HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport - Mail Packet - 6/15/2021 - City Manager’S Monthly Update - June 2021
Traverse Park Groundbreaking - May 14, 2021
June 2021
JUNE 10, 2021
Table of Contents
ISSUES BEFORE COUNCIL ................................................................................................................. 4
JUNE 15 REGULAR MEETING ..................................................................................................................................4
JUNE 22 WORK SESSION- CANCELED FOR MID YEAR REVIEWS .............................................................................4
JUNE 22 ADJOURNED MEETING .............................................................................................................................4
JUNE 24 URA BOARD MEETING - CANCELED ..........................................................................................................4
JUNE 29 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT FOLLOW UP MEETING .......................................................................................4
JULY 6 REGULAR MEETING .....................................................................................................................................4
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT – UPCOMING EVENTS ................................................................................ 5
SALES TAX - MONTHLY & YEAR TO DATE ....................................................................................... 5
CP - ENGINEERING ............................................................................................................................. 6
CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS PROJECT ...............................................................................................................6
LINDEN STREET RENOVATION PROJECT .................................................................................................................7
VINE AND LEMAY BNSF IMPROVEMENTS ..............................................................................................................8
CP - PARK PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................... 9
BUCKING HORSE PARK ............................................................................................................................................9
CRESCENT PARK STORAGE SHED ......................................................................................................................... 10
EAST PARK DISTRICT MAINTENANCE FACILITY .................................................................................................... 10
MAIL CREEK TRAIL................................................................................................................................................ 11
OAK STREET PLAZA WATER FEATURE .................................................................................................................. 11
POUDRE TRAIL AT I-25 ......................................................................................................................................... 12
SPRING CANYON DOG PARK ................................................................................................................................ 12
TRAVERSE PARK ................................................................................................................................................... 13
VETERANS PLAZA AT SPRING CANYON PARK ...................................................................................................... 13
CP - OPERATION SERVICES ............................................................................................................ 14
FORT COLLINS/LOVELAND POLICE TRAINING CENTER ........................................................................................ 14
BLOCK 32/42 – CIVIC MASTER PLAN REFRESH .................................................................................................... 14
UTILITIES SERVICES CENTER-RENOVATION FOR SCO AND NOC .......................................................................... 15
CP - UTILITIES.................................................................................................................................... 15
CIS/OSS ................................................................................................................................................................ 15
CABLE REPLACEMENT PRIORITY #8-BROWN FARM CABLE ................................................................................. 16
LIGHT & POWER JOINT TRAINING FIELD WITH POUDRE FIRE AUTHOURITY....................................................... 16
ADVANCED DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM-IVR ENHANCEMENTS ........................................................ 17
CORRAL OVERHEAD CONVERSION PROJECT ....................................................................................................... 18
NORTH MASON STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM FINAL DESIGN ................................................................... 18
OAK STREET STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT ..................................................................................... 19
27” POUDRE CANYON RAW WATERLINE ............................................................................................................. 19
PUBLIC SAFETY ................................................................................................................................ 20
POUDRE FIRE AUTHORITY ................................................................................................................................... 20
POLICE SERVICES .................................................................................................................................................. 22
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT &TRANSPORTATION ......................................................................... 24
BUILDING, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW .......................................................................................... 24
GRAFFITI UPDATE ............................................................................................................................ 25
SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES ............................................................................................................ 25
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ................................................................................................................................ 26
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY ...................................................................................................................................... 27
ECONOMIC HEALTH ............................................................................................................................................. 27
UTILITIES ............................................................................................................................................ 27
CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 27
WATER RESOURCES AND TREATMENT OPERATIONS .......................................................................................... 29
COMMUNITY SERVICES .................................................................................................................... 29
RECREATION ........................................................................................................................................................ 29
PARKS ................................................................................................................................................................... 30
CULTURAL SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................ 30
NATURAL AREAS .................................................................................................................................................. 31
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ..................................................................................................................... 32
BROADBAND – FORT COLLINS CONNEXION ................................................................................. 33
COMMUNITY DASHBOARD HIGHLIGHT .......................................................................................... 33
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 4
ISSUES BEFORE COUNCIL
JUNE 15 REGULAR MEETING
Municipal Immigration Legal Fund
o Consider adoption of an appropriation ordinance to provide municipal funding of an immigration
Legal Fund grant program to provide direct legal representation, offer legal advice and clinics,
provide self-advocacy resources and education, support assistance with application and
renewal fees for Fort Collins residents with pathways to lawful citizenship or legal presence in
the United States, and increase safe equitable access to community resources.
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.4 - Advance equity for all, leading with
race, so that a person’s identity or identities is not a predictor of outcomes.
Staff Report: Linden Street Project Update
o Provide an update on the Linden Street project; a status update of work completed and
discussion of final phase work on Linden Street.
Transportation 6.5 - Maintain existing and aging transportation infrastructure and
addressing missing facilities to meet community needs and expectations.
Staff Report: Connexion Transparency Update
o A service availability map and an address look-up feature have now been added to the
Connexion website.
Economic Health 3.6 - Deploy and deliver reliable, high speed internet services
throughout the community.
Executive Session
o Discuss issues related to Broadband.
JUNE 22 WORK SESSION- CANCELED FOR MID YEAR REVIEWS
JUNE 22 ADJOURNED MEETING
Mid-year review of City Manager, City Attorney and Chief Judge
JUNE 24 URA BOARD MEETING - CANCELED
JUNE 29 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT FOLLOW UP MEETING
5:00-9:00 p.m. at Innosphere Ventures, 320 E Vine Drive, Suite 101. Agenda materials ready
closer to event.
JULY 6 REGULAR MEETING
Northeast Frontage Road Annexation (First Reading - consent)
o To find substantial compliance and initiate annexation proceedings for the Northeast Frontage
Road Annexation.
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.7 - Provide a high-quality built
environment, support quality, diverse neighborhoods and foster the social health of
citizens.
Please note that this list is subject to
frequent change. Please call the City
Clerk’s Office for up-to-date
information. 970-416-2774.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 5
Utilities Income Qualified Assistance Program (IQAP)
o Propose code amendments to continue offering and modify the Income-Qualified Assistance
Program (IQAP) to be an ‘opt-out’ program for LEAP-enrolled Fort Collins Utilities customers.
Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.3 - Improve accessibility of City and
community programs to low- and moderate-income residents and increase
participation in services to eligible, income-qualified residents.
Future of Remote Work Sessions
o Discuss a policy related to work sessions continuing to be held remotely post-COVID
emergency.
High Performing Government 7.1 - Provide world-class municipal services through
operational excellence and a culture of innovation.
Community Report: West Nile Virus
o Larimer county Health Director Tom Gonzales will present an update on activities related to
West Nile Virus.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT – UPCOMING EVENTS
Community members invited to share priorities, funding ideas for 2022 City Budget
The City of Fort Collins is developing its 2022 Recommended Budget and there are a variety of
opportunities for community members to have a say on how their tax dollars will be spent next year.
At ourcity.fcgov.com/2022budget, participants can select from several feedback mechanisms, whether
they have just a few minutes, or a little more time to dive deep into budget proposals. On that page,
visitors can learn more about the Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) process, share their top community
priorities and how those may have changed due to the pandemic, submit specific funding ideas, and
more. An engagement toolkit is also available.
DEI Officer Interviews & Forums
In mid-June we are conducting interviews for our new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. Eight
candidates are meeting with several interview panels, and we expect to narrow that pool to a handful
of finalists later this week. Those finalists will participate in additional interviews next week, as well as
two online community forums and two online employee forums. The community forums will be:
• Monday, June 21, from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 22, from 12:45 p.m. -2:00 p.m.
Please review https://ourcity.fcgov.com/deiofficer for more information.
We have some outstanding candidates for this important position. Thank you to everyone who has
participated in this process earlier this year that helped shape the position description.
SALES TAX - MONTHLY & YEAR TO DATE
APRIL SUMMARY OVER PRIOR YEAR
Month Year to Date
Net Sales Tax Collected: 27.6% 11.4%
Net Use Tax Collected: 16.9% -4.2%
Net Sales and Use Tax Collected: 26.1% 9.2%
Year to date, sales and use tax collections excluding rebates are up 9.2% and total $49.5M.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 6
APRIL SUMMARY OVER BUDGET
Month Year to Date
Net Sales Tax Collected: 22.5% 18.1%
Net Use Tax Collected: 10.4% 0.2%
Net Sales and Use Tax Collected: 20.8% 15.6%
Year to date, the City has collected 15.6% more sales and use tax revenue, totaling $6.7M over budget.
CP - ENGINEERING
CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS PROJECT
Funding Source: Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP)
Estimated Project Budget: 2020 - $1.2M
Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
Phase: Construction
Project Details:
This project maintains a complete City sidewalk inventory, identifies sidewalk inadequacies, and
access needs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and develops a prioritized work
program to achieve goals of providing unobstructed access for transportation and recreation.
Project Status:
Sidewalk improvements along south side of Harmony Road and east of College Ave have
been completed in May to address significant ADA concerns.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 7
More information is available at http://www.fcgov.com/engineering/pedneeds.php
LINDEN STREET RENOVATION PROJECT
Overall Project Improvements
2021 Construction
Funding Source: Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP)
Estimated Project Budget: $3.8M
Estimated Completion Date: 2022
Phase: Construction
Project Details:
The goals of this project are to renovate Linden Street between Walnut Street and Jefferson
Street. Initial concepts include converting this section of Linden Street to a “convertible” street; one
that can function primarily as a roadway but can also be closed to vehicles and converted to a
pedestrian plaza during specialty events.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 8
Project Status:
Work at the Linden/Jefferson intersection was substantially completed on May 7, 2021 and
was reopened to vehicular traffic.
All roadway work associated with the 2021 construction phase has been completed. Staff
will coordinate with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) on remaining paver
repairs near Old Town Square. Paver repair work is dependent on contractor availability.
Staff will continue discussions with the DDA, KCI Construction, adjacent business
and property owners, and others regarding the Phase II construction start
date and project phasing.
More information is available at: https://www.fcgov.com/engineering/linden-street-renovation/
VINE AND LEMAY BNSF IMPROVEMENTS
Funding Source: Keep Fort Collins Great (KFCG),
Transportation Capital Expansion Fee (TCEF), 2017 /
2018 BFO, 2021 BFO
Estimated Project Budget: $24M
Estimated Completion Date: 2021
Phase: Construction
Project Details:
The existing Vine and Lemay intersection, which
includes the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)
Railway crossing, is severely congested with limited
options to expand through or turn lane capacity due to
land use constraints.
Project Status:
Work has begun in the Lincoln/Lemay
intersection with potholing and utility
investigation. Plan to begin major impacts at
intersection after July 4 with lane and road closures.
Bridge work has continued with the abutments approximately 30% complete. Roadway
embankment construction is approximately 50% complete. A4 Lateral storm connection is
complete.
More information is available at fcgov.com/engineering/vine-lemay
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 9
CP - PARK PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
BUCKING HORSE PARK
Funding Source: Neighborhood Parkland Funds
Total Project Cost: $2.5 - $4 million
Phase: Design
Estimated Completion: 2022 or 2023
Project Details:
Bucking Horse Park is a park planned for the Bucking
Horse neighborhood.
Project Status:
Successful online second neighborhood meeting took place the last week of May.
Currently working on concept design.
More information available on project webpage.
CITY PARK RESTROOM
Funding Source: Building On Basics
Total Project Cost: $850k-$1M
Phase: Phase I project identification
Estimated Completion: Spring 2021
Project Details:
The City Park Restroom Project provides a new, year-round restroom along with surrounding site
improvements. Construction began on September 7, 2020 and landscaping is planned for spring 2021.
Visit the project web site for additional information regarding the project at ourcity.fcgov.com/city-park-
tomorrow.
Project Status:
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 10
The art-in-public-places piece has been installed.
The restroom opened for public use prior to Memorial Day weekend.
Minor asphalt work remains.
More information available on project webpage.
CRESCENT PARK STORAGE SHED
Funding Source: Neighborhood Parkland
Total Project Cost: $275,000
Phase: Construction
Estimated Completion: May 2021
Project Details:
The irrigation pump house remodel is under contract. The permitted addition will alter the existing
building to allow utility vehicle storage that will be used for operation and maintenance for parks and
trails in the northeast portion of Fort Collins, particularly for snow removal equipment.
Project Status:
Structure is 100% complete, landscaping restoration is underway.
EAST PARK DISTRICT MAINTENANCE FACILITY
Funding Source: Neighborhood Parkland &
Community Parkland Funds
Total Project Cost: $5 million
Phase: Design
Estimated Completion: Fall/Winter 2021-2022
Project Details:
A maintenance facility to serve the East Park District,
which includes multiple neighborhood and community
parks, is proposed near the intersection of Drake &
Ziegler near the water treatment facility. The
maintenance facility will house Parks Department staff, equipment, and some minor material storage.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 11
Project Status:
Project team evaluating project construction schedule due to escalating steel prices.
MAIL CREEK TRAIL
Funding Source: Multiple Funding Sources including Grants, TCEF, and Conservation Trust Funds
Total Project Cost: $750,000
Phase: Pre-Design
Estimated Completion: Fall 2022
Project Details:
When completed, the Mail Creek Trail will create a trail connection from Kinard Middle School to the
Power Trail, providing much needed trail access for southeast Fort Collins. Currently, design of the
Siphon overpass and Timberline trail widening/underpass are in progress, in partnership with the
Engineering Department. In addition, Park Planning & Development is working to identify the best
location for the future Mail Creek Trail.
Project Status:
Coordinating with railroad on siphon overpass alignment.
More information available on project webpage.
OAK STREET PLAZA WATER FEATURE
Funding Source: GID & Parks life cycle funds
Total Project Cost: $100,000
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 12
Phase: Construction
Estimated Completion: Summer 2021
Project Details:
Park Planning & Development will be improving the water features in Oak Street Plaza to resolve
drainage and safety challenges in the plaza.
Project Status:
Currently under construction.
More information available on project webpage.
POUDRE TRAIL AT I-25
Funding Source: Conservation Trust Fund & GOCO Grant ($1M for Fort Collins)
Total Project Cost: $3 million
Phase: Design
Estimated Completion: 2023
Project Details:
Construction of this 2-mile section of the trail will complete the entire extent of the approximately 10-
mile Poudre Trail in the City of Fort Collins. Fort Collins partnered with Timnath, Windsor, and Larimer
County in 2019 to win a $2 million GOCO Connect Initiative Grant to complete all remaining segments
of the Poudre Trail. The GOCO project will complete approximately 4-miles of missing trail segments,
to complete the entre 40+ mile Poudre Trail from Bellvue to Greeley. The Fort Collins project will
connect the existing trail ending at the Colorado State Environmental Learning Center through the
future East Community Park to the proposed I-25 underpass to be constructed by the Colorado
Department of Transportation (CDOT) with the North I-25 project, and thereafter to the existing trail
segment in Timnath.
Project Status:
Final construction documents preparation underway.
SPRING CANYON DOG PARK
Funding Source: NIC Grant for $75,000
Total Project Cost: TBD
Phase: Design
Estimated Completion: TBD
Project Details:
The water quality at Spring Canyon Community Park was
adversely affected by the drainage out of the dog park pond.
Particularly, issues like E. coli were difficult to manage and
put the dog park pond at risk of closure. Park Planning &
Development worked with Stormwater, Parks, and
Environmental Regulator Affairs to seek and receive a grant
from Nature in the City. This grant will allow for much
needed Low Impact Development improvements and
restoration work on the dog park and SCCP water quality pond.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 13
Project Status:
Council appropriation of Nature in the City Grant occurred in May.
Consultant design team is being onboarded and preliminary design is starting.
Construction anticipated to start after Labor Day.
TRAVERSE PARK
Funding Source: Neighborhood Parkland Funds
Total Project Cost: $3.5 - 4 million
Phase: Construction
Estimated Completion: Fall 2021
Project Details:
A new neighborhood park to be built in the Trail
Head neighborhood, located on East Vine Street.
The park will include typical park features including a
shelter, playground, multi-purpose field, basketball
court, and play area for teens.
Project Status:
On Friday, May 14, a well-attended park groundbreaking event took place where plans for
the new park were shared and the new park name, Traverse Park, was announced (formerly
Trail Head Park).
Construction is underway with anticipated completion in the fall of 2021.
More information available on project webpage.
VETERANS PLAZA AT SPRING CANYON PARK
Funding Source: PPD Special Projects Fund
Total Project Cost: TBD
Phase: Planning
Estimated Completion: Fall 2021
Project Details:
Framework planning meeting was held with representatives of
the Veterans Plaza group, Parks, and Park Planning &
Development. Purpose of the meeting was to begin
developing a framework plan for potential future
improvements at the Veterans Plaza location.
Project Status:
Initial planning was held in early June to begin project discussions.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 14
CP - OPERATION SERVICES
FORT COLLINS/LOVELAND POLICE TRAINING CENTER
Funding Sources:
$9.25M generated from bonds for the
City of Fort Collins
$9.25M from City of Loveland
$1M from DOLA Grant
Estimated Project Cost: $19.5M
Phase: Phase III Added Site Amenities - Permitting
Estimated Completion Date: Fall 2021
Project Details:
The City of Fort Collins is partnering with The City of Loveland to
construct a new Police training facility which will be located on the
west side of the Northern Colorado Regional Airport. This new site will
offer a 50-yard pistol range, a 1.4-mile driving track, concrete skills pad, and classrooms for special
training.
Project Status:
Phase I – Track & Skills pad is open and being used.
Phase II - Building Construction is open and being used.
- LEED Certification – Finalizing the submittals for USGBC review.
Phase III – Adding Site Items with project savings.
- Storage Shed – Awaiting permit approval.
- Breach/Blast Pad – Processing shop drawings.
- K9 Training area – Processing shop drawings
- Observation Tower for Track and Skills Pad – Processing shop drawings.
Construction start for phase III items has been pushed back to early May, weather
permitting.
Scheduled to complete phase III scope - fall of 2021.
BLOCK 32/42 – CIVIC MASTER PLAN REFRESH
Funding Source: Capital Project via BFO: $300,000
Estimated Project Cost: TBD
Phase: Conceptual Master Plan
Estimated Completion Date: Fall 2021
Project Details:
Space planning for Block 32 and 42 that was performed
in 2013-2014 and needs to be updated. The new
planning effort will involve each affected department to
determine their space needs and anticipated growth over the
next 10-12 Years. With the completion of the refresh the City can decide which departments to house in
215 N. Mason, 300 Laporte Ave - Building A, and the new City Hall. The refresh will also help determine
an appropriate size of the new City Hall. Once this is determined and a conceptual design is produced it
will be submitted to Council for review, next recommended steps and approval.
One Possible Conceptual Plan
New Observation Tower for Track
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 15
Project Status:
Coordinating new conceptual plan with Planning, and various Boards and Commissions.
Incorporating what we learn from these meetings to make some modifications and then
bring an updated plan to Council in June.
There will need to be multiple phases for this project.
- Look at existing spaces and make sure they are right sized with the updated space
standards.
- Look at department adjacency and determine who needs to be located where.
- Look at which departments should be in the new municipal building and determine the
size.
- Submitted BFO offers to fund these phases.
UTILITIES SERVICES CENTER-RENOVATION FOR SCO AND NOC
Funding Sources: $2.61M – Light & Power (SCO)
$1.75M – Broadband (NOC)
Estimated Project Cost: TBD
Phase: Conceptual Master Plan
Estimated Completion Date: Fall 2021
Project Details:
This project will renovate approximately 9,800 square
feet of interior space at the Utilities Services Center.
The existing space occupied by Light and Power - SCO will be renovated to serve current and
future needs. Existing interior space will be reconfigured to accommodate the needs of
Broadband for a Network Operations Center (NOC). Conference rooms will be developed to
replace those displaced by interior renovation. SCO staff will be housed in the existing
Training Room for the duration of the renovation.
Project Status:
Installation of interior finish materials is 90% complete.
Installation of NOC Workstations is in progress.
The Technology Contractor (Diversified) has mobilized for the Audio/Visual scope of work.
CP - UTILITIES
CIS/OSS
The Customer Information/Operational Support System (CIS/OSS) billing system project, delivered
through Open SmartFlex (OSF), is in a reduced activity phase that is primarily focused on prioritizing,
planning, and executing identified gaps within the live production OSF software that supports the
Connexion/ Broadband Service Area.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 16
CABLE REPLACEMENT PRIORITY #8-BROWN FARM CABLE
Funding Source: BFO # 8.9
Estimated Project Budget: $153,000
Phase: Construction Complete
Project Details:
Electric primary cable has been evaluated
throughout the Light & Power (L&P) service area
based on the year of installation, style of cable and
manufacturer to establish a prioritized failure risk.
This area was calculated as Priority Area #8
citywide and involves the replacement of 30
sections of single-phase power. The replacement
primarily occurs within the Brown Farm Third
Subdivision located west of S. Taft Hill Drive and
south of W. Stuart Street. The replacement will
also include the installation of MaxCell innerduct to
facilitate the future installation of Connexion within
the same conduit used by L&P.
Project Status:
All transformers and cable sections have been replaced and construction is complete.
LIGHT & POWER JOINT TRAINING FIELD WITH POUDRE FIRE
AUTHOURITY
Funding Source: Offer # 11.21
Estimated Project Budget: $110,000
Phase: Design
Project Details:
Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) and Utilities staff have
been coordinating a plan to collaborate on training
services that will benefit both agencies at the PFA
Training Center on West Vine Drive. The development
of these props will benefit the City’s Utilities Service
Area by eliminating the need to purchase land on
which to erect the props, and PFA benefits through
the partnership by adding new dimensions to special
rescue training, as well as partnering with Utilities to
facilitate other site improvements. In this arrangement,
PFA staff is working with Utilities staff to develop the
construction drawings, surveys, and any excavation
and installation work that is necessary for the project.
PFA’s cost is expected to be minimal, and Utilities has
existing and future offers in the City’s budgeting
process to cover their portion of the expenses.
Project Status:
Project has been approved by Energy and PFA Boards
Staking for construction of training poles for climbing is in process.
Poles will be set in July.
Electric Field Service crew in training.
Aerial view of the Brown Farm
replacement area.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 17
Access road improvements expected to be constructed in July/August.
ADVANCED DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM-IVR
ENHANCEMENTS
Funding Source: Offer #11.15
Estimated Project Budget: $150,000
Phase: Design
Project Details:
This offer will provide enhanced functionality in the Advanced Distribution Management
System (ADMS). Specifically, it will provide a better customer experience with an integration
between the ADMS and the new Customer Information System (CIS). Some of the functions it
will enable are:
• Upgrades to the existing Interactive
Voice Response (IVR) system. This
is currently a one-way
communication tool when
customers call Utilities. Upgrading
the IVR will allow two-way
communication to customers and
provide flexibility for how
customers and Utilities
communicate with each other.
• The integration to CIS will ensure
that all three systems are aligned
with updated customer and electric
network connectivity information.
Project Status:
This project's scope is largely
dependent on an upgrade to the City's
Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
system and could be dependent on the
upgrade to the Utilities CIS upgrade.
Preliminary discussions with the City staff who are responsible for the IVR system are in
process to understand what functionality could be enabled with the current IVR vendor
knowing that the CIS software could be OSF or still be Banner.
Staff has paused project work at this time until the future of the CIS upgrade is clearer.
IVR upgrades will provide efficient communications
between CIS, OMS, and Utilities Customers
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 18
CORRAL OVERHEAD CONVERSION PROJECT
Funding Source: Offer 8.9
Estimated Project Budget: $125,000
Phase: Construction
Project Details:
Efforts are continuing to replace aging overhead
electric lines with much more reliable
underground facilities. The recent acquisition of
the Corral Annexation by Natural Areas made
this project possible. It will replace 3,000 lineal
feet of overhead three-phase primary with 1,700
lineal feet of underground cable and conduits.
Project Status:
Underground conduit and cable installation is complete. Removal of overhead lines
expected to be complete by end of June 2021.
NORTH MASON STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM FINAL DESIGN
Funding Source: BFO#14.13 Stormwater – N Mason/N College
Phase 1 Design and some construction
BFO#12.29 Water – N Mason Waterline -
Design
BFO#12.87 Wastewater – N Mason Sewer
Main - Design
Estimated Project Budget: SW = $1,500,000, Wtr = $100,000,
WW = $100,000
Status: Purchasing issued of POs, setting up meeting schedule
Estimated Completion Date: December 2021
Project Details:
The objective of this project is to complete a final stormwater
design as well as water and sanitary sewer design along the
North Mason transportation corridor. Specifically, the water
utility final design will include a stormwater drainage outfall from just north of Hickory Street to the
Poudre River along the proposed North Mason transportation corridor. A conceptual pond design will
be developed for the pond north of Hickory. The final design is planned to be completed by fall of
2021, in the hopes of beginning initial construction in 2022.
Project Status:
Project design meetings in progress and held bi-weekly.
Scheduled and working on design charette for internal stakeholders.
Design assumptions based on management input and affirmation – Lake Canal
removed/abandoned, 10-yr WSEL in Poudre for outfall, minimal attenuation in WQ and outfall
detention pond, so minimal impact to NA and Parks,
Coordinating with Engineering downtown on design and land acquisition
Obtaining Licenses to Enter for potholing and geotechnical information.
Location Map
Aerial view of Two Creeks Natural area where
the project is taking place.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 19
With constraints and opportunity design input from charette will move more into design.
OAK STREET STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Funding Source: Stormwater
Estimated Project Budget: $2.0M (Design), $23M
(Construction), $25M Total.
Status: In Design
Estimated Completion Date: Fall 2022 (Design),
Winter 2024 (Construction)
Project Details:
This project is for the design and construction of
stormwater infrastructure for the Oak Street
Stormwater Improvements Project (OSSP) that is part
of the larger Downtown Stormwater Improvement
Program (DSIP). The project is generally located on
Oak Street from Mason to Jackson and will include
storm laterals extending to the blocks both north and
south of Oak Street. There will be approximately 8500
LF of new storm pipe installed with this project, ranging
in size from 78” to 48”.
Project Status:
Data Collection: geotechnical drilling to gather soil data and to set groundwater monitoring
wells along the corridor.
Public Engagement and Communication
Planning is underway, including planning for a Streetscape Design Workshop to be held
June 22 - 28.
Conceptual design is underway, anticipated completion in late July.
Contractor BT Construction has been selected as the General Contractor for this project.
27” POUDRE CANYON RAW WATERLINE
Funding Source: Water - BFO#12.21 (2021)
Estimated Project Budget: $3,2000,000
Status: In Design
Estimated Completion Date:
• Final Design – March 2022
• Construction - August 2023
Project Details:
The goal of this project is to ensure the structural
integrity and operational longevity of the City’s 27” raw
waterline in the Poudre Canyon. An existing, exposed
section of the pipeline in the river near Gateway Natural
Area will be replaced to eliminate the risk of failure
which ensures the continued delivery and reliability
of raw water from the Poudre River to the Water
Treatment Facility. The design will consider the
existing geomorphology of the river to develop a
long-term solution which may require pipe alignment modifications and deeper burial depths of the
pipeline. Final design and construction of the selected alternative are included in this project.
Geotechnical Drilling at Oak & Whitcomb
Alternative Pipe Alignments
being evaluated
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 20
Project Status:
Project Teaming and Kick-Off meetings have been completed.
First two workshops for Final Alternative Analysis process have been completed.
o Reviewed/Edited MCDA criteria and importance.
o Reviewed overall project schedule and milestones.
o Discussed information gaps.
o Developed Risk Register
o Developed draft contractor cost estimate for both alternatives.
PUBLIC SAFETY
POUDRE FIRE AUTHORITY
Welcome to the New Fire Chief | PFA welcomed Fire Chief Derek Bergsten. He was sworn in by
both boards, the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District Board and the Poudre Fire Authority Board, on
May 24th and May 25th. Chief Bergsten comes to Fort Collins from the Rockford Fire Department in
Illinois. He began his firefighting career as a firefighter/EMT volunteer in 1989 for the City of Loves
Park, IL. He was hired as a firefighter/EMT by the Rockford Fire Department in 1994 and rose through
the ranks. Chief Bergsten has a strong history of prioritizing innovation, collaboration, and diversity. He
was named the 2020 Illinois Fire Chief of the Year by the Illinois Fire Chief Association. He is
incredibly excited to become part of this community and spent time during his first two weeks on the
job visiting fire stations and meeting the crews. There will be an official change of command ceremony
on Friday, June 11 at Fire Station 8.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 21
Play It Safe | Water Recreation Safety Awareness
PFA has rescued 10 people from the river already this year (at time of report publishing) and diverted
two more just before a dangerous hazard. Firefighters have been called to multiple still water calls as
well, one of which ended in tragedy. Units were dispatched to the north end of Douglas Reservoir at
2:38 p.m. on Saturday, May 1. The responding party reported seeing an adult male in the water who
they thought had been in a watercraft. The individual was transported to the dock. CPR was
performed, an AED applied, and the patient was transported emergent. The Larimer County Coroner’s
Office confirmed that sadly the patient did not survive.
The river is not safe right now especially for tubers and small watercraft. The water is flowing high,
fast, and cold. Still water such as lakes and ponds can also be dangerous, so recreators should
always wear a life vest. Weather and water conditions can change quickly, especially this time of year.
Each year, PFA is dispatched to water rescues in which people became separated from tubes or boats
by high winds, when just minutes before it was completely calm.
Learn more at Play It Safe on the Poudre | Poudre Fire Authority (poudre-fire.org)
Vehicle Crashed into Business on Mountain Ave. | May 29
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 22
PFA and partners responded to a vehicle that crashed into a business at the corner of Mountain Ave.
and N. Loomis Ave. There were three people in the vehicle and three people in the business at the
time of the crash. The driver was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Fortunately, there
were no other injuries reported. PFA units remained on scene for several hours shoring up the
structure. A restoration company responded to board up the large hole in the front of the building. The
cause of the crash is under investigation by Fort Collins Police Services.
Equipment Fire on N. Lemay | June 3
At 6:39 a.m., the Engine 1 Crew responded to a piece of equipment on fire on the 600 block of N.
Lemay Ave. When firefighters arrived, the equipment was fully involved. A large plume of black smoke
could be seen from a distance. The crew had the flames under control in less than 10 minutes. The
equipment was a crack seal machine. There were no injuries reported.
POLICE SERVICES
Notable Cases
Police investigate domestic violence homicide: Around 4:30 a.m. on May 21, 2021, Fort Collins Police
Services responded to a residential shooting in the 1600 block of Sagewood Drive. The two involved
people lived in the home together, and police learned that verbal arguments and physical violence had
occurred between them overnight. The woman reportedly shot the man, then called police to report the
incident and remained on scene. The man was transported to an area hospital where he was
pronounced deceased. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident to
determine what, if any charges, are appropriate. Anyone with information, who has not already spoken
to police, is encouraged to contact Detective Laura Knudsen at 970-416-2771.
Police investigate suspicious substance found in backpack: On May 6, 2021 around 10 a.m., Fort
Collins Police Services received a report of a suspicious backpack in the 4800 block of Boardwalk
Drive. Staff at a commercial storage facility were removing abandoned items from a unit no longer
being rented. During this process, they found a backpack containing multiple packages of a powdery
chemical substance and reported it to law enforcement. Fort Collins Police, Poudre Fire Authority, and
the Northern Colorado Bomb Squad responded. Out of precaution, the area immediately surrounding
the scene was evacuated for approximately 2.5 hours. The commercially-packaged substance was
ultimately identified as pre-mixed ANFO, or ammonium nitrate/fuel oil, an industrial explosive
frequently used in mining operations. Fort Collins Police Services notified public safety partners at the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI). First responders remained on scene for approximately 8.5 hours to investigate. Upon further
investigation, detectives did not find indications of any intentional threat associated with this incident.
Community Engagement
Police in the Park: Members of the FCPS Neighborhood Engagement Team, Executive Staff, and
Patrol Officers participated in several “Police in the Park” events in May. These events, held
periodically at parks around the City, have been a great way for officers to create positive connections
with community members in a fun, friendly environment. With no agenda and an informal setting,
attendees have had the opportunity to chat about whatever’s on their mind, play on the playground
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 23
with officers, and generally connect on beautiful summer evenings. This program will continue
throughout the summer. Locations are advertised a week in advance on Nextdoor.
Recognize a Responder: The Mental Health Response Team, School Resource Officers, and K9
Eleiko and his handler have all been active participants in Recognize a Responder, a program that
connects neurodivergent community members with police, fire, and EMS in order to create positive
interactions and reduce anxiety. In May, the group visited Shepardson Elementary, Boltz Middle
School, and Fossil Ridge High School. This program has provided great opportunities to share
information and learn about ways that we can better serve our community members with behavioral
health and sensory sensitivities.
Agency News
“It Only Takes a Moment” Campaign Launches: The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition
works to support safe gun ownership and responsible storage to reduce gun-related crimes and
unintended uses. The coalition, which includes FCPS and many local partners, launched a suicide
prevention campaign in May. Watch the “It Only Takes a Moment” video and learn more at
www.larimer.org/gun-safety.
Fort Collins Police Academy Begins: On May 17, Fort Collins Police Services launched our first in-
house police academy. Before now, we've sent all of our new hires to academies around the region for
their basic training. This new program means we'll have the opportunity to teach our recruits from day
1 in our Colorado P.O.S.T. Certified Academy. In addition to learning operational skills, they'll also
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 24
spend 21 weeks gaining an understanding of our agency culture, values, and expectations. Safety and
Service for ALL is a mindset that begins on day 1. Thank you to everyone who has spent years
building this program. High-quality training is an investment that serves our officers and our
community, and we're extremely excited to begin this next chapter!
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT &TRANSPORTATION
BUILDING, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
Monthly Reporting
Monthly construction reporting and mapping of development review proposals and construction can be
found by visiting:
http://citydocs.fcgov.com/?dt=MONTHLY+REPORT&dn=NEIGHBORHOOD+%26+BUILDING+SERVI
CES%2FZONING&vid=2&cmd=showdt
For a detailed listing of development Proposals under review, please visit:
https://www.fcgov.com/developmentreview/proposals/
Neighborhood Services
CityWorksEDU at ITGA
JC Ward and Jenn “JR” Rieskamp recently presented a session called “CityWorksEDU:
CityWorksEDU: A Key Civic Community Curriculum” at the 2021 International Town Gown Association
conference. CityWorksEDU is an experiential learning course for CSU students to engage with
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 25
material that is focused on the ways that City of Fort Collins provides world-class municipal services to
residents and how residents can engage with the local municipality through civic participation.
Mini Grants
Neighborhood Services Mini grants are currently open. Deadline is July 1st. Details available
here: https://www.fcgov.com/neighborhoodservices/grants.php
YEAR TO DATE COMPARISON
2020 2021 YTD % Change
Development Project Submittals Received 145 77 -46.90%
Conceptual/Preliminary Design/Staff Reviews 96 104 8.33%
Building Permits Issued 5,128 3,904 -23.87%
Building Permit Valuations ($M) $143.55 $136.49 -4.91%
Building Inspections Performed 11,428 12,686 11.01%
Zoning Inspections Performed 180 173 -3.89%
Zoning Plan Reviews Performed 1,146 1,342 17.10%
Overall Development Review Center revenues are $233,694 over projection for 2021 as of May 31st
with Building Services over by $222,120, Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance over by
$28,268, Development Review over by $3,587 and Engineering Development Review under by
$(20,281).
GRAFFITI UPDATE
During the month of April 2021, the Graffiti Abatement Team abated 54 issues consisting of 212 tags
measuring 601 square feet of graffiti-covered surfaces.
The issues were distributed throughout the City in the following Council Districts:
Month One Two Three Four Five Six
January 12 0 3 2 6 2
February 5 3 0 3 2 6
March 4 1 0 3 5 11
April 23 5 4 2 6 12
May 16 14 1 5 9 8
SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES
Month Access
FC
Hotline Pro-Active Total
January 7 2 17 26
February 8 2 9 19
March 5 2 17 24
April 21 8 23 52
May 20 9 25 54
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 26
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
City Healthy Homes Program Celebrates 10 Years this June
This month, the City of Fort Collins celebrates ten years of its Healthy Homes program and
encourages all community members to sign up for a free home assessment for the chance to win an
anniversary gift bag.
The program educates participants about how to improve the indoor air quality and general safety of
their living spaces. It aims to help connect the dots between home and health by offering free
assessments that include tips and best practices for keeping our residences places of safety and
respite.
Included with each assessment is a free radon test kit, Healthy Homes cleaner, carbon monoxide
detector, and smoke alarm, plus a wealth of information. The program provides low cost or no cost
recommendations that can be easily implemented. Currently assessments are provided over the
phone by trained Master Home Educators and typically take less than an hour. For more information,
please visit the City of Fort Collins Healthy Homes Program.
The Healthy Homes program is also excited to share the online Healthy Homes Do-It-Yourself
assessment, where you can assess your home at your convenience. This tool is intuitive, easy to use,
and contains short videos to explain the process. Try it out https://healthyhomes.fcgov.com/.
Lawn and Garden Equipment Rebates
Gas-powered lawn mowers emit greenhouse gases and contribute to ground-level ozone pollution.
Electric mowers are quiet, start instantly, and don’t require gas, engine oil, fuel filters and other related
maintenance. And, there are no fumes to breathe as you are mowing your lawn!
The Regional Air Quality Council's (RAQC) 2021 Mow Down Pollution (MDP) program is now
accepting applications for $150 vouchers toward the purchase of a new electric lawnmower in
partnership with The Home Depot at 4502 JFK Parkway in Fort Collins. Please note: this is the only
Home Depot location participating in Fort Collins.
The MDP program is open beginning May 10, 2021 and until the funding is expended.
How Does It Work?
1. Apply for a voucher at www.mowdownpollution.org/residential.
2. Within 21 days of receiving your Drop-Off Verification form, recycle your gas mower at an
approved metal recycler.
o RMB Recycling at 1475 N. College Avenue is listed as the only approved recycler,
however, you may utilize other locations in Fort Collins such as the Timberline
Recycling Center or Colorado Iron and Metal.
o All fluids must be drained and properly disposed prior to recycling. Fluids, e.g., gasoline
and oil, are accepted for free at the Larimer County Landfill's Household Hazardous
Waste facility.
o You must obtain a receipt from the metal recycler that states "lawnmower" or have the
recycler sign the Drop-Off Verification form.
3. Submit your recycling receipt or Drop-Off Verification form to the Mow Down Pollution program,
following directions provided in your Approved Applicant email.
4. Within 3-5 days, you will receive your $150 voucher to use in-person at the Service Desk at
The Home Depot on JFK Parkway.
While this program is not managed by the City of Fort Collins, we are happy to help if you have
questions. You may also visit the RAQC's Mow Down Pollution website for more information and
contact them directly.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 27
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Join us in Library Park for fun activities and conversations with City Staff on June 23, Wednesday,
5:30 to 7:00 pm.
Neighborhood Services and Police Services are hosting an opportunity for you to meet one-on-one
with a variety of City Staff to discuss whatever is on your mind. There will also be several activities
available for you to enjoy.
City staff available that evening:
Neighborhood Services
Police Services
Social Sustainability Department
Library Services
Planned activities:
Block Party Trailer
Lemonade Stand
Children’s activities with Library
And more
ECONOMIC HEALTH
Public Health Orders Lifted for Businesses
Larimer County is currently aligned with statewide Colorado public health orders and
recommendations. There are currently no local public health orders related to COVID-19.
Businesses may implement their own policies so long as they are meeting the minimum requirements
set forth by the state of Colorado. We're asking all residents to be kind to others and respectful when
visiting business establishments as everyone adapts to new requirements and recommendations. For
more details, please visit the LCDHE guidance page.
UTILITIES
CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS
After taking a year off, the Xeriscape Garden Party is back! Water Conservation staff has put
together a month-long Garden Party celebration that will take place online in June. The team is hosting
free webinars, prize drawings, a discount compost bin sale, and resources on the
website: www.fcgov.com/garden-party. Staff anticipates hosting an in-person event in June, 2022.
The second cohort of 2021 Xeriscape Incentive Program for HOAs and Commercial
properties grant recipients was selected in May. 12 total projects will be supported and completed
through this commercial water-wise landscape program in 2021.
The Sprinkler Checkup Program (previously Sprinkler Audit Program) has already scheduled 175
checkups throughout ELCO, FCLWD, and Fort Collins Utilities. Our Sprinkler Technicians will
complete training the first week of June. Staff hopes to complete 400 checkups in 2021. To learn more
or sign up, visit: fcgov.com/sprinklers
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 28
In 2021, Utilities Customer Connections has reached 823 participants through 37 outreach events and
programs.
In the month of May, Utilities offered the following engagement opportunities:
May 3 – Canal Importation – A virtual public meeting where 15 participants learned and
asked questions about proposed changes to the Canal Importation Basin. Spanish
interpretation was available.
May 5, 6, 11– Werner Stream Ecology Field Trip – A water education program was held
for 67 fifth grade students.
May 14 – Polaris Expeditionary Learning School – A water education program was held
for 15 high school students.
May 7 – XIP Basics Training – Staff virtually presented how to participate in a Utilities
Xeriscape Incentive Program and be eligible to receive a 2021 rebate for transforming their
high-water use areas into water-wise landscapes to 43 residents.
May 7 – UAP Housing Catalyst Resident Resource Event – Utilities, N2N, Bike Fort Collins,
Gardens on Spring Creek, and Larimer County Conservation Corps collaborated with Housing
Catalyst to bring resources to 20 residents at Stanford Property. (Postponed from April 16 due
to adverse weather conditions)
May 8 – Bike Fix-it Bonanza – Utility outreach booth was set up during an FC
Moves organized event and reached 25 community members.
May 10 – Foothills Basin Public Meeting – Hosted a virtual public meeting
where 22 participants learned and asked questions about proposed changes to the Foothills
Basin. Spanish interpretation was available.
May 11 – Epic Homes Training Series for Real Estate Professionals – Staff
presented virtually to 7 participants, how property owners can keep their rental competitive with
Epic Homes for Rentals.
May 12 – RiskMAP Open House – Hosted a virtual public meeting where 13 participants
learned and asked questions about updated FEMA floodplain mapping for the Poudre River.
Spanish interpretation was available.
In the month of May, Utilities will offer the following engagement opportunities:
June 8 - Safe Water Action Program (SWAP) Focus Group – Staff gather feedback from
community members on the communications and outreach approach for SWAP.
June 10 – Rotate to Rotary Nozzles – During this Xeriscape Garden Party
virtual presentation, residents will learn how to identify high water pressure on their sprinkler
system, and how to convert spray head nozzles to rotary nozzles to save water.
June 15 – UAP presents to Partners Mentoring Youth – Staff will
present Utilities’ Affordability Program Roadshow to Partners Mentoring Youth Program
Team.
June 16 - Conserving Water in the Garden with Rain Barrels – During this Xeriscape
Garden Party virtual presentation, residents will learn what type of rain barrel to buy and step-
by-step instructions to install it at home.
June 17, 2021– Water Efficiency for Businesses – Staff hosts a virtual meeting in
partnership with Efficiency Works to discuss water opportunities for businesses. Learn about
water rebates, upcoming opportunities, and other ways to save water.
June 22 – Some Like it Hot: Waterwise Perennials – During this Xeriscape Garden Party
virtual presentation, residents will learn the best heat-loving perennials for the Colorado Front
Range.
June 22-29 – Oak St Project Streetscape Design Workshops – Participate in a series of
online workshops to create a streetscape design that reduces street flooding
and meets other City goals as well.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 29
June 23 – Bike to Work/Anywhere Day (BTWD) – Utilities will sponsor a booth during
BTWD on Oak street. We will provide information about different utilities
projects throughout the city.
June 25 – Poudre River Fest- Water Education Program & Outreach Booth – The Poudre
River Fest is a collaborative, mostly online event. Utilities will lead an in-person education
program covering water quality at the river as well as host an outreach booth.
June 28 – Boys & Girls Club with Natural Areas – This collaborative program will focus on
water education reaching young people participating in Boys & Girls Club summer
programming.
June 30 – We Are Here For You – Utilities staff will present about payment assistance options
and programs available to customers wanting to lower their utility costs. Open to the public.
WATER RESOURCES AND TREATMENT OPERATIONS
Environmental Regulatory Affairs (ERA) Division
Senior Environmental Regulatory Specialist Susan Strong has been mentoring Fort Collins High
School student Emma Eddy, who is a finalist in Caring for Our Watersheds Colorado. This educational
program engages students in preserving and improving local watersheds through student-led
solutions. Emma’s solution focuses on watershed contamination from car washing at home. She
created a video and contest where participants can win free car wash passes by commenting on the
video https://youtu.be/wMNwtTbAhWo or creating their own video and sharing the hashtag
#WaterShedWash.
ERA would like to recognize the 10-year work anniversary of our colleague, Bonnie Pierce. Bonnie has
contributed to the organization in many ways, including overseeing the development of the first City
database used for the annual Greenhouse Gases Inventory for Environmental Services, the
administration of the Brownfields Grant program, and very detailed technical work related to both
Clean Water Act stakeholder processes and permitting issues for the Water Reclamation and
Biosolids division and the complex Larimer County Landfill groundwater remediation issue. Thank you,
Bonnie!
COMMUNITY SERVICES
RECREATION
The local skating club hosted their annual figure skating
competition, "Fort Collins Classic", at EPIC.
Learn to Swim classes saw a 70% increase in participation.
In-person fitness classes are now taking more enrollments than
virtual options.
Goat Yoga began at The Farm.
Youth programs enrolled over 900 community children in over
3,000 programs and activities for the upcoming summer
season, resulting in $389,000 in revenue.
Hiring teams throughout Recreation collaborated with the Parks
Department to host an in-person hiring fair held at EPIC, and
also collaborated with Larimer County Workforce Center to host a virtual hiring fair for community
job seekers. Seasonal and part-time positions were recruited for in aquatics, customer support,
facility attendants, farm and youth instructors, and sports supervisors.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 30
PARKS
Irrigation systems, drinking fountains, and restrooms are turning on for the
season.
Downtown annual flower planting was started and is 75% complete.
Memorial Day Festivities:
o Grandview and Roselawn – flags were placed on Veteran
memorials by Boy Scout Troops, thousands of visitors honored
loved ones throughout the weekend, and a ceremony was put
on by the American Legion in honor of our Veterans (not public
due to COVID-19 restrictions)
o Spring Canyon Community Park – a very popular event with the
Traveling Vietnam Wall Memorial and the Field of Flags (500
flags)
o Special thank you statue (pic attached) provided to Parks for
continued support of the SCCP Veteran’s Plaza!
March Storm Response is mostly wrapped up and Forestry is transitioning
back to pruning rotation and other core services.
CULTURAL SERVICES
Artist Zulay Rueda Painting a Piano in 2020
The eleventh season of Pianos About Town is underway! Look for a new artist painting every two
weeks in the Art in Action Tent, located on Mountain Avenue at the south end of Old Town Square.
Ten artists will paint murals on pianos Downtown mid-May through early October, and two artists
will paint in inside locations over the winter. So far, 133 pianos have been painted as part of the
program, with another twelve to be painted this year. The project is a collaboration among the
Bohemian Foundation, Downtown Development Authority and the City of Fort Collins Art in
Public Places.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 31
The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery opens the new temporary exhibition, Life in One Cubic
Foot on June 12th. In this new Smithsonian exhibition, visitors will discover the biodiversity found in
places around the globe and learn what a cubic foot of land, water, or air reveals about the
amazing diversity of our planet.
Starting in June, The Gardens on Spring Creek will be open until 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings
for family-friendly activities, cooler temperatures and 12 acres of botanical beauty at dusk. Each
Wednesday evening, scavenger hunts will be available for kids, the Butterfly House will be open
and other activities including Yoga in the Gardens are planned.
NATURAL AREAS
Volunteering Reawakened
Engaging with volunteers is an important way for the Natural Areas Department to achieve its mission
and connect with the community. This spring, staff trained 96 new long-term volunteers and worked
with 68 one-day volunteers who planted over 1,400 native trees and shrubs.
Volunteer Naturalist Assistant trainees enthusiastically participated in a three-day training to learn to
educate the community about natural areas. Nature in the City volunteers learned to tend native plant
gardens, maintain Nature in the City sites, and monitor for birds and butterflies on urban natural areas
to help inform management decisions.
At Coyote Ridge Natural Area, in partnership with the FC Volunteer program, volunteers helped plant
800 mountain mahogany native shrubs for foothills wildlife habitat. At Bobcat Ridge Natural Area,
volunteers helped clear a drainage filled with cottonwood branches as part of fire recovery efforts.
At the newly acquired and not yet open to the public, Kestrel Fields Natural Area, volunteers planted
600 native trees and shrubs over three days. One volunteer shared:
“The event at Kestrel Fields was a real pleasure. It was well-organized, well-managed onsite,
and well-supported- with holes pre-dug and a plethora of details anticipated before the event
began. I especially appreciated the City employees who were there. They were all extremely
friendly, energetic and professional. They were also great with kids. I had a grandson and two
granddaughters there, and the city employees were great with them, too.”
This summer, volunteers will continue to help with educational activities, trail work, community science,
restoration, and much more. Thank you volunteers!
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 32
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Meeting with The Family Center’s Mi Voz
City staff participated in a meeting with community leaders participating in The Family Center’s Mi Voz
program. The Mi Voz program is a leadership program led by The Family Center and CSU’s Family
Leadership Training Institute. The purpose of the program is to develop community leaders and to
increase civic capacity. City staff participated in a conversation with Mi Voz participants to learn about
their community projects to identify opportunities for collaboration and support.
.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 33
BROADBAND – FORT COLLINS CONNEXION
Monthly Reports
Connexion is publishing our monthly reports on our website. Visit fcconnexion.com/reports to view and
download.
Address Look-up
Fort Collins residents can now input their address and see whether their residence is In Design, In
Construction, or has Service Available! Our address look-up tool can be found on the Connexion
website at www.fcconnexion.com.
Local Sponsorships
Going to the Holiday Twin Drive-In theater this summer? Be sure to get some popcorn—sponsored by
Fort Collins Connexion—and don’t miss our commercial during the previews and at intermission! We
will be sponsoring our neighborhood drive in theater all summer long so definitely stop by and enjoy
the movies again!
Social Media
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! Join the Connexion community—get updates and information on
services and more! @FCConnexion @ConnexionFC
COMMUNITY DASHBOARD HIGHLIGHT
The Community Dashboard features performance data and information that highlights how the City is
doing in achieving its seven Outcome areas: Neighborhood Livability and Social Health, Culture and
Recreation, Economic Health, Environmental Health, Safe Community, Transportation, and High
Performing Government. The Dashboard is made up of 37 total metrics that are published quarterly
and demonstrate where the City is doing well and where there are opportunities to improve. The color
status of performance for each metric is determined based on the actual result for the quarter
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 34
compared with the target. The color status of performance for the Outcome is determined based on
the average calculation of the performance of each metric within that Outcome.
Each month the City Manager’s Update will highlight a metric from the Community Dashboard. This
month’s feature is from the High Performing Government Outcome Area.
Analysis:
Metrics for Q1 regarding employee turnover at the City show we are on target. In Q1, turnover is 2.23%
for the quarter, with a target of 2.5%. This metric includes all turnover, including retirement, voluntary
resignations, and terminations.
Comparatively, 2020 was Q1 2.83%.
Turnover rates for Northern Colorado in 2020 have not been posted. A related statistic is the
unemployment number. Unemployment in Colorado is 6.6% compared to 6.2% nationally.
A temporary policy was approved to allow employees in facilities that were closed or had reduced
services the ability to float to other areas of the City. This allowed employees to continue to have
meaningful work during the pandemic.
An executive onboarding guide and interview guide were developed to recruit and retain employees
successfully. Future work will include a guide for non-executive positions.
Development of a recruitment guide is currently underway with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion.
As of January 1, 2021, all positions must be posted at least City Wide, allowing our talent to see and
apply for City-Wide opportunities.
Definition:
Turnover is a measure of the rate at which employees leave employment with the City. It includes
classified and unclassified management employees and all separation reasons (layoffs, and voluntary
and involuntary terminations). While turnover is typically measured annually, this report includes
turnover reported on a year-to-date basis for each calendar year. The rate is calculated by dividing the
total number of employees who separated year-to-date by the average headcount for that reporting
period (quarters are cumulative).
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE 35
Why is this metric important?
Turnover is an important measure for three primary reasons – cost (replacing an employee can cost
as much as 200% of the annual compensation for the vacated position), business performance
(continuity of operations, productivity) and ability to maintain a qualified workforce.
City’s impact on this metric:
High – Turnover rate is directly related to the quality and continuity of service provided to citizens. The
City is committed to being an employer of choice, however the rate at which employees leave City
employment is impacted by factors such as job market, retirement, and personal lifestyle choices.
Benchmarks:
Benchmarking in progress
To view the entire Dashboard, please visit: http://fortcollins.clearpointstrategy.com/