5 Reasons to Get Involved with Local Government in Fort Collins

When you think of the phrase ‘local government,’ the first thing that may come to mind is your favorite scene from Parks & Recreation. Fortunately — or unfortunately, depending on your perspective — most local governments do not have their own wacky versions of Leslie Knope or Ron Swanson to make things interesting. That fact alone may be enough to label local government too boring to pay attention to, especially when you live in a college town like Fort Collins, where there are any number of things to grab your attention.

Even if local government seems a little too dull for you, just a little engagement can benefit you greatly in the long run. Here are five reasons why you should follow city government here in Fort Collins.

1. Discover something new about Fort Collins

“Downtown Fort Collins, Colorado” by Citycommunications at Wikipedia

Being such a large college town, there is plenty to do in Fort Collins. Sometimes, fun events, festivals, or recreation programs might fall through the cracks, meaning you could miss out. City websites can be a great resource for finding city-sponsored events and programs that might be of interest to you. To find more about such events, visit the city’s calendar of events page or the Fort Collins Recreation department website.

Also, the City Council will discuss these kinds of events during city council meetings — especially if the event requires special permission to happen, such as for road closures.

2. Keep up with emergencies other important information that might impact you

“ Ford Explorer Interceptor” by Brett Levin is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Speaking of road closures, an emergency situation, inclement weather, or some other unforeseen circumstance can quickly turn your day from good to bad. Whether it puts you in harms way, or simply makes you late for class, these situations can often be avoided with the right information.

Most city governments — Fort Collins included — can alert residents to these types of issues quickly, helping to keep everyone safe. To receive emergency alerts, visit Fort Collins Reverse 911 page to sign up. For general traffic information within city limits, visit FCTrip for up-to-date traffic maps.

3. Find your Fort Collins pride

“ Pedestrian Mall View — Old Town Fort Collins, CO” by Joe Wolf is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

Most people will agree that Fort Collins is a pretty great place to live. But like any other city or town, Fort Collins has its own issues that it deals with every day. Simply watching how the city handles such issues can be incredibly gratifying.

If politics-as-usual — especially national politics — have you feeling at odds with the political system, watching local leaders actually solve issues can give you the shot of optimism you need in your day.

To watch City Council meetings, either drop in to a public meeting at City Hall, or video of past meetings here.

4. Have your voice heard

“ Parking at South Transit Center, Fort Collins, Colorado” by Xnatedawgx is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Frustrated by the “U+2” occupancy ordinance? Tired of having trouble finding affordable or free parking near where you live? By attending city council meetings, having a discussion with city leaders or your elected representatives, you can bring your ideas forward.

Often, issues such as lack of parking, streets in disrepair, or noise issues may not even be known to public officials. Simply making them aware of the problem can sometimes lead to a quick solution and make everyone happy in the end.

To reach out to the city, visit the City Services page and find the appropriate contact information.

5. Make a difference — and make Fort Collins home

“Welch St. Near Prospect” is licensed under CC0 1.0.

The more people that get involved in politics on the local level, the better. More voices means more opinions and more ideas, which in turn means more gets done. We can all make Fort Collins a better place to live, whether you are only living here for college, or plan to start a family here and make Fort Collins home.

By speaking out and keeping up-to-date on what’s happening in the community, you too can make a difference and help city leaders to understand the needs and wants of the city’s residents.

It might seem boring at first glance, but city government is what keeps everything running, from streets to water, and everything in between. Having an idea of how it all works makes you a better citizen and can help bring alive parts of Fort Collins you may have never learned existed.