April 2025 Citizen Observer Corps Report Highlights

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Election Day for the Health District Board of Directors is May 6, 2025

People may vote in person or by mail. Ballots were mailed days ago. For voting information, visit: https://www.healthdistrict.org.

Polling locations are these:

• Health District of Northern Larimer County
  120 Bristlecone Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80524
• Council Tree Covenant Church
  4825 S Lemay Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80525
• Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce
  8129 3rd St., Wellington, CO 80549

The Health District of Northern Larimer County is a special tax district created by voters in 1960 to serve community health needs. The Health District is primarily supported by local property tax dollars and is governed by its publicly elected, five-member Board of Directors. District boundaries span the northern two-thirds of Larimer County, including Fort Collins, Laporte, Timnath, Wellington, Livermore, and Red Feather Lakes. The Health District provides dental care, behavioral health care, and assistance with health insurance enrollment and literacy. The district also collaborates with community partners to improve the health of our community.

The League of Women Voters of Larimer County hosted a candidate forum featuring the candidates for Board of Directors of the Health District of Northern Larimer County. The forum is available at VOTE411.org and on FC Public Media’s Video on Demand channel.

All candidates vying for the three open seats on the board were invited to participate. Six attended: Lee Thielen, Averil Strand, Sylvia Tatman-Burruss, Julie Field, Adryliana "Adry" Santiago, and Nicole "Coco" Peterson. The seventh candidate, Sarah Hathcock, was unable to attend and submitted statements that were read during the forum.

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Wellington Planning Commission | April 7, 2025

• Wellington Developers Urged to Consider More Affordable Housing Solutions
  • Planning Director Cody Bird gave the commissioners an overview of the final housing needs assessment report. Bird said the vacancy rate in Wellington is less than 1%, which drives up home purchase and rental costs. The report shows Wellington renters are paying 45% higher rent than the Larimer County average, and 30% of households are cost-burdened by rent and/or mortgages based on their monthly income. According to Bird, one of the short-term actions is to make land code amendments to accommodate housing types other than single-family detached homes. The planning commission unanimously approved the report.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Wellington Board of Trustees | April 8, 2025

• Land Use Code Amended to Help Increase Affordable Housing
  • Based on the housing needs report approved by the trustees and the planning commission, Planning Director Cody Bird presented amendments to the land use code. The board unanimously approved Ordinance No. 08-2025 adopting all but one of the amendments to Chapter 15 of the Land Use Code increasing opportunities for affordable housing. A majority of board members voted to keep the current code for downtown multi-family dwellings at only 6 units with a maximum of 2 floors in height, instead of amending and allowing 8 units with a maximum of 2 floors height.
• School Resource Officer to be Added with Revenue from Black Hills Energy Franchise Fee
  • The board unanimously approved the Black Hills Energy franchise agreement allowing its lessees, successors and assigns the authority to construct, operate, maintain and extend a natural gas distribution plant and system, including the right to use the streets, alleys, and other public places within the town of Wellington. This is a 20-year agreement with a franchise fee of 3% of gross receipts from gas sales within town limits. The board said this will bring additional revenue and plans to use the money to add a School Resource Officer (SRO).
• Watering Guidelines, Not Restrictions
  • Resolution No. 15-2025 was unanimously approved, establishing voluntary guidelines for irrigation and water conservation effective April 15 through October 15, 2025. The guidelines suggest watering only two days per week between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. with provisions for local Homeowners Associations to reduce fines for any homeowner whose lawns may turn brown despite following the guidelines.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Windsor Town Board Meeting | April 14, 2025

• Town Opts out of State Bill Regarding Concealed Carry Signage
  • Town Attorney Dan Money explained Ordinance No. 2025-1717, which opts Windsor out of Senate Bill 24-131 and allows the Town Board discretion in posting signage to prohibit firearms in sensitive spaces, while still allowing lawful concealed carry in most public buildings. Board Member Peltz explained that she would be changing her vote after realizing the ordinance gives the Board the option—not the obligation—to post signage. The ordinance passed 4–3, with Steinbach, Peltz, and Symsack voting no.
• Intergovernmental Agreement Approved, Tax Split Continued
  • Town Manager Shawn Hale recommended approval of Resolution 2025-17, the Second Amendment to the 2000 Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Windsor and Severance. The amendment reaffirms the 90-10 tax split, outlines Severance’s reimbursement to Windsor, and updates design standards for economic development on a specific parcel in the cooperative planning area. The Board also discussed Greeley’s recent authorization of legal action against Windsor over a separate IGA involving wastewater infrastructure. The Board unanimously approved the Resolution.

Observer: Shannon Murphy

Windsor Town Board Meeting | April 28, 2025

• Future Legends Closed
  • The town revoked certificate of occupancy for Future Legends Youth Sports Complex, citing sanitation issues, site deterioration, and lack of progress.
• Celebration Planned for Constitution Week
  • Ideas include speakers, an essay contest and a student choir.
• Undergrounding Project Given Advance on Funding
  • The Downtown Backlot Undergrounding Project has a budget shortfall. An advance was approved from the Windsor Downtown Alliance 2026 Sales Tax Appropriation.
• Dog and Cat Sales Prohibited
  • In a 4-3 vote, the board prohibited sales of dogs and cats in retail stores.

Observer: Shannon Murphy

Fort Collins Air Quality Citizen Advisory Board | April 21, 2025

• New Members, Goals Set
  • This group has 2 new members, Christina Swope and Howard Gebhardt. At the meeting, Environmental Services Manager Honore Depew outlined a presentation that will be presented to Fort Collins Council on May 13. It highlights these aims:
    • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
      1. 50% below 2005 baseline by 2026
      2. 80% below 2005 baseline by 2030
      3. Carbon neutral by 2050
    • 100% renewable electricity by 2030
    • Zero waste, or 100% landfill diversion by 2030

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Timnath Town Council | April 22, 2025

• Natural Healing Center Approved
  • In response to state legislation, a natural healing center has received approval in Timnath.
• Project Fair for Road Improvement Projects
  • Public comment is invited at the Timnath Project Fair on May 12 at Town Center, 5-7p. Staff will be on hand to discuss a wide range of potential changes: the Timnath Parkway, the bridge on CR 5, Main Street’s railroad crossing, restriping Riverpass, “Neighborhood Traffic Calming”, Pulse Fiber Internet, the Comprehensive Plan Update and Land Use Code, and the Poudre River Trail.

Observer: Andrea Carter

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The full reports by Citizen Observers for the League of Women Voters of Larimer County are available on this Substack. Go here to learn more about this project. If you’d consider being a volunteer Observer, please message us. For more news about local governments, tune into Larimer County Snapshot News.