Fort Collins Moves Forward with Northern Colorado Regional Airport Governance Changes
Fort Collins City Council approved a new intergovernmental agreement with Loveland on October 21 as an interim step toward creating an independent airport authority to manage the Northern Colorado Regional Airport, consolidating decision-making power that has been divided among multiple entities for decades.
The unanimous 6-0 vote advances a transition plan that would ultimately shift control from the current structure involving two city councils, two city manager offices and an advisory commission to a single governing board with direct operational authority.
"This is really a transitional IGA toward that ultimate goal," said Jenny Sawyer, senior project and policy manager for Fort Collins, during the council meeting.
Complex History Drives Governance Reform
The airport has operated under joint ownership since Fort Collins and Loveland established the facility in 1963, but governance arrangements have evolved repeatedly as the cities struggled to balance operational efficiency with dual municipal oversight.
From 1965 through 1979, an Airport Board including city and county representatives managed operations. That model gave way to an Ad Hoc Committee of council members and city managers from 1979 to 1983, according to city records.
The cities attempted an Airport Authority structure from 1983 to 1990, but that effort failed because the authority lacked true decision-making power. The cities retained control over key policy decisions, property rights and budget approvals, rendering the authority ineffective.
A Steering Committee managed the airport from 1990 to 2015, when both cities adopted a restated intergovernmental agreement creating a seven-member Airport Commission. That commission, which includes two elected officials and staff from each city plus three residents, has operated in an advisory capacity through 2025.
"Findings indicate that under current statutes, additional authority cannot be delegated to the Commission," according to recent commission meeting materials.
Transitional Agreement Shifts Power to Managers
The approved transitional agreement sunsets the existing Airport Commission and consolidates interim operational authority with the Fort Collins and Loveland city managers while the cities complete work to establish a permanent authority.
Both cities adopted resolutions of support for the authority concept in January 2025 following recommendations from a joint governance committee that spent a year reviewing options and consulting legal counsel.
The committee evaluated governance models used across Colorado and nationally, focusing on legal authority, operational efficiency and financial risk management. Committee members concluded that additional powers could only be transferred through creation of a new authority under state statutes rather than through modifications to the existing commission structure.
The transitional agreement addresses financial sharing responsibilities, updates insurance protocols and streamlines capital project approval processes. The cities plan to complete authority formation by late 2026 or early 2027.
Commercial Service and Infrastructure Projects at Stake
The governance changes come as the airport pursues several major initiatives including runway widening, installation of a remote control tower and exploration of commercial airline service.
Fort Collins residents including Ann Hutchison, representing the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, urged council to approve the governance transition.
"There's a tremendous opportunity in front of us when we think about regional economic development, and we have really left the Northern Colorado Regional Airport behind," Hutchison said. "It's time for us to make some positive change in order to bring that economic driver back to Northern Colorado."
The current multi-entity approval structure has complicated capital investment processes and created delays for projects requiring coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
"The revenue that we would anticipate getting from those fees would remain relatively flat" without governance improvements, city staff told council members when asked about the financial implications of delaying the transition.
Authority Model Promises Faster Decisions
Under the proposed authority structure, a single board of three to five appointees would hold primary decision-making authority, eliminating the need for repeated approvals from both city councils on routine operational matters.
The authority would control revenue from leases, landing fees, concessions and grants, and could issue bonds or use debt instruments not available to city departments. That financial flexibility aims to drive the airport toward self-sufficiency and reduce or eliminate city subsidies.
Similar authority structures operate successfully at Colorado Springs Airport and Colorado Air and Space Port, demonstrating faster capital project delivery and more efficient federal grant management, according to governance committee findings.
Mayor Jeni Arndt noted the extended timeline for developing the new governance structure but expressed confidence in the interim arrangement.
"The two cities have been working very, very well together," Arndt said. "With this step, I have a feeling the airport will be well cared for in the time that it takes to stand up an authority."
Both city councils will retain policy-making authority over the airport through their appointments to the future authority board and will continue taking public comment on airport matters during the transition period.
The transitional intergovernmental agreement takes effect immediately following Loveland City Council approval. Staff from both cities will draft authority formation documents including charter provisions, bylaws and board selection procedures throughout 2026, with Federal Aviation Administration approval required before the authority can assume full operational control.