Fort Collins Councilmember Potyondy to Host Community Listening Session October 11
Fort Collins City Councilmember Melanie Potyondy will host an informal community listening session from 10 to 11 a.m. on October 11 at the Harmony Library Community Room, 4616 S. Shields St.
The District 4 representative has invited all Fort Collins residents to attend and share ideas about issues facing the community, according to a city announcement.
Potyondy, who was elected to a full term in November 2023 and began her current term in January 2024, previously served as an interim councilmember for three months starting in January 2021. Her policy priorities include affordable housing, equity and inclusion, accessible social programs, local business support, and environmental sustainability, according to city documentation.
The listening session comes as Fort Collins addresses several major policy challenges in 2025, including affordable housing and homelessness funding, a comprehensive Land Use Code update, and efforts to achieve zero waste and carbon neutrality goals. The city is also working on a Citywide Retail Strategy to support neighborhood business centers and economic vitality.
Recent community concerns raised during regular city council meetings have included access to affordable housing services, environmental health issues related to oil and gas wells near city boundaries, and calls for greater transparency in land use decision-making and budget processes, according to city records.
Fort Collins City Council typically holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m., with formal public comment periods using online sign-up systems or in-person participation. However, the Saturday morning listening session format provides a more informal opportunity for community input outside the structured council meeting environment.
Potyondy brings nearly twenty years of experience as a school psychologist in local districts including Thompson, St. Vrain Valley, and Poudre, along with service on state committees including the Colorado Department of Education's Mental Health Advisory Committee. She holds an undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado.
The councilmember has focused on pursuing systemic solutions and advocating for residents least likely to be heard, emphasizing equitable and sustainable outcomes for current and future Fort Collins residents, according to her official biography.
No advance registration is required for the listening session. The Harmony Library Community Room is located at 4616 S. Shields St., Fort Collins.
For more information, contact Sarah Kane, Executive Assistant to City Council, at 970-416-2447 or [email protected].