The Fort Collins Report announced the release of a new City Council Vote Tracking Log, a public-facing tool designed to increase transparency and accountability in local government by systematically documenting how decisions are made and how each councilmember votes.
The tracking system provides a structured, consistent framework for recording City Council actions, including ordinances, resolutions, and motions. It captures not only final outcomes, but also individual votes, amendments, public input, and real-world impacts of decisions.
“Residents deserve to know how decisions are made and who is making them,” said Christopher Crenshaw, founder of the Fort Collins Report. “This vote tracking log is about creating a clear, accessible public record that anyone can understand and use.”
The tool includes fields for:
- Meeting dates, agenda items, and item descriptions
- Individual councilmember votes (Yes, No, Abstain, Absent)
- Final vote counts and outcomes (pass/fail)
- Amendments and sponsorship details
- Public comment summaries
- Impact analysis
Designed to support both reporting and long-term analysis, the log allows for tracking voting patterns over time, identifying policy trends, and building a clearer picture of how local decisions affect the community.
“This is about building infrastructure for accountability,” Crenshaw said. “By standardizing how decisions are tracked and reported, we can give residents better tools to understand, question, and engage with their local government.”
The Fort Collins Report will use the tracking log internally for its weekly coverage and plans to expand its use into future public-facing tools, including vote databases, visual dashboards, and long-term issue tracking.
The City Council Vote Tracking Log is available for public view here: Vote Tracking Log
Review of Current Data
A review of the voting data used in this tool shows that Fort Collins City Council operates with an unusually high level of consensus. The vast majority of decisions, including consequential items like annexations, zoning changes, and budget allocations, pass unanimously, with little to no recorded opposition. Even when councilmembers are absent, votes still tend to be approved without dissent. That pattern suggests the most meaningful debate may be happening before items ever reach a final vote, raising questions about how visibly key decisions are actually made.
The data also highlights how much of council business is focused on technical and financial actions rather than contested policy debates. A significant share of votes involve budget reallocations, grant acceptances, and code updates, often bundled into complex agenda items that can be difficult for the public to parse. Together, these trends suggest the public meetings captured in official votes may function more as a formal checkpoint than a forum for disagreement, offering residents limited insight into the tradeoffs and discussions that ultimately shape city policy.
How to Use the Tool:
1. Understanding the Spreadsheet Layout
Each row represents a single vote or agenda item, and each column contains specific details.
Typical columns may include:
- Date – Meeting date
- Agenda Item / Title – Name of the ordinance or issue
- Description – Brief explanation of the measure
- Council Member Columns – Individual votes (Yes / No / Abstain)
- Outcome – Passed or Failed
2. Using the Search Function (Find Tool)
Excel allows you to quickly locate specific information using the built-in Find feature.
Steps to Search:
- Press Ctrl + F (Windows) or Cmd + F (Mac)
- In the search box, enter a keyword such as:
- A topic (budget, housing, etc.)
- A council member’s name
- An ordinance number
- Press Enter to jump to the first match
- Use Find Next to move through results
Tips:
- Use short keywords for better matches
- Try multiple variations if needed
- The search scans all visible sheet content
3. Using Filters to Narrow Results
Filters allow you to display only relevant rows.
How to Apply Filters:
- Click anywhere in the header row
- Select Data → Filter (or click the filter icon)
- Use dropdown arrows in each column to:
- Show only certain dates or topics
- Filter by vote (e.g., show only “No” votes)
- Narrow results by outcome (Passed/Failed)
4. Sorting Data
Sorting helps you organize records.
To Sort:
- Click a column header (e.g., Date or Title)
- Select:
- Sort A to Z (ascending)
- Sort Z to A (descending)
Example uses:
- Sort by Date to see most recent votes
- Sort by Agenda Item alphabetically
5. Expanding or Viewing Full Details
Excel doesn’t “expand” rows like a database tool, but you can view full details in these ways:
Method 1: Expand Column Width
- Hover between column headers
- Drag to widen the column
- This reveals more text in the cell
Method 2: Wrap Text
- Select a column or cells
- Click Home → Wrap Text
- Content will display on multiple lines
Method 3: View Formula Bar
- Click a cell with long text
- View the full content in the formula bar at the top
Method 4: Double-Click Cell
- Double-click a cell to read or edit the full entry
6. Freezing Headers for Easier Navigation
Keep column headers visible while scrolling:
- Click the row below the header
- Go to View → Freeze Panes → Freeze Top Row
7. Best Practices
- Use Find (Ctrl/Cmd + F) for quick lookups
- Apply filters before analyzing voting patterns
- Sort by date or topic to identify trends
- Expand columns or wrap text for full context
- Compare rows to evaluate consistency across votes
8. Example Use Cases
- Find how a specific council member voted on housing issues
- Identify all votes passed in a specific year
- Compare outcomes across similar agenda items