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Save the Date!! Neighborhood Services will host a half-day Neighborhoods Conference on Saturday, June 12. Details are still being finalized but we are planning for the day to run form 8:30AM to 1:30PM at Northside Aztlan Center. Sessions will include topics for neighborhoods looking to build community and plan events, education specific to homeowner associations, and presentations on larger community wide topics. Mark your calendars now and look for more details on our website in early April!
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- Melissa Emerson | Community Liaison |
 CSUnity Project Sign-up Sheet
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 The process of recruiting projects for this year’s annual CSUnity event has begun. As a Fort Collins resident, you have an opportunity to have CSU student volunteers help you with spring clean-up projects. These volunteers are available to assist with outdoor spring cleaning projects that may be a little more work than you’re able to accomplish on your own. This project day is called CSUnity, and it will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 10AM – 2PM. 
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Volunteers are ready to help residents with outdoor tasks such as yard maintenance (raking leaves, cleaning out flower beds), cleaning gutters, and window washing, just to name a few. Residents must provide the tools and garbage bags, if appropriate, and volunteers will provide the labor. All projects should take place OUTDOORS and must be completed within the four (4) hour time frame. We ask that you are present (or at least in your home) when students are completing projects.
If you are interested in getting some extra help this spring, please complete the attached project registration form and mail it back to the address noted on the form. If you have additional questions, please contact Melissa Emerson at 491-6707 to receive more information. Please note that you will receive a confirmation phone call from the volunteer Team Leader just a few days prior to the event. The deadline to register your project is Friday, March 12, 2010.
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 Neighborhood Services is continuing to collaborate with HindmanSanchez attorneys to provide valuable information and education for HOA board members and residents. All programs run from 6-8PM in the Community Room at 215 North Mason Street.
RSVP to Ginny Sawyer at at least a day prior to the session to ensure enough materials are provided and the class isn’t cancelled due to low attendance!
April 6-Governing Docs
This is a great class to help you decipher between the various types of governing documents and what the role is of each such document. In this class, we will focus on the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Declaration and discuss the need and utilization for each such document.
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May 11 - Covenant Enforcement
This class focuses on the legalities and processes involved in enforcing your covenants (and rules). We will discuss the importance of having a good enforcement policy and procedures in place and when to get legal counsel involved. We will also discuss enforcement of rules and how this may differ from enforcing the covenants.
September 9 - Legislative Updates
In this class we’ll review any changes to statutes affecting associations in Colorado and how these changes will impact management and operation of associations. We’ll also discuss some significant court cases on state and federal levels that impact associations.
October 5 - Understanding Community Living
This presentation is designed to introduce homeowners to community associations and provide them with a greater understanding of how their association works from both a legal and organizational standpoint. Topics covered include: what is a community association, what are the governing documents, how is the association governed and managed, and the importance of building community. Owners will come away with an understanding of what it means to live in your association.
November 9 - Annual Meetings
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- Ken Waido | Advance Planning |
 The 2010 Census will document the changes in our nation since the last decennial census in 2000, and tell us how we’ve evolved as a country. And, because census data affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments, the census also will frame the future of our country for the next 10 years. It is vital that everyone in the United States be counted in 2010.
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At the heart of the 2010 Census outreach effort is the 10-question 2010 Census form. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest census forms in history and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Households will be asked to provide key demographic information, including: whether a housing unit is rented or owned; the address of the residence; and the names, genders, ages, races and relationships of others living in the household.
By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. For more information, visit fcgov.com/census2010.
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- Melissa Emerson | Community Liaison |
 Each year I’m asked, “What is CSU doing to educate and prepare students for off-campus living?” We know that roughly 80% of students currently living in the residence halls will choose to move off campus after their freshman year. Since thousands of students will be moving into the neighborhoods of Fort Collins in August, it is important to provide students with education and resources to help them successfully transition into off-campus living. During the months of February and March, prior to lease signing, Off-Campus Life and the Neighborhood Services Office team up for our Sophomore Transitions Programming.
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Below are some of the numerous ways we share information with students considering a move off campus.
- All Freshmen receive a handbook titled “How to Avoid Sticky Situations: Tips for Living Off Campus.” The guide offers a number of helpful tips and information about moving into the community. Topics include: budgeting, negotiating a lease, roommates, utilities, safety, good neighboring tips, and being aware of City Codes and Ordinances. To view the handbook online, go to: http://www.ocssral.colostate.edu/living-and-moving-off-campus.aspx
- Preferred Tenant Class: This month CSU students are given the option of taking a two hour RENTING 101 class which will include guest speakers from Student Legal Services, Consumer Credit Counseling, and the City’s Code Enforcement office. At the completion of this course, each student will receive a Preferred Tenant certificate.
- U+2: Fort Collins has an Occupancy Limit Ordinance, which states that no more than three unrelated persons can live in a dwelling. As students consider moving off campus, we encourage them to learn more about this ordinance and how it relates to their living arrangements. The following website includes more information: http://ocl.colostate.edu/occupancy-limits.aspx
- Avoid Renting a Lemon: Prior to renting a place, it is important to check the history of the property to see if it has a record of code violations. When looking to rent an apartment or house, we encourage students to check and see if the rental has a history of violations.
- FREE deck of cards: Approximately 6000 decks of cards will be given out in the dining halls during peak meal times. These cards are specifically designed with helpful neighborhood tips, information about local codes and ordinances, and useful phone numbers
- Like trivia? Students are encouraged to test their rental knowledge with some Off-Campus E-Trivia! These powerpoints were designed to help students understand their rights and responsibilities as a Fort Collins resident. The true/false and multiple choice questions are based on ordinances, myths and tips for living off campus. Categories include: Leases & Housing, City Codes and Ordinances, Roommates, Parties & Neighbors. Visit: http://www.ocl.colostate.edu/living-and-moving-off-campus.aspx
- Grab some popcorn and watch The Rental World! This 23- minute video addresses issues commonly faced by students who move off campus for the first time. Filmed as a parody of MTV’s “Real World,” it traces the lives of five students as they encounter landlords, leases, police, and neighbors. The video is online at: http://www.ocssral.colostate.edu/watch-the-rental-world.aspx or go to YouTube and search for The Rental World, Colorado State University.
- Prior to signing a lease, students are encouraged to visit the Student Legal Services website to download a Lease-Fix kit, which provides tenants with step-by-step instructions to make sure the lease terminology protects the renter.
- Parent Newsletter: Parents of CSU freshman received a newsletter highlighting information that could be helpful to them when talking with their children about whether to move off campus or not.
If you have any questions or suggestions about ways we can educate students about off-campus living, please feel free to contact me, your thoughts and feedback are always welcome.
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- Robyn Phillips | Advance Planning |
 From where you live to how you get to work, your decisions are all influenced by planning. Many citizens do not realize the impact planning has on their daily lives. In an effort to join the community with its local planners, various City of Fort Collins planning departments are offering FREE tours of our great neighborhoods and streets. This is an opportunity to meet local planners and have one-on-one conversations about the many projects within the city, past and present. This is an opportunity to recognize how planning shapes Fort Collins, and the work of planners and the planning profession in creating communities of lasting value. The City of Fort Collins encourages you to take advantage of this terrific occasion and be part of the next Plan Van tours in the Spring. Visit fcgov.com/planvan for more info and to sign-up!
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Claire Thomas | Economic Development |
 A major intersection reconstruction project will occur on College Avenue and Harmony Road beginning in April, with substantial completion by mid August. The College Harmony Intersection Project (CHIP) will affect many commuters, residents and local businesses. It's the fifth busiest intersection in the city and is one of the most damaged. The project will include newer, safer right turn lanes, designated bike lanes, safer pedestrian crossings, the installation of concrete pavement, and new signaling. Learn more about the project and sign up for regular project updates via email alerts at fcgov.com/chip.
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- Kelly DiMartino | Communications |
 Fast forward 30 years. What’s it like to live in Fort Collins? This year, the City is leading a community-wide visioning effort to update and refine City Plan and the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). These plans guide the way our City and our neighborhoods look, feel and develop.
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We live in a rapidly changing world - locally, regionally, nationally, & globally. The Plan Fort Collins project will address lessons learned from the past and explore the new trends that will shape the future of our community.
We're currently preparing a Snapshot Report that will provide a base understanding about the state of the city, accomplishments in the past decade, and challenges for the future. Snapshot topics include:
- Built environment (land use, urban design, historic preservation)
- Transportation
- Housing
- Arts and culture
- Finance/economy
- Environment, sustainability and utilities (stormwater, energy, and utilities)
- Natural areas, open lands, parks and recreation
- Health, wellness, and safety
We need your input on the Snapshot Report and throughout the Plan Fort Collins effort. Broad-based citizen involvement is critical to ensure that City Plan and the Transportation Master Plan reflect the values and priorities of our community. Go to fcgov.com/planfortcollins to learn more and to subscribe for regular email updates about how you can help us shape the future of Fort Collins.
Furturist Thomas Frey kicked off this effort on Wednesday, March 3. Go to fcgov.com/cable14 to access the streaming video.
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- Megan Bolin | Advance Planning |
 Advance Planning gears up to study redevelopment in Fort Collins' eastside and westside neighborhoods. These older neighborhoods, known for their small, original houses, are experiencing expanded or replaced new houses often significantly larger than the original home. Commonly referred to as “pop-ups” and “scrape-offs”, this type of development can cause controversy in neighborhoods. Some residents expressed concern the new houses are too big and are incompatible. At the same time, others maintain their right to build a house suiting their needs and preferences.
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This study will use neighborhood outreach and input to determine if additional regulations are necessary to foster compatible development. Your input is important to this process! There will be two open houses and we invite you can share your thoughts on the issue. Open house dates and locations are not final. For the latest information, visit Advance Planning, fcgov.com/advanceplanning. Be sure to subscribe to this study's email list to receive periodic updates and event details. We look forward to working with you in developing a practical solution for the community.Recommendations from this study and public process will be presented to Fort Collins City Council at their August 24, 2010 work session.
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- Polly Lauridsen | Neighborhoods |
The sidewalk shoveling ordinance was enacted in 1972. This snow season, 1,463 properties were written up for unshoveled sidewalks. Of those, 477 were abated by city contractors.
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