Engaging the Community on the Future of Hughes

PROJECT UPDATE

With the passage of ballot measure 2H, the City has begun internal work to outline a plan going forward.

Next steps include:

• Continued engagement with Tribes, Indigenous community members, and the First People’s Community Center
• Detailed site analysis to determine the most valuable habitat, site constraints and features
• Real estate process and requirements for leases and partnerships (including existing cell tower)
• Overall site plan creation and phasing

No immediate changes are planned for the site. Rules governing public use of the Hughes site remain in effect and will be administered by the City’s Parks Department.

The City will engage the public as the project timeline is finalized. Updates will be posted here when available!

The Civic Assembly concluded its deliberations on Sunday, May 4 and produced recommendations regarding possible use options for the Hughes site. Results were officially presented to City Council by delegate representatives of the Assembly at a Council Work Session on May 27. You can view the full meeting agenda and packet here.

During the July 8 Council Work Session, City staff provided additional information to Council to inform possible recommendations. You can view the presentation and discussion here or by clicking the screenshot below. A complete agenda packet is available on the City meeting portal.

View the Civic Assembly's final report here. Recordings of the meetings are provided below. Additional project information and documentation are available in the documents section of this page and on the Healthy Democracy website.

Refer to the FAQs listed on this page for more information.

A Community-Driven Approach to Decision-Making

On August 20, 2024, the Fort Collins City Council voted (3-2) to commission a Civic Assembly to explore the future of the Hughes site. This initiative builds on past public engagement efforts, including the 2021 ballot initiative, which designated the site for "parks, recreation, and open lands, natural areas, and wildlife rescue and education." The Assembly’s recommendations will be presented to the City Council, complementing previous community input.

What is the Hughes Civic Assembly?

The Hughes Civic Assembly will bring together 20 Fort Collins residents, chosen through a fair and inclusive selection process to reflect the city’s diverse population. Functioning like a “civic jury,” this group will deliberate, learn from experts and community members, and develop recommendations on the most beneficial use of the Hughes site.

The Key Question:

Delegates will work together to answer:

“Informed by the diverse needs of our community, what use of the Hughes site will contribute most effectively to Fort Collins’ long-term vitality and meet the requirements outlined in the 2021 ballot measure?”

After weeks of study and discussion, the Assembly will present its recommendations directly to the Fort Collins City Council, which has committed to reviewing the proposals and providing a public response.

Why a Civic Assembly?

Civic Assemblies offer a proven method for finding common ground solutions on complex public issues. Using a democratic lottery, they bring together a diverse cross-section of residents to engage in thoughtful, informed deliberation. This approach ensures that decision-making reflects the perspectives of the broader community, not just those who typically participate in public meetings.

The Hughes Civic Assembly will bring together 20 Fort Collins residents, chosen through a fair and inclusive selection process to reflect the city’s diverse population. Functioning like a “civic jury,” this group will deliberate, learn from experts and community members, and develop recommendations on the most beneficial use of the Hughes site.

How does someone become a Delegate?

The City of Fort Collins has partnered with Healthy Democracy to convene the Civic Assembly through a democratic lottery.

As a first step, households across Fort Collins received invitations by mail — selected by pure chance – like the roll of a dice or a winning lottery ticket!

The Selection Process:

1. Mail Invitations – 15,000 randomly selected Fort Collins households receive invitations to participate.

2. Interested Residents Respond – Invitees fill out a simple form providing basic demographic information. No essays, tests, or special qualifications required.

3. Creating a Representative Group – Using an open-source, trusted software program, several possible assemblies are formed. Each mirrors the city's demographics based on census data (e.g., age, gender, housing status, education levels).

4. Public Lottery Event – One of these assemblies is randomly selected as the official Civic Assembly.

5. Delegates Confirmed – Selected residents are contacted, provided support, and officially become Civic Assembly Delegates.

This process eliminates favoritism and ensures that everyday people have a voice in shaping decisions that affect their community.

How will the Assembly work?

The Civic Assembly process is designed to be transparent, informed, and collaborative. Delegates will participate in a structured series of meetings that include:

1. Learning & Information Gathering – Delegates will hear from experts, community leaders, and advocates to understand the history, context, and various perspectives on the Hughes site. This includes reports from previous public engagement.

2. Deliberation & Discussion – Using facilitated discussions, small group activities, and deliberative techniques, delegates will explore potential site uses, weighing trade-offs and long-term impacts.

3. Recommendation Development – Through consensus-building, the Assembly will craft detailed recommendations that reflect the best path forward for the Hughes site.

4. Presentation to City Council – The final recommendations will be formally presented to the Fort Collins City Council, which will review and publicly respond to the Assembly’s proposals.

Stay Informed

Registered Our City users can subscribe to receive updates - hit "subscribe" at the top right of the page. Community members are also invited and encourage to attend public sessions, or view them online, to see the Civic Assembly process in action.