In this issue of City News, you’ll find out how to plan your summer with special events, save money at large grocers with reusable bags and be flood aware!

- Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager

A variety of beloved local events are returning this year, including the Colorado Marathon, Taste of Fort Collins, Tour de Fat, Tour de Corgi and many more! Stay up to date about upcoming events by visiting the City’s Special Events Calendar.

Hosting a Block Party this summer?

To close a residential street for a block party, a block party permit is required. The popular Block Party Trailer is also available to reserve on a first-come, first-served basis for block party events taking place on weekends in June, July, August and September. Certain blackout dates apply, including over holiday weekends and during Neighborhood Night Out. Reservations are filing up quickly, so reserve soon!

For questions about the Trailer or Block Party Permits, visit the Neighborhood Services Website, email NSPrograms@fcgov.com or call 970-224-6046.

For more on Special Events, check out the Special Events homepage.

How would you rate City programs and services? The annual Community Survey is out now! If you were one of the randomly selected households that received it in the mail, we'd love to get your feedback. Please complete the survey any time before May 27.

Didn’t get one in the mail? We still want to hear how you’d rate your local government! Take our online survey beginning May 6 and learn more at https://www.fcgov.com/communitysurvey/.

May 1 to Sept. 30, TOD on-peak hours shift to 2-7 p.m. (weekdays only, holiday excluded). TOD pricing offers customers the opportunity to take control of their electric bill and lower costs.

Get ready for a summer filled with live music in one of the most beautiful settings in Fort Collins: The Gardens on Spring Creek and The Lincoln Center are delighted to partner for the 2022 Live at The Gardens Summer Concert Series!

The series will kick off in June with country music legend and five-time Grammy® Winner Marty Stuart with his band, The Fabulous Superlatives, followed by Grammy and Emmy® award nominated jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington later that month.

July will feature trumpeter Chris Botti, the largest-selling instrumental artist in America. The Wood Brothers, dubbed "masters of soulful folk" by Paste magazine, will also perform in July.

Vocal Group Hall of Fame inductee Three Dog Night will be the only performance in August, followed by Steward Copeland of the Police in September. Copeland will be joined by the Fort Collins Symphony for “The Police Deranged.”

Four-time Grammy Award winner and one of the greatest artists in international music today Angélique Kidjo will close the season in September.

Beginning May 1, large grocery stores in Fort Collins will no longer provide plastic bags to carry out groceries. There will be a 10-cent charge / fee for each paper bag, except for customers who are participants in local, state and federal assistance programs.

Remember to stash your bags in your car, bike trailer, purse or backpack so you have them when you need them! Most households need between five and ten reusable bags. Remind friends and family about this change and help reduce plastic use in the community. For more information, visit https://ourcity.fcgov.com/plastics. 

With one card your child can access pools, cultural facilities and recreation amenities throughout Fort Collins from Memorial Day through Labor Day for an affordable, flat rate.

Purchase Your Pass for $100, on sale now at Recreation facilities. Limited quantities available!

Youth PlayPasses are available for purchase:

• Northside Aztlan Community Center
• Foothills Activity Center
• Edora Pool Ice Center
• Mulberry Pool
• The Farm at Lee Martinez

Benefits of the Youth PlayPass include admission to Recreation facilities and pools, The Gardens on Spring Creek, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, and City driving ranges for youth ages 16 and younger. Reduced Fee option available for $30 per pass, for those who qualify.

Also new this year: City Park Pool Family Pass

50 family passes are available for the City Park Pool 2022 summer season. Passes are available for purchase at any recreation facility for $495 or a Reduced Fee Family Pass for $150 (must quality for reduced fee program). Once purchased, the pass is valid for all household members from 5/28/22 - 9/5/22 at City Park Pool and Mulberry Pool.

Learn more about the City Park Pool Family Pass.

Need mulch? Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 7 and May 21! Swing by the City’s repurposing/recycling operations facility located at 1380 Hoffman Mill Road between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and the City's Forestry Division will load your vehicle with free mulch. Please remember to bring a tarp to cover your mulch! 

Mark your calendars for Fort Collins’ annual Bike to Work (or Wherever) Day on Wednesday, June 22!

Whether you’re commuting, teleworking or have the day off, ditch the car and join in on one of Fort Collins' favorite holidays! As long as you bike, walk, skate, scoot or take transit that morning you can participate.

Breakfast stations will be open from 6:30-9:30 a.m., and applications for station hosts are being accepted until May 4.

Stay in the loop at www.fcgov.com/BTWD - a map of breakfast stations will be posted prior to the event.

The twelfth season of Pianos About Town begins May 11 with artist CM Canino (shown above painting his 2021 piano mural). The project is a collaboration between Bohemian Foundation, Downtown Development Authority and the City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places.

Look for a new artist paining every two weeks in the Art in Action Tent, located on Mountain at the south end of Old Town Square through mid-October. Twelve of the 13 artists painting this year are new to the Art in Public Places program.

After they are painted, the pianos are placed around town for the community to discover and play, adding color and spontaneous music to Fort Collins.

While the primary cause of local flooding is intense rainfall between May and September, rapid snowmelt also can cause flooding on the Poudre River—and it’s good to be prepared. Know the flood risk where you live, work and play. Burn scars and urban areas increase the risk of flash flooding.

Protection Tips and Resources:

• Buy when it’s dry. Don’t wait to get flood insurance.
• Be Red Cross Ready: Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.
• Call 970-416-2632 for a free site visit or to discuss flood protection measures.
• Don’t enter, drive, walk or bike through floodwater.
• Sign up for LETA 911 to get emergency messages for home, work and school.
• Know before you go: be location- and weather-aware.
• Play it safe on the Poudre.

Keep our streams clean and healthy. Blocked waterways can result in flooding. City Code prohibits dumping in any waterway, including channels, irrigation ditches and other drainage areas. Remember, only rain down the storm drain.

The Poudre River floodplain maps are changing. New, preliminary mapping shows changes in some areas. View the new maps at fcgov.com/riskmap.

Flood Awareness Week is May 21-28, which is a great time to make sure you’re flood ready. For more information or to report illegal dumping, visit fcgov.com/stormwater, call 970-416-2632 or V/TDD 711.

Polluted stormwater runoff is one of the greatest threats to clean water in the U.S. Water from roofs, streets and outdoor spigots goes untreated into storm drains–straight to the Cache la Poudre River and other streams, creeks, ditches and lakes–picking up contaminants along the way. We can all do our part to make sure our local waterways stay clean.   

• Pick up dog waste, and throw it in the trash. 
• Dispose of yard waste properly. 
• Clean up and report any spills. 
• Take care when washing your vehicle.  
• Small leaks add up. Don’t drip and drive.
• Trash belongs in a trash can. Don’t litter. 

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