Fort collins city council - anne nelsen

Fort Collins City Council - Anne Nelsen

District: 6 | Sworn in: January 20, 2026 (appointed)
Email: anelsen@fortcollins.gov | Phone: 970-817-8784

2026-05-16

• Appointment background: Nelsen was selected 5-1 from 15 applicants to fill the District 6 seat vacated when Emily Francis became Mayor. She is a Fort Collins architect and Housing Catalyst board member who has served on the Historic Preservation Commission. She will serve through January 2028.
  
• Key priorities: At her appointment, Nelsen identified housing affordability, the city's identity and growth pressures, and resiliency in the face of revenue shortfalls as the most important issues facing Fort Collins.
  
• Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable and Sustainable Growth: In April 2026, the City Council established this committee (running through end of 2027) to oversee a two-track work plan on housing and growth through Q4 2027. Nelsen is expected to participate given her background in housing and architecture.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council to Fill Vacant Seat After Election — North Forty News
- January city council recap — Rocky Mountain Collegian
- Fort Collins City Council sets priorities — Colorado Citizen Observers

2026-05-30

• May council actions: At the May 5 regular meeting, council unanimously approved a $378,057 mid-year Airport fund appropriation for six priority projects and voted to appropriate federal/state funds for the Taft Hill Corridor Improvements (Horsetooth to Brixton Road). At the May 19 regular meeting, council joined a regional "Summer Moves" active-transportation challenge. Council also declared May 24–30 Flood Awareness Week as the city's voluntary water shortage watch continues.
  
• Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable and Sustainable Growth: The committee established in April (running through end of 2027) continues its two-track work plan on housing and growth. Nelsen's architecture and Housing Catalyst background makes her a natural participant as the committee moves into its substantive work phase this summer.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council agendas and minutes — Fort Collins official
- News — City of Fort Collins

2026-06-01

• City Council regular meeting June 2: Council meets Tuesday, June 2 at 6:00 PM. As the District 6 councilmember, Nelsen will participate in her fifth regular meeting since being sworn in January 20. The Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable and Sustainable Growth (which Nelsen is expected to participate in given her housing background) continues its two-track work plan through end of 2027.
  

Sources:
- Council Meetings — City of Fort Collins
- Fort Collins City Council sets priorities — Colorado Citizen Observers

2026-06-05

• June 2 council meeting — attended and voted: Nelsen was one of only four members present (along with Mayor Francis, Mayor Pro Tem Pignataro, and Amy Hoeven; Conway, Fudge, and Potyondy absent). She voted with the majority on all items:
  
  • Flock license plate camera vote: postponed to June 16 — 17 residents showed up to oppose even after the item was pulled from the agenda
    
  • Resolution 2026-076 (business assistance incentives): passed 4-0
    
  • Summer meeting cancellations (July 7 and August 4): passed 4-0
    
  • Ordinance 058 (default judgment window 7→14 days): passed 4-0
    
• Flock vote coming June 16: This will be a high-visibility public showdown given the strong community turnout. Residents can attend the June 16 regular meeting or submit public comment. This directly affects District 6 — Fort Collins' license plate readers are deployed at six intersections and a vote to expand or restrict them will affect the entire city.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council Postpones Flock Vote, Updates Business Incentives — Strong Towns Fort Collins

2026-06-14

• Flock vote is THIS MONDAY (June 16, 6 PM, City Hall, 300 LaPorte Ave): The Flock license plate camera data-retention and data-sharing policy vote is 2 days away. The full 7-member council will be present — this was specifically why the June 2 vote was postponed (only 4 members attended then). Key questions the council will decide: the 30-day data retention window and whether Fort Collins police can share ALPR data with federal immigration authorities (Loveland has been documented sharing such data with immigration enforcement). Community opposition has been sustained and vocal — 17 residents showed up to the June 2 meeting just to oppose it even though the item had already been pulled from the agenda.
  
• Nelsen's position: At the June 2 meeting, Nelsen thanked residents for their advocacy and expressed she was looking forward to the full council discussion — suggesting she is taking the public input seriously. As the District 6 councilmember, this is her first major high-profile vote since her January appointment.
  
• How to weigh in: Attend the June 16 meeting (6 PM, 300 LaPorte Ave) or submit written public comment at fcgov.com/council.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins leaders discuss future of Flock license plate readers after public pushback — KUNC
- Fort Collins City Council weighs police use of Flock cameras amid community scrutiny — Rocky Mountain Collegian

2026-06-17

• Flock vote held June 16 — result not yet confirmed: The full 7-member city council met last night (June 16, 6 PM, 300 LaPorte Ave) with the Flock license plate camera data-retention and data-sharing policy on the agenda. This was Nelsen's first major high-profile vote since her January appointment. As of June 17 morning, no news coverage has indexed a confirmed vote outcome. To see what happened: watch the meeting recording at FCTV Cable 14 or check the official meeting minutes at fortcollins-co.municodemeetings.com. Check back next run for confirmed result.
  

Sources:
- Council Meetings — City of Fort Collins
- FCTV Cable 14 — meeting recordings

2026-06-18

• Flock vote CONFIRMED — 6-1 to cancel contract and remove all cameras (June 16): The full council voted 6-1 on June 16 to immediately cancel Fort Collins' contract with Flock Safety and remove all 15 ALPR cameras citywide. Nelsen voted with the majority. She was quoted at the meeting: "When vulnerable people know their movements are logged by a publicly funded surveillance network, it has a real chilling effect on community participation." The lone "no" vote was District 1 Councilmember Chris Conway. The chambers erupted in applause after the vote.
  
  • Council directed staff to stop Flock data collection immediately
    
  • Initiate contract cancellation immediately
    
  • Remove all 15 cameras as expeditiously as possible
    
  • Not seek new surveillance technology bids until a citywide surveillance policy is established
    
• This was Nelsen's first major high-profile vote since her January 20 appointment — she came down clearly on the side of civil liberties and community trust over law enforcement surveillance capability.
  
• Next steps: The city will develop a comprehensive surveillance technology policy that must be finalized before any new ALPR or similar system can be deployed. No timeline set. Next regular council meeting: July 21 (July 7 was cancelled at the June 2 meeting). June 23 Work Session is the next scheduled event.
  

Sources:
- Flock cameras are out in Fort Collins, as council votes to end contract — AOL
- Fort Collins City Council votes to cancel Flock camera use, remove cameras — CBS Colorado
- Fort Collins City Council votes to remove Flock cameras — FOX31 Denver

2026-06-20

• Flock decision in regional context (KUNC, June 19): Fort Collins joins a growing trend: Denver discontinued its Flock contract earlier in 2026 and has already selected a replacement vendor; Boulder is currently evaluating its own Flock deployment. A state-level surveillance privacy bill failed this legislative session, opposed by Colorado's District Attorneys — which makes the citizen-led volunteer board approach Fort Collins adopted even more significant as a local alternative to statewide regulation. Councilmember Melanie Potyondy framed the policy reset: "A pause to make sure that if we do decide to move forward and retain this kind of technology, that we do it right."
  
• June 23 Work Session agenda still not posted: As of Friday June 20, the Municode portal does not list a June 23 meeting. Agendas normally post Thursday ~5 PM; Juneteenth (Thursday June 19) likely delayed it. The agenda may appear over the weekend. The next Regular Meeting (with votes) is July 21 — no July 7 meeting.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins drops Flock surveillance, directs data collection to stop and cameras to be removed — KUNC

2026-06-23

• No work session tonight: The Municode portal never posted a June 23 meeting agenda. The expected 4th-Tuesday work session did not materialize. Next confirmed council meeting: July 21 Regular Meeting (6 PM) — sign up to speak by 5:30 PM day-of. Written comment: cityleaders@fcgov.com.
  

2026-06-24

• Council dark until mid-July: No meetings on the Municode calendar between June 16 and the July 21 Regular Meeting. July 7 was reportedly cancelled at the June 2 meeting — verify closer to date. Community listening sessions are happening tonight (Lagoon Concert Series, hosted by Fudge and Potyondy — not official proceedings).
  

2026-06-30

• Surveillance policy timeline established. Following the June 16 Flock vote (Nelsen voted yes, 6-1), the city is on a formal surveillance policy development schedule:
  
  • July 28 (tentative work session): First public council update on surveillance policy work
    
  • July–September: Community and stakeholder input
    
  • October: Draft policy updated with feedback
    
  • November: Council work session on revised draft
    
  • December: Council vote on final policy adoption
    No new surveillance technology can be acquired or deployed until the policy is finalized. This is a direct outcome of Nelsen's vote — she was the District 6 representative who supported the policy reset.
    
• Next meeting: July 21 Regular Meeting (6 PM). This is the first regular meeting with votes since June 16. To participate: sign up to speak online by 5:30 PM that day (link posts with agenda ~July 16); written comment: cityleaders@fcgov.com; watch live on Zoom or FCTV Channels 14 & 881. Agenda not yet posted.
  
• Housing affordability: The Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable and Sustainable Growth (April 2026–end of 2027) targets 7,000+ new housing units over the next decade. 58% of Fort Collins renters are currently cost-burdened. Nelsen's background in architecture and Housing Catalyst board service makes this a natural priority area.
  

Sources:
- After ending Flock contract, Fort Collins begins surveillance policy review — 9News
- City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable and Sustainable Growth — ourcity.fcgov.com
- Fort Collins City Council Meetings — fortcollins.gov

2026-07-01

• July 7 cancellation confirmed; council dark through July 20. Checked the Municode portal directly: no Regular Meeting, Work Session, or special meeting is listed between today and July 21 — resolving the ambiguity flagged June 23 about whether July 7 was actually cancelled. It was (4-0 vote at the June 2 meeting, alongside August 4). The only meeting in the window is a July 23 Urban Renewal Authority Board meeting/work session, which Nelsen does not sit on. Next Regular Meeting with votes remains July 21, 6 PM; agenda expected to post ~July 16.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council Meetings — Municode portal

2026-07-02

• July 14 Work Session now on the calendar. Checked the Municode portal directly: a Work Session on Tuesday, July 14, 6 PM has appeared where none was listed on July 1 — filling in the previously "dark" stretch between now and the July 21 Regular Meeting. No agenda has posted yet (agendas typically post the Thursday before, so expect it ~July 9). Work sessions are discussion-only (no votes), but this is worth watching since it could be where an early surveillance-policy update lands ahead of the tentative July 28 session. July 21 Regular Meeting still not yet listed/posted — agenda still expected ~July 16.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council Meetings — Municode portal

2026-07-03

• No change. Rechecked the Municode portal: July 14 Work Session still has no agenda posted (expected ~July 9), and the July 21 Regular Meeting still isn't listed yet (expected ~July 16). Nothing else on the calendar in between besides the July 23 URA Board meeting, which Nelsen doesn't sit on.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council Meetings — Municode portal

2026-07-07

• New Special Meeting appeared on the calendar: Tuesday, July 14, 5:45 PM — immediately before that evening's 6 PM Work Session. No agenda or stated purpose posted yet; a cached PDF linked from the page turned out to be stale content from the January 14 special meeting (Nelsen's own appointment resolution), not informative about July's purpose. Special meetings are typically single-item (e.g., an appointment, contract action, or executive session). Worth rechecking when the agenda posts (~July 9, same as the Work Session).
  
• Everything else unchanged: July 14 Work Session itself still has no agenda; July 21 Regular Meeting still not posted (expected ~July 16); July 23 URA Board meeting/work session still no agenda.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council Meetings — Municode portal

2026-07-09

• July 14 Special Meeting and Work Session agendas STILL not posted — the "~July 9" expectation didn't materialize; checked the Municode portal listing pages directly and no HTML agenda exists yet for either. Recheck July 10-13.
  
• July 21 Regular Meeting now appears on the portal — earlier than the "~July 16" estimate — but no agenda content is linked yet.
  
• July 23 URA now shows two entries: a 4:30 PM Board meeting and a 5:30 PM Board work session (previously just one listing). No agendas posted for either.
  
• Council Finance Committee met today (a subcommittee, not full Council) and previewed items headed toward the fall 2027 budget cycle: Police Services plans to request $74.2M for 2027 (up $4.2M from 2026, mostly to sustain current staffing against rising labor/benefits/equipment costs); the photo radar/red-light camera program's 2025 revenue (~$2.85M) fell well short of the $5.2M budgeted after expansion, though it still cleared a ~$140K operating margin, prompting staff to revisit revenue assumptions; and the city is building its first consolidated citywide program/service inventory to replace the old "Budgeting for Outcomes" model. Nothing here was voted on — it's committee-level discussion, but worth tracking since police spending growth and camera-revenue shortfalls are the kind of items that draw public comment once they reach full Council.
  

Sources:
- Fort Collins City Council Meetings — Municode portal
- Fort Collins Report — City Notes: Week of July 6, 2026

2026-07-10

• July 14 Special Meeting (5:45 PM) agenda posted. Called by the Mayor July 6. Single item: Resolution 2026-091, authorizing the City Manager to sign a BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) grant agreement worth $1.5M, previously appropriated via Ordinance 054, 2026. No general public comment at this meeting — the public may only comment on this discussion item.
  
• July 14 Work Session (6 PM) agenda posted. Two discussion items, no votes: (1) 2026-2027 Council Priority Update, and (2) 2027-2028 Budget Update — an early progress check ahead of the next biennial budget cycle.
  
• July 21 Regular Meeting — still no agenda posted. The meeting exists on the portal but has no agenda/packet linked yet; agendas here have historically posted only a few days out, so recheck closer to the date.
  
• July 23 URA Board (4:30 PM) + work session (5:30 PM) — still no agendas posted.
  

Sources:
- July 14 Special Meeting agenda — Municode
- July 14 Work Session agenda — Municode
- Fort Collins City Council Meetings — Municode portal