[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6281514,"mediaKeyId","2603636-71e536024b16656897c8f63f49176c22","parentId",2603636,"title","City workers, supporters press council to recognize Connection Workers Coalition and ask for recognition framework","audioSeconds",278,"startMs",1450000,"endMs",1728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2603636-71e536024b16656897c8f63f49176c22&start=1450&end=1728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2603636-71e536024b16656897c8f63f49176c22/thumbnail_1450000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6281514/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/City-workers-supporters-press-council-to-recognize-Connection-Workers-Coalition-and-ask-for-recognition-framework","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281514-a4efa41777f4956b5cc5b4a3a2b3b182/orig.mp4?Expires=1775082468&Signature=ayGcbSb10PpNEaAvJseonz1VgNCanUKMrmGNtjceB-cdKgIL9uOSGZPHypBcfCJaeazuPsM~jHN-Z7yJmh~E4mTZP0gGat1xVejZEfFfOjzPXFnRDgwgQBMRb-KcgLlXIyXGc26XnQda8Sx6zvaQ02pCuj7-PVDT1jX4KJqmiaMu-5MzYorqb6Q1ahMz31~LcvclCmLDcL3NoXGeuSJzBYkIVvgOxr1diubz-QSvp7KwxSxBk64~WdJfju4pue-9JN-YWFCRAbZuJmX2LNIcKO0ddVHu5tE8yJIn2nXHSXdYDq~PC3UzRjcoD2J44fB1Y7z04dxRMXCuEArEk0wqnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Fort Collins, CO","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","Speakers at Fort Collins City Council asked the council and city management to recognize the Connection Workers Coalition (CWC) and to develop a clear process by which future municipal worker unions could obtain recognition.

Nicholas Soland, who said he lives in Council District 6 and spoke for the CWC, said the group has gathered more than 400 petition signatures and that the city manager has not provided a response about recognition. “We need a framework,” Soland told council, adding that the absence of written guidelines can amount to inconsistent and potentially coercive treatment of workers seeking recognition.

Additional public commenters voiced support for the CWC. Jonah, who identified himself as co‑chair of the Fort Collins chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, urged the council to work with the group to draft language that clarifies how city employee unions may seek recognition. Robin, a resident, also spoke in favor of recognition and raised a separate concern about bus priority at a particular intersection.

Why it matters: Workers and supporters said recognition and a clear framework would let employees understand how to pursue collective action and ensure consistent treatment. Speakers asked that the city manager and council either acknowledge the CWC or lay out the rules that govern recognition.

Staff and council response: The city manager’s office did not provide a timeline or a public commitment during the meeting; council members did not object to creating a framework but did not adopt a formal direction at this meeting. Soland and other speakers asked for a public reply or a process for drafting recognition language.

Clarifying details
- Petition signatures: Soland said the petition in support of recognition has collected “over 400 signatures.”
- Parties seeking action: Connection Workers Coalition (CWC) and supporters including Democratic Socialists of America local chapter.

Ending: Speakers urged the council to respond publicly to the CWC’s requests; council members acknowledged the comments but did not record a motion or formal direction at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fort Collins City Council Regular Meeting 3/4/25","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple speakers urged the council and city manager to recognize the Connection Workers Coalition and to create a clear framework for municipal labor‑union recognition; staff provided no commitment on a timeline.","taxTitle","Fort Collins City, Larimer County, Colorado","taxId",5777,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6281519,"Residents question Hughes civic-assembly survey and community‑guide process; staff says report will focus on themes",977,1035000,2012000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2603636-71e536024b16656897c8f63f49176c22&start=1035&end=2012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2603636-71e536024b16656897c8f63f49176c22/thumbnail_1035000.jpg","/articles/6281519/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/Residents-question-Hughes-civic-assembly-survey-and-communityguide-process-staff-says-report-will-focus-on-themes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281519-c577888ec7275dca1cfc487b6691571c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775082468&Signature=mA1x3nXP4aC0XNB-zyhM6c8u9OjLCKKNqJehhL3FSXEgqHB-t6Kweo-TS0GZ1H7Ts4psbwpg8~HC9knindCur1ij7mNRsFSCupRKl2GpDh9eFrc6N8M5hK3q2p2o24QJB1-sH~fGgYeSZ2PdqXPjFwJLhHV9wdVDRwhag8zGk55xmTzXJ3IFraY6Lhc2AeD5YH96HGPkPGpjSu9-Xqjn5LR3mo4XhBaomHqqW5whTMHO5LK1DAR2~ijOXAqW4Tr5rD08PB9NuJh3L0HKQIawaqjtNkZiS5UeIQk1OzaDf0QvgRnXR6bsyUCjcrzbyAaeBV7SsXhkz5NgjFXPK7e7Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Fort Collins residents at the council meeting raised concerns about the civic assembly process used to gather public input on the Hughes property and asked that the city ensure the process is transparent and limited from outside influence.

Linda Hall, who identified herself as an “average citizen of Fort Collins,” told the council she had been selected as a community guide by Colorado State University’s Center for Public Deliberation (CPD) and asked that the city terminate the Hughes online survey because she believed the CPD process had been corrupted by participants with outsized influence. Patricia Babbitt, another resident who spoke during public comment, said she was worried the city’s online survey (which is available on the city project page) could be completed by people outside Fort Collins and by residents who lack the technology or language support to participate, and that the civic assembly process needed more transparency about community‑guide schedules and access.

Why it matters: The civic assembly and the Hughes survey feed into a process meant to gather community themes and perspectives around the future use of the Hughes property. Several speakers said they feared the process could undercount or misrepresent Fort Collins voters’ views if the survey was open broadly online or if community‑guide sessions were not sufficiently publicized.

Staff response and next steps
Roopa Venkatesh, assistant city manager, said CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation selected 26 community guides to conduct conversations in the community. CPD will collate the guide‑led surveys and produce a report that focuses on themes and perspectives; staff said the CPD report will be published on the city project page and shared with the information committee that will vet what the assembly receives. Venkatesh emphasized that CPD’s role is to summarize themes rather than provide a volume count of survey responses.

Venkatesh also said the city made the same survey available on its public Citi page to allow the broader public to participate; the publicly available survey requires a unique login to reduce duplicate submissions. She said CPD had limited time to conduct guide‑led conversations and that opening those guided sessions to unlimited public sign‑up would exceed that capacity. Council members asked staff to follow up with residents who raised specific concerns so staff could address them directly.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting
- Number of community guides selected by CSU CPD: 26 (as stated by staff).
- Public survey availability: the survey is available on the city project page and requires a unique login to submit responses to prevent duplicate entries.
- Use of the results: CPD will collate and report themes; the report will be public and provided to the information committee for vetting before the assembly receives materials.

Ending: Council members asked staff to reach out to commenters who requested follow‑up and to publish the CPD‑collated report on the city project page after it is complete.","Multiple residents raised concerns about the Hughes civic assembly survey and the selection and transparency of community guides; city staff said CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation selected 26 community guides and will provide a collated themes report to the project page and the information committee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6281521,"Council adopts urban-forest plan, removes write-in candidacies; consent calendar approved",1636,2413000,4049000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2603636-71e536024b16656897c8f63f49176c22&start=2413&end=4049","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2603636-71e536024b16656897c8f63f49176c22/thumbnail_2413000.jpg","/articles/6281521/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/Council-adopts-urban-forest-plan-removes-write-in-candidacies-consent-calendar-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281521-276f06aef2a6750f3f2ff220befec4af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775082468&Signature=DLq4CZnP3JRbmCBLMHumwYuhLagfH1uAUxQ2ZcEckf4LzVDRpAE2PMB9BbvA9S2gpOkZswdHI0K4KuxJSfR5B16aWTjLiVr7pVLvW4Bn8slx-nU59RAmMBLov2KOrOjqL4rmxUApeHNz6MWJLjdrfF5znyXdUzeDTne4aVsOrHyoDdSlaAiLqa~0tCQz3bQA1r5zRgO~jKXnCYVLQYzM4k7XwyA4tBn3lEd-84VyBAlUN23fmTKmY4d5PnF8cYQwfRM56Mm8w-iAWrVPOoU7tHZ7x9AoNpUIoXcmAuoneP66LSzN-UEXi1I4RMSBRlGrboDkwclVuqSY8VEyiebAAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fort Collins City Council on second reading adopted the Rooted in Community: Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan and approved an ordinance removing the city code provision for write-in candidates; the council also approved the consent calendar (items 1–19).

The council voted 5–1 to adopt the urban forest strategic plan after a brief exchange; Council member Wilson said she opposed the measure on process grounds despite thanking staff for work on a tree-replacement memo. The vote to amend the municipal code to remove write-in candidate filing also passed 5–1 after an extended discussion about how the city’s election procedures will display write-in lines under the city’s ranked‑choice voting system. The consent calendar (items 1–19) passed 6–0 with one member absent.

Why it matters: the urban forest plan will become a component of the City Plan and guide city policies around tree preservation, planting and replacement. The write‑in change adjusts the city code to reflect how write‑in candidacies are handled administratively; several council members said the change responds to ambiguity between the code and the city charter and asked staff to pursue any necessary charter alignment later.

Details on the votes and outcomes
- Urban forest plan: Motion to approve on second reading passed 5–1 (one council member opposed). The ordinance was moved and seconded and recorded as adopted on second reading. Council member Wilson said she voted no because of process concerns and influence by economically vested interests, though she praised staff work on tree‑replacement policy.
- Removal of write‑in candidates from code: Motion to approve on second reading (amending section 7‑103) passed 5–1. Council discussion focused on how write‑in lines appear on ballots under the city’s ranked‑choice format, timing differences between nomination petitions and affidavits, and whether the charter needs future revision; one council member maintained a no vote citing the perceived optics of removing what the public regards as a democratic option.
- Consent calendar (items 1–19): Approval motion passed 6–0 with one absence. Council did not pull items for separate action; staff later provided clarifications when requested on particular consent items.

Council and staff next steps: Council asked staff to provide follow‑up materials where clarification was requested (for example, explanation of tree‑replacement policy details and any charter/code alignment steps related to election procedures). Staff said they will return with additional information between readings or in a timely manner as appropriate.

Votes at a glance
- Adoption, Rooted in Community: Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan — outcome: approved, tally: yes 5 / no 1.
- Ordinance amending section 7‑103 (remove write‑in candidates) — outcome: approved, tally: yes 5 / no 1.
- Approval of consent calendar items 1–19 — outcome: approved, tally: yes 6 / no 0.

Ending: Council recessed after completing business; the next regular council meeting was announced as occurring in two weeks (the council will not meet the following week due to the National League of Cities conference).","Fort Collins City Council approved an urban forest strategic plan and an ordinance eliminating write-in candidate affidavits, and passed the consent calendar. Both ordinances passed 5–1; the consent calendar passed 6–0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City workers, supporters press council to recognize Connection Workers Coalition and ask for recognition framework

Residents question Hughes civic-assembly survey and community‑guide process; staff says report will focus on themes

Council adopts urban-forest plan, removes write-in candidacies; consent calendar approved