Repwatcher log

Repwatcher Log

Most notable events across all representatives — 80521, Fort Collins CO
Last updated: 2026-10-13 | Overwritten each update

Oct 13 Update (Tuesday)

Oct 12 Update (Monday)

Oct 11 Update (Sunday, quiet)

Oct 10 Update (Saturday, quiet)

Oct 9 Update (Friday)

Oct 8 Update (Thursday)

Oct 7 Update (Wednesday)

Oct 6 Update (Tuesday, Council meeting tonight)

Oct 5 Update (Monday, quiet; meeting days start tonight)

Oct 4 Update (Sunday, quiet)

Oct 3 Update

Oct 2 Update

Oct 1 Update

Sept 30 Update

Top Stories

1. Ballot Issue 1A: the actual language, and both sides' arguments

The TABOR notice is out — this is the booklet that arrives in every registered household, and it's the one place both arguments appear side by side. Ballots mail Oct 2.

The question: raise Larimer County taxes up to $34½ million annually starting Jan 1, 2027 "and by any additional amount generated each year thereafter," via a 0.3% countywide sales and use tax (30¢ on $100), for three purpose buckets: wildfire/watershed/natural-hazard resilience; roads, bridges, parks, trails and open space; and community resilience and public safety, including "justice center and other facility improvements, and other county priorities and emerging community needs." All revenue subject to an annual independent audit, and the county keeps and spends it all without TABOR limitation.

What the signed resolution settles, after a month of this being unclear:

The county's spending, as printed in the notice:

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022
Spending $406,355,266* $385,165,961 $384,097,636 $328,437,342 $304,095,093

That's +33.6%, or +$102.3M, since 2022. Estimated 2027 spending without the tax: $447.0M. Maximum first-year increase authorized: $34.5M.

FOR (voters' summary, as printed): "about 3¢ per $10." Cameron Peak as the case study — responding to a disaster costs far more than preparing for one; "every dollar invested in proactive mitigation can return as much as seven dollars." Roughly 80% of Coloradans rely on forested watersheds for municipal water. The county has done the plans; "what we need now is dedicated funding to put those plans into action."

AGAINST (voters' summary, as printed): about $90 per household per year in lost buying power. Sales-tax revenue already rises automatically with inflation and population, "so rate increases are not necessary for the County to do what it is supposed to be doing." The de-Brucing means the county keeps future windfalls "instead of refunding it (and instituting a tax-cut to keep faith)" — and voters lose the constitutional right to revisit it. It arrives on top of the 2025 child-care tax and a property re-valuation windfall: "a pattern of predation by County government."

Also on Larimer ballots, but not in 80521: Wellington 2A (0.5% sales tax for law enforcement), Berthoud 3G ($28M parks bonds), Weld RE-5J 5A. Fort Collins referred no city ballot issue this year — your local decision is 1A plus the state measures.

⚠️ The top search result for "vote no on Larimer County Ballot Issue 1A" is from October 2024 and argues against the transportation tax, which was also numbered 1A. Different measure, different rate, different term.

2. The PSD closure document — what the news coverage left out

PSD posted the Comprehensive Planning Committee's Executive Summary: a four-page Policy FCB-R cover sheet per school, with utilization percentages, deferred-maintenance dollars, choice rates, ride times and the alternatives that were rejected. The three schools that matter in 80521:

Blevins Middle (→ Lincoln + Webber) is the one that should raise an eyebrow. Its building is in the top quartile of the district — 80th percentile districtwide, 89th at level, only $1.88M of deferred maintenance. It's being closed purely on enrollment: 543 students in 2021-22 → 365 now → a projected 179 by 2030-31, a 50% collapse, with 54% of neighborhood kids choicing out. Lincoln and CLPMS were both considered instead; CLPMS survived because closing it "would have required several additional bus routes (7-8 routes)." Blevins lost on transportation math.

Two Blevins details worth knowing before Oct 27: 170 students who currently walk would become bus riders — the biggest walker displacement in the plan. And the boundary splits along Prospect Road, which splits the high school feeder too — north of Prospect goes to Poudre HS, south goes to Rocky Mountain HS. Which side of Prospect you live on decides your kid's high school, not just their middle school.

Irish Elementary (→ Bauder + CLPE) is 41% full with lower-quartile building condition, projected to fall to ~188 students — "less than a two-track school." The packet is candid that closing Irish and Putnam separately, rather than merging them, was chosen partly to "create more diverse and less segregated communities by language, culture, and socioeconomic status." But the dual-language plan is explicitly uncommitted: continuity comes via "possible integration of students at Harris Elementary or a future expansion of dual-language programming at a single site." Ride times get worse, 14 → 19 minutes average.

Putnam Elementary (→ Dunn + Tavelli) is the starkest case for closure: 30% utilization — "less than 1/3 of the building is utilized" — $5.0M in deferred maintenance, 60% choice-out, and a projection of 98 students by 2030-31, "less than a one-track school." Its ILS program moves to Tavelli. Ride times actually improve, 21 → 11 minutes. Irish and Putnam closing together saves about $1.91M/year.

Elsewhere: Timnath is the only closure driven by the building — not ADA compliant, no elevator, no A/C, undersized classrooms, $6.46M deferred maintenance that explicitly excludes the ADA work that maintenance would trigger. Its kids get the worst commute change in the plan (average 19 → 31 minutes, max 40 → 50). The site also holds the Walt Weiss baseball field, donated by the Colorado Rockies — "This donation would have to be addressed with future use." Beattie was flagged partly because its open-plan pods have no classroom doors, "a more at-risk environment to secure in a school lockdown." And the Centennial/Poudre Community Academy consolidation has no site yet — literally "TBD" — for only $255,000 in savings.

Per the Coloradoan (Sept 26), the three mountain schools cost $27,214 per student, about $10,000 more than any other school in the district. Displaced students get busing if they're beyond 1–1.5 miles of the new school and priority in school choice for 2027-28, which opens early November.

3. Correction: Monday's school meetings are not open to you

Last update said the Sept 28 staff and family meetings were "the first and most direct venue" if you have a kid at an affected school. The packet is explicit, and it repeats the line under every school:

"The Superintendent holds public meetings to gather input and adapt recommendations as appropriate from staff, families and caregivers. These meetings have been scheduled and are not open to the general public. The Board of Education will hold additional listening sessions in the community before a public vote."

So: if you're an Irish/Putnam/Blevins family or staff member, your school will contact you about its own meeting. Everyone else's venue is the four October listening sessions — and the Oct 15 session at Poudre High School is the one covering all three 80521-area schools. No sign-up, 6:00–7:30 PM.

4. Ballots mail Friday — the mechanics

Oct 2 is the day. Ballot boxes open the same day and run 24/7 until 7 PM on Nov 3.

Drop boxes in Fort Collins: CSU Lory Student Center (1101 Center Ave Mall) · Elks Lodge (1424 E Mulberry) · EPIC (1801 Riverside) · Habitat ReStore (4001 S Taft Hill) · Police Services (2221 S Timberline) · Senior Center (1200 Raintree) · Traffic Operations (626 Linden) · Harmony Library (4616 S Shields) · County Admin (200 W Oak) · Human Services (1501 Blue Spruce) · Northside Aztlan (112 E Willow) · South Transit Center (4915 Fossil Blvd). Laporte: Overland Foods (3333 CR 54G).

Vote centers open Oct 19 — in Fort Collins that's the CSU Lory Student Center and County Admin, 200 W Oak, Mon–Fri 8–5. Many more open Oct 30 and Nov 2.

Two things that trip people up: postmarks do not count — the ballot must be received by 7 PM Nov 3. And after Oct 26, don't mail it; use a drop box or vote center.

There's a 2026 General Election Community Kickoff, Thu Oct 1, 6–7:30 PM at 200 W. Oak St, the night before ballots go out — Kefalas and Shadduck-McNally attending.

5. Want to ask a commissioner about 1A in person?

Sat Oct 3, 9–10 AM — "Common Grounds with Commissioner Shadduck-McNally," Ziggi's Coffee, 691 Split Rock Dr, Loveland. The listed topic is literally "Budget update and funding challenges." She's the chair, and hers is the only signature on the 1A resolution. No registration. It's in Loveland, but it's the one scheduled, informal, walk-in conversation with a commissioner in the week your ballot arrives.

Also public this week: Larimer: Unlocked — Office of Emergency Management, Wed Sept 30, 5:30–7:30 PM, Johnstown (registration required), and the North Front Range MPO Transportation Planning Council, Thu Oct 1, 6–8 PM, 222 Laporte Ave, hybrid — the body that programs regional transportation money, with Stephens on it.

6. A health survey is coming to Fort Collins doors Monday

The county Health Department is running a CDC CASPER door-to-door survey Mon–Tue Sept 28–29, roughly noon to 7 PM, in randomly selected Fort Collins households — how people protect themselves from mosquitoes and West Nile, and what they think of local mosquito control. LCDHE staff and CSU student volunteers, all with official ID. Fifteen minutes, voluntary, skip any question, no identifying information collected. Not every neighborhood gets visited.

If someone knocks and you want to check they're real: call or text 970-498-6708. Contact Kori Solt, ksolt@larimer.org. More at larimer.gov/westnile.

7. Council: a new closed-door land session, and three records still missing

New on the planning calendar: an Executive Session on Midtown Land Negotiations, Nov 17 — the only substantive item on that agenda. Dec 1 filled in with City Manager / City Attorney / Chief Judge salary ordinances, the Chief Judge's reappointment, Legislative Policy Adoption (the city's position-taking vehicle for the 2027 state session), and the Montava water contracts. Oct 13's work session picks up a Council Priority Update alongside budget direction. Oct 20 adds a FoCo Creates special events grant and confirms the W. Elizabeth Corridor design extension — that corridor runs through 80521.

Still unpublished: (Ord. 118's version and the Strauss Lakes P&Z vote were answered by the Oct 6 packet; see Oct 2 Update.)

8. Also standing

Deadlines Board

Date What Action
Mon Oct 12, 3:00 PM County adopts new FEMA floodplain maps (unincorporated; effective Nov 27) Attend · eng-floodplain@co.larimer.co.us
Mon Oct 12, 4:30 PM Comment registration closes for Tue Oct 13 Admin Matters larimer.gov/bocc
Mon Oct 12, 5:00 PM PSD speaker sign-up closes for Oct 13 Sign-up form
Mon Oct 12, 6:00 PM PSD listening session — Timnath Middle-High Open to all
Mon Oct 12 Deadline to request a replacement mail ballot (970) 498-7820
Tue Oct 13 PSD closure recommendation formally presented (5:30 PM) · Council budget WS #3 (gas franchise fee, West Nile program, grocery rebate) + priority update (6 PM) boe@psdschools.org · budget@fortcollins.gov
Wed Oct 14, 2:30 PM County work session: Tobacco Retail Licensing No comment (work session)
Wed Oct 14, 6:00 PM PSD listening session — Rocky Mountain High Open to all
Wed Oct 14, 6:30 PM Hickenlooper vs. Baisley Senate debate KTVD / 9NEWS stream (not open to public)
Thu Oct 15, 6:00 PM PSD listening session — Poudre High ← your session Open to all
Thu Oct 15, 12:00 PM Common Grounds with Shadduck-McNally, Kind Coffee, Estes Park Walk-in
Thu Oct 15, 5:00 PM Oct 20 Council packet posts; speaker sign-up opens Council Meetings
Thu Oct 15, 6:00 PM Planning & Zoning Commission pzc@fortcollins.gov
Sat Oct 17–18 Sheriff's Emergency Services Exploration Series (session 1) Apply
~Sun Oct 18 State's deadline to appeal the FEMA denial Watch
Mon Oct 19 Vote centers open (CSU Lory Student Center; 200 W Oak) · PSD listening session — Fort Collins High, 6 PM · Safe Parking neighborhood meetings (tentative) —
Tue Oct 20, 4:00 PM City Legislative Review Committee (CIC Room / Teams) gsawyer@fortcollins.gov
Tue Oct 20, 6:00 PM Budget hearing #2 · data center moratorium 1st reading (freeze already in effect) · Strauss Lakes 2nd reading · LUC affordable-housing alignment · W. Elizabeth corridor extension · 314 N. Howes amendment Sign up by 5:30 PM · cityleaders@fortcollins.gov
Wed Oct 21, 6:00 PM Neguse, Ruth Wright Lecture, CU Law, Boulder Register on event page
Fri Oct 23, 4:00 PM Election Code Committee —
Mon Oct 26 Last day to mail your ballot — after this, use a drop box —
Mon Oct 26, 10:00 AM Congressional App Challenge (CO-2) submissions due congressionalappchallenge.us
Mon Oct 26, 5:00 PM PSD speaker sign-up closes for Oct 27 Diligent portal
Tue Oct 27 PSD CLOSURE VOTE · Council WS: Housing Action Plan, homelessness, tobacco/psychoactive products boe@psdschools.org
Sat Oct 31 Larimer Resilience Survey closes engage.larimer.gov/x68078
Tue Nov 3 Election — ballots due 7 PM (postmarks don't count) · budget, utility rates, Safe Parking, floodplain/stormwater code 1st reading · fire restrictions expire —
Mon Nov 9 House returns (lame duck); Senate back after the election too — Protect College Sports Act needs a House vote before January Watch
Tue Nov 10 Council WS: surveillance policy, climate goals, zero waste No comment
Mon Nov 16, 3:00 PM LifeQuest rezone hearing (continued), public comment 25-zone3797@publicinput.com
Thu Nov 12 Signature cure deadline larimer.gov/clerk
Sat Nov 14–15 Sheriff's Emergency Services Exploration Series (session 2) —
Tue Nov 17 Council: Executive Session — Midtown Land Negotiations Closed
Tue Nov 24 Council special meeting: City Manager / City Attorney / Chief Judge reviews —
Tue Dec 1 Council: salaries, Legislative Policy Adoption, Montava water contracts Sign up by 5:30 PM
Tue Dec 8 Council WS: Vision Zero progress, speed corridors No comment
Fri Dec 11 Federal funding expires (CR) Watch
Thu Feb 25, 2027 Larimer County data center moratorium expires datacenter@publicinput.com

City participation mechanics: speakers sign up by 5:30 PM meeting day at fortcollins.gov/Government/City-Council/Council-Meetings (portal opens Thursday 5 PM before) · written comment cityleaders@fortcollins.gov · Nelsen anelsen@fortcollins.gov, 970-817-8784 · Zoom, FCTV 14 & 881.

PSD participation mechanics: board meetings 5:30 PM (5:00 dinner), Johannsen Support Services Center, 2407 Laporte Ave. Speaker sign-up closes 5:00 PM the day before via the Diligent portal, which opens when the agenda posts. Written comment: boe@psdschools.org. Listening sessions need no sign-up and are open to anyone; the Sept 28 school meetings are not.

County participation mechanics: Clerk & Recorder, 200 W Oak St Suite 5100, FC 80521 · mail PO Box 1547, FC 80522 · (970) 498-7820 · elections@larimer.gov. BOCC phone comment registers by 4:30 PM the day before a hearing.

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