City Manager's Quarterly Report

In January, a new Mayor and City Council representatives for Districts 1, 3, 5 and 6 were sworn into office. Council quickly got to work developing their priorities for the next two years, which range from development and affordability to a thriving local economy and road safety, and more. These priorities are areas where Council will dedicate extra time and focus; they are one component of the policy and operational work the City does, and they work in tandem with the City’s Strategic Plan.

In March, City Council adopted the City’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan outlines key objectives and strategies that link the City’s long-term vision with its short- and medium-term organizational and operational priorities. This plan is both strategic and action-oriented, with clear performance measures to track progress. The Strategic Plan incorporates City Council’s priorities and is a key framework for the City’s budget, which resources the efforts outlined in the plan.

In February, the City initiated its Drone as a City Resource (DCR) program. This innovative, multi-agency initiative brings together Fort Collins Police Services, Fort Collins Utilities and Poudre Fire Authority to use drones as a shared resource across public safety and utility operations. In the first three months since implementation, the three dedicated drones have launched nearly 1,400 times, providing real-time situational insight to better assess in-the-moment needs for structure fire response, vehicle collisions and other calls for service. The DCR program improves emergency coordination, supports monitoring of remote utility sites and equipment, and helps deliver faster, more efficient response across our community.

Fort Collins Connexion ended Q1 with more than 26,000 total customers, including more than 1,200 Digital Inclusion customers and more than 1,000 commercial customers. Supporting our local economy and business sector, Connexion continues to add one new business customer per business day. Connexion also recently completed infrastructure in the Nueva Vida mobile home park and has begun signing up new customers for lightning-fast internet and other services.

For a more in-depth look at Connexion’s growth and financials, visit fcconnexion.com/reports.

To learn more about how Connexion is expanding critical internet access in our community, visit fcconnexion.com/about/UpcomingProjects.

The City added 2 acres in the Grandview neighborhood to the Affordable Housing Land Bank Program for the future development of affordable housing. Since 2002, the program has purchased seven properties and sold two — which developed into the Village at Horsetooth and Birdwhistle Townhomes. The City’s Land Bank Program buys land for future affordable housing developments, locking costs in an otherwise escalating real estate market. Then when Fort Collins’ growth and infrastructure support it, City officials can sell land to affordable housing developers with restrictions ensuring the permanent affordability of the development.

The City continued to make progress on capital improvement projects during Q1 thanks to a warm winter — completing the replacement of a failing culvert beneath Mountain Vista Drive near Timberline Road, continuing work on the College and Trilby Intersection Improvements project, and breaking ground on more than 10 additional public improvement projects focused on improving public safety and maintaining aging infrastructure. Significant progress was also made on the Power Trail Underpass, which will fill an existing gap in the Power Trail between Golden Meadows Park and Keenland Drive with a new trail and underpass beneath Harmony Road.

View the latest construction projects and traffic impacts across Fort Collins at FortCollins.gov/construction.

In March, the City received the 2026 Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award from the National Center for Safe Routes to School, recognizing the City's commitment to improving safety for children and youth walking and biking in Fort Collins. The award highlights the City’s continued investment in Vision Zero initiatives, including its Safe Routes to School program, safer street design, school-area safety improvements and community education efforts aimed at eliminating serious traffic injuries and fatalities by 2032.

During Q1, the City worked to improve rider comfort and safety across Transfort, particularly on MAX Bus Rapid Transit. Efforts included increased police officer presence, expanded outreach from mental health and homeless response teams, and additional signage and security measures — all focused on creating a more welcoming and predictable transit experience for riders and operators.

Work began in March on the Lemay Avenue Water System Improvement Project, bringing aging water infrastructure up to reliable modern standards. More than 2,500 feet of new pipe has already been installed. When the project is completed in June, it will restore reliability to the area and further strengthen the City's overall water infrastructure.

Upstream, the Oak Street Stormwater Project is also making significant progress toward its July completion, with all stormwater pipe now in place. The project provides major upgrades to Downtown stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding.

Based on the current fire risk in Fort Collins and recommendations from local fire authorities, the City adopted Stage 1 fire restrictions in late March. While Stage 1 fire restrictions are not a ban, they prioritize community safety by limiting certain activities that could more easily start a fire during drought conditions.

This year’s drought, low snowpack and warmer temperatures led the City to declare a voluntary Water Shortage Watch in May. This encourages Fort Collins Utilities water customers to pitch in to conserve water to safeguard community supply. While residents are encouraged to use less water at home and work, City departments have also stepped up by limiting water use and focusing water resources on important public spaces.

Each year, the City calculates greenhouse gas emissions across the community – including emissions from electricity and natural gas use, transportation and waste. These and related climate action work recently earned the City an “A” from the global environmental group CDP for the City's Our Climate Future program efforts. Through the program, officials have set goals to cut emissions 80% by 2030 and become a carbon neutral city by 2050.

In January, the City refreshed its membership structure for recreation participation, now offering simpler options with expanded access to City recreation facilities. One-month, six-month and annual passes are available, providing unlimited entry to all facilities, including City Park Pool and The Farm. Community members purchased or renewed more than 4,200 passes in Q1, contributing $40,000 that goes directly into improving City facilities and programs for our community.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s emerging artist music showcase, Sonic Spotlight, celebrated its sixth year this spring. The event awarded eight finalists time and space to record radio-ready music at a local studio, while local metal band Arkwave was crowned with top honors, ascending from a competitive field of more than 30 bands. Sonic Spotlight serves as a key incubator and platform for the Fort Collins music scene, and alumni have gone on to perform at Fort Collins' most iconic festivals and venues.

Fort Collins continues to grow and evolve — and City Council’s new Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable and Sustainable Growth is taking a closer look at how the community can balance housing affordability, sustainability and a development process that works better for everyone.

Established in March, the committee held its first workshop in May — to a full house — and has begun conversations around ways to support thoughtful growth that's consistent with community needs.

Residents can follow the work, stay informed and find opportunities to participate on Our City!

Access Fort Collins is an easy way to send your questions, comments and service requests directly to the City staff person who can best help you – now on an upgraded, modernized platform! Submit your service request online, and you can review the status of your request 24/7.

How quickly do staff get you the answers you’re looking for? In Q1, staff managed 1,055 requests, averaging 3 days to resolve and close requests.

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