Trails Master Plan comes before the Planning & Zoning board

Download the full version of the Trails Master Plan for better maps

The Trails Master Plan is coming before the Planning & Zoning board on October 10. The proposed plan is nicely organized and well put together. We encourage residents to review the document then contact the P&Z board with any thoughts. Doing so will accomplish two goals. First, the P&Z board makes final decisions related to the multiple developments pending in our area, so your comments will let the board know how their decisions are impacting residents who live here. Second, although we feel their priority list is reasonable, there may be items that were overlooked or undervalued. The priorities list may be found on page 16 of the proposed Paved Recreational Trail Master Plan. The most current version can be downloaded from the November 19, city council agenda (updated 11/15/13).


One priority that is noticeably missing is any trail underpass of the Harmony Corridor. The 2008 plan called for completion of the Power Trail, including underpasses, by 2013. The current plan mentions 10 new underpasses but specifically states Power Trail underpasses are not included (and much of the Power Trail is now relatively low on the priority list). Traffic levels make Harmony crossings precarious -- just 2 years ago a man was killed while trying to get across in a wheelchair.*  The Harmony Corridor is well-known to the city as a major barrier to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. It's mentioned in several major planning communications, including the most current version of the Harmony Road ETC Master Plan.Why then, is this barrier not prioritized in the proposed Trails Master Plan?

Westward view of the Kechter Crossing
development, showing the virtual
elimination of Kechter Road'swestbound shoulder.

Also, we've pointed out that a nationally recognized organization, the American League of Bicycles, has specifically mentioned "safe routes to parks and schools in the southeast" as key measure needed to improve cycling in Fort Collins. Travel between Preston Middle School, Bacon Elementary, Kinard Middle School and Fossil Ridge High appear to be the primary areas raising this concern. Yet the trail which could address this issue falls to item #13 on the list of priorities and will not be addressed until at least 2017. Adding to the issue is the poor implementation of the Kechter Crossing development which narrowed the size of Tilden Road and eliminated the westbound shoulder on Kechter Road -- virtually eliminating the possibility of resolving the issue through bike lanes on the existing and planned traffic infrastructure. This clearly demonstrates failed coordination between the city's master plans, those who implement the plans and the interests of primary stakeholders who live in areas scheduled for development. Further complicating the matter are several planned developments, including one the Coloradoan calls, "one of the largest non-student-oriented multifamily projects in the city." New developments have the potential to exacerbate the current situation and jeopardize our Platinum City status. The P&Z board is uniquely responsible for new developments. So it makes sense to bring your personal experiences with these issues to their attention.

You may contact the P&Z board by sending an email to Laurie Kadrich and requesting that your comments be forwarded to the P&Z board. If you'd like to attend the P&Z board meeting, go to City Council Chambers, City Hall West, 300 LaPorte Avenue on Thursday October 10, at 6:00 p.m. On busier nights, residents are only allowed two to three minutes to make their case -- plan your statements accordingly. If you have a lot to say, consider emailing your statement and highlighting your issues at the meeting. Personal appearances tend to receive more attention than emails.

* "Man in wheelchair killed on Harmony," Fort Collins Coloradoan, October 14, 2011, Trevor Hughes

Fort Collins ranks #2 in high-tech start-up density

Fort Collins ranks #2 in a new Kaufman Foundation Report.

Fort Collins ranks #2 in a national study on high-tech start-up density. The high-tech sector is defined as "group of industries with very high shares of employees in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math" -- great news for those attending Poudre's STEM schools. And this is one "top" list that comes with an economic punch -- these high-tech start-ups play an "outsized role in net job creation" within the U.S.

Metro areas that make it to the top have one of three characteristics, and some have a combination: they are well-known tech hubs or regions with highly skilled workforces; they have a strong defense or aerospace presence; they are smaller university cities. Regionally, Boulder (#1), Denver (#6) and Colorado Springs (#9) ranked top spots and some in the Front Range are preparing to become the new Silicon Valley.

Check out the full Kauffman Foundation report. A local story appears in this week's Coloradoan. For an interesting story about a Denver-based high-tech start-up, visit the Denver Post.

Water is selling fast, despite assurances of safe water supplies

Water shelves at Walmart in Timnath are stripped clean, although
a fresh pallet of generic water was just dropped at the front door.

Despite assurances about the safety of our water supply, Fort Collins residents are buying large quantities of bottled water. Bottled water shelves at Target, in Southeast Fort Collins, already appear bare. Shelves at Walmart in Timnath are stripped clean. At Sam's club, the shelves are currently stocked -- however, the clerk at the door reported customers are buying water by the cartload.

Sam's Club employees report selling cartloads of water to
Fort Collins customers.

Concerns and rumors about drinking water persist. Some neighbors have reported church email alerts suggesting that supplies could be in danger at some point. Meanwhile, both Fort Collins and Loveland continue to assure residents of water supply safety.

Additional details regarding our water supply may be found on a previous post.

Bottled water shelves are nearing empty,
as of 2:00 pm on Sunday.

Is our drinking water safe, after the flood?

A waste water treatment plant, not a drinking water treatment plant,
sits behind flooding near the east end of the Poudre Trail.

Drinking water concerns generated only one news story that we can find. The story comes from the Reporter Herald.

A quasi-municipal corporation called the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District (FCLWD) provides water to the southern portion of Fort Collins. In the absence of a press release from this organization, we must infer our drinking water status through press releases coming from nearby water suppliers. Both the City of Fort Collins and the City of Loveland are assuring the public that their water supplies are safe. Fort Collins states their current water source is Horsetooth Reservoir, and implies this is why their water supply is not affected by the floods. FCLWD also uses Horsetooth Reservoir as their primary water source. From the information that's available, it's logical to conclude that drinking water in the south of Fort Collins is safe.

UPDATE (For our friends in the northern sections of Fort Collins.):
According to this Larimer County Map, Fort Collins is served by two additional water districts including East Larimer County Water District (ELCWD) and West Fort Collins Water District (WFCWD). The ECLWD has not yet posted a press release related to drinking water but they share ownership with the FCLWD in the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant and use Horsetooth Reservoir as their primary water source. We're unable to locate specifics related to the WFCWD at this time.

ADDITIONAL UPDATE:
On Monday, September 16, we received a response to an inquiry with the FCLWD. The response states, "The District has not experienced any problems with its treatment facility, Soldier Canyon Filter Plant.  The drinking water is completely safe to drink."

Ozone: A problem for the O&G industry and residents

The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) may be adding to emissions requirements for the oil and gas industry as early as August -- which according to the Greeley Tribune, makes Weld County industry representatives nervous. This has been, "the fifth time in the last eight years that the state has tightened emissions control standards on the industry." A recent study identified the chemical signature of Weld County's O&G operations and attributed 55% of the Front Range's ground-level ozone to the O&G industry -- a finding which has made it difficult to point to other pollution sources.

On the resident side, the Colorado Department of Public Health has sent out multiple action alerts over the past weeks for ozone levels in Fort Collins that ranked among the highest in the nation. According to the American Lung Association, ground-level ozone is a concern to residents because of health impacts primarily related to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems which can lead to premature death. According to their site:

Even low levels of ozone may be deadly. A large study of 48 U.S. cities looked at the association between ozone and all-cause mortality during the summer months.  Ozone concentrations by city in the summer months ranged from 16 percent to 80 percent lower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently considers safe.  Researchers found that ozone at those lower levels was associated with deaths from cardiovascular disease, strokes, and respiratory causes.¹³

 Ozone levels have finally dropped in Fort Collins, aided by recent rain and winds, but it's a good idea to check ozone levels before engaging in outdoor activities. Even a single day of high ozone can obstruct the airways of healthy adults but children and those with known cardiovascular and/or pulmonary disease should be especially careful. Ozone levels can be found at www.enviroflash.info and clicking on the dot over Fort Collins.

One final note: The APCD is currently accepting public comments on O&G emissions regulations which may be emailed to Mark McMillan.

The dwindling power of “We the People”

Issues which appear to be “no-brainers” often contain a series of unintended consequences.  The Colorado Observer is now warning that voter oversight of taxes, which was extended to voters through the TABOR constitutional amendment, is now vulnerable, due to yesterday’s DOMA ruling.

"'[T]he court’s decision opens the door for state officials to ignore laws enacted via ballot initiative, since the voters who passed them now have no standing to defend the law in federal court,' ... As the 2014 election approaches in Colorado – and with it the possibility of re-election for Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper and the potential replacement of term-limited GOP Attorney General John Suthers with a Democrat – some conservatives are concerned that liberals may try to re-create a Prop. 8-style scenario – killing TABOR by simply refusing to defend it."

Some Coloradoans have questioned the wisdom of TABOR but voter control of taxes is not the only issue of concern. Back in January the Independence Institute, a non-profit, nonpartisan Colorado think tank, expressed similar concerns about consequences that include destabilizing voter initiatives while advancing special interests.

"If the plaintiffs win, the result will be legal and practical chaos, not just in Colorado but across the country. This is because the theory of the lawsuit is that any fiscal restraints on a state legislature render that legislature less than “fully effective” and therefore “unrepublican.” Special interests can employ this theory to destroy well-founded and long-standing safeguards against legislative fiscal abuse.  Furthermore, they can use the same theory to attack the voter initiative and referendum process, and other constitutional limits on the power of state politicians."

That the DOMA ruling may have repercussions is even further evidenced in the blistering, dissenting opinion offered by Justice Scalia. Scalia writes:

 "The Court is eager—hungry—to tell everyone its view of the legal question at the heart of this case. Standing in the way is an obstacle, a technicality of little interest to anyone but the people of We the People, who created it as a barrier against judges’ intrusion into their lives... It is an assertion of judicial supremacy over the people’s Representatives in Congress and the Executive. It envisions a Supreme Court standing (or rather enthroned) at the apex of government, empowered to decide all constitutional questions, always and everywhere 'primary' in its role."

This national issue may have local implications, so Fort Collins citizens should be aware. A primary goal of this page has always been to assert the power of “We the People.” Now, more than ever,  we must be vigilant to affirm our rights.

Cathy Fromme Prairie in the springtime

Fossil Creek Trail from within Cathy Fromme Prairie. (Click to enlarge.)

As the Fossil Creek Trail passes through Cathy Fromme Prairie in the summer it is hot, has grueling westward climbs and is often interrupted by sunning rattlesnakes. It's understandable why some choose to pass on this baking, desert prairie during summer months. However, springtime paints a far more pleasant picture in this open space.

In the spring you'll find Cathy Fromme has a cool trail which winds through green fields, bearing fantastic views of Horsetooth Rock. The westward climbs are not severe without our summer heat and those who endure to the end, will be rewarded for their efforts. Fossil Creek Trail now connects to the popular Spring Creek Trail and if you continue when you reach it,  you'll enjoy what must be one of the city's longest downhill grades.

While we wait for trails, connections and parks in much of the southeast, don't neglect to enjoy outdoor opportunities afforded throughout the city. There is much to enjoy, so take some time out and rejoice in our beautiful outdoors. And it might not hurt to remind city council and our new Councilmember, Gino Campana, that we're still waiting on trails of our own. ;)

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day: Why destroy when Wyoming reuses?

Let's find a better way to deal with unused meds.

Once a year, the Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors a Prescription Drug Take-Back Day where citizens are asked to bring unused medications for proper disposal. Every year, the City of Fort Collins participates.

Responding to a post, a Facebook fan messaged us about a Wyoming program which accepts unused medications and distributes them to patients who can't afford them. The program is called the Wyoming Medication Donation Program, which was created through the Wyoming Drug Donation Program Act in conjunction with the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act.

It sounds like an excellent way to Reduce, Reuse and Keep Healthcare Costs Controlled! If you agree, consider suggesting the idea to our state legislators. Southeast Fort Collins residents can find contact info for legislators on our Facebook page. In the meantime, perhaps Fort Collins can coordinate with Cheyenne to see if Cheyenne can reuse the medications we collect for destruction.

Warning!
Keep in mind that medicines may be especially harmful, and in some cases fatal with just one dose, when they are taken by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed -- do not distribute prescription medications on your own, it's illegal! Additional information may be found on the FDA's website under Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know.

Were Prospect Energy's Fort Collins spills withheld from public?

Click to enlarge, from http://www.fractivist.blogspot.com.

Controversy over the Fort Collins fracking ban continues as evidence comes forward regarding two spills in the Hearthfire neighborhood in northeast Fort Collins. Copies of public records describing the spills may be found on the Fractivist blog.

The controversy begin at the March 19, city council meeting when thr council considered an operating agreement with the city's only oil and gas operator -- Prospect Energy, LLC/Black Diamond Minerals, LLC. As discussed in a previous post, there was considerable confusion regarding how Prospect Energy appeared to circumvent many of the restrictions publicly discussed when the city passed it's fracking ban.

Details regarding the spills call in to question what was considered to be the stellar reputation of Scott Hall, the company's CEO. It also adds to appearance that details were intentionally concealed from the public and potentially, city council.

Environmentalists and some residents are up in arms, asking concerned residents to sign a petition and make a call. Some are even calling for a public sit in at the Tuesday, April 22, Fort Collins City Council Work Session -- a session which is not open to public comment.

Improve Fort Collins with your ideas

The city has launched Fort Collins Idea Lab, an online community engagement website where residents can participate, communicate and collaborate with City staff and other community members on a variety of issues.

Diverse perspectives create better outcomes - and better outcomes mean a great community. Not everyone has the time to participate in a city council meeting or project neighborhood meeting; Idea Lab is a place where residents can still engage on issues of interest to them, but they can do it on their schedule. Residents can share their ideas for Fort Collins and support or expand the ideas of others. The insights provided will give city leaders and project managers a sense of what the community thinks about specific topics, decisions, and discussions. Check out Idea Lab at http://www.fcgov.com/idealab

Consumer advocacy options during the contractor season

Your contractor may not realize but taking a deposit from you, could land him or her in jail.

It's common knowledge that up-front money should be limited in any contractor agreement. The Colorado Attorney General even suggests you never make a payment until some work has been completed. But given the cost of materials, it's reasonable to expect to pay a deposit on larger jobs. If contractors use this money accordingly, it generally works out fine for all parties involved.

When the deposit is spent before the supplies are purchased

Most of us have at one time or another resorted to "creative financing" when it comes to paying bills. So it's easy to understand when contractors use advanced payments to pay for other business and personal expenses. But those who misapply advance payments are violating Colorado law. The Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) clearly state how money paid to contractors in advance of work may be utilized. The CRS states:

"All funds disbursed to any contractor under any building, construction, or remodeling contract or on any construction project shall be held in trust for the payment of the subcontractors, laborer or material suppliers for which such disbursement was made. Any person who violates this provision commits theft." [Abbreviated, from section 38-22-127.]

In other words, your money must be held and used for the sole purpose of completing your project.

Oil & Gas bills currently under consideration at the Colorado Legislature

Oil well in Frederick, CO.

A summary of bills currently under consideration at the capital. Do you agree/disagree? Is there a different issue you'd like to see addressed?

Concerning the Reporting of Oil Spills
HB13-1278
Fiscal Notes

This bill requires an oil and gas operator to report, within 24 hours of discovery spills of oil or exploration and production waste of one barrel (31 U.S. gallons) or more, or the equivalent of one barrel or more. The spill must be reported to the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission (COGCC), the local jurisdiction responsible for emergency response, the surface owner, and owners of land adjacent to the spill.

Cunniff distances himself from $48K campaign investments

City Council Candidate Ross Cunniff.

Calling it an "attempt to buy the local election," Candidate Ross Cunniff is trying to further distance himself from the National Association of Realtors/Fort Collins Board of Realtors (FCBR) investment of $48,500 in the local election. Cunniff was a recipient of a small portion of these funds and he's been actively posting his response to this issue on today's Coloradoan and other sites (including our own).

Reporter Kevin Duggan may have been aware of this issue since as early as March 14. On March 17, an editorial by FCBR's Clink Stutchen appeared in the Coloradoan, explaining the purpose of this investment. On March 24, in today's Coloradoan, Duggan skimmed over concerns expressed by several in the community, which may be the motivation behind Cunniff's recent engagement.

The primary point of contention is that $48K equals roughly half of all other contributions -- combined. This dwarfs individual donations and places opposing candidates at a significant disadvantage. Why does today's story inadequately address this issue and why did it take so long to appear?

• Cunniff's letter 
• Today's Coloradoan story 
• Clint Skutchen's editorial

Confusion over the Fort Collins fracking ban; information incomplete

Map of impacted areas.

In the midst of cameras and microphones, which resulted in national press, the Fort Collins City Council passed a fracking ban with some exemptions for our existing operator.  With little public attention, the Prospect Energy Operating Agreement came to city council's table. The resulting discussion signaled confusion over what was actually passed in the ban.

A small contingent of citizens express concerns ranging from wanting an absolute ban to uncertainty over specifics such as fracking chemicals used and well pad exemptions. Comments from council members following the Citizen Participation established that council members were not previously briefed on an area referred to as the “UDA,” or "Undeveloped Acreage" – the apparent source of misunderstanding.

National Association of Realtors throws $48k into local race

What are they hoping to buy?

Admittedly, candidates can't control who and what is contributed to their campaign. But in a city where citizens are limited to $100 contributions for mayor and $75 contributions for other council members, how is it that non-local organizations can contribute thousands of dollars to support the campaigns of local candidates?

Reports on file with the Fort Collins City Clerk indicate the National Association of Realtors has contributed $23,870 to support Weinkunat, $11,396 to support Campana, $11,396 to support Stockover and $1,868 to support Cunniff. A representative of the city clerk's office stated that "Independent Expenditures" are often used to support issues on the ballots but it is "not typical" to see them in support of candidates.

The amount given to support Weinkunat seems particularly out of line when you consider her opponent has raised only a few hundred dollars to finance his whole campaign (see Campaign Finance Reports).

Will state Dems extend the same drive for O&G legislation?

Screen shot of a poll from the Denver Post at 1:30 pm on March 16, 2013

Former fracking ban opponent, Mayor Weitkunat, voiced the concerns of many Fort Collins residents when she switched her vote and made the following statement:

"We are responsible for the residents of Fort Collins and their well-being, Mayor Karen Weitkunat said before the meeting. "We're truly representing the people when we come forward with a decision, even though it may conflict with the state's. There's been reluctance by state legislators. If this is regulated by the state, why haven't they been talking about it? I don't take my responsibilities to the state or the federal government lightly. We are all under the same flag."

While patiently waiting for oil & gas (O&G) legislation, we have watched the Democratic legislature sweep through a slew of other bills, with little accommodation for those who resist them. Last year, the ASSET bill (granting in-state tuition to undocumented students that attend and graduate from Colorado high schools) wouldn't even pass with compromise language that set the tuition rate for undocumented students at higher than the in-state rate, but lower than the out-of-state rate -- it passed this year with no compromise. Last year's Civil Unions bill was killed even though it contained exclusions for religious institutions -- this year it soundly passed without those exclusions. And a slew of gun bills have furiously progressed through the legislature with little regard for organized opposition on the right. So where are the O&G bills?

Democrat legislators demonstrate they have the social capital and will to pass legislation that's important to them. As O&G legislation finally comes to the table, will they demonstrate they have the will to fight for public health and the environment? Or did they use up the social capital we extended them for other purposes?

References:

• Threat of Colorado lawsuit looms as fracking ban OK'd in Fort Collins, Denver Post, March 5, 2013
• Colorado Democrats to pitch expanded city, county control over fracking, Coloradoan, March 14, 2013
• Denver Post poll

Amazing Healthful Pancakes - A southeast original recipe

Click to enlarge.

This post is completely different than our usual subject matter, but thought it might be a good experiment. Are there any dads out there, looking for a new pancake variation to impress the family with on Sunday mornings?

Why not try this delicious and healthy, southeast original recipe? It was created by an experimental dad and it's a guaranteed hit!

The batch is slightly larger than many pancake recipes but it's perfect for a hungry family of four big appetites.

1 1/2 cups skim milk
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 1/2 cup whole grain flour mix
   (1/2 whole wheat pastry flour, 1/2 whole grain barley flour)
1/2 cup oat bran
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup egg whites
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons nut oil (or high-oleic safflower/sunflower oil)

1) Mix milk and vinegar in a bowl and set aside, to curdle milk.

2) Mix dry ingredients together. Preheat griddle to 325-350 degrees.

4) Mix butter and egg whites with milk mixture, then combine with dry ingredients.

Lightly wipe griddle with nut oil (has higher smoke point than olive oil) and spoon batter onto grill. Serve hot.

Any other flour blend can be used but we find the combination of whole wheat pastry flour and whole grain barley flour will appeal to the "white bread taste buds" of the most stubborn whole-grain-haters. These are flat out delicious!

Stop Hickenlooper in his tracks: Uphold the Fort Collins fracking ban

Residents ready themselves for a successful bid to ban fracking at the March 5, 2013 City Council meeting.

Governor Hickenlooper has previously threatened to sue Fort Collins if they impose a fracking ban. Despite his threats, the Fort Collins City Council passed a fracking ban during the March 5, 2013 City Council meeting.

Responding to considerable public pressure and likely, her campaign for reelection, the city's mayor stated:

"'We are responsible for the residents of Fort Collins and their well-being,' Mayor Karen Weitkunat said before the meeting. 'We're truly representing the people when we come forward with a decision, even though it may conflict with the state's.'

"'There's been reluctance by state legislators. If this is regulated by the state, why haven't they been talking about it? I don't take my responsibilities to the state or the federal government lightly. We are all under the same flag.'"

We encourage all residents to contact Governor Hickenlooper and their state legislators now, asking them to support the council's right to protect its citizens.

Contact Information
All contact information can be found on our Facebook contacts tab. or you can simply email Governor Hickenlooper, State Senator John Kefalas, State Representative Joann Ginal and State Representative Randy Fischer.

References

• State could sue Fort Collins over fracking ban, NCBR, February 27, 2013
• Threat of Colorado lawsuit looms as fracking ban OK'd in Fort Collins, Denver Post, March 5, 2013

HB-1041: Towards more accessable records

If you've ever been involved in development issues and needed to get your hands on related documents, you may have noticed a stark difference between the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County. Requests made with the city will net you a quick response that typically included detailed documents via email. On the other hand, the same request made to Larimer County will generally receive the response, "you must come in during office hours to get that information," a restriction that makes access nearly impossible for busy people.

State Senator John Kefalas seeks to stop those who defy the intent of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). His bill will force governments to fulfill requests, without requiring in-person visits. We commend Senator Kefalas for his efforts.

However, it's disappointing to hear that a Republican effort to add fee limits to the bill was soundly defeated. There is a growing trend among local governments to charge exorbitant fees for open records requests. If unchecked, this direction may bar the gates of "open door" government.

It's unclear why the attempt to add fee limits failed. Nonetheless, expanding access through the removal of in-person restrictions is a decisive step in the right direction. So, ask your legislators to support this HB-1041. In addition, encourage them to immediately follow this up with a bill that addresses limits to open records request fees.

Update - March 8, 2013:
Gov. Hickenlooper signed into law.

References:

• HB13-1041 - Concerning Procedures Govering the Transmission of Public Records that are Copied In Response to a Request for Inspection of Such Records Under the "Colorado Open Requests Act"
• Colorado lawmakers poised to expand open records access, but won't address fees, The Republic, by Kristen Wyatt, February 25, 2013
• Transparency trouble, Boulder Weekly, by Jefferson Dodge and Steve Weishampel, February 14, 2013

Larimer County's Ozone Crisis

The American Lung Association gives Larimer County an "F"

According to the American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report card, Larimer County scores an "F" for ozone levels. The score comes along with the statement, ""If you live in Larimer County, the air you breathe may put your health at risk."

Ozone levels have been on the rise since 2010 and according the the Larimer' Community Health Assessment summary, there are no plans to address it.

According to the EPA:

"Ozone in the air we breathe can harm our health. Even relatively low levels of ozone can cause health effects.  People with lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active outdoors may be particularly sensitive to ozone.

"Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ground level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue."

This is an issue we need to address, before it gets out of hand. If this concerns you, contact your Larimer County Commissioners (bocc@co.larimer.co.us) and the Larimer County Board of Health (boh@co.larimer.co.us) and let them know you want a plan to address rising ozone levels in Larimer County.

Visit the EPA's website for more information related to the health effects of ground level ozone.

Fort Collins attempts literature ban at City Hall

City Council considered curtailing the distribution of literature at City Hall.

City Hall has always been a place for civic engagement. Engaged citizens often share ideas and literature in the lobby outside of the City Council Chambers and civility has rarely been an issue. Yet on February 5, 2012, an item came up on the agenda to curb this exchange between active citizens. The policy revision reads, "Public distribution of fliers or other literature other than to the City Council or City staff is not permitted in City Hall" -- which begs the question, why now?

Activists got a surprise when Scott Hall, CEO of the only oil & gas operator in Fort Collins, stood among many of his fracking opponents and expressed sincere appreciation for the civility of citizen participation at council meetings.(Scott's dialogue is 2:33-4 into the February 2, 2013 City Council video.) Scott's plea, along with the written and verbal pleas of other citizens resulted in the ultimate defeat of this resolution.

Be sure to view the full resolution.

Escape tiered rates by installing solar panels

You can get solar panels on you home for as little as no initial cost, to you.

If Fort Collins Utilities is forced to make expensive upgrades to increase their capacity, it will cost us all in significantly increased electrical rates. One strategy to deal with this was the tiered rate system (a system was not received well by many residents). Another strategy is to encourage individual homeowners to move to alternative energy sources such as solar and city rebates of up to $5,250 are now available at http://fcgov.com/solar-rebates. In addition, you can take advantage of federal tax incentives of up to 30% of the installation costs.

The systems can still require a substantial up-front investment. Some companies absorb the solar installation costs and recoup their investment by charging for solar electricity usage. With all the options available, it's worth checking out. :)