WS 3B Disappointment to Success: Growing Pains in Ft. Collins

1 Disappointment to Success: Growing Pains in Fort Collins

Nick Heimann, MPH, FC Bikes Program Specialist

8-29-2016

2016 Open Streets Events

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2016 Open Streets

June 5-Corbett Dr

• 3,600+ participants

• 27 volunteers (29 shifts)

• 1 mile route

• School, residential, parks

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2016 Open Streets Events

Sept. 18-Linden/Redwood

• 7,000-10,000?

• Seeking 75 volunteers

• 2 mile route

• Diversity!

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Open Streets in Fort Collins

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Whedbee map


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July 20, 2014-Laurel/Whedbee

• 2,000 participants

• 47 partners

• 1.5 mile T-shaped route

• Residential setting

• “The most awesomest

day ever!”

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Cancelled

“While we were looking forward to hosting our

follow-up event this fall,” said Becky Moriarty, FC

Bikes Program Specialist, “by rescheduling until

next year, we will be able to revisit the plans to

ensure the second event is as successful, if not

more so, than our first.”

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Cancelled Route

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Uncertain Future

So, what happened?

• Residential petition

• A few business leaders

express concern

• City Council involvement

• Event cancelled

In essence, reactive

planning versus

proactive

conversations.

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Critical Conversations

Leadership Outreach:

• Council districts

• Department and

leadership buy-in, early

and often

• Robust outreach and

engagement process

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Business Outreach:

• 1:1 contact

• Informational mailings

• Find concerns, address

them

• Invite participation

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Resident Outreach:

• 2 mailings, months in

advance

• Press and media

coverage

• 1:1 flyers door hangers

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Open Streets 2015

Back to W. Elizabeth

• 7,000+ participants

• Business owners ask for

event back!

• $60-90k estimated impact

• City Manager, Deputy

CM, Councilmembers in

attendance

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Key Takeaways

• Plan the outreach

process

• Engage leaders early and

often, before public

stakeholders

• When in doubt, do it

• Plan for long process

• Invite the skeptics

• Know that “evidence”

from other communities

doesn’t settle the debate

• Know your goals and live

them

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Nick Heimann, MPH

City of Fort Collins

FC Bikes Program Specialist

[email protected]

970-416-2628

WS 3B Disappointment to Success: Growing Pains in Ft. Collins

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of WS 3B Disappointment to Success: Growing Pains in Ft. Collins