Climate Action Plan Newsletter

I’ve been thinking a lot about our air lately. I’ve gone from occasionally checking air quality numbers to checking them daily when I look at my weather app. Often, we take clean air for granted until something like wildfires affects it. This summer, we had some of clearest days - with the ability to see Long's Peak almost 40 plus miles away - to some of our worst.  In general, if you can’t see the ‘A’, visibility is less than 5 miles, and smoke may have reached levels that are unhealthy. The City has monitoring stations around town that provide real time info. This data has made us more resilient because we have information at our fingertips to hep inform our community's decisions and ability to stay healthy.  

Here is some timely news that can help with our air quality. It’s a great time to consider buying an electric vehicle during the limited-time group buy going on this month only. Leading our community in alternative fuels is our own City Fleet, which received the honor of #1 Green Fleet in North America! Shift Your Ride Month is asking for pledges to reduce trips in cars. Sign up and start improving our air quality with this challenge.   

Enjoy the newsletter, 

Michelle  

Sep. 26 is National Public Lands Day!

Hoo loves public lands?

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. This year, our Natural Areas Department is hosting a virtual celebration to highlight diversity in the outdoors and promote stewardship of these special places. As an organization that is committed to equity for all, leading with race, we also want to acknowledge a painful and powerful truth: Fort Collins is located on the ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute peoples.

CSU has crafted a land acknowledgement video that you can watch as part of your National Public Lands Day experience to acknowledge the history of these lands and their original stewards.  

Through September 26, celebrate NPLD virtually by visiting Natural Areas' Facebook and Twitter pages, and search the hashtag #NPLDFoCo. Enter the photo contest for a chance to win native plants, gift cards, and more by using the hashtag #NPLDFoCo on Facebook or Twitter with a photo of  a park, natural area, stormwater area, or golf course managed by the City. Winners of the photo contest will be announced Monday, September 28.
Learn More About Promoting Equity and Access to the Outdoors

The Electric Vehicle Group Buy is Back!

Going on now through September 31st or until supplies last, Colorado residents can purchase a new Nissan 2020 LEAF (S, SV, and SL), BMW 2020 X3 or BMW 2020 X5 at a significant discount!

This offer is a pre-negotiated group buy discount through Co’s BMW and Fort Collins Nissan, offering Coloradans a hassle-free opportunity to drive electric and never pay for gas again while contributing to improved public health, air quality and environmental health.

The program, coordinated by  Northern Colorado Clean Cities (NCCC) and supported by Drive Electric Northern Colorado (DENC), the City of Fort Collins, and the City of Loveland, expands on the success of the previous three programs, which brought electric vehicle adoption up to two to three times the national average!
Lean More

Shift Your Ride, Get Outside!
Join the Shift Your Ride Challenge

Do you Shift Your Ride and Get Outside? Skip the car and try biking, walking, scooting, or taking the bus to get to your destination all while getting some exercise and helping our community climate action goals.

Join the 324 other community members who have already committed to Shifting Their Ride! Our goal is for 1,500 community members to Shift Their Ride one extra trip per week to better the physical and environmental health of our community. Join the Shift Your Ride challenge and be entered into a prize drawing for a bike!
Learn More About Shift Your Ride

Stage Two Fire Restrictions In Effect

In accordance with current State and County outdoor fire restrictions, due to continuing hot and dry conditions, and due to air quality impacts of both local and regional wildfires, the City has issued Stage Two Fire Restrictions, effective August 31, 2020.

The restrictions prohibit open burning of solid fuels within city limits, including but not limited to:

  • Campfires
  • Portable or built-in outdoor fire pits
  • Charcoal grills 

Exemptions include:

  • Liquid or gas-fueled fires in fire pits, grills and camp stoves
  • Indoor fireplaces and indoor wood-burning stoves
These restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.
More Information On Fire Restrictions

City of Fort Collins Named #1 Government Green Fleet of 2020
Last year, the City of Fort Collins won 8th place at the annual Green Fleet Awards. This year, we returned to win first place! Applicants to the Green Fleet Awards were evaluated based on fleet composition, fuel and emissions, policy and planning, fleet utilization, education, executive and employee involvement, and supporting programs. 

Congratulations to Operation Services for this impressive award!
See the List of Winners

Water Restrictions Begin Oct. 1

Outdoor water use restrictions go into effect for all Fort Collins Utilities water customers Oct. 1 and are expected to last through November. Restrictions are necessary due to ongoing drought conditions, the Cameron Peak fire, and infrastructure repairs known as the Horsetooth Outlet Project (HOP).

After Oct. 1:
  • Lawn watering is not allowed. Water new sod or seed by hand or drip systems only.
  • Customers can apply for an exception permit to water yards containing new sod/seed only.
  • Trees and gardens for food production may be watered by hand or drip systems.
Every drop counts - Let's work together to save water!
See Full List of Restrictions

About the Climate Action Plan
The City is implementing its 2020 Climate Action Plan strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to achieve a 20 percent reduction from 2005 emissions by 2020, 80 percent by 2030, and be carbon neutral by 2050.

Contact Us

Michelle Finchum
Interim Climate Program Manager 
mfinchum@fcgov.com 

Carolyn Conant 
Climate Program Assistant 
cconant@fcgov.com 
970.416.2473
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Sustainability Services
222 Laporte
Fort Collins, CO 80521