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• Staff Summary: Jan. 10, 2023, City Council Work Session

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  Katie Collins, with support from Water Conservation Manager, Mariel Miller, and Deputy Director of Fort Collins Utilities, Gretchen Stanford, presented to five of the six council members at the January 10, 2023, City Council work session to confirm direction on the initiatives. Similar to the Natural Resource Advisory Board, Council did not support the use of synthetic turf, citing the potential for PFAS to leach into our waterways. Council members requested to see the cost differences between current and proposed irrigation standards. Water Conservation staff plans to complete the requested cost analysis in spring of 2023. Overall, council members were in support of limiting turf and increasing irrigation standards, but first would like to consider the cost estimates associated with policy change.

  Furthermore, City Council would like to see more work done on the soil amendment proposal. Most conversations during this project have revolved around the xeriscape initiative, yet we cannot forget about healthy soils in Fort Collins and how they support xeriscape and water conservation measures. Council members agree that the current soil amendment process can improve and an evaluation of our soil amendment program would be worthwhile.

  As the conversation was winding down, Mayor Jeni Arndt left everyone with prudent words to consider: “Never make a rule you can’t enforce.” Following the work session, the Water Conservation team followed up with Council’s questions and started work on a Round 2 of public engagement to help further define the proposals.