The City of Fort Collins has launched the selection process for its Civic Assembly on the Hughes site. 15,000 randomly selected households across Fort Collins will soon receive invitations to apply to participate in this innovative public engagement effort. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2025.

Civic Assemblies come together through an equitable and transparent process that starts with a democratic lottery. Invitations are sent to a random slice of residents, each with a unique identifier specific to that household. Residents who receive an invitation apply online to express their interest in participating.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the City of Fort Collins to bring the Civic Assembly model to this community," said Linn Davis, Program Director at Healthy Democracy. "It’s an opportunity to engage residents in a new way, foster deeper conversations and explore solutions together. We look forward to working to build a representative Assembly that reflects the diversity and spirit of the city."

A pool is created from the applicants and open-source software algorithms generate thousands of potential Assemblies (each consisting of 20 individuals) that are representative of Fort Collins’ demographics—like a microcosm of the city. A public lottery event will be held on Tuesday, March 18 to select a “winning” Assembly. The tentative Assembly members are contacted to confirm their participation, with alternates identified as backups.

“Fort Collins is committed to exploring new ways to hear from our community and ensure everyone has a voice in shaping our city's future,” said City Manager Kelly DiMartino. “This process guarantees that a range of perspectives are represented in shaping an iconic community space.”

The Civic Assembly comes together over two weekends in April and May to dive into the issues, learn about the topics at hand, review input from the community and carefully consider options. The process is thoughtfully designed to help break through polarizing issues. Results of the deliberations go to City leadership and will be reviewed by City Council in August 2025.

"This project is crucial in helping our City make informed decisions that reflect the priorities of the community.” said Mayor Jeni Arndt. “By understanding what our residents envision for the property, we can shape policies that align with the needs and desires of the people we serve. Ultimately, this process helps chart a path forward for the Hughes site that matches our community’s wishes."

More information about the project is available online: fcgov.com/CivicAssembly

Project partners:

Healthy Democracy

Healthy Democracy is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works to elevate the voices of everyday people, bring new faces to public decision making, and design a more collaborative democracy together. A leading innovator in the field of deliberative democracy, Healthy Democracy designs and coordinates lottery selected processes that radically expand who participates in democracy and sets a new standard for collaborative politics.

healthydemocracy.org

Center for Public Deliberation

The Center for Public Deliberation (CPD) at Colorado State University is a nonprofit organization that advances public deliberation, helping communities and decision-makers engage in constructive, informed dialogue about complex issues. CPD provides resources, tools, and facilitation support to promote thoughtful discussions that lead to effective, community-driven solutions. By fostering inclusive, deliberative conversations, the Center enhances the quality of public decision-making across Colorado.

www.cpd.colostate.edu

The American Public Trust

The American Public Trust (APT) is a national nonprofit working to make democracy more responsive to the voices and wisdom of everyday people. We partner with local and state governments to bring communities together to solve tough problems, find common ground, and create lasting benefits for everyone. Beyond individual projects, we help governments build these community-led approaches into their systems, making decision-making more inclusive, effective, and trusted for the long run.

americanpublictrust.org

Local Policy Lab

The Local Policy Lab is a nonprofit organization that supports local governments in their work to engage residents, strengthen democracy and improve civic engagement. By applying rigorous research and practical strategies, LPL helps local leaders tackle complex issues, improve public services, and enhance community well-being. With a focus on collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based approaches, the Local Policy Lab aims to build more resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities.

localpolicylab.org

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