[{"_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",6076837,"mediaKeyId","2967342-9f6e19526af858cfae1fd55eb14dbcff","parentId",2967342,"title","Fort Collins reports expansion of social-support programs: GetFOCO, Healthy Homes and legal funds among efforts","audioSeconds",1255,"startMs",6781695,"endMs",8037110,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2967342-9f6e19526af858cfae1fd55eb14dbcff&start=6781&end=8037","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2967342-9f6e19526af858cfae1fd55eb14dbcff/thumbnail_6781695.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076837/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/Fort-Collins-reports-expansion-of-social-support-programs-GetFOCO-Healthy-Homes-and-legal-funds-among-efforts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076837-c86586e9c3bda9cfb7871f381d5d3ea9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152904&Signature=fJboc27UHvc179UqA6fJt8pLH3wWn8RuGrdfqrGUqlwo6PWPOlAbiwF2GthV4Tlrh8R3ZOIE62Zmzsl5JDDtk3AD2naOmGp90DOUu62iuYldqYDIepV1AoMs6VoLe5ugyn~2jOTrWxhx-SuI0FMUR59-hr1L4rFPNo2B3ctDco7NlDNAmIhqtd29Ki9ropoFcZwoL0XoJNz9irgg2eEmuOTfeuznxTfhxhPNumS-oZFBA64Hcks1nuxDrFOQBD0by9NiB4aEwdMbHbfAzrDXjBvkbLOWh3nmtpko6qH7cIoF1r88RESMkwwOoGvcKbMdTfV5AeXEWlPYdlsD-dh9XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Fort Collins CO","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","City staff gave a broad update on council priorities to improve social and human health services for vulnerable populations, describing program-level progress, community outreach and gaps that remain if outside funding is reduced.

Chief Sustainability Officer Jacob Castillo and staff from social sustainability, equity and inclusion presented a portfolio of programs that aim to remove barriers to services: the GetFOCO single-application platform for several income-qualified programs, a Healthy Homes assessment and repair program, immigration and eviction legal funds, mobile-home resident support and utility payment-assistance programs. Staff emphasized partnerships with nonprofit providers, community connectors and county and university partners.

Beth Jones, director of social sustainability, described four program objectives guiding the work: expand human-services funding aligned to priority community needs; embed equity through city operations; address environmental concerns such as indoor and outdoor air quality; and continue or expand programs that provide direct supports. Jones said the city’s recent human-services and homelessness priority platforms will inform competitive funding recommendations to council in June, and she noted budget constraints as ARPA and other 1-time resources have declined.

Jones presented human-impact examples from city-supported providers: an elder-service client who began using adult day services and reported improved caregiving capacity for a spouse, Meals on Wheels participants who praised variety and reliability, and a Boys & Girls Club child who said school food was an important backstop for hungry days. Jones read program feedback indicating these supports have tangible household effects.

Claudia Menendez, equity and inclusion officer, described organizational steps to embed equity including staff trainings, accessibility improvements and data-accountability work. She highlighted a case in which a visually impaired rider reported bus stops were not announced; staff coordinated training for drivers to announce stops and began adjustments to bus-stop signage height and font to improve accessibility.

On air quality and environmental health, staff reported the city is in year two of EPA-funded air-toxic monitoring and has engaged a monitoring advisory committee with Spanish-speaking members to guide siting. Staff also described the Healthy Homes program — a free bilingual assessment and repair service — that has provided furnace and roof repairs, duct cleaning and other interventions. Staff said survey follow-up indicates most participants report improved knowledge and would recommend the program to others.

Social-safety-net programs described included three separate nonprofit providers receiving immigration-legal-fund support (different delivery models: in-house attorney, low-bono scholarships, volunteer-attorney networks) and eviction-legal-fund partners who help tenants and landlords avoid displacement. Jones cited numbers for utility-assistance programs: about 1,700 households enrolled in the income-qualified assistance program (November–April enrollment, as of January), roughly $51,000 distributed to 168 households via a payment assistance fund and a new fund channel that distributed approximately $80,000 to 292 households after a January launch. CityGive staff explained charitable giving channels now include a recurring monthly add-on on utility bills and one-time gifts online; staff said these small recurring gifts are a meaningful funding source for immediate assistance.

Councilors asked about measurement and outreach: how many eligible households are being reached, how the city will track impact, and contingency planning if federal and county funding streams shrink. Staff said they have increased data sophistication and will bring more metrics forward, and they described cross-institution conversations with the county, school district and CSU to plan for scenarios in which larger funding streams are reduced. Staff also noted continued need to build trust with immigrant communities and to offer in-person assistance for GetFOCO applications rather than requiring online submission.

Ending: Staff will provide more detailed metrics and follow-up memos on enrollment penetration and outcomes, continue partnerships and scenario planning with county and nonprofit partners, and pursue additional outreach and translation to improve access.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fort Collins City Council Work Session 4/8/25","oneSentenceSummary","City staff updated council on programs to support vulnerable populations including an expanded single-application platform (GetFOCO), Healthy Homes inspections and repairs, immigration and eviction legal funds, and utility-payment assistance; staff and council also discussed funding pressure if federal support is reduced.","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},6076842,"Fort Collins advances toward zero-waste goals; compost and C&D infrastructure identified as near-term priorities",1038,2140085,3178215,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2967342-9f6e19526af858cfae1fd55eb14dbcff&start=2140&end=3178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2967342-9f6e19526af858cfae1fd55eb14dbcff/thumbnail_2140085.jpg","/articles/6076842/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/Fort-Collins-advances-toward-zero-waste-goals-compost-and-CD-infrastructure-identified-as-near-term-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076842-755e0833b79e8c5d6bfd4140d50f741c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152904&Signature=SrTSDsxbcPIZVTk5mYBE072UcN5luCl2hXhI-97qMMTUrCkZ02P4K3LjzP9UvJQqourknYrAne-WDPM8cySsA2WH1ObQM~M2LDl7qcGGql0iC7xqAbkyR5lfPN1VEQIq01txXJJu36I5m6BADMwlHSkRWAjquYH0dG3aKfd~tWzlpGZ3NDDyE7HOrj5a0~t1q8dvOywxqnr9aSwvolsS6ITNtFdUpMYYmMZ0ntYW-unK5z4pRXJKqehxLefYhOhz5hSXqS9mep66BZyxF4YKPaxFcZ-aZIvgyOm0A8bvXsYc6cuKRbnsaJb~LW8sAXfeGj7M1ktgqC4kwgEBKzwL2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Sustainability Officer Jacob Castillo and lead waste specialist Caroline Mitchell briefed the council on progress and next steps for the city’s zero-waste-related priorities, including composting, construction-and-demolition (C&D) recycling and commercial yard-trimmings policy.

Mitchell said the city measures diversion by sector and reported a community diversion rate of 61% in 2023; she highlighted that industrial diversion skews high because a large share of industrial materials is processed at a local crushing facility. As staff work toward increased diversion, they recommended feasibility analysis for a local compost facility and continued partnership with Larimer County on mixed C&D recycling.

Mitchell told council that Fort Collins measures diversion by sector (residential, commercial and industrial) and that the most recent completed year, 2023, showed residential diversion at about 25%, commercial at about 40% and industrial at about 82%. She noted Hofmann Mill’s aggregate recycling drives much of the industrial total and said removing that facility from the calculation would drop the industrial rate considerably. Mitchell told council the community diversion-rate time series shows Fort Collins is not on track to reach its long-term zero-waste objective without additional measures; staff described the city’s zero-waste goal as a north star and said the highest-performing jurisdictions tend to top out at about 85% diversion.

On specific infrastructure needs, staff said the nearest permitted facility that accepts food scraps is more than 60 miles away, making hauling and processing costs high and limiting adoption. Mitchell said two local private companies offer optional food-scraps collection but that haul distance raises price points. For that reason the city secured grant-funded consulting to assess options; staff said the consulting work will deliver a feasibility-level analysis for a compost facility by July. The analysis will examine scale options from a Fort Collins-only facility to larger regional facilities and will support a later decision about pursuing either a transfer station or a compost facility.

On construction and demolition recycling, staff said Fort Collins already requires separation of cardboard, metal, wood and aggregates at C&D sites but that markets reject bins with contamination; a mixed C&D recycling facility that mechanically sorts mixed loads would increase participation and reduce rejections. Larimer County is pursuing a mixed C&D facility, staff said, and Fort Collins previously adopted flow control to direct mixed-material loads to a county facility if one is constructed. Staff reported they will continue coordination with Larimer County as county planning and state grant opportunities proceed.

Mitchell also highlighted completed and underway policy actions. The contracted-hauling program (city-managed hauling for curbside collection) rolled out last fall and expanded curbside yard-trimmings collection; staff said 46% more households now have curbside yard-trimmings service than before. Mitchell said staff are too early in the year to report tons diverted from that change but will provide tonnage data when available. She recommended staff pursue a commercial yard-trimmings policy as the next high-diversion, near-term policy lever while infrastructure analyses proceed.

Council members asked for more details on grocer composting compliance, construction-site inspection results and implementation timelines; staff said grocers are required to compost under the community recycling ordinance implemented in 2021 and that the city performs compliance checks. Staff also acknowledged council frustration about the speed of implementation on some long-running items and said major infrastructure efforts are complex, multi-jurisdictional and capital-intensive; they told council that taking a more lead role and providing city funding could accelerate timelines but would require tradeoffs.

Ending: Staff will receive the feasibility-level compost analysis in July, continue coordination with Larimer County on C&D recycling, and return to council for a fall check-in to prioritize next steps and proposed resource levels.","City staff told council the community diversion rate was 61% in 2023 and recommended feasibility work on a local compost facility and further focus on construction-and-demolition recycling, while contracted hauling expanded curbside yard-trimmings service to many households.",{"_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},6076847,"Fort Collins staff outline EV readiness roadmap, stressing equity and charging costs",1349,62711,1412350,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2967342-9f6e19526af858cfae1fd55eb14dbcff&start=62&end=1412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2967342-9f6e19526af858cfae1fd55eb14dbcff/thumbnail_62711.jpg","/articles/6076847/Fort-Collins-City/Larimer-County/Colorado/Fort-Collins-staff-outline-EV-readiness-roadmap-stressing-equity-and-charging-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076847-0cc74f8421eb6625a977b53e6cc1c037/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152904&Signature=hWK~zMwpBnN2fa1uaua6HZhCAU6DUkxQ3yGwPxtEFuGbUq3vdj~vQUT1vPAGejs4Iu5d1gUp823njYeLGdF0SWIBovzsmfm5HXCdiDwmxMc5XseeIgHtqV0yN4xZ2PizWX4q1RfRMB4ey1DGWsDHqUcBdsOWuRzzX5HIASdDTUds~u~Gz6ecAspgURGX-Zr12yyWLYPF25UTnh8GoGYlDYED9dgbVYqvfohPGRptSe3HQfoZ7jXtkL8cN6Z3rcTVoXJf4WxFjDI-DaRRDnIbizwVlKABu0QBo9I5UTtp0o0qr8Kzx~x3paF7XY3LAGFKexbFeyntK8OZxe58J9jy~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dash Abubar Hall, a transportation planner with FC Moves, presented an update on the city’s Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap during a Fort Collins City Council work session, describing both adoption trends and infrastructure gaps.

The roadmap update matters because the number of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the Fort Collins area has grown rapidly since the last plan, while public charging — especially so-called level 3 fast chargers — remains scarce and costly to install. Staff said the update emphasizes equity, residential charging for renters and multifamily residents, and strategies to prioritize sites and funding.

Hall told council staff framed the EVRR in two parts: a public education section and a second section of strategies and recommendations. He said the updated vision for the plan is: \"Fort Collins will promote the community's adoption of electric vehicles through equitable access to charging infrastructure, engaging outreach and education, and innovative policy approaches, and leading by example.\" He said the update adds an explicit equity goal and a mobility goal to include electrified alternatives such as e-bikes and car-share programs.

Staff summarized community outreach. A 30-minute online survey drew about 303 responses; respondents who already own EVs tended to be single-family homeowners with access to at-home charging. Focus groups with largely Spanish-speaking and multifamily residents showed interest in EVs but limited visibility of public chargers in neighborhoods they use; participants asked for multilingual outreach, hands-on workshops and address of up-front costs. Hall said staff heard repeatedly that access to home charging is the largest barrier to adopting EVs and that purchasing cost—often a perception as well as a real barrier—remains important.

Staff presented a snapshot of local infrastructure and adoption. As presented, Fort Collins-area registrations have grown from roughly 600 at the time of the last plan to about 5,300 EVs; staff said that is about 4.3% of the light-vehicle fleet. Public charging inventory cited by staff included about 47 level 2 ports and six level 3 ports; Hall noted two level 3 ports had been added in the prior six months. \"The high purchase price remains a huge barrier to many,\" Hall said, and he emphasized that access to charging at home and at work is critical for broader adoption.

Council members pressed staff on several technical constraints. Hall explained that level 3 fast chargers require three-phase, 480-volt service and can trigger substantial utility capacity fees and interconnection costs; those capacity and connection fees can exceed the cost of the charging unit itself and make many private providers reluctant to install fast chargers in Fort Collins. Hall said Light and Power has explained these fees reflect the actual costs of providing service, but he noted charging providers have told staff the upfront fees make Fort Collins unattractive under the providers’ business models.

Staff listed roughly two dozen recommended actions across eight goal areas, ranging from outreach and education to incentives for income-qualified buyers and targeted infrastructure investments. Hall told council staff plan to finalize the document soon, convene an EV working group drawn from the prior technical advisory committee and then prioritize strategies and owner departments for the next two years.

Councilors asked about downtown and Old Town solutions for residents without garages; Hall said on-street charging and shared public chargers in neutral public spaces were possible approaches and that staff will identify code or technical barriers to discuss with council. Councilmembers also raised maintenance concerns for public chargers and the experience that a nontrivial share of public chargers nationally can be out of service; Hall said the city learned from an early generation of chargers that maintenance and long-term funding for upkeep are critical and frequently underestimated.

Staff said next steps are finalizing the EVRR document, forming the implementation working group, and producing a short-term two-year action plan listing responsible departments and potential funding approaches. Hall emphasized any public-charger commitments would be strategic and funded with maintenance and staffing needs defined ahead of time.

Ending: The presentation closed with staff asking council for feedback on priorities and locations to consider; staff will return with the final document and begin convening the working group to begin short-term prioritization.","City staff updated the council on an electric vehicle readiness roadmap, saying EV ownership in the Fort Collins area has risen sharply and that equitable access to chargers, high upfront costs for fast chargers and home-charging gaps are the largest barriers to wider adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fort Collins reports expansion of social-support programs: GetFOCO, Healthy Homes and legal funds among efforts

Fort Collins advances toward zero-waste goals; compost and C&D infrastructure identified as near-term priorities

Fort Collins staff outline EV readiness roadmap, stressing equity and charging costs