[{"_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",6281520,"mediaKeyId","2603633-47d382de5f8bcdcb00f96f7191f9d7c4","parentId",2603633,"title","Fort Collins staff recommend mid‑range Southeast Community Center (two‑court gym, outdoor pool); council asks for details on costs and design","audioSeconds",2310,"startMs",8201000,"endMs",10511000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2603633-47d382de5f8bcdcb00f96f7191f9d7c4&start=8201&end=10511","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2603633-47d382de5f8bcdcb00f96f7191f9d7c4/thumbnail_8201000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6281520/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/Fort-Collins-staff-recommend-midrange-Southeast-Community-Center-twocourt-gym-outdoor-pool-council-asks-for-details-on-costs-and-design","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281520-b8c88b5a1d15a9c35ddead53db640eab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003798&Signature=ilcV8~oTK2ef25NFFCNkSsPAUITVw4Jv0GtUcrzE1eartd~ULC5nCsRjdXrbj-z1C45JrZkj2XlumsdkBEzr~NvWEzBOAF5cPErBWLqceKT48YsCWNEu5s3mMcyzqWtQxkXx8w9N46Qm0kBLQLDugVbyyUW0GZxazARVqdGMgYHdckNWfOz2EpslDtSimLTgVuK1WZLTxjTRzTNP04bP-T151nVshaFHJkjGMVvkEqBH2XJAWYGHEJIlY4~TLEVxAykdhXsTTjsz6uawNaiWQJUCAH~vxZLLWkCN4MQu~1jB8sfYuruwY-ofyK6-tGeVPPP4gqkmNR1yJOegUfOKRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Fort Collins, CO","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","City recreation and finance staff presented four scope and cost options for a planned Southeast Community Center and recommended Option 2B, a mid‑range facility that balances program variety and cost recovery.

Leanne Williams, Recreation Director, and Dean Klinger, Community Services Director, summarized decision criteria — total capital cost, ongoing operating subsidy, maintenance, program revenue potential and alignment with prior plans. Williams said the Recreate master plan envisions community centers between roughly 45,000 and 75,000 square feet and emphasized intergenerational programming, community‑facing spaces and a LEED Gold target for building performance.

What the options include

- Option 1: A smaller building focused on pool components and limited recreation spaces (rough estimate: $51M–$61M capital cost; 40k–50k sq ft). Staff said this option has limited revenue potential and is not the recommendation.

- Option 2A: A community center that meets ballot language with a one‑court gym, licensed childcare and fitness space (estimated $64M–$74M capital cost; 60k–70k sq ft).

- Option 2B (staff recommendation): A two‑court gymnasium, expanded recreation spaces that increase revenue potential, licensed daycare, indoor lap lanes (consistent with an existing IGA with Poudre School District), and the outdoor recreational pool components described in the ballot materials. Staff estimated Option 2B’s city share in the upper range of the mid‑scale options (capital estimates discussed in the meeting peaked near $80M total project cost depending on final scope). Staff characterized 2B as the “sweet spot” between program offer and ongoing subsidy.

- Option 3: A high‑amenity facility with indoor leisure pool and expanded aquatic features; capital estimates were substantially higher (staff cited $84M–$94M for larger configurations) and staff said operational costs would be higher with less favorable cost recovery.

Funding and next steps

Victoria Shell, Senior Financial Manager, summarized a likely funding stack. The project includes the fixed CCIP appropriation ($17.7M), DOLA grants the city has received, and bonding against the 2050 parks and recreation tax. Shell said the city could tap CCIP reserves (staff estimate ~$12–12.5M available) and that, under current assumptions, bond financing should remain inside the city’s 80/20 tax split guidance if the city proceeds carefully. Staff told council their financing assumptions are conservative and that actual bond rates and tax growth will affect final outcomes.

Council feedback

Councilmembers generally supported the mid‑range Option 2B, while asking for additional details. Questions included whether lap lanes could be multi‑use rather than exclusively reserved for lap swimming, whether a dive well should be included and the likely incremental cost of adding diving, the number of licensed daycare rooms (staff confirmed two in the proposed design), and the next steps for community outreach on specific design details. Several councilmembers asked staff to provide detailed cost estimates, a breakdown of long‑term operating subsidies compared with other city centers, and the likely impact on the 2050 tax allocation.

Ending

Staff said they will proceed with design development under the direction to pursue the mid‑range option (2B), return with more precise cost and financing numbers, give the community more detailed outreach informed by this scope, and schedule a follow‑up work session. No appropriation or binding financing decision was made at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fort Collins City Council Work Session 2/25/25","oneSentenceSummary","City staff recommended a mid‑range Southeast Community Center (Option 2B) with a two‑court gym, licensed childcare, indoor lap lanes and the outdoor pool elements described in the CCIP ballot; council asked for more detailed cost, financing and design information before committing to appropriation.","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},6281522,"Fort Collins updates water‑efficiency plan: staff propose a 3% treated‑water demand target and city landscape goal",3328,4791000,8119000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2603633-47d382de5f8bcdcb00f96f7191f9d7c4&start=4791&end=8119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2603633-47d382de5f8bcdcb00f96f7191f9d7c4/thumbnail_4791000.jpg","/articles/6281522/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/Fort-Collins-updates-waterefficiency-plan-staff-propose-a-3-treatedwater-demand-target-and-city-landscape-goal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281522-b31f889727a3dd40c76762caca2c93ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003798&Signature=kaCisftxOuHKacHON8MMqjKewGD00P55fYp8e5CqK28Xmn-X-o18H5T22WXL3EfombKpV0x5AtTPao8xJNNF10iko6y3JAHUVozoQr9h2S-pFI93UcX1XC9qYwBaW0XcTKHF~5CCWVGAJKkGiFnO967Jv~k0rZAljGMpXgK0nh2HDzrOiEFmprtKOtI~CHF09PGZQUh-JS-OlSFi3QlvOP6L3ifeKaoRGkiLFStDw7DDbZmSJN-ZX0nWrKu1ZZ0GmcRVYN8S5zxMqeR6tv3nVgV2snnKQB-LJdEuRwadmTQPtqiRQZxhvSVV2NbQAhTq-CpY1b7lf3mffA9t~keS0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fort Collins Utilities presented an update to the city’s Water Efficiency Plan (WEP), describing community outreach, equity analysis and a proposed set of goals and strategies for reducing treated‑water demand over the coming decades.

Nicole Poncelet Johnson, 1 Water Executive Director, introduced the presentation and said the WEP is a state‑required plan. Alice Konovitz, Water Conservation Specialist, summarized engagement and modeling work and put forward two core goals: a utility‑wide treated water target and a city landscape target. “Goal 1: all customers contribute to lowering annual water demand by 3% by 02/1940 to reduce our risk of shortages,” Konovitz said. She added that the plan proposes a second goal to upgrade irrigation and outdoor water efficiency on city‑owned landscapes to build resilience.

Why this matters

Fort Collins faces demand pressure from growth and warming temperatures. Staff said conservation in Fort Collins already yields measurable savings (about 135 million gallons per year, roughly the annual use of 1,500 single‑family households) and that coordinated action can reduce the city’s exposure to shortages while prioritizing equitable access to programs and assistance.

What staff proposed

Staff summarized analytic work and engagement. They reported more than 5,000 public “touch points,” including a survey with over 1,300 respondents and targeted outreach to disproportionately impacted groups: renters, non‑English speakers and new residents. Modeling and screening of strategies informed the recommendations.

Proposed goals discussed at the meeting:

- Goal 1 (utility treated water): “All customers contribute to lowering annual water demand by 3% by 02/1940,” with interim targets and sector‑specific tracking. Staff estimated that 3% of treated use by 2040 would equate to roughly 21–26 million gallons per year under their scenarios and would require roughly a 40% increase in current programmatic savings by volume.

- Goal 2 (city landscapes): The city will “improve outdoor water efficiency across city‑owned landscapes,” with a suggested target of completing at least one prioritized irrigation or turf‑to‑xeric project per budgeting cycle (about seven projects by 2040). Staff proposed tracking irrigation upgrades and replaced turf square footage.

Strategies and equity

Staff grouped strategies by policy, behavior, operations and economic levers. They said community feedback favors incentives and wants the city to lead by example on public landscapes. Staff emphasized equity screening — identifying barriers that would keep lower‑income or non‑English households from participating — and recommended targeted outreach and adaptation of programs for renters, HOAs and high‑use customers.

Council questions and follow‑up asks

Councilmembers sought clarifications about metrics, who pays and how the plan accounts for growth. Mayor and council asked staff to break down usage and conservation metrics by customer sector (residential vs. commercial; indoor vs. outdoor) rather than relying solely on a single gallons‑per‑capita‑per‑day figure. Several members asked for worked examples showing how the 3% goal would be applied and how it will scale with population growth.

Other follow‑ups included requests for: a clearer, quantifiable city‑owned water‑use target; cost estimates and funding options for prioritized projects (staff suggested reallocating conservation funds and leveraging other landscape program funding); documentation of how conservation programs affect disproportionately impacted households; and a review of the city’s “frowny face” over‑use notification program and its measured effectiveness.

Ending

Staff said they will publish a public comment draft, open a 60‑day public comment period, brief relevant boards and commissions, and return to council to seek adoption of the finalized WEP in summer. No formal decision was taken at the meeting.","Fort Collins Utilities staff briefed council on a draft water efficiency plan that emphasizes equity, engagement and measurable conservation. Staff proposed a new utility‑wide treated water goal — a 3% reduction in annual treated demand by 2040 — and a second goal to improve outdoor water efficiency on city‑owned landscapes.",{"_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},6281525,"State mobile-home oversight program reports faster complaint resolution; Fort Collins staff seek local enforcement options",4117,639000,4756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2603633-47d382de5f8bcdcb00f96f7191f9d7c4&start=639&end=4756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2603633-47d382de5f8bcdcb00f96f7191f9d7c4/thumbnail_639000.jpg","/articles/6281525/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/State-mobile-home-oversight-program-reports-faster-complaint-resolution-Fort-Collins-staff-seek-local-enforcement-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281525-ba3f5b24bba405c63434eb6547c9c365/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003798&Signature=mUlyZKWrDMwyyC0lC-As8aIZ0g9BUj1F87gdpjNZHfoItoQkz9DyRcKCvOFwS7wSRHPh09owOY83LAcdviCbQi1WSk89CLBS-AfKW~uefnzEV2TPOrDjMOM8l35wWGP2XVdSUPP6qoKECwmzSLQZ-Kbi0HNH9ziBVn3lpclI-pq0YMcQBlvk1HLRb-SXfJ~CCumh1btx7qu2m~5JJm8fLrLn9Ivi3D9zj0xIUIfBuoTS5bHD5LsIHcoYQ~SALRMDWH8fHqsD0-naNdMwaJflTHIT1u07MK-qbKbG15ZRXB4USHVlA0FpDGcMIgOhtTR280~AQZbSn3dTxOzdjMYbNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Good evening. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Mobile Home Park Oversight Program told the Fort Collins City Council that the program has dramatically reduced a years‑long backlog of complaints and now resolves most new complaints in about 36 days, down from an early average that was measured in months and years.

Christina Postolowski, program manager for the Mobile Home Park Oversight Program (MHPOP), told council that the office has grown from two staff when it started after the 2019 law to a team of 14, and that MHPOP has closed roughly 94% of complaints tied to addresses that list Fort Collins. “We have 118 complaints involving Fort Collins parks,” Postolowski said. She added that MHPOP prioritizes “high impact cases — things like water and electrical outages” and can issue notices of violation or cease‑and‑desist orders when urgent action is needed.

The state program’s update set the stage for a separate city presentation on local oversight. City staff described mobile home parks as an important source of naturally occurring affordable housing in Fort Collins — about 10 parks inside city limits (roughly 1,400 home sites) and 14 more in the growth management area — and outlined a range of jurisdictional and practical gaps that can leave residents vulnerable.

Why this matters

Mobile home parks are privately owned land where residents commonly own their homes but rent the lot. That ownership split, together with concentrated populations of lower‑income and historically underserved residents in several parks, creates legal and service challenges when roads, water systems, trees or other common infrastructure fail. City staff told council that resolving those failures often requires coordination among owners, park managers, the state MHPOP team, water and health regulators, and city departments.

What MHPOP does and what the city heard

Postolowski described MHPOP’s statutory responsibilities: statewide park registration, outreach and education about the Mobile Home Park Act, intake and investigation of complaints, dispute resolution and, where the law requires, determination of violations tied to park sales or homeowners’ right‑to‑purchase provisions. She said the program’s average time to close complaints has fallen from an early average of months to roughly 36 days for complaints received this fiscal year, with a statewide backlog reduced to 48 remaining cases that MHPOP aims to close by June 30.

City staff summarized local activity across 29 teams and multiple departments and reviewed areas where state and local authority overlap or diverge. Staff told council that many city responses are still reactive and relationship‑based rather than driven by a single, consistent internal process. They identified several persistent gaps: complicated jurisdictional lines for issues such as water and roads; lack of on‑the‑ground specialist capacity (for example, certified arborists or utility‑system assessors); fear of retaliation among residents who file complaints; no required training or certification for park managers; frequent manager turnover; and limited or no state‑level face‑to‑face mediation services.

Options discussed

City staff presented a range of potential next steps, grouped into three buckets: (1) evaluation of larger, resourced solutions (for example, negotiated investments or on‑site inspection capacity); (2) lower‑cost adjustments or reprioritization of existing staff time to centralize coordination, expand manager training, and strengthen language access; and (3) municipal code changes with corresponding enforcement and implementation costs. Examples of code changes discussed included timelines and penalties for park owners to repair water infrastructure, authority for the city to provide emergency services (portable toilets, emergency water) for disruptions over 12 hours with cost‑recovery from owners, annual filing requirements (maintenance plans, emergency contacts, water pressure reports), and changes to how parks bill water when the cost is embedded in lot rent.

Council discussion and direction sought

Councilmembers asked staff detailed questions about fencing rules, staffing levels dedicated to mobile home park outreach, the city’s right to enter park property for inspections, and the risk that stricter local enforcement might prompt owners to sell. Several councilmembers said they favor stronger local enforcement and at least exploring local code changes to ensure mobile home park residents receive “the same city services” as other residents.

Councilmember Emily said, “In my opinion… yes, we do need local enforcement,” arguing that local rules are needed to make infrastructure maintenance enforceable. Other councilmembers voiced support for a centralized city point of contact or a dedicated mobile‑home‑park liaison to help residents navigate multiple departments and external agencies. Staff said they will assess enforcement gaps, resource needs and potential trade‑offs and return to council with more detailed recommendations before advancing code changes.

Ending

Council did not take a formal vote on ordinances or code changes at the meeting. Staff were directed to evaluate the options, including a possible dedicated liaison role, and to return to council with findings and suggested next steps on enforcement, staffing, and potential municipal code amendments.","Colorado’s Mobile Home Park Oversight Program (MHPOP) told Fort Collins council it has reduced backlog and shortened complaint resolution times. City staff outlined enforcement gaps that remain locally and asked council whether to pursue additional municipal enforcement, staffing and code changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fort Collins staff recommend mid‑range Southeast Community Center (two‑court gym, outdoor pool); council asks for details on costs and design

Fort Collins updates water‑efficiency plan: staff propose a 3% treated‑water demand target and city landscape goal

State mobile-home oversight program reports faster complaint resolution; Fort Collins staff seek local enforcement options