 Streets Announces Fall Schedule for Operation Clean Sweep - Holli Keyser, Streets  Beginning October 19 through November 25, City of Fort Collins Streets launches Operation Clean Sweep to remove all fallen leaves and debris on city streets. It is critical to remove all debris from curb to curb to allow proper snow and ice drainage during the winter season. Clogged storm drains may cause localized flooding and standing water may continuously freeze and thaw in winter months resulting in premature damage to streets.During Operation Clean Sweep, parking on some residential streets is prohibited in areas with heavy leaf volume to allow heavy equipment to remove debris from curb to curb. In order to minimize inconveniences, parking restrictions are in place for 24 hours on one side of the street at a time. The side of the street with even addresses will be swept on even days, while the side of the street with odd addresses will be swept on odd days. "No Parking" signs will be posted in advance on the side of the street the work will occur on. The full schedule of street sweeping activities is posted at fcgov.com/streets. In those areas without parking restrictions, it is helpful if vehicles are removed from the street prior to street sweeping operations. These areas are swept on both sides of the street during one day of operations. In the event of inclement weather, work will be postponed until after November 25. Look for "No Parking" signs with revised dates or contact us.  How can you help out on street sweeping day? Please do not rake or blow your leaves into the street. The street sweepers' job is to sweep up all leaves and debris collecting naturally into the street. Remember, it is prohibited by City Ordinance Sec. 23-46 to dispose any yard waste into a public right-of-way.Don't let those leaves go to waste! Through Leaf Exchange, citizens can locate groups who need leaves for composting or mulching. Citizens who would like to give away their leaves may also sign up. Please visit fcgov.com/recycling/leaf-exchange.php for more info.  When Snow Flies - Ginny Sawyer, , Neighborhoods  The idea of shoveling snow brings up different feelings for different people. For folks who recently moved here from a much warmer climate, it is a foreign concept. Some folks might say, "Common sense!" Some may think, "What a chore." Community members who walk to school, push strollers or use a wheelchair would probably tell you cleared sidewalks are a necessity for them to travel safely.Did you know Fort Collins has a code requiring residents to clear the sidewalks adjacent to the street within 24 hours of the end of a snowfall? New residents may not be aware of this, so if your neighbors are not clearing their sidewalks, you might want to speak with them, or leave a friendly note. If necessary, you can call the Snow Hotline at 970-416-2626 and leave a message about the hazard. Unshoveled sidewalks may be cleared by the City's contractors and their bill, along with an administrative fee, is charged to the property owner. Be forewarned that the cost is high; equating to a minimum of $50 for even the shortest sidewalk. Here are a few tips to help you keep your sidewalk safe: - Try to get the shoveling done before foot traffic hits your sidewalk and you'll save yourself a lot of work. - Keep some Ice-Melt on hand for the stubborn spots. Spreading some when the snow starts falling will keep ice from forming. - If water pools on your walk, then turns to ice, applying a substantial amount of sand or kitty litter can keep your walk from becoming hazardous. - On properties adjacent to an alley, please shovel halfway across to the middle. - If you are on a corner, be sure to get the corner ramps cleared. - Clearing the path across the driveway is much easier before it has been packed down by a vehicle's tires. - Planning to be out of town? Please make arrangements with relatives, friends or neighbors and perhaps offer to return the favor. - If our snow plows have inadvertently pushed snow onto your shoveled sidewalk, please call Streets at 970-221-6615. While scraping ice and snow from our vehicles and shoveling snow from our sidewalks are probably not our favorite parts of winter, we all need to be prepared for the inevitable. And if you're feeling even a little bit of neighborliness, take that shoveling past your own sidewalk and make someone else's day. We all need a nice surprise now and again. Please do your part to keep the sidewalks safe for everyone this winter. Pilot Party Noise Warning Program Debrief - Melissa Emerson, , Community Liaison  In our August newsletter, we announced the launch of the fall party registration pilot program which ran for six weekends, ending on September 26, 2009. Our pilot is complete and we thought you may be interested in seeing the results:- Total registered parties: 198 registered homes; only two of these were non-student households. - Number of complaints about registered parties: 25 complaints - Number of registered parties that shut down their parties within the 20 minute time frame without police intervention: 22 parties (each complaint would have required a two officer response had they been required to break up the party in person). - Number of noise citations given to registered parties: 3 citations - 60% of households registered their party for a Friday evening - 81% of households only registered their party once during the fall pilot. Participants of the spring and fall pilot were asked to complete a Student Voice survey. Evaluation highlights are as follows: - 97% of respondents agreed that they would register their party again in the future. - 99% of respondents agreed that the pilot should become a service offered to students throughout the year. - 71% of respondents think it is fair to issue a ticket (with fines as high as $1,000) if a 2nd noise complaint is received after the 20 minute period. Representatives from both the City and CSU are currently planning a series of meetings to debrief the fall pilot program. If you would like to provide feedback about whether this program should be offered as an on-going service, please contact me. Smoke-free Housing: Good for Business and Health - Ginny Sawyer, , Neighborhoods  If you are like many landlords, you are most likely tired of the time and money it takes to repaint, replace carpet and turn over apartments from tenants smoking indoors. You also know smoking is a major fire hazard and liability, and perhaps your tenants complain about neighbor's tobacco smoke drifting into their units.The good news is, under federal and Colorado law, it is legal for apartment buildings to have their own smoke-free policies. The current law (Colorado's Clean Indoor Air Act) already prohibits smoking in restrooms, lobbies, hallways and other common areas in apartment buildings. Just like you may choose to prohibit pets, landlords and apartment managers can prohibit smoking at rental properties, inside individual units and in outdoor areas. In federally-subsidized housing, a landlord cannot refuse to rent a unit to a smoker, but the landlord can prohibit smoking in the apartment. According to the US Constitution and the courts, smoking is not a fundamental right and people have no legal right to smoke. Smokers are not a protected legal class, and there is no "right to smoke" under law. In Larimer County, 85% of the population does not smoke, and there is a growing demand for healthy living environments, especially for children and for the elderly. Many landlords say a smoke-free rule helps them attract and keep tenants who take good care of their units, and since most people already smoke outside, enforcement is not a big issue. If you would like to develop a smoke-free policy to protect your investment and the health of your tenants, here are a few tips: - Review sample language for a no smoking policy. - Decide where smoking is and is not allowed on your property. - Set the effective date of the policy, and give tenants ample notification (usually 3-6 months). - Use same warnings as for other violations of your nuisance clause. - Contact Jan Moraczewski (970-498-6883), at Tobacco Free Larimer County at Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, for technical assistance with developing your policy, educating your tenants about the change, and resources available for tenants who may want to quit smoking. - Visit mysmokefreehousing.com, a free website for listing apartments which do not allow smoking. Shop Fort Collins First Claire Thomas, , Economic Development  It's not too early to start planning your holiday shopping! As you make gift lists and decide who's naughty or nice, keep in mind "Money Spent in Fort Collins, Stays in Fort Collins."Purchasing holiday gifts and shopping year-round in Fort Collins brings vital sales tax dollars to the community to support important services such as Police, Fire, road improvements, and parks. Kick-off the Holiday Season by joining Mayor Hutchinson and the Downtown Business Association at the Downtown Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 6, at 6:45pm at Oak Street Plaza. Visit fcgov.com/shop for more information and a listing of holiday events in Fort Collins. |
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2009 HOA Education Schedule
