The NoCo Herald

Timnath reports oversubscribed recreation center bond sale with 4.52% borrowing cost

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:05:50 GMT

Timnath finance staff told the Town Council on May 26 that the recreation center bond sale and certificates of participation closing were successful, with more than a $5 million bond premium, a 4.52% all-interest cost and an oversubscribed sale that produced favorable terms.

During the finance report, Stephanie Moss said the town’s rate was favorable and that revenue is expected to exceed debt service. She said that would allow the town this year to put a portion of the money into reserves for future replacement and operating costs at the recreation center.

Council Member Dennis Strachota called the interest rate "a very positive outcome" and said the bonds being oversubscribed was encouraging. He asked whether stronger revenue could allow the town to pay off the bonds early, which in turn could let the town suspend the increased sales-tax rate tied to construction of the building.

Moss said excess revenue would go into a reserve fund and that once the bonds are callable after 10 years, the town could consider prepaying them and reducing the sales-tax increase accordingly.

Council Member Jeramie Holt also thanked the underwriting team — Stifel, RBC and UMB Bank — saying they were instrumental in securing the favorable terms. Later in the discussion, Strachota thanked finance staff for adding a comparison column to the revenue report showing budget versus actual figures from prior years, saying it helped show whether revenue was running ahead or behind.

Timnath Main Street group accepted into Colorado program

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:05:24 GMT

Timnath’s Main Street organization has been accepted into the Colorado Main Street Program, a milestone local leaders said will bring state technical support, grant help and broader visibility to Old Town efforts.

Allison Keithley, a member of the Timnath Main Street Board, told the Town Council on May 26 that the designation follows about a year and a half of planning that began before the board was formally created, when the town was still discussing the idea through its Old Town Steering Committee. She said acceptance into the program gives Timnath access to a statewide network of Main Street organizations and support from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, including help applying for grants, consultant assistance and guidance on projects.

Keithley said the designation marks the start of the group’s implementation phase, with plans to host events, strengthen ties with Old Town businesses and work toward the board’s long-term vision for the area. She also thanked town staff, council liaisons and other supporters, singling out Logan for extensive behind-the-scenes work.

Council Member Dennis Strachota said the acceptance "means a lot" for both technical support and community recognition. Mayor Robert Axmacher praised the volunteer board and said residents will likely begin seeing beautification efforts and other activity in Old Town soon. Calling the update "exciting news," Axmacher said he had recently signed the memorandum of understanding needed to officially greenlight the designation.

Timnath advances Ladera BID expansion, sets June 9 hearing

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:05:11 GMT

The Timnath Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve first reading of Ordinance No. 10, Series 2026, to add more Ladera property to the town’s business improvement district and set a public hearing for June 9 at 6 p.m. The ordinance would include Lots 8 and 9 in the Ladera Business Improvement District after those parcels are replatted into a single lot. Lots 4 through 7 are expected to be merged into one lot and remain outside the district.

Planning Manager Jeramie Holt told council the request is consistent with the district’s 2026 operating plan, which the council approved last November. He said the proposal is similar to a prior inclusion approved last year, when Lots 1 through 3 were added. Holt said all property within the Ladera subdivision is zoned regional commercial and identified for future inclusion, but the current request is limited to Lots 8 and 9.

Mayor Robert Axmacher asked whether there was anything from Ladera representatives the council should know before questions. Council Member Dennis Strachota then asked why Lots 4 through 7 were being excluded. Holt said plans had changed and there is potential interest from a party that is “not a business,” making those lots a possible fit for one of Ladera’s metropolitan districts tied to residential uses rather than the business improvement district.

Strachota asked whether those lots could be brought into the district later if the residential plan falls through. Holt said they could, adding that the area remains within the future inclusion area and is still consistent with the operating plan. Before the vote, Strachota said, “I think it makes sense.”

Axmacher then called for a motion to approve the ordinance on first reading and schedule second reading and the public hearing. After a motion and second, the council voted by voice vote to advance the measure. The matter is set to return June 9.

Timnath council unanimously approves A-1 Chipseal contract amendment for 2026 road work

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:04:56 GMT

The Timnath Town Council unanimously voted May 26 to approve Resolution No. 35, Series 2026, authorizing a fifth amendment to the town’s agreement with A-1 Chipseal Company for 2026 road maintenance services. The action continues Timnath’s annual pavement-maintenance program, including asphalt patching, crack sealing, seal coating and concrete repairs, with about $1.053 million budgeted for the work.

Stephanie Moss told council that $965,000 will come from the Public Works operations budget and another $87,843 from the capital budget under transportation. She said A-1 Chipseal has handled the work for the town for the past two years and that the contractor’s 2026 services would continue the town’s maintenance plan.

Council Member Jeramie Holt said the work is aimed at protecting one of the town’s biggest assets by keeping newer subdivision streets from deteriorating. He compared the strategy to maintaining a house, saying preventive maintenance is far less costly than waiting for road conditions to worsen. Holt said the town recently completed pavement assessments across its road network and expects better data this summer as officials prepare the next budget, though he said he did not expect drastic changes in spending.

Council Member Dennis Strachota said he supported the amendment and called it the kind of contract change that should come before council because of its size. He contrasted it with a much smaller recent amendment to another agreement that he said created unnecessary staff work. Strachota later said preventive maintenance is essential to avoid even greater costs in the future.

Mayor Robert Axmacher and other council members also backed the spending, with Axmacher asking how the work would be distributed across town and how the budget would be controlled under a unit-price proposal. Holt said the program looks at the whole town, though some years may concentrate work in a particular subdivision depending on need. Moss said no additional work would be authorized beyond the approved funding unless staff returned to council for more money.

Before the vote, Axmacher said the project illustrates the scale of infrastructure costs relative to the town’s tax base. He said Timnath expects about $778,000 in property-tax revenue this year, meaning this single road-maintenance item exceeds what the town anticipates collecting in property taxes.

Timnath council approves judge service contracts in unanimous consent vote

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:04:39 GMT

The Timnath Town Council unanimously approved its consent agenda Tuesday, including May 12 meeting minutes and contracts for municipal judge and backup municipal judge services. The consent agenda included Resolution 36 approving a professional services agreement with March & Olive, LLC for municipal judge services and Resolution 37 approving a professional services agreement with Thomas A. Ramunda Jr., LLC for backup municipal judge services.

Mayor Robert Axmacher read the three consent items into the record and asked whether any council member wanted to pull an item for separate discussion. No items were removed, and the council then approved the full consent agenda without debate.

Before the vote, Axmacher thanked Judge Olive, who was present for Item 4B, for about 29 years of service to Timnath. He also thanked Judge Ramunda, who was present for Item 4C, for serving in the backup role.

The consent agenda also included approval of the minutes from the council's May 12, 2026, meeting.

Timnath Town Council May 26: Ladera BID expansion advances as bond sale and road work move ahead

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:04:30 GMT

At its May 26 meeting, the Timnath Town Council took action on routine contracts, road maintenance and a proposed business improvement district expansion, while also hearing an update on financing for the recreation center and a milestone for Old Town. The broadest policy move of the night was first-reading approval to expand the Ladera Business Improvement District and set a June 9 public hearing.

Council also unanimously approved a fifth amendment to Timnath’s agreement with A-1 Chipseal Company for 2026 road maintenance work, continuing the town’s annual pavement-maintenance program. In the same meeting, finance staff reported a successful, oversubscribed recreation center bond sale that came with favorable borrowing terms.

On the consent agenda, council unanimously approved contracts for municipal judge and backup municipal judge services, along with the May 12 meeting minutes. Members also heard that Timnath’s Main Street organization has been accepted into the Colorado Main Street Program, a step local leaders said will bring technical support, grant help and added visibility to Old Town efforts.

Timnath joins Colorado Main Street program

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:31:18 GMT

Timnath has been designated a Colorado Main Street community, according to a June 3 release from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs shared by the town.

The town joins 31 other Colorado communities and more than 1,300 communities nationwide in the Main Street program, which supports downtown revitalization through technical assistance, funding and other resources.

According to the release, Timnath joined the program to preserve its authenticity while building a downtown that reflects the community. Colorado Main Street Program Manager Gayle Langley said the program will support Timnath in its economic development efforts as it “embrace[s], enhance[s], and preserve[s] the elements that make their community so special.”

Katie Gibson, chair of the Timnath Main Street Board, said the town’s downtown is “lived in, imperfect, and full of character.”

Greeley schedules free historic preservation events in June

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:00:57 GMT

The Greeley Historic Preservation Commission is offering two free public events in June, the city said in a news release.

The first will be a walking tour on Monday, June 8, led by city Historic Preservation Planner Betsy Kellums. The tour will start at 6 p.m. at the Meeker Home, 1324 9th Avenue. According to the city, the walk will mark the 30th anniversary of the Meeker Home designation on the Greeley Historic Register and the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The second event is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, at noon at the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th Street. Local historian and educator Susan Seager will present “Dorothy Gardiner: History and Mystery.” The city said Gardiner, the granddaughter of Greeley Union Colonist J Max Clark, wrote mystery and history books, including “A Drink for Mr. Cherry,” a historical fiction novel about an unsolved cold-case murder.

Both events are free and open to the public, and no reservations are required. The city said interested residents can contact Kellums in the Historic Preservation Office for more information.

Fish hatchery opponents press evacuation and wildfire concerns during Estes Park public comment

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:52:33 GMT

Warnings about evacuation, wildfire, traffic, wetlands and child safety tied to the proposed fish hatchery housing project dominated open public comment before Estes Park officials reminded speakers the development is in a quasi-judicial phase. Two speakers urged the Town Board to slow the project and require more safety and environmental review before it moves forward.

Elena Henderson, speaking on behalf of Marty Miranda, said the project site is in a high-risk wildland-urban interface and lacks a viable evacuation plan. She said adding "117+ units" would mean hundreds more cars on Highway 34, which she described as the primary evacuation route for the west side, and argued the Fall River corridor is already a bottleneck. Henderson also raised concerns about wetlands, drainage into Fall River and the project's planned use of Colorado Housing Finance Authority tax credits. She asked the board to require an independent third-party evacuation study that accounts for peak tourist traffic, a full environmental impact study on wetlands and drainage, and a delay in support for tax-credit applications until those reviews are public.

A second speaker, Hal Henderson, held up a photograph from October 2022 showing smoke and traffic in the corridor and said the area was unsafe during the 2020 fire conditions and is "less safe now." He questioned how residents would be alerted in an evacuation and said the corridor's older population could make emergency communication harder. He also objected to plans for a nursery daycare center at the project, saying parents and firefighters could be blocked by traffic during an emergency.

After the comments, Trustee Bill Brown said he was unsure whether some of the testimony was aimed at the town's role as landowner or at its role in a quasi-judicial proceeding, but said the board should not hear testimony or evidence on quasi-judicial matters during general public comment. Mayor Gary Hall then said the fish hatchery project "is in a quasi-judicial state at this point" and told residents that comments should be submitted in writing or presented during the eventual public hearing, when the board will consider the project on its merits.

Brown reiterated that residents who want to weigh in on the fish hatchery proposal should do so through the development review process, either in writing or in person at the public hearing.

Estes Park board postpones provisional strategic plan after draft omission surfaces

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:52:18 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board voted Tuesday to continue action on its 2027 provisional strategic plan to its next meeting after discovering that a goal had been left out of the draft under review. The plan is meant to guide the 2027 budget process by giving staff direction as departments prepare budget requests, though officials said inclusion in the plan does not guarantee funding.

The discussion turned to language tied to the Cleave Street and Bighorn area, where trustees have been weighing how specifically to describe ongoing collaboration around a possible shared facility with parking, retail and housing. Mayor Gary Hall said he believed the board had previously removed explicit references to Estes Park Housing Authority and Whims-a-Doodle from one item, but after further thought wanted those names restored because they are the key parties currently involved in the discussions alongside the town.

During the debate, staff said the board was actually looking for a different goal than the parking-structure item first identified. The missing goal, read into the record before the vote to continue, called for "continued collaborative planning efforts regarding a shared facility concept on Cleve Street that includes a new parking structure, retail space, and housing units." Staff said that goal had been inadvertently omitted while documents were being transposed and asked the board to delay adoption so the full plan could be corrected.

Hall then moved to continue the item to the board's first meeting in June, and Trustee Bill Brown seconded. Before the board moved on, Brown raised a separate question about a strategic-plan item involving demolition and relocation of the existing Riverside restrooms, asking where replacement restrooms would go. Staff said the current location under consideration is on higher ground across the river to the south and said maintaining downtown restroom access remains a priority.

Trustee Jamie Mieras also asked for historical context on the Cleave Street concept, and Hall said Whims-a-Doodle had approached the town about collaborating on the idea after the town was already working on plans for a three- or four-story Bighorn parking structure. Staff told trustees the delay would not disrupt budget preparation because department directors will receive the strategic planning worksheet now and any revisions made at the June meeting can still be incorporated before budget proposals are due.

Estes Park trustees approve water district inclusion ordinance after tax questions from resident

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:52:04 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board voted to approve Ordinance 10-26, adding certain town properties to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The ordinance covers properties within Estes Park that are not already included in the broader district, a step town officials said is separate from inclusion in the related subdistrict.

The board held a public hearing before the vote, where West Wonderview resident Carl Cross said he had received notice about the change and worried it would cost him about $700 a year. During the hearing, Mayor Gary Hall and another town representative clarified that the district levy is 1 mill, which Hall said works out to about $60 annually on a home valued at $1 million, not $700.

Town representatives also told Cross that some properties in Estes Park have been paying the 1-mill levy since 1968 and that other properties were added over time. They said inclusion in the district also requires payment of back taxes to 1938, but the town would cover those costs for the properties being added under the ordinance. Cross thanked officials for the explanation and said he was "happy with it."

The district inclusion process still requires court approval. Town discussions also noted that, unlike the subdistrict matter, inclusion in the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District involves the Bureau of Reclamation because Colorado-Big Thompson Project water rights are federally owned.

After closing the public hearing, Hall called for a motion on Ordinance 10-26. A motion to approve was made and seconded, and the board then voted to adopt it.

Estes Park board approves ordinance adding certain town properties to Northern Water subdistrict

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:51:51 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board voted Tuesday to accept Ordinance 09-26, adding certain properties within the Town of Estes Park to Northern Colorado Water Conservancy’s municipal subdistrict. The measure is part of a long-running effort to clean up mismatched town and district records so properties served by the town are properly included in the subdistrict tied to Windy Gap water administration.

Mayor Gary Hall and Trustee Bill Brown described the ordinance as corrective cleanup. Brown said he received about nine calls after the May 12 hearing and told residents the action was meant to fix paperwork problems. He said every caller he checked was already paying Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District charges, and that residents he spoke with were pleased the town was working through the issue.

Special water counsel Greg White said earlier attempts fell short because the town and district did not have matching property records. Improved GPS-based mapping now lets both sides identify parcels accurately, he said. Hall, calling it good to clean this up "for the, what, third time," asked what would prevent the problem from happening again. White said town and district GIS staff compared records before the ordinance came forward and also included undeveloped areas inside town so future water customers are already enrolled.

White told the board the ordinance covers one of four remaining categories of properties needing attention. He said the in-town ordinances would next go to the district and subdistrict boards and then to district court for an order formally including the parcels. Separate work will follow for properties outside town limits that are not yet in the district or subdistrict, he said, and that process will require petitions signed by at least 5% of affected property owners.

Brown also questioned the practical difference between the district and the municipal subdistrict. White said the subdistrict was created in 1974 to administer Windy Gap water rights owned by six cities, including Estes Park, rather than by the federal government. Because the town delivers a mix of water sources to customers, he said, properties must be included in the relevant entities even though residents do not receive separate streams of water.

No one spoke during the public hearing on Ordinance 09-26 before the board approved it. The board then opened a separate hearing on Ordinance 10-26, concerning the inclusion of certain properties located within the town of Estes Park in Northern Colorado Water Conservancy’s district.

Trustees approve vintner’s restaurant liquor license for Snowy Peaks Winery

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:51:25 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board unanimously approved Resolution 65-26 on Tuesday, granting Snowy Peaks Winery a new vintner’s restaurant liquor license for its location at 292 and 294 Moraine Ave. The license allows the business to continue making wine on site while expanding alcohol service beyond its own wines. It also requires that at least 15% of sales come from food.

During the public hearing, town staff said Snowy Peaks currently operates under a state manufacturing license and a town business license. The new license would let the winery sell other alcoholic drinks in addition to its own products, while remaining a winery at the Moraine Avenue property.

The applicant told trustees the change is meant to broaden offerings, not to turn the business into a bar. The owner said Snowy Peaks has produced wine in Estes Park for 20 years and wants flexibility to add items such as Colorado beer, whiskey tastings, food and nonalcoholic options so mixed groups, wedding parties and other visitors can all find something they want. "We're still going to be a winery," the applicant said.

Trustee Bill Brown asked whether the main purpose of the request was to allow sales of other alcoholic products. After hearing from the applicant, Brown praised the business's patio and gelato. No one spoke against the application, and staff said the town had not received any comments on the liquor license request.

Mayor Gary Hall closed the public hearing before the board voted. Hall announced the vote as "all green," signaling unanimous approval of the license.

EVICS says town funding helped expand child care, mental health and family services in 2025

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:51:13 GMT

Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success told the Estes Park Town Board that town base funding helped support a broader set of family services in 2025 as the nonprofit served 1,240 individuals, 496 households and 286 children — a 21% increase from 2024.

Executive Director Ruth Miller said the town's $30,000 base funding accounted for 3.5% of EVICS' 2025 revenue and helped the organization sustain services while leveraging outside grants. She said EVICS' work now extends beyond traditional child care support to include youth advocacy, bilingual mental health services, ESL classes, legal clinics, family advocacy and help with basic needs.

Miller said EVICS launched a "family, friend, and neighbor childcare cohort" in 2025, expanded bilingual mental health services in English and Spanish, added a family advocate focused on local youth and trained three peer support specialists to lead small support groups. She said about 65% of those served identified as Hispanic or Latino and that EVICS has tried to provide culturally responsive and bilingual services for families who face barriers accessing child care, mental health care and other resources.

Trustee Bill Brown asked where the increase in clients was occurring. Miller said growth came in several programs, including one-on-one family development coaching, child care assistance, the legal clinic and bimonthly visits in which the DMV comes to EVICS.

Board members praised the organization during the discussion. Mayor Gary Hall called EVICS "a wonderful organization" and said Estes Park is "in much better shape because of what you do." Brown said he especially appreciated EVICS' holistic approach to helping entire families, while Trustee Jamie Mieras said the group's long-term health benefits for the community are "very substantial."

Miller also highlighted outside recognition for the nonprofit, including being named the 2025 Shapley Nonprofit of the Year by the Estes Nonprofit Network.

Estes Park board approves DOLA grant scope change for broadband project

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:51:01 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board approved Resolution 64-26 to amend the scope of a Department of Local Affairs grant for the town’s broadband project. The change was needed so the town can close out the grant after cost increases and unexpected underground conditions affected the work.

During discussion, trustees asked how the grant amendment fit into the town’s broader broadband buildout, including remaining work in areas such as Allenspark and N34. Bill Brown said staff is still evaluating timelines and revenue questions as it pursues additional grant funding, including a BEED grant, and expects to bring an update to the board within the next month.

Brown said the DOLA grant amendment was driven by "a lot of cost increases and some unexpected conditions in the ground, broken conduit specifically." Mayor Gary Hall agreed, saying the scope change would allow the grant to be closed out now while broader buildout planning continues.

The resolution had been pulled from the consent agenda for questions before returning for a separate vote. Trustee Jamie Mieras made the motion to approve Resolution 64-26, and Hall seconded it before the board voted in favor.

Estes Park Town Board approves on-call electrical contract renewals after term question

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:50:51 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board voted Tuesday to approve Resolution 6326 renewing on-call electrical services contracts with Dickinson Electric Inc., Flash Electric Inc. and Southpaw Electric Company after briefly questioning whether the paperwork described a four- or five-year term. The resolution covers budgeted on-call electrical services for the town.

The item was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion when Trustee Chris Eshelman said the presentation appeared to describe a shorter extension than the contracts themselves. Trustee Bill Brown later confirmed the agreements are five years total, with up to four renewals after the initial term, and said the resolution language could be cleaned up to reflect that.

Brown said approving the renewals as written would not make a practical difference, but revising the documents would require sending them back through the process. A staff member said the contractors had already signed the agreements.

Mayor Gary Hall said he was not in favor of extending the process. Brown added that staff had been waiting on the contracts so another job could move forward under them. Hall then made the motion to approve Resolution 6326 as presented, and the board approved it.

Resolution 6326 was listed as Item 6 on the consent agenda.

Estes Park Town Board approves first five consent agenda items after pulling two for separate votes

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:50:31 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board voted Tuesday to approve Items 1 through 5 of its consent agenda after removing two resolutions for separate discussion and action. The approved items covered the town’s expenditure list, minutes from the May 12 Town Board meeting and study session, acknowledgment of the Planning Commission’s Feb. 17 minutes, an amendment renewing the Colorado Department of Human Services co-responder contract with SummitStone Health Partners, and a resolution setting a public hearing for a new hotel and restaurant liquor license application.

Mayor Gary Hall read all seven consent items into the record before asking whether any should be removed. Two items were then pulled from the consent agenda: Resolution 63-26 on contract renewals for on-call electrical services and Resolution 64-26 requesting a scope amendment to a Department of Local Affairs grant. Trustee Bill Brown then moved to approve the modified consent agenda for Items 1 through 5, and Hall announced that the motion passed.

Among the actions approved in the consent vote was Resolution 61-26, described as Amendment No. 1 to renew the state co-responder contract with SummitStone Health Partners. The board also approved Resolution 62-26, which sets a public hearing for Eastern Slope LLC’s application for a hotel and restaurant liquor license for Eastern Slope at 200 Moraine Ave.

The two removed items were later taken up individually. Resolution 64-26, the DOLA grant scope amendment, was approved after a brief discussion about cost increases and unexpected conditions, including broken conduit, tied to the project. Resolution 63-26, involving Dickinson Electric Inc., Flash Electric Inc. and Southpaw Electric Company, was also approved after trustees discussed a discrepancy between the resolution language and contract terms over whether the renewals amounted to a four- or five-year contract.

Estes Park Town Board packet: strategic plan delayed as trustees also act on broadband, utilities and licensing

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:50:20 GMT

The Estes Park Town Board’s Tuesday meeting spanned routine approvals, infrastructure and utility decisions, a nonprofit update and pointed public comment, with the board’s biggest unfinished item being a postponed provisional strategic plan for 2027 after officials found a goal had been omitted from the draft under review.

Trustees first approved the first five consent agenda items after pulling two resolutions for separate votes, including the expenditure list, recent meeting minutes, acknowledgment of Planning Commission minutes, a co-responder contract amendment with SummitStone Health Partners and a public hearing date for a new hotel and restaurant liquor license application. The board then separately renewed on-call electrical services contracts with three companies after briefly questioning whether the paperwork described a four- or five-year term, and approved a Department of Local Affairs grant scope change for the town’s broadband project so the grant can be closed out after cost increases and unexpected underground conditions affected the work.

The board also took up licenses and water-related ordinances. Trustees approved a new vintner’s restaurant liquor license for Snowy Peaks Winery, allowing the business to continue making wine on site while expanding alcohol service beyond its own wines. They also adopted an ordinance adding certain town properties to Northern Water’s municipal subdistrict as part of a longer effort to reconcile town and district records, and separately approved an ordinance adding certain properties to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, a move officials said is distinct from subdistrict inclusion.

Outside the board’s formal votes, Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success told trustees that town funding helped the nonprofit expand child care, mental health and family services in 2025 as it served more residents than the year before. And during public comment, opponents of the proposed fish hatchery housing project pressed evacuation, wildfire, traffic, wetlands and child-safety concerns before officials reminded speakers that the development is in a quasi-judicial phase.

Two-way traffic resumes on East First Street as wastewater project nears completion

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:02:39 GMT

Two-way traffic resumed on East First Street on Friday, June 5, as Loveland’s First Street Wastewater Interceptor Project neared completion, the city said.

The project is scheduled to finish by mid-June after final site cleanup, according to the city. Crews installed a new 36-inch wastewater interceptor on First Street from Denver Avenue east to Willow Bend Park. The line will work alongside an existing 24-inch interceptor to manage flows and allow for future growth.

The work is the second phase of a planned collection system upgrade running from the eastside lift station to the City of Loveland Wastewater Reclamation Facility. The city said a lift station uses pumps to move water or wastewater through the utility system when gravity alone cannot do the job. The final phase is scheduled for 2027 along an existing utility easement from east First Street to the Water Reclamation Facility at 920 S. Boise Ave.

According to the city’s planning and funding information, the Utilities Department’s 2021 Wastewater Collections System Master Plan identified a capacity limitation in the eastside and new Boyd basins and ranked the project as a high priority because of anticipated growth in east Loveland. The project is funded through 2025 Wastewater Utility Enterprise Funds, and the total contract amount was $3,166,866.

For more information, the city directed residents to its project page or said they can contact the project team by phone or email.

Greeley proclaims June 2 UNC women’s volleyball International Goodwill Tour Day

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:53:52 GMT

The Greeley City Council on Tuesday issued a proclamation declaring June 2, 2026, as University of Northern Colorado Women’s Volleyball International Goodwill Tour Day. The proclamation honored the team ahead of its June trip to Japan and recognized the players as representatives of both UNC and the Greeley community.

Mayor Dale Hall read the proclamation during Item 5b, saying the tour will give student-athletes a chance to compete internationally, take part in cultural exchange and serve as ambassadors of goodwill through volleyball. He also tied the trip to Greeley’s sister-city relationship with Moriya, Japan, saying the visit strengthens bonds between the two communities and reflects shared values of education, collaboration and global citizenship.

After Hall presented the proclamation, Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald thanked the city for its support and said the team was excited to visit Moriya. A team representative added that the tour is scheduled for June 14-24 and will also include stops in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.

In the proclamation, Hall encouraged residents to recognize and celebrate the team’s dedication, achievement and representation of the community on the global stage.

Mayor proclaims June as Pride Month in Greeley

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:53:43 GMT

Mayor Dale Hall proclaimed June 2026 as Pride Month in the City of Greeley on Tuesday, affirming support for the LGBTQ community. The proclamation said the city is committed to supporting the visibility, dignity and equality of LGBTQ people and called Pride Month an opportunity to promote awareness, strengthen alliances and advance equal rights.

Reading the Item 5a proclamation at the start of the Greeley City Council meeting, Hall said LGBTQ people have had an immeasurable impact on the country's culture, civic life and economy. He also said the community is called to work to eliminate prejudice wherever it exists.

Speaking after the proclamation, Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald said she was filling in for another representative and was there on behalf of Northern Colorado Equality, PFLAG Greeley, the Transharmonic Choir and the JEDI Advocacy Council of Greeley. Together, she said, those organizations "serve and support thousands of members of the LGBTQ+ community."

McDonald said Pride Month is both a celebration of LGBTQ people and their contributions and a time to recognize "the struggles they have yet to overcome." She thanked the city for the recognition, calling it "a difficult time for the community," and said the groups were looking for continued support.

McDonald also said JEDI Greeley was offering free consultation to people, organizations and committees that want to discuss how best to serve and support LGBTQ residents. She encouraged allies to use visible symbols such as safe-space pins or rainbow bracelets to signal support, saying those items can help let community members know they are in a safe space.

Greeley pulls Great Western Industrial Park annexation and zoning items from agenda

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:53:32 GMT

The Greeley City Council on Tuesday removed two Great Western Industrial Park land-use items from its agenda before any reading or vote. The change delayed a package of annexation and zoning ordinances covering 325.63 acres on the city’s west side.

At the start of the meeting, Mayor Dale Hall asked whether there were changes to the agenda, and staff requested that Item 17 and Item 18 be taken off the night’s schedule. Hall then asked whether there was any objection, and none was raised.

The withdrawn items were the introduction and first reading of 15 serial annexation ordinances for the Great Western Industrial Park area and a first-reading zoning ordinance to establish I-H, or Industrial High Intensity, and C-D, or Conservation District, zoning for the same property. The site is generally south of Eastman Park Drive, east of State Highway 257, west of Great Western Drive and north of Weld County Road 62 1/4.

Because the measures were removed before first reading, the council did not take up the industrial park annexation or the proposed zoning designations Tuesday night. The postponement delays action on a large land-use package that would bring the property into the city and set its initial zoning.

The two items were listed as Items 17 and 18 on the agenda.

Greeley council unanimously enters executive session on Windsor wastewater lawsuit and annexation disputes

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:53:22 GMT

The Greeley City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to enter executive session on disputes with the Town of Windsor involving wastewater service and annexation objections. The closed-door session was authorized for legal advice, litigation and negotiation strategy, and instructions to negotiators on the pending wastewater-services lawsuit and objections to Greeley annexations of properties bordering Windsor.

Mayor Dale Hall announced after the roll call vote that Item 22 covered "disputes with the Town of Windsor, including the pending lawsuit concerning wastewater services and objections to the annexation into the City of Greeley of certain properties bordering Windsor." The agenda identified the wastewater case as Case No. 25CV30355.

The motion came from Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald and was seconded by At Large Council Member Ryan Roth. After the vote, McDonald made the motion to go into executive session to receive legal advice and instruct negotiators under state law and city code provisions cited during the meeting.

No council debate on the item was recorded before the vote. The council later proceeded toward executive session at the end of the meeting.

Greeley City Council approves private-activity-bond allocations for three affordable housing projects

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:53:14 GMT

The Greeley City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve private-activity-bond allocations for three affordable-housing developments. The package backs preservation and construction projects totaling 292 units, including renovations at Island Grove Apartments, a new 120-unit rental development tied to Hope Springs, and preservation work on 64 units across three High Plains Development properties.

City staff told council the bonds are tax-exempt financing for qualifying private projects, not city budget dollars, and cannot be used to address Greeley’s budget deficit or other city purposes. Greeley had about $24.6 million in retained annual allocation from the last three years available to distribute.

Staff said the Housing for All Advisory Board voted April 9 to recommend funding all three applicants. Because the total requested exceeded the available allocation, the board adjusted award amounts so each project could meet the 25% threshold needed to pair the bonds with 4% low-income housing tax-credit awards.

One project from Lincoln Avenue Communities involves preserving and renovating the 108-unit Island Grove Apartments in northeast Greeley. Staff said the 54-year-old property needs more than $30 million in renovations, and that its project-based Section 8 vouchers are expected to continue for another 20 years as part of the preservation effort.

A second project from Brickwell Development would build 120 affordable rental units as part of the broader Hope Springs development. Staff said the project is expected to cost more than $37 million, with 40 units designed to be fully ADA-accessible, and that all units would be priced for households earning below 80% of area median income.

The third proposal, from High Plains Development, would preserve 64 affordable units through a rehabilitation project spanning three properties in Greeley and Weld County. Staff said that work is expected to cost more than $18 million and would preserve four ADA-accessible units, with apartments serving households at 40% to 50% of area median income.

Presenters said the three projects together average nearly $85,000 in bond allocation per unit and about $294,000 in total development or rehabilitation cost per unit. Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald made the motion to approve the allocations, and Council Member Brian Rudy seconded it. Before the vote, Council Member Craig Huddleston asked whether the city was nearing a three-year limit on the funding; staff said the city receives a new allocation each year based on population, likely around $7 million annually going forward.

Greeley City Council names new west-side park Ferguson Park

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:52:59 GMT

The Greeley City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to officially name a new 27-acre community park on the city’s west side Ferguson Park. The resolution, listed as Item 16, recognizes the Ferguson family’s stewardship of the land and its contribution to Greeley’s parks and open space system.

Culture, Parks and Recreation staff told council the park site was made possible by the family’s wish to keep the property in a natural state and work with the city on its acquisition. Susan Murray, manager of the Planning and Capital Projects Division, said the late Jim Ferguson cared for the property for years and that his son, the late Mark Ferguson, helped ensure the family’s legacy would continue. She said naming the park Ferguson Park honors that care for the landscape and the family’s role in expanding public open space.

Wendy Adams Spencer, speaking for the family, said her father bought the land about 40 years ago and turned it into a place for recreation and family gatherings. She said he planted all of the trees on the property by hand using low-cost state tree stock and hauled water there by truck because the site had no water source. “When you drive down 34, it’s the only property along there that has any trees in it, and that’s because he planted them all by hand,” she said.

Adams Spencer said the property also hosted family harvest gatherings centered on Jim Ferguson’s giant pumpkins, including one that reached 425 pounds. She said the land includes a wetland and the Boomerang Ditch, and that the city’s park plans preserve what her father created. What was once “very far west outside of town,” she said, is now set to become a city park.

Mayor Dale Hall thanked the family for the land donation before making the motion to approve the naming resolution. After the unanimous vote, he again thanked the family and said the city would “put good use” to the property.

Greeley council approves next downtown stormwater contract after questions about project scope

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:52:46 GMT

The Greeley City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve Item 11, authorizing a professional-services contract with Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company LLC for the downtown stormwater capital improvement program. The contract covers the next preconstruction phase of the city’s downtown drainage work, including program management, model validation, public outreach and preparation for key capital projects tied to the 12th Street Outfall.

Mayor Dale Hall pulled the item from the consent agenda and pressed staff on what portion of the broader stormwater effort the contract would actually cover. Hall said he was trying to understand “how many projects are we getting for this money” and whether the city would need to increase the contract later to reach its larger goals.

Sean Chambers, director of water and sewer utilities and interim director of stormwater, said the answer to that last question was “yes, absolutely.” He said this phase is focused on setting up the program, validating the stormwater model used to prioritize projects, educating the public and moving the city toward the most urgent downtown work.

Chambers said the first priorities are Segment 1 and Segment 2 of the 12th Street Outfall, which he described as the critical path for serving immediate downtown stormwater needs. Segment 1 would collect stormwater around the Civic Campus and feed it into the outfall system, while Segment 2 includes railroad crossings and completion of the 12th Street Outfall infrastructure. He said those projects are essential for downtown public safety, public health, property protection and the city’s obligations under its land-exchange agreement with Weld County.

Hall said he wanted clearer “bookends” on future phases so council could better track what the city is paying for as the work expands. Chambers said the 12th Street Outfall elements are believed to cost about $125 million in capital construction, while the broader stormwater need citywide is roughly $300 million. He added that an earlier contract of about $1 million had already been approved and that the agreement before council narrows the work to what needs to be done over the next 12 months.

After the discussion, council approved the resolution unanimously.

Greeley City Council approves consent agenda items in 7-0 vote

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:52:33 GMT

The Greeley City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve most of its consent agenda after pulling two items for separate discussion. The en-bloc vote covered Items 9-10 and 12-15, clearing routine proceedings along with intergovernmental agreements and two park-naming resolutions.

Approved in the consent vote were the May 5 council proceedings and May 12 work-session proceedings, cancellation of the June 23 work session, an agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation for maintenance of state-highway segments within Greeley, and an agreement between the Greeley Urban Renewal Authority and the city for the 10th Street TIF District Tenant Relocation Project.

The council also approved resolutions naming the city’s new dog park "The Barkyard" and naming Triple Creek Natural Area. Before the vote, Mayor Dale Hall said he wanted to pull Item 16, then added that he also wanted to pull Item 11 from the consent agenda.

Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald then moved to approve the remaining consent items, listing "items number 9 through 10, 12, 13, 14, 15." Hall announced after the roll call that the motion carried 7-0.

The council then moved on to Item 11, a separate resolution authorizing a professional services contract tied to downtown stormwater work.

Greeley City Council on June 2: affordable housing bonds approved as annexation items are pulled

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:52:26 GMT

The Greeley City Council’s June 2 meeting mixed routine approvals, proclamations and closed-session legal matters with action on housing and infrastructure. Among the biggest decisions, the council approved private-activity-bond allocations for three affordable housing projects, backing preservation and construction work totaling 292 units.

Council members also approved most of the consent agenda in a 7-0 vote after pulling two items for separate discussion, and then separately authorized the next downtown stormwater contract covering preconstruction work tied to the city’s drainage program and the 12th Street Outfall. In another park-related action, the council voted to name a new west-side park Ferguson Park, recognizing the Ferguson family’s stewardship of the land.

On the land-use side, the council removed Great Western Industrial Park annexation and zoning items from the agenda, delaying the package before any reading or vote. Later, members unanimously entered executive session on Windsor wastewater and annexation disputes for legal advice, litigation and negotiation strategy.

The meeting also included two ceremonial recognitions: Mayor Dale Hall proclaimed June 2026 as Pride Month in Greeley, and the council declared June 2 as UNC women’s volleyball International Goodwill Tour Day ahead of the team’s trip to Japan.

Loveland council adopts 2024 building codes, approves low-energy and carbon code

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:42:36 GMT

The Loveland City Council voted Tuesday to approve a broad update to the city’s building codes, including the 2024 Colorado Model Low Energy and Carbon Code. The action updated Title 15 to adopt the 2024 International Code Council codes with local amendments as part of the city’s three-year cycle, while tabling two separate energy-related ordinances in favor of the combined state low-energy and carbon code. Ordinance 6832, adopting the Colorado Model Low Energy and Carbon Code, passed 6-3.

City staff said the low-energy and carbon code consolidates two measures the council was asked to table: the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and the Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code. Theresa Campbell, Loveland’s chief building official, told council the combined state code folds those provisions into one code book, which is why staff recommended tabling Ordinances 6813 and 6816 and replacing them with Ordinance 6832.

Campbell said staff’s recommended package also included the radon appendix, the accessory dwelling unit appendix and administrative changes that would allow property owners to act as their own general contractors for accessory dwelling units. She said staff recognized the package would bring upfront costs, particularly with the low-energy and carbon code, but argued it would provide greater efficiency and long-term savings for homeowners.

The debate centered on construction costs, the complexity of new requirements and whether the city should move ahead before builders had more time to review the changes. At the start of the discussion, Campbell said she had received an email that afternoon from Hartford Homes asking the city not to adopt the 2024 codes yet because the company needed more time to understand the impacts.

The ordinances, listed under Item 7.4, had all passed first reading May 5. The agenda packet said the city was seeking to stay current with state requirements and neighboring jurisdictions while updating local rules on issues including radon mitigation and energy-related standards such as EV- and solar-ready provisions.

Second-reading votes on the package were mostly split but favorable, with most individual ordinances passing by 8-1 or 7-2 margins. The most divisive votes were on the energy-code pieces: the motions to table Ordinances 6813 and 6816 passed 6-3, and Ordinance 6832 passed 6-3.

Loveland council advances 10-year Comcast cable franchise agreement

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:42:08 GMT

The Loveland City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt on first reading Ordinance No. 6838, granting a cable franchise to Comcast. The 10-year agreement runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2036, keeps the city’s 5% franchise fee and shifts PEG access funding from a per-subscriber charge to a percentage of Comcast’s gross revenues.

Chief Information Officer Dan Coldiron told council the ordinance would replace an agreement that expires July 1 while continuing existing construction, customer service and compliance standards. He said a cable franchise is required because providers use public rights-of-way for their infrastructure, and the agreement lets the city enforce standards, collect franchise revenue and support public, education and government broadcasting.

Coldiron said the biggest change is the PEG fee structure. The old model charged 50 cents per subscriber per month, but he said streaming services had reduced that revenue as residents moved away from traditional cable packages. Under the new agreement, PEG funding will instead be based on a share of gross revenues, a model he said has become standard and matches recent Comcast agreements in Fort Collins and Longmont. He also said the agreement raises the city’s potential audit-cost reimbursement to $7,500 per audit year if an audit finds Comcast underpaid by more than 5%.

The agreement also requires 110 channels of programming and remains nonexclusive, meaning other providers can operate under the same framework. Coldiron said Pulse pays franchise and PEG fees for its entertainment services as well, and he noted the city included a “most favored nations” clause so one cable provider cannot receive more favorable franchise terms than another.

During public comment, resident Darren Barrett argued the franchise fee functions as a tax rather than a true fee. Other speakers asked whether Pulse could eventually expand further into cable service, whether the city had been approached by other cable companies, and where franchise revenue goes.

In response, Coldiron said he was unaware of other cable providers seeking a city franchise. He said the general franchise fee goes into the city’s general fund and is not restricted to information technology spending, while PEG revenue is limited to capital costs for public, education and government broadcasting. He said PEG revenue was about $40,000 in the last year and helps pay for equipment such as cameras and microphones, with the city also sharing PEG revenue with Thompson School District for broadcast needs.

Council gives first-reading approval to Peters House landmark designation

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:41:43 GMT

The Loveland City Council voted Tuesday to give first-reading approval to Ordinance No. 6837, which would designate the Peters, or M&M, House at 4444 North Sheridan Ave. as a local historic landmark. If ultimately adopted, the owner-nominated designation would place the property on the Loveland Historic Register and protect it from future demolition or exterior changes that would damage its historic character.

Mary Duran, a strategic planner in Development Services and the city's historic preservation liaison, told council the home was built in 1974 and has been owned and occupied by Max and Marsha Peters since 1975. She said the house is among Loveland's first proposed post-war residential landmark nominations and meets the city's minimum age and significance requirements.

Duran said the nomination satisfies two criteria in the city's historic preservation ordinance: architectural significance and social-cultural significance. She described the home as "a strong example of a 1970s brick ranch-style residence," citing its single-story layout, low-sloping roof, textured brick facade and simple functional design. She also said the property carries social-cultural significance through its connection to the Peters family and to Rev. Carter, the former First Christian Church minister and founder of House of Neighborly Services.

Duran said Carter did not live at the house, but said the property is significant through Marsha Peters' family connection to him and through the family's community involvement. She said the nomination highlights Marsha Peters' efforts to preserve her father's legacy and Max Peters' work with the Senior Olympics and Sweetheart City Racing.

Staff found that the property meets the applicable landmark criteria, retains its historic architectural character and represents an important connection to Loveland history and community development. The Historic Preservation Commission previously recommended approval on a 7-0 vote on Feb. 16, 2026.

Loveland council advances 90-day fast-track review for qualifying housing projects

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:41:32 GMT

The Loveland City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 6836, a Unified Development Code amendment creating a fast-track review process for qualifying housing projects. The change is intended to keep Loveland in compliance with Proposition 123 by setting up a 90-day maximum review timeline for eligible affordable and attainable housing applications.

City staff told council Loveland opted into Proposition 123 in 2023, making the city and its development partners eligible to seek money from the state affordable housing fund. To remain eligible, communities must both increase affordable housing units by 3% annually for three years and adopt a fast-track review process, Strategic Planner Carrie Burchett said. Burchett said Loveland is on pace to meet the housing-growth requirement by the end of this year, and that the draft code changes have already received a compliance "thumbs up" from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

Burchett said the ordinance is only one piece of a broader housing-code modernization effort. The city received a $160,000 DOLA grant and hired consultant Framework to review the development code for barriers to housing construction, she said. A larger package of housing amendments is expected to come before council in August, while the city is pursuing this narrower ordinance now because the state is offering a $45,000 early-adoption incentive grant for communities that implement the fast-track process by the end of June.

Under the new process, Burchett said, qualifying projects must meet state eligibility rules and include at least 50% of units aimed at Proposition 123 income thresholds, including ownership housing affordable to households earning up to 120% of area median income and rental housing at 60% of area median income. She said applicants can choose whether to use the fast-track option and can request extensions. Planning Commission recommended approval on a 6-0 vote May 11.

Public comment backed the change while also underscoring the shortage of lower-cost housing. Lisa Cunningham, chair of the Loveland Affordable Housing Task Force, said the task force supports the amendment and argued that shortening review times can lower development costs in a period when "cost is money, time is money." Cunningham said Loveland faces a shortage of about 2,900 affordable units and pointed to Legacy Crossing, a roughly 330-unit project that took five years to approve, as an example of why faster review matters.

Council Member Kalina Middleton said she supported complying with Proposition 123 but questioned whether one part of the ordinance gives too much discretion to staff through a "director qualified" category that is not required by the state program. Middleton said she would prefer eligibility standards to be spelled out directly in the code. In response, the city attorney said the variety of development applications makes a one-size-fits-all approach difficult and suggested any broader shift away from administrative discretion would need careful review.

Mayor Patrick McFall also asked whether the city was addressing delays that hold up entire applications when one part of the review stalls. Burchett said the city is looking at "untangling" review steps so related approvals can move forward more logically rather than waiting on a single bottleneck. Second reading is scheduled for June 16.

Loveland council unanimously approves $368,417 CDBG appropriation on second reading

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:41:15 GMT

The Loveland City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Ordinance No. 6833, appropriating $368,417 in 2026 Community Development Block Grant funds. The measure funds the city’s 2026-27 CDBG appropriation, with 80% of the money allocated to nonprofit organizations for eligible infrastructure and service-based projects benefiting Loveland residents.

The ordinance had been placed on the consent agenda but was pulled for separate discussion by Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Samson, who said she still had questions about the city’s administrative costs, staff resources and overall participation in the program. By the time the item returned at the end of the regular agenda, Mayor Patrick McFall said his understanding was that Samson’s questions had been answered.

McFall asked whether council wanted a presentation on the item, but none was requested. No one spoke during public comment, and there was no council discussion before the vote. Council then approved the ordinance 9-0 on second reading.

The appropriation had already passed first reading 9-0 at the council’s May 26 special meeting. Tuesday’s vote gave final approval to the ordinance, listed earlier in the meeting as Item 4.2 before it was moved off the consent agenda and heard later as Item 7.6.

Loveland council approves consent agenda after pulling one budget ordinance

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:41:05 GMT

The Loveland City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday to approve consent agenda items 4.1 through 4.5, excluding Item 4.2. The single vote advanced appointments to the Ad Hoc Community Homelessness Transition Committee, a water acquisition lease appropriation, support for the proposed Loveland Passenger Rail Station Summary and a pre-annexation utility agreement.

Before the vote, Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Samson asked how an alternate member for the homelessness transition committee would serve. Mayor Patrick McFall said the city’s new Boards and Commissions Handbook allows an alternate to be seated and vote if a voting member is absent. Samson then moved to adopt the consent agenda with Item 4.2 excluded, and McFall seconded the motion.

During the ordinance reading, Samson noted that Item 4.2, Ordinance 6833, had been pulled from the consent agenda and moved to the end of the meeting agenda. She then read Item 4.3, Ordinance 6834, a supplemental budget and appropriation for a water acquisition lease.

After roll call, Samson announced the result as nine yes votes and no no votes. The approved consent package also included Item 4.1, appointments to the homelessness transition committee; Item 4.4, Resolution R-28-2026, on the proposed passenger rail station summary for the Front Range Passenger Rail District; and Item 4.5, Resolution R-29-2026, on a pre-annexation agreement for wastewater and electric service to 408 14th Street SE while annexation and zoning proceed.

Loveland City Council June 2 meeting: building code update passes as housing, CDBG and Comcast measures advance

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:40:46 GMT

Loveland City Council on Tuesday, June 2, approved a sweeping update to the city’s 2024 building codes and low-energy and carbon code while also moving forward a mix of housing, historic preservation, funding and franchise measures.

Council also approved the consent agenda after pulling one budget ordinance, with the vote advancing appointments to the Ad Hoc Community Homelessness Transition Committee, a water acquisition lease appropriation, support for the proposed Loveland Passenger Rail Station Summary and a pre-annexation utility agreement. Separately, members unanimously approved a $368,417 Community Development Block Grant appropriation on second reading, funding the city’s 2026-27 CDBG appropriation with most of the money going to nonprofit organizations for eligible infrastructure and service-based projects.

On development and infrastructure policy, council unanimously advanced a 90-day fast-track review process for qualifying housing projects on first reading to keep Loveland in compliance with Proposition 123, and unanimously approved on first reading a 10-year cable franchise agreement with Comcast that keeps the city’s 5% franchise fee and changes PEG access funding to a percentage of gross revenues.

Council also gave first-reading approval to the Peters House landmark designation, a move that would place the owner-nominated property on the Loveland Historic Register and protect it from demolition or exterior changes that would damage its historic character if ultimately adopted.

Fort Collins City Council votes to enter executive session on potential real estate deal

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:26:38 GMT

The Fort Collins City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to enter executive session to discuss the potential acquisition and sale of real property in the city. The closed-door session was framed around possible economic redevelopment opportunities, including the city’s negotiating position with a seller and potential project partners.

Mayor Emily Francis announced the motion had passed after a roll-call vote at the end of the public meeting. She then said there would be no further business after the executive session and that the public broadcast would end.

The motion, listed as OB 3, called for discussion with city staff on a potential real estate transaction in Fort Collins and strategy for negotiations. The motion cited city charter, city code and state law provisions allowing executive sessions for real property negotiations and for developing strategy and instructing negotiators.

Fort Collins City Council cancels July 7 and Aug. 4 regular meetings

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:26:27 GMT

The Fort Collins City Council voted Tuesday to cancel its regular meetings scheduled for July 7 and Aug. 4. The motion, taken up under Other Business as OB 2, was approved 4-0 pursuant to City Code Section 2-28A.

The action cancels the council's regular meetings on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. Mayor Emily Francis called for the motion near the end of the meeting after asking whether council members had any other business to bring forward.

A council member moved to cancel the two meetings and another council member seconded the motion. Francis then invited public comment and council discussion, but there was none before the roll-call vote. The agenda materials also stated there was no public comment or council debate on the item.

Fort Collins delays vote on Housing Action Plan grant transfer

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:26:19 GMT

The Fort Collins City Council on Tuesday delayed Item 15, a planned transfer of grant funds tied to a state award for development of a new Fort Collins Housing Action Plan.

City staff announced during agenda review that the item would not be taken up because several councilmembers were absent, with both planned absences and an unplanned illness affecting attendance. No new date for the Housing Action Plan item was announced Tuesday.

The postponed item would have authorized transfer of already appropriated grant funds for the DOLA grant award supporting the housing-planning effort. The delay was announced alongside another schedule change: Item 17, concerning FLOC retention and data sharing, was withdrawn and postponed to June 16 so it could be considered with the full council present.

Mayor Emily Francis presided over the meeting. During the agenda review, a city staff member said the Housing Action Plan grant-transfer item was being delayed "due to the fact that we have some absences from council," including both planned and unplanned absences.

Item 15 was listed as the DOLA-grant transfer for development of a new Housing Action Plan. The action mattered because it involved moving grant funds already appropriated in connection with the state's housing-planning award.

Fort Collins council adopts updated business incentive policy

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:26:09 GMT

The Fort Collins City Council voted June 2 to adopt Resolution 2026-076 updating the city’s business assistance incentive policy. The measure passed 4-0 and is intended to modernize a policy framework dating to 2013 and 2018 so the city can compete more effectively for employers and targeted retail while keeping future incentive packages subject to separate council approval.

Economic Health Director Sana Kendall said the update is meant to align the city’s business incentives with council priorities around “bolstering a thriving economy.” She said the policy is designed to help Fort Collins attract primary employers that create high-quality jobs, support local spending and respond to competition from neighboring communities. Kendall said the city is currently at a disadvantage because of the kinds of incentives other communities can offer, and described the policy as a way to “level the playing field.”

Kendall said the policy itself is the "what," while later programs and projects will address the "how." She said staff plans to return with follow-up code updates and emphasized that every business assistance package would still come back to council individually. “Council will ultimately be the ones that will decide and approve any of the assistance packages,” Kendall said.

Lead Business Specialist Michael Bussman said the update also creates a framework for retail incentives, which Fort Collins does not currently have. He said the city wants a more proactive approach to recruit retailers that can fill gaps in the local market, reduce retail leakage and generate durable new sales-tax revenue. Among the tools discussed were sales- and use-tax rebates or sharebacks, expedited review, fee waivers or reimbursements, and amortization options for larger projects.

Staff also told council it expects to return Aug. 11 at a work session to discuss a proposed economic development fund, which Kendall said would help put the new policy into practice, including support for small businesses. The newly adopted policy does not itself approve any specific incentive deal; those would require future council action on a case-by-case basis.

Fort Collins council approves one municipal court code update, takes up second on amended second reading

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:25:55 GMT

The Fort Collins City Council voted Tuesday to approve Ordinance No. 058, 2026 on second reading and then took up Ordinance No. 059, 2026 with an amendment as part of Item 14, "Items Relating to Municipal Court Sentencing and Default Code Updates." Ordinance 58 amended city code provisions on default judgments by extending the time to file a motion to set aside a default judgment, while Ordinance 59 would repeal and reenact Section 1-15 on general penalties.

Mayor Emily Francis introduced the item without a staff presentation, and a staff speaker said the language update for Ordinance 59 was meant to add "petty offense" in addition to misdemeanor as a possible escalation level. Francis said there were no people signed up for public comment, and council members did not raise questions or comments before the motions.

For Ordinance 58, a motion was made to adopt the measure on second reading, and Francis announced after the roll call that it passed 4-0. The motion described the ordinance as amending city code provisions on default judgments to extend the time to file a motion to set aside a default judgment.

The motion on Ordinance 59, read aloud by a staff speaker, said the measure would repeal and reenact Section 1-15 of city code concerning general penalties to align with state law in regard to People v. Campana and People v. Simmons. The amendment to subsection E.4 said that after the clause "the new alleged violation may be charged," the section would read: "as a petty or misdemeanor criminal offense as specifically provided for such designated level of violation, in addition to any costs which may be assessed, or if no specific level of violation is designated, then is an unclassified misdemeanor that is subject to a penalty or imprisonment, costs, fees, and any other orders imposed in accordance with this section."

Francis seconded the motion on Ordinance 59 and called for a roll-call vote after no further discussion. The vote result was not announced before the meeting excerpt ended.

Fort Collins City Council approves 13-item consent calendar in single 4-0 vote

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:25:16 GMT

The Fort Collins City Council approved all 13 consent calendar items in a single 4-0 vote. No councilmember pulled an item for separate discussion, allowing the package to pass as a group and clearing a wide range of routine and policy matters without debate.

The consent calendar included approval of meeting minutes; second readings tied to City Give, broadband, creative district funding, and the Peakview annexation and zoning; and first readings on funding for the Foothills/Hughes Stadium conceptual framework, Fleet Zero, a restorative justice grant, a Meadow Springs easement, and organization code changes. It also included actions related to the Harmony Road and Interstate 25 corridor study.

Mayor Emily Francis announced the result after the roll call, saying the package "passes 4-0." The approval moved forward every item listed on the consent calendar, including appropriations, annexation and zoning matters, grant-related items, code revisions and corridor-study actions, all under one vote.

A brief follow-up comment during the consent portion specifically flagged adaptive riders under Item 8. No item was removed from the calendar, and the council proceeded to executive session after the vote.

Fort Collins postpones Flock policy item to June 16 after absences, as residents urge end to camera program

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:24:57 GMT

Fort Collins City Council postponed its planned discussion of Flock license-plate-reader data retention and sharing until June 16 after council absences, with City Manager Kelly DiMartino saying the item was withdrawn so the full council could participate. Even without the scheduled Item 17 debate, the issue dominated general public comment Tuesday as residents pressed the city to reconsider or end the automated license-plate-reader program.

DiMartino told council at the start of the meeting that the Flock retention and data-sharing item was being delayed "to ensure that we have the benefit of the full council for that item." Speakers who had signed up for Item 17 were shifted into general public comment instead.

Mayor Emily Francis said 19 people had registered to speak before 5:30 p.m., and public comment quickly turned to Flock cameras, retention periods, audits, constitutional concerns and questions about data sharing, including whether information could reach federal immigration authorities through other agencies. Residents also urged council to adopt what some referred to as "Option 4," ending the program entirely.

Marge Norskog, a District 2 resident, warned council against relying on policy alone to govern the technology. She pointed to a recent Denver City Council debate over a similar surveillance contract and said Fort Collins could face the same kind of pressure if it approves the system before setting stronger rules. Norskog argued that automated license-plate readers can compile location histories and "build a pattern of life" without a warrant.

"Fort Collins needs more than a surveillance policy," Norskog told council. "We need an ordinance." She said local rules should clearly define the city's values and set the terms for any surveillance technology used in Fort Collins.

The Flock item is now scheduled to return June 16, when the full council is expected to take up retention and data-sharing rules for the camera system.

Fort Collins City Council June 2: Flock debate delayed as council moves routine business and policy items

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:24:23 GMT

Fort Collins City Council’s June 2 meeting was shaped as much by what did not happen as by what did. A planned discussion of the city’s Flock license-plate-reader policy was postponed to June 16 after absences, but the issue still dominated public comment as residents urged the city to reconsider or end the camera program.

Beyond that delayed debate, council approved its 13-item consent calendar in a single vote, advancing a broad package of routine and policy matters without pulling any item for separate discussion. Council also adopted an updated business incentive policy, a change intended to modernize the city’s framework for business assistance while leaving any future incentive packages subject to separate approval.

On municipal court matters, council approved one code update and took up a second ordinance on amended second reading. Separately, it delayed a vote on a grant transfer tied to development of a new Housing Action Plan.

Council also canceled its regular meetings scheduled for July 7 and Aug. 4 under Other Business, and later voted to enter executive session on a potential real estate acquisition and sale tied to redevelopment opportunities.

North Taft Avenue reopens after water and stormwater work

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:02:51 GMT

North Taft Avenue has reopened in Loveland after the city completed water line improvements and most of the stormwater work tied to a utility project that began in December 2025, according to a city news release.

The city said crews replaced aging 12-inch cast-iron pipes with a new 16-inch water line along North Taft Avenue from just north of 18th Street to north of West 29th Street. Workers also installed a new 20-inch PVC water line west along 29th Street and a 24-inch PVC line east of the intersection.

Water Engineering Manager John Faulkner said the project is an investment in the city’s Water Capital Improvement Program and long-term resilience. He said the upgrades are intended to improve service reliability and reduce the risk of future disruptions.

The city said the current phase of stormwater improvements is complete, including replaced pipes and new outlets to Lake Loveland intended to improve drainage and reduce flood risk. Final stormwater work is planned for winter 2027, when Lake Loveland water levels are low enough for safe construction. That remaining work is expected to take about one month and will include removing and replacing large rocks and adding erosion control measures to stabilize the shoreline.

The city also said concrete repairs to curb and gutters and new asphalt and striping were completed along Taft Avenue between 18th and 29th streets over the past two weeks.

Windsor resumes motorized boating on Windsor Lake

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:02:18 GMT

Windsor Parks, Recreation & Culture will resume motorized boating on Windsor Lake starting Friday, June 5, according to a town news release posted June 4.

Access will be managed through daily reservations only. The town said motorized boating will cost $40 for residents and $70 for non-residents.

Officials said the lake’s condition will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis to decide permit availability for the following week. Motorized boating will be weather permitting and may be suspended if unexpected conditions arise.

If the lake closes mid-week, the town said affected reservations will be eligible for a refund.

Greeley seeks applicants for boards and commissions

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:01:20 GMT

The City of Greeley is asking residents to apply for openings on several boards and commissions, with applications due by 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 23.

The vacancies include one seat each on the Commission on Disabilities, Citizen Budget Advisory Committee, Construction Trades Advisory and Appeals Board and Museum Advisory Board. The Judicial Review Board has two open seats, one requiring experience as a licensed attorney and one requiring business experience. The Union Colony Civic Center Advisory Board has four openings, and the Youth Commission has two seats for Greeley residents under age 18.

According to the city, applicants will be interviewed between June 29 and July 3, and City Council is expected to make appointments at its July 21 meeting. Residents can apply through the city’s online application, and questions about the process can be directed to 970-350-9740.

City Clerk Heidi Leatherwood said the boards and commissions give residents a way to participate in local government. The city also said that in May, council appointed five new members to its boards and commissions: Kent Henson to the Downtown Development Authority, Jordan Miller to the Human Relations Commission, and Ashlyn Craig, Alexandre Reyes and Lillian Russell to the Youth Commission.

Potyondy to host June 13 listening session in Fort Collins

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:32 GMT

Fort Collins City Councilmember Melanie Potyondy will host an informal community listening session from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Harmony Library Community Room, 4616 S. Shields St.

According to the city, all residents are invited to attend and share ideas about issues facing Fort Collins.

The city’s notice lists Sarah Kane, executive assistant to the mayor and city council, as the contact for the event.

Estes Park Wool Market set for June 13-14 at Events Complex

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:02:50 GMT

The Town of Estes Park says the 35th Annual Wool Market will take place June 13-14 at the Estes Park Events Complex, offering free admission and a full weekend of fiber arts, livestock demonstrations and family activities.

According to the town’s news release, the event runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1125 Rooftop Way. The town described the Wool Market as one of its signature events.

More than 70 vendors are expected to sell yarns, raw fleece, handmade apparel, spinning tools, home décor and other fiber-related items. The release also says visitors will be able to see sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas and rabbits, along with sheep shearing demonstrations, fiber arts displays, sheep dog demonstrations and other interactive activities.

The town said families can also take part in the Community Spin & Weave Project for the third year in a row. Other planned activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo, kids’ craft tables and indoor craft demonstrations. Food trucks will be on site throughout the weekend, with tables available in Barn W.

The Wool Market is sponsored by EP News, Quality Inn Near Rocky Mountain National Park, Visit Estes Park, Yank Your Yarn, Redemption Road Coffee, Longmont Yarn Shoppe, Kind Coffee, My Fine Yarn and the Town of Estes Park, according to the release. For more information, the town directed the public to its event website or to Events Coordinator Becky Gruhl.

Fort Collins council signals support for bringing passenger rail resolution back in June

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:07:40 GMT

Fort Collins City Council stopped short of taking a vote Tuesday on a resolution tied to Front Range passenger rail, but members gave enough support in a work session for staff to bring the item back June 16 for possible formal action. Councilmember Chris Conway said he heard support from at least three members, with “a couple more” still weighing the proposal, and Mayor Emily Francis said she felt there was enough backing to move it forward.

The discussion centered on the Front Range Passenger Rail District’s request for city support of a station narrative for Fort Collins ahead of a possible regional ballot measure. District officials have said communities that provide a supporting resolution or letter could receive a 10% increase in local-return funding. For Fort Collins, the presentation said that could raise the city’s projected local return from $75 million over 25 years to $82.5 million for station-area and multimodal improvements.

Conway said he was encouraged by what he described as creative thinking around using existing rail corridors rather than building new tracks. He also asked about the proposed service pattern and whether riders traveling from Fort Collins to Denver would have to change trains in Westminster because BNSF would host service from Fort Collins to Westminster and RTD from Westminster to Denver Union Station.

Sal Pace, the rail district’s executive director, said the district is operating under a tight schedule driven by two separate deadlines: negotiations over a 25-year access agreement with BNSF, which he said the district is trying to finalize by July 6, and a target date for station narratives from participating communities. Pace said the district had aimed for June 30 for those narratives, but expected to extend that deadline after Broomfield asked for more time.

Pace said the district is not asking Fort Collins to sign an intergovernmental agreement or memorandum of understanding now. Instead, he said, the immediate goal is agreement on a station narrative that could be used if the district goes to voters. If a ballot measure passes in 2027, he said, negotiations over how local-return dollars would be spent would come later and would be driven by local communities, with financial modeling assuming those funds would begin flowing in 2028.

Francis cautioned that council would not be able to complete full additional analysis before June 16, but said staff would return with whatever answers they could assemble in that timeframe. Pace said the district board could formally consider extending the station-narrative deadline at its Friday meeting.

Fort Collins council leans toward backing Front Range rail but remains divided on Drake station site

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:07:24 GMT

Fort Collins city leaders signaled support May 26 for a future resolution backing Front Range Passenger Rail, while openly splitting over whether the proposed station north of Drake Road and west of College Avenue is the right long-term location for the city. The discussion centered less on whether to support passenger rail generally and more on whether the Drake-area site should anchor Fort Collins’ first station narrative as the district prepares ballot-related planning.

Chris Conway, who presented the update with Front Range Passenger Rail District General Manager Sal Pace and city project manager Seth Lawson, said the working station location is now on the BNSF line north of Drake and west of College, replacing the earlier South Transit Center concept. Conway said staff sees the Midtown location as a chance to serve a broad swath of Fort Collins, connect to the city’s transit grid and bike network, and create long-term redevelopment opportunities along College Avenue and near Foothills Mall. He said the station is intended to serve riders coming from several miles away, not just those within walking distance, and argued that investment should not default to Old Town every time the city has a major opportunity.

Conway said he was "very supportive of the resolution" the district wants to bring back in mid-June and called the project "a real gift to our community." He argued that a Midtown station would help spread city investment to an area he said has been neglected compared with Old Town, while still giving riders access to destinations across Fort Collins.

Skeptics on the council questioned whether Drake is the best destination-oriented site. During the discussion, council members raised alternatives including Old Town and the Vine and Linden area, arguing those locations could put riders closer to places they actually want to go and could support a more walkable station district. One council member said Vine and Linden appeared more "ripe for development opportunities" and said he could not support the project "in the current location," citing concerns about surrounding streets, land use constraints and the station’s long-term fit.

Even so, cost and timing weighed heavily in the conversation. Council members noted that moving the station north toward Vine could add about $10 million for positive train control alone, with additional costs likely for grade crossings and other work. Pace said the district is also working against an early July deadline tied to its railroad access agreement. He said shifting station plans farther north could require renegotiating that agreement, while the district is seeking only a shared station narrative now rather than an intergovernmental agreement or commitment on local spending.

Mayor Emily Francis said she supports the idea of passenger rail but wants clearer answers on who the service is for and how Fort Collins residents would benefit, whether through commuting, economic development or other travel needs. She also questioned affordability, saying a round trip to Denver could still be out of reach for some households. Pace responded that polling over many years has shown residents primarily support passenger rail because they want better connections between communities, not because of redevelopment goals. He said intercity rail demand has risen nationally even as some commuter patterns have weakened.

The council did not vote on the support resolution Tuesday. Conway said staff plans to return in the coming months with more station-planning analysis, while Pace said the rail district expects to extend its station-narrative deadline beyond June 30 to give communities more time.