, Recovery Manager
RE: Regional COVID-19 Outreach & Engagement
Background:
On July 16, Governor Polis issued a statewide mask order due to rising COVID-19 cases in Colorado. On July
19, Larimer County Public Health was notified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
that the uptick in daily case counts in Larimer County had put its variance at risk. A revocation of the variance
could potentially impact some City operations, local restaurants and breweries, places of worship, public
gathering sizes and graduations.
Larimer County was required to create a mitigation plan to show how the county will decrease and stabilize
case counts through strong enforcement and compliance for face coverings, social distancing, required
business guidelines. Coordinated outreach and education is key to the mitigation plan, and Larimer County is
encouraging community partners, municipalities, business owners and residents to help do their part.
Council has expressed continued interest in keeping residents informed about required safety protocols and
compliant. Recently, Council requested additional information about the upcoming return to campus by
Colorado State University (CSU) students and reinforced the importance of discussing social norms. Below is
an update on a regional messaging campaign and collaborative efforts to engage the CSU student body.
Regional Messaging Campaign:
The City has partnered with Larimer County, the City of Loveland and Town of Estes Park to develop a
regional messaging campaign to reinforce safe distancing practices and encourage community adherence.
Dubbed “Keep NoCo Open,” the campaign focuses on seven key behaviors:
1. Wear a mask – face coverings are required in nearly all businesses and public buildings
2. Wash your hands – it’s important to wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer
3. Physically distance – please keep at least 6 feet apart
4. Know before you go – businesses may have specific rules and requirements like reservations only
5. Be Kind, be patient – we’re all doing our best and learning how to live in this new environment
6. Support local – help our local businesses stay healthy and open
7. When in doubt, opt out – if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home
Campaign assets include a variety of print and digital materials including posters and signage; social media;
and paid advertising.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E46B3816-C7C7-4FA2-BAEC-B1B0C00C22A2
Business and Partner Engagement:
Materials have already been shared with agency and busines partners
across the county, and the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce has enlisted local marketing support to amplify
the message with a digital marketing plan and business kit. This kit includes a library of downloadable
graphics, sample messaging and suggested applications.
Colorado State University (CSU) Student Outreach & Engagement:
As CSU students return to campus for the fall semester, City Councilmembers and the community have
expressed concern about students adhering to the required safety and distancing protocols. The City has a
long partnership with CSU and is working to ensure COVID-19 responsible behaviors are reinforced in a
variety of ways:
• Community Welcome bags will include COVID-19 resources and #KeepNoCoOpen materials. The
City/CSU Liaison will work with Neighborhood Services to deliver bags (limited contact drop-offs) to
students in campus adjacent neighborhoods and student housing apartment complexes.
• Regular and ongoing off-campus communications will be updated to include COVID-19 changes and
requirements (i.e. Party Registrations will include gathering limit info, distancing requirements and
questions about contact tracing).
• CSU has shared comprehensive COVID-19 campus plans via President McConnell’s message to
faculty sent last Friday: https://president.colostate.edu/speeches-and-writing/covid-preparations-for-fall-
for-staff-july-20-2020/ and a message sent to all students last week:
https://president.colostate.edu/speeches-and-writing/10-things-for-students-to-know-about-the-fall-
2020-semester-at-csu/.
• CSU’s Student Affairs is developing a social norming campaign that will launch in August to reinforce
safety and distancing behaviors. The campaign was informed by a survey that went to 5000 students to
and is aimed at building community and understanding the impacts of actions.
• A task force has convened to look at how adherence applies to the Student Code of Conduct, and CSU
is working toward processes both on and off campus to ensure student and community public safety.
As with all continued COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, should changes or problems arise, the City and
its partners will continue to collaborate and adapt communications and engagement strategies as necessary.
Attached are examples of the #KeepNoCoOpen graphics.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E46B3816-C7C7-4FA2-BAEC-B1B0C00C22A2
DocuSign Envelope ID: E46B3816-C7C7-4FA2-BAEC-B1B0C00C22A2