In this issue of City News, you’ll find out how to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Fort Collins, how to find out if Connexion is available in your neighborhood and how to advise Council on issues that matter to you by joining a board or commission.

- Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager

The voluntary Water Shortage Watch was lifted Oct. 1 due to improving water resource conditions and less demand on water supplies with irrigation season ending. The post-wildfire impacts to the watershed and river quality are expected to be long-term. Depending on future water quality conditions and the severity of the watershed impacts, Utilities will continue looking to the community for help reducing water use when necessary.

Stay updated on the status of our water quality and supply at fcgov.com/water-status. Thank you to those who helped reduce water use!

Want to keep saving water? Learn about residential water conservation programs and rebates at fcgov.com/save-water. For commercial and HOA information, visit fcgov.com/water-efficiency.

• Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Rafael López Community Mural on October 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the mural in the Civic Center Parking Structure at the southeast corner of Laporte Avenue and Mason Street. The mural was a gift of unity and diversity to the City by artist Rafael Lopez and the Poudre River Library District, and was painted by the artist, participants in the library’s IMAGINANTES program, community members, and local artists. 
  
  
• Tanya B. Fabian and Frank Garza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (pictured above) will be on view at The Lincoln Center Art Gallery through October 16. The exhibit expresses two unique perspectives of Hispanic Heritage: Tanya B. Fabian’s approach comes from her photojournalist background, telling the stories of Hispanic beet workers and their families through images she captured during interviews with members of the last surviving generation of Northern Colorado’s Hispanic beet workers; Frank Garza’s paintings convey community, cultural, and historical themes, with subject matter ranging from religious iconography to the internal struggles of the human psyche.
  
  
• Artist Frank Garza, along with Art Castings of Colorado, also created The Hand that Feeds, a monumental bronze sculpture that celebrates the Hispanic and Mexican people who played a critical role in Fort Collins’ and Larimer County’s sugar beet history. The sculpture of a hand holding the short-hoe, used in sugar beet farming, has been donated to the City by Mujeres de Colores. The artwork will be placed in a newly designed plaza on the northeast corner of Sugar Beet Park at Lemay Avenue and East Vine Drive, across from the Tres Colonias neighborhoods that were developed by the Great Western Sugar Factory to house many of the sugar beet workers. An unveiling celebration will be held at the site Saturday, October 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• The City's Historic Preservation team has added Latinx History in Fort Collins to its collection of Local History Projects. Take a walking tour of local Latinx landmarks and explore the rich local history of Latinx people in Fort Collins.
  
  
• Poudre River Library District is hosting events, including Noches en Familia (Family Nights) where community members can connect to Latinx cultural roots through children's stories, music, puppets, traditional games and more. Poudre River Library District also has a list of recommended books and movies to help you celebrate.

• CSU's El Centro is also hosting events, including a Borderlands workshop and keynote speaker. Borderlands is an intentional collaboration between the Pride Resource Center, El Centro and Ram Events to honor the overlap of Latinx Heritage Month and LGBTQ+ History Month. Check our their full list of events to learn more.
  
  
• And be sure to check out @fortcollinsgov social media (all accounts linked at the end of this newsletter) for more Hispanic Heritage Month highlights!

Excited about Fort Collins Connexon service, but unsure about when it will be available in your neighborhood? We have great news for you: Now you can get real-time information using Connexion's address lookup tool on the homepage of fcconnexion.com.  

Just enter your address, click the search button and get the construction status immediately – In Design, Under Construction or Service Available. Plus, you can view a map of construction in our city and even sign up to be notified as soon as service is available to order. 

To get started, just visit fcconnexion.com or fcconnexion.com/residential. 

Oct. 31 is the last day to apply for the City’s annual grocery rebate program. These rebates are designed to assist low-income individuals, families, people with disabilities and seniors in the community. Qualifying residents can receive cash back for taxes paid on groceries last year.

2020 was a hard year for many in our community, and you may be eligible for this year’s rebate, even if you haven’t qualified in the past.

The grocery rebate on sales tax spent on food is $67 per person; income and residency requirements, and application information are available at fcgov.com/rebate. Applications must be received by Oct. 31.

Take a mental health break with us at 3 p.m. on October 7, 2021, for the City of Fort Collins’ 2021 Business Appreciation Celebration as we gather virtually to speak on the topic of mental health and our business community. We believe healthy minds mean healthy business.  

Tune in to hear from special guest speaker, Marah Lidey, CEO & Co-Founder of the mental wellness app, Shine. The Shine app was named the best mental wellness app by Apple in 2020. 

We will also be hearing the powerful stories of some of our very own Fort Collins businesses sharing how they were able to adapt and remain resilient even in the most difficult times. Featured stories include IOME, Colorado Cutz, La Cocina, R Bar, and Woodward. 

Registration for this free event is open now! For more information, visit the BAC webpage.

The event will be available in English and Spanish.

Pursue your passions while contributing to your community: Join a City board or commission! Applications are open through Oct. 10. Topics include natural resources, public safety, recreation, arts, economics and so much more. 

As a board or commission member, you're able to volunteer your expertise and lived experiences to advise City Council on issues that matter to you. 

City Council continues to review and revise the 2022 Recommended Budget this month before considering it for adoption in November, and there are still opportunities to help shape the final version.

• Plan to participate in the City Council Budget Hearing on Oct. 5.
• Visit fcgov.com/2021budget to learn more and share your thoughts on what is and is not included in the Recommended Budget.
• Submit your thoughts directly to City Council by emailing cityleaders@fcgov.com.

The budget is based on the priorities and objectives outlined in the 2020 Strategic Plan, and is the guiding document for which City services will be preserved, increased, or decreased next year.

Generally, the City creates a biennial budget every two years. Due to the economic uncertainty related to COVID-19, the City created a one-year budget for 2021 and is doing the same for 2022.

Oct 1.-April 30 residential electric on-peak hours are 5-9 p.m. (weekdays only, holidays excluded).

Did you Know? Most customers use more than 80% of their electricity during off-peak hours when prices are lowest. Save money by shifting your electric use to the lower-priced, off-peak hours or by reducing your overall use. For tips and tricks to take control of your electric bill, visit fcgov.com/TOD-Tips. 

Looking for ways to lower your utility bill or need help paying it? Visit www.fcgov.com/UAP.

Treatsylvania is a safe trick-or-treat option for kiddos ages ten years and under. Each child receives a treat bag filled with goodies and candy. Guests will also enjoy a hayride, a walk through the “not-so-spooky” barn, and photo opportunities. For the first time, Treatsylvania tickets will be available for purchase online! Tickets go on sale October 6 at fcgov.com/treatsylvania.

Dates:
Friday, October 22  l  5:30-7 p.m.
Saturday, October 23  l  3-5 p.m.
Sunday, October 24  l  11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Location: The Farm

Cost: $5 per child

October is Radon Awareness Month and a great time to test your home for the presence of radon.

Radon is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas that is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer. About half of the homes in Fort Collins have high levels of radon. Test your home today by purchasing a short-term ($6) or long-term ($20) test kit at the Fort Collins Senior Center. Or, be one of the first 100 people to receive a free, short-term radon kit during the month of Oct. Call us today at 970-224-6129, or email us at healthyhomes@fcgov.com with questions.

Fort Collins Artist Studio Tour and Sale will be held October 23-24. Presented by the City of Fort Collins’ Cultural Services Department, the Fort Collins Artist Studio Tour and Sale is a free self-guided tour of 30 local artist studios revealing the mysteries of the creative process to families and individuals in and around Fort Collins. Through art demonstrations and educational displays right in the artists' studios, visitors will meet the artists, buy original artworks, and learn about how and where artists create pottery, jewelry, photography, painting, sculpture, fiber arts, and more! The included artists reflect the amazing creative talent available right in our own community. The Studio Tour Exhibit will be held the same weekend at The Lincoln Center Art Gallery featuring one artwork from each of the studios on the Tour. Stop by to see the artwork to help you decide which of the studios you'll visit on the Tour Weekend and pick up your Studio Tour Map.

The City’s Land Use Code (LUC) regulates zoning, building design, and much more. This year, we are beginning updates to the LUC to make sure it supports our adopted goals and policies in City Plan and the Housing Strategic Plan. Join us as we explore how Fort Collins has changed, learn about what land use regulations can do, and dive into housing capacity and choices. We hope these info sessions will help us all learn more as we prepare for community dialogue later this fall! (Interpretation provided)

October 4, 5:30-7 p.m. - Register

• Housing and Demographic Trends: Who is the "everyone" in our housing vision? Learn about who lives in Fort Collins now, and who will likely live here in the future.

October 6, 5:30-7 p.m. - Register

• Planning 101: How do we use zoning as a tool to connect us rather than divide us? Lean how land use codes evolve over time to meet community needs and goals.

October 14, 5:30-7 p.m. - Register

• Housing Capacity: How do we know that we don't have enough housing? Learn why it's so hard to build the housing we need.

October 18, 5:30-7 p.m. - Register

• Housing Choice: How do we build housing for our next chapter? Learn how land use regulations either create or limit housing options.

Fort Collins Utilities operates a community-owned, locally-controlled, not-for-profit electric utility. Utilities works with Platte River Power Authority to provide homes, businesses and schools with safe, reliable, environmentally-responsible and cost-effective electricity.

This Public Power Week (October 3-9), be sure to thank a lineworker or Light and Power employee for their hard work that keeps our community running!

Pictured here: Light and Power crews remove old electricity poles. The City’s electricity infrastructure is 99.8% underground, and the community rarely sees weather-related outages due to this innovative distribution system – it’s reliable more than 99% of the time!

As a City News subscriber you receive monthly updates on what's happening in Fort Collins, but did you know there are numerous other ways to stay connected day-to-day with City projects, programs and services? 

Share feedback on major projects at OurCity

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