Latest news with #PATHS
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Didn't we already vote on what to do with Hughes land? Why there might be another vote
When PATHS volunteers are out collecting signatures for their current petition effort that seeks to turn all of the former Hughes Stadium site into a city-managed natural area, they get one question a lot. "Why do we have to do this again? I thought we already voted for protected open space," said Elena Lopez, an organizer with PATHS, which stands for Planning Action to Transform Hughes Sustainably. Lopez is referring to PATHS' 2021 ballot measure regarding the Hughes site, and her group said making the site a natural area was the intent of that effort. PATHS has stated on its website that when they circulated petitions about five years ago, "signers told us that they wanted fully-protected open space at Hughes and no permanent buildings, but they also hoped that the sledding hill and the disc golf course would remain." "I don't know how many times we have to do this before they actually listen to what the voters and the public have overwhelmingly said," Lopez said. What voters intended in 2021 is at the heart of the debate. Read the full story: Hughes natural area and bike park advocates spar over claims What the 2021 ballot question specifically asked was whether or not the city should buy and rezone the parcel for Public Open Lands and use it for parks, recreation, open land, natural areas and wildlife rescue and restoration. That open lands zoning allows for a natural area to be located within it, but it allows for other uses as well, according to the code: neighborhood parks, cemeteries, agricultural activities, golf courses, wildlife and education centers, and community facilities. But it doesn't allow housing or commercial development. And advocates for a bike park on a portion of the site contend that stopping a proposed housing development was the main goal for many of the 69% of voters who supported the ballot issue and some who campaigned for it. "There's this story that is being told that, 'This was the plan all along,' and everyone else is going, 'No, that's not true,'" said Kevin Krause, a member of the Fort Collins Bike Park Collective. "We all just wanted to stop the housing." Nick Frey, a bike enthusiast and now a member of the Fort Collins Bike Collective, campaigned with PATHS to get the 2021 ballot measure passed. Frey said he doesn't know what each signature gatherer's conversations were like with individual voters, but at a higher level, he said there was no discussion specifically about what it should be. "It was more like what it could be," Frey contends. Frey became involved in the original effort to keep the site from being developed into housing after filing an ethics complaint against City Council members who were employed by CSU at the time council was making decisions about the site. He went on to campaign for the 2021 ballot measure. For Carin Avila, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, the ballot language holds the key. Her organization is proposing a wildlife rehabilitation and education center on the site. "I understand where PATHS is coming from. They've worked hard," Avila said. "But if they didn't want it to be parks and recreation, or a wildlife rescue, then they should have written (the ballot question) right the first time." But Lopez said there's been a "bizarre hyper-fixation" on the specific ballot question when it's only one part of the ordinance that voters approved. The whereas clauses contained within the ordinance don't appear on ballots. But they show the legislative intent by providing background, PATHS organizers say, bringing important context to the words printed on the ballots. The language that appeared on voters' ballots is legally binding, Assistant City Manager Rupa Venkatesh told delegates at the civic assembly, and if there was any ambiguity about it, then a court could look to the "whereas" statements for the intent. More: A civic assembly is done with its work on Hughes land. Here's what it recommended So what do those whereas statements say? Here are a few of them, paraphrased: Whereas there is strong support for preserving and providing open space, natural areas, community separators, wildlife habitat and trails. Whereas residents enjoy open spaces and natural areas, along with the recreation they provide, such as walking, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, bird watching and fishing. They enjoy the educational opportunities and programs provided to people of all ages and backgrounds, and they enjoy the beautiful landscapes and the views they provide. Whereas open space, natural areas, wildlife habitat, community separators, agricultural lands and trails benefit all members of the community. Whereas conserved open space and natural areas help make Fort Collins a highly desirable place to live, work and visit. Whereas the city values sustainability as it makes decisions to meet citizen needs, and it does this without compromising the ecosystems upon which we all depend. Whereas there has been continuous funding for open space and natural areas acquisition and maintenance because of a sales tax that voters have supported every time it appeared on a ballot. Whereas Fort Collins has conserved over 40,000 acres of open space and natural areas since 1973. Whereas converting the zoning to public open lands would build on the city's history of preserving open spaces and provide an invaluable social, economic, and environmental resource. Whereas the Hughes Stadium property would represent a crown jewel acquisition for Fort Collins open space. Whereas without acquisition and conservation efforts, the property would forever be lost to residential and/or commercial development. Whereas the acquisition should occur using existing voter-approved open space sales tax revenue, among other funds. Whereas the rezoning would be necessary to convert the property into an area for parks, recreation and open lands, and wildlife rescue and education. The current effort to get a Hughes natural area vote on the ballot has two potential paths: One petition calls for a special election, which requires 7,605 signatures, or 15% of voters in the last regular election. This petition wants voters to decide not only whether the land should fully become a natural area, but whether the city should be prohibited from selling, leasing or otherwise conveying the land to a third party. Even though this petition calls for a special election, the question could end up on a Nov. 4 regular election ballot if it meets the deadlines. The other petition simply calls for a question at the next general election, which would be Nov. 4. This would require 5,079 signatures, or 10% of voters in the last regular election. It only asks voters to weigh in on whether 100% of Hughes should become a natural area. Both petitions are due June 11. The reason for two petitions, according to PATHS organizers, is if deadlines can't be met to get a question on the next general election ballot this fall, the other petition would allow for a special election. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Didn't Fort Collins already vote on what to do with Hughes land?
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Citizens seek to renew Fort Collins natural areas tax, with no expiration
Don't be confused if you see two unrelated Fort Collins petition efforts using the words "natural area." There's a lot of signature-gathering activity happening in Fort Collins right now due to two different efforts by two different groups that propose two different actions. But all of the petitions seek to place a measure on a future city ballot. Here's what each initiative petition proposes to do: The Yes to Natural Areas campaign wants to renew an existing sales tax that funds the acquisition of Fort Collins natural areas and the restoration of these lands. Fort Collins has had a quarter-cent sales tax for that purpose for more than 30 years, since voters first approved it in 1992. The latest renewal was approved in 2002 and is set to expire at the end of 2030. But this time, advocates want to extend the tax into perpetuity, meaning it would never expire. An expiring tax makes planning for the future difficult, said petition coordinator Linda Stanley, who also said most city programs don't have expiration dates. "Some of the acquisitions have taken years to come to fruition, and you don't start relationships with land donors if you're not sure what the future will hold," Stanley said, noting some donors may be willing to sell or put a conservation easement on their land but might not be ready to take that step for a few more years. Taking the issue to the voters in 2025 instead of 2027 or 2028 will simply create certainty sooner, Stanley said, when asked why the effort is beginning five years ahead of the expiration. Stanley has been involved in the campaigns of multiple natural areas and open space sales tax efforts in the city and Larimer County since 1994. Kelly Ohlson, her husband, led the campaign to get the first tax passed in 1992. This petition is due July 9. This petition is associated with PATHS, which stands for Planning Action to Transform Hughes Sustainably, and Friends of Hughes Natural Area, the issue committee created to support the effort. The campaign is circulating two petitions, both of them focused on making 100% of the old Hughes Stadium site a city-managed natural area, instead of "parks, recreation and open lands, natural areas, and wildlife rescue and education." One of the group's two petitions calls for a special election and therefore requires more signatures to make it onto the ballot: 7,605, which is 15% of voters in the last regular election. The special election petition also asks for voters to weigh in on whether the city should be prohibited from selling, leasing or otherwise conveying the land to a third party. The second petition from Friends of Hughes aims to put a question on the next regular election ballot, rather than calling for a special election. As a result, the signature requirement is lower: 5,079, or 10% of voters in the last regular election. This petition, however, does not include the question of whether the city could sell, lease or convey the land to a third party. Two petitions were created so that if deadlines can't be met to get a question on the next general election ballot this fall, then the second petition would allow for a special election, said Melissa Rosas, a PATHS leader. Both of these petitions are due June 11. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins natural areas advocates seek to renew sales tax forever
CBS News
14-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Proposed Hughes ballot measure might impact Fort Collins' funding for future Northern Colorado natural area properties
Residents in Fort Collins could soon be voting on the future of the former Hughes Stadium property, the second time such a decision would be made in the last five years. Some residents are actively collecting signatures throughout the Northern Colorado city in hopes of establishing the entire property as a natural area, an action which would prevent any development from happening including a proposed bike park. CBS The city purchased the land in 2021 by order of the voters, preventing Colorado State University from developing the property into a housing development. In doing so, the wording of the ballot language in 2021 left the land for uses such as recreation, open space, natural areas, education and more. That language opened the door for the recent "civic assembly," a more than $100,000 community discussion that resulted in the delegates recommending the property be multi-use, including a bike park feature. However, a recently-submitted ballot proposal could void the assembly's recommendation. A group of Fort Collins residents, including members of the organization known as "PATHS," are proposing the city change the original wording of the ordinance to rid of any mention of recreation, instead establishing the entire property as natural area. While the level of support behind such an initiative is still being determined via signature collection, CBS News Colorado has learned such a change to the wording of the law could potentially impact the city's efforts to afford other properties desired for natural area designation. "We absolutely hear from people moving to the area that the natural areas in this space and that greenery and pockets of quiet, opportunities to connect with nature, is absolutely one of the thing people love about Fort Collins," said Katie Donahue, director of the Natural Areas department in Fort Collins. Donahue said, naturally, she loves hearing there is support in the city to expand natural area reach. The city has a goal to have natural areas accessible to all people within a 15 minute commute of wherever in Fort Collins they may be. However, the department operates as opportunistic buyers, meaning they do not seek out properties to purchase. Instead, they wait for property owners to approach them with the opportunity. Each year the city designates between $5 million and $7 million to the department for purchasing new property. If the Hughes property is successfully designated as entirely natural area, Donahue said that could alter the city's ability to obtain other properties. "If the (Hughes) property becomes entirely a natural area, we expect the full debt cost of that to the Natural Areas Department would be around $14 million," Donahue said. Donahue noted that anything around $14 million would likely result in the city not being able to purchase any other desired opportunistic properties for up-to three years. Staying neutral on any decisions or votes, Donahue said she wants residents to make sure whatever decision they make was informed either way. "We want to support what the community desires, at the Hughes property and all around town," Donahue said. While the department does not seek out specific properties to purchase, Donahue said they have established a map with regions of the city in which they would ideally be able to obtain more land. Donahue said that is because their primary obligation is to facilitate a better habitat and ecosystem of animals and plants, with access and pleasure to humans being their second priority. "This particular area (around Hughes) was not identified in our foothills plan as being a high priority because we do have two large natural areas nearby, Maxwell and Pineridge," Donahue said. While not identified in the desired plans for the department, Donahue said her staff would welcome incorporating the Hughes property into their portfolio if voters approved the proposed ballot measures. However, the Hughes property currently features a disc golf course as well as a sledding hill. CBS News Colorado's Dillon Thomas asked if those activities would still be permitted on the land if it was transferred and redesignated as natural area. Donahue warned that those features could potentially be removed if the property is designated as natural area, noting that nearby Maxwell and Pineridge do not feature such off-trail recreation. "It would be difficult for us to justify using natural area funds to pay for that type of infrastructure," Donahue said. "But the city is filled with creative problem solvers." Donahue said any decision to transfer Hughes to natural area would not impact current properties in which the department is already in negotiations to purchase. However, she did say it could potentially prevent the city from obtaining more property along the Poudre River, which might interfere with their desires to connect already-owned natural areas. In the end, residents will have to decide whether or not to put the future of Hughes on the ballot once again, and voters are also potentially going to vote on whether or not to continue the sales tax that helps fund the department from the start. Donahue said she looks forward to finding out whether or not the initiatives will make the ballots, and if they do also learning which way voters go. "I think there is going to be opportunity for people to get out and enjoy Hughes," Donahue said. "We can make any solution work, it is just a matter of the tradeoffs that come along with that." CBS News Colorado reached out to the main organization behind the proposal to make Hughes a natural area seeking comment on this report. Those with the PATHS organization said, in part: "The City's own 'Foothills Management Plan - Update 2019' (updated again in January 2025) describes the importance of reducing wildlife habitat fragmentation to create vital interconnectivity between patches of habitat, for the conservation of our local foothills fauna and flora, which preserving Hughes would do." PATHS also questioned Donahue's statement that the department's budget for obtaining more natural spaces would be impacted for several years, adding they believe the debt on the property would be significantly less as the city has worked to pay off the property in portion since obtaining it in 2021. PATHS also said they believe the city has the power to further allocate more money to the Natural Areas Department if necessary, suggesting the department could also enter a payment plan with the city to make sure the funding isn't entirely accounted for just for Hughes. "The opportunity to acquire and conserve land within Fort Collins is fast diminishing in the face of increasing development pressures within our city," the organization wrote. "We should make wise decisions now about protecting land within city limits while we can, before it's too late. The Fort Collins taxpayers have willingly decided to place a tax upon themselves to conserve lands as Natural Areas within our wonderful city for all to enjoy and experience freely."
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
LifeCare Solutions and PATHS Partner to Deliver Scalable Dementia Caregiver Support for CMS GUIDE Model Success
Partnership combines expert dementia care education with PATHS' 24/7 digital platform to empower caregivers, equip care teams with real-time insights, and help GUIDE participants meet CMS goals at scale. AUBURN, Ala., May 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LifeCare Solutions for Seniors, LLC (LifeCare Solutions), a leader in care management for individuals with complex health needs, today announced a strategic partnership with PATHS, the patient engagement and education platform redefining connected care journeys. Together, they are launching a scalable solution to deliver expert dementia care support as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model. As a GUIDE participant in Alabama, LifeCare Solutions will utilize the PATHS platform to deliver high-quality, on-demand dementia education, drawing from their training via trusted educational sources such as Positive Approach to Care® (PAC). Through PATHS, caregivers gain 24/7 access to personalized care steps, behavior-tracking tools, and practical, clinician-endorsed resources—all from one intuitive, mobile-friendly hub. Simultaneously, care teams access real-time engagement data to track caregiver confidence, adherence, and learning needs. "The partnership with PATHS allows us to meet GUIDE Model requirements with precision and compassion," said Christy Baynes, CEO and Geriatric Care Manager at LifeCare Solutions. "We're expanding caregiver training across Alabama consistently, measurably, and with heart. Our families receive the right guidance at the right time—and our care teams are already seeing the difference." The CMS GUIDE Model aims to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia while alleviating caregiver burden through structured, community-based supports. PATHS helps organizations like LifeCare Solutions scale their efforts, centralizing caregiver education, communication, and real-time monitoring in a simple, connected platform. By integrating PATHS, LifeCare Solutions offers a new standard of dementia caregiver support: a fully guided digital experience that turns overwhelming care into clear, confident action, while giving providers data-driven insights to adapt and intervene when necessary. "Caregivers are the true foundation of dementia care, yet they are often the least supported," said Kermit Farmer, Founder and CEO of PATHS. "This partnership showcases what's possible when you combine expert content, real-time insights, and truly patient-and caregiver-centered technology. LifeCare Solutions is leading the way for GUIDE participants nationwide, and we're proud to power their expansion of scalable, whole-person care, without added administrative burden." With more than 6 million Americans living with memory loss (Alzheimer's or related dementias), and many more caregivers in need of help, the ability to deliver accessible, high-quality training is a cornerstone of the GUIDE Model's eight-year strategy. This partnership marks a new era in dementia care innovation where expert content, digital access, and coordinated support come together to set a new standard for how dementia education and caregiver support are delivered. About LifeCare Solutions LifeCare Solutions provides care management services designed to improve quality of life and health outcomes for individuals and their families. With a focus on compassion, education, and coordination, LifeCare Solutions supports patients through every step of their health journey. About PATHS PATHS is a 24/7 digital care companion that transforms patient experiences with guided, connected care journeys. By delivering personalized step-by-step care plans, real-time engagement tracking, and educational resources across any specialty, PATHS bridges the gaps between appointments—improving outcomes, reducing administrative burden, and bringing confidence to patients and clinicians alike. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Media contact: Drew Mathias, drew@
CBS News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Northern Colorado ballot measure could suddenly pump the brakes on proposed bike park
Four years after Fort Collins residents overwhelmingly voted to block the former Hughes Stadium property from being developed into housing, the future of the property may once again be up for the voters to decide. This comes after there has been a disagreement over what the word "recreation" meant in the original ballot measure. CBS In 2021 voters in Fort Collins agreed to purchase the Hughes Stadium property from Colorado State University. As part of the ballot measure then, it was written into law that the property would be used for, "...parks, recreation and open lands, natural areas, and wildlife rescue and education." Since then the property has become a popular destination for visitors to enjoy trails by walking, jogging or biking them. And there is also a frisbee golf course and sledding hill. However, the Fort Collins Bike Park Collective has seen a growing demand for a bike park that can accommodate cyclists of all backgrounds and experience levels. "Bicycling is at the heart of this city, it is what we are about," said Kenny Bearden, executive director of Overland Mountain Bike Park Association and advocate for a new bike park in Fort Collins. "It is really at the heart of what this city is about." Few may argue that Fort Collins is a cycling community. Every year one of the largest cycling gatherings in the world, Tour de Fat, takes place in the Northern Colorado city. And, the iconic "Fat Tire" beer is even originally brewed in the city. However, there are two dueling sides as to whether or not a portion of the Hughes Stadium property is the best place for a bike park for the region. The nearest bike park of such scale and opportunity is located in Boulder County, which forces many to have to drive a longer distance to enjoy such a feature. Fort Collins does have some bike parks, but they are often overcrowded and limited toward younger cyclists with fewer challenges. The Fort Collins Bike Park Collective has been growing in size, with many saying there is no better place for such a bike park than the Hughes Stadium property, especially given its natural topography. However, those with an organization called Planning Action to Transform Hughes Sustainably, or "PATHS," argue the 2021 ballot measure didn't intend to include a bike park as part of the "recreation" included in the ballot's wording. "There seems to be some confusion among some of the council members as to the language that was in there and the intent of the ballot language," said Melissa Rosas, an organizer with PATHS. Rosas and PATHS said they understood the original intent of the 2021 initiative to mean walking, jogging and cycling paths, a frisbee golf course, a sledding hill and other lighter use activities. Otherwise, they hoped the property would be left as open space and natural areas for wildlife humans. Because of the effort to build a bike park in a portion of the property, PATHS is now offering two new ballot propositions to voters. One would push for an amendment to the original ballot during a special election, the other would address their concerns during a general election vote. Either way, PATHS is hoping to amend the city's law to replace "...parks, recreation and open lands, natural areas, and wildlife rescue and education," simply with three words, "A natural area." "We feel having it as a natural area is the most unifying and equitable use because you can still ride your bike in a natural area. You can walk in a natural area. You can jog in a natural area," Rosas said. "Frisbee golf could be allowed in this area." Rosas, and fellow organizer Mary Alice Grant, also said native tribes would also be allowed to use the entirety of the property for sweat lodges and more while in temporary structures. However, some have raised concerns that PATHS and their supporters are trying to circumvent a city initiative that is already underway, one which is already addressing the future of the property and whether or not a bike park would be allowed. For months now the City of Fort Collins has been conducting what they call a civic assembly. It has been reported that more than $100,000 was spent to conduct the assembly. The assembly consists of many factors and actions, including a survey that was offered for the community to take. Following the survey a group of delegates not only reviewed the data but also conducted listening sessions with people who had opinions on whether or not to build a bike park on the Hughes property. The end goal is for delegates from the civic assembly to then make a recommendation to Fort Collins City Council on what action should be taken. However, the final decision would ultimately be left to council. If PATHS collects enough signatures to get new amendments on the ballot, their efforts could possibly skip over the results of the civic assembly and block the Fort Collins Bike Park Collective's efforts to build a bike park on the property. "It is frustrating. It is discouraging," Bearden said. "The city created this process for the community to give input. Because it is a community space." Bearden said he felt the efforts by PATHS to push the decision onto a ballot rid of the community's efforts to have a larger discussion around making the property something that can accommodate all. "We are looking for a collaborative approach," Bearden said. "The civic assembly process is designed to hear from the community, the ballot measure is not. It is a specific measure that people get to vote yes or no on. But, not get to provide input to the city at the level they get to with the civic assembly process." When asked if the ballot amendment effort circumvented the civic assembly process, Rosas countered by saying she felt the civic assembly circumvented to 2021 vote. Those who support a portion of the property being developed into a bike park noted that the land used to be a college football stadium, filled with thousands of cars and even more people many days a year. That level of activity was taking place on the property less than a decade ago, and had been for several decades prior. Their proposal for a bike park would result in a portion of the property being redesigned to better accommodate mountain biking, which supporters say is significantly less of a nuisance than a football game. PATHS has to collect more than 5,000 signatures to get their new effort on a ballot. In the meantime, Grant said their organization is in support of there being a bike park. However, she says they won't let that be on the Hughes property. "We would love for people to have a bike park. Just not here," Grant said.
