If you’ve ever felt like it’s hard to keep up with everything going on in Durango, you’re not alone. Between road projects, community events, council decisions and new initiatives, there’s a lot happening – and a lot of information flying around. As your mayor, I want to make sure you know where to find the facts, the updates and the opportunities to get involved.
The good news? You don’t have to dig too deep. The city of Durango has a whole toolbox of communication channels – managed by our Public Information Office – that are designed to meet you where you are. Whether you’re a newsletter reader, a social media scroller or someone who prefers to tune in to meetings from the comfort of your couch, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s start with the basics: our city website, http://www.durangoco.gov. This is our digital front door. It’s where you’ll find everything from City Council agendas and minutes, to job openings, information on all of our 11 departments, our 17 boards and commissions, and updates on city projects. It’s searchable, it’s updated regularly and it’s a great place to start if you’re looking for answers.
If you prefer your updates in bite-sized pieces, you can follow us on social media. We’re active on Facebook, Instagram and yes – even TikTok. Want an insight specifically into some of the great work performed by our staff? Check out our LinkedIn account. These platforms are perfect for quick updates, event reminders and behind-the-scenes peeks at city operations.
If you’re more of a newsletter person, I highly recommend subscribing to City Currents. It’s our official city newsletter, and it’s packed with timely updates, project highlights and ways to get involved. You can sign up right on our website.
For those who want real-time alerts, consider our NotifyMe platform. You can customize your preferences to get notifications about things that matter to you – like emergency alerts, meeting notices or updates from specific departments. It’s like having a personalized news feed for city happenings.
Another communication channel is the city’s SeeClickFix. This platform lets you report issues – like potholes, graffiti or broken streetlights – and then track the city’s response. It’s a great way to see how our crews are addressing concerns across the community, and it helps us stay accountable to you.
And if you’ve ever wondered what’s going on with all those orange cones around town, we’ve got a report for that too: Our Orange Cone Report gives you the scoop on local road construction so you can plan your routes and avoid surprises, and can also be signed up through Notifyme.
Of course, the most direct way to stay informed is to attend a City Council meeting. We meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month, and you’re always welcome – whether in person or online. You can watch live through Microsoft Teams, stream it on our website or catch the recording later on our YouTube channel. It’s democracy in action, and your voice matters.
Lastly, please consider The Durango Herald as a way to stay informed. While the city doesn’t control what the newspaper writes (nor should we), we do have a strong partnership with it. Local journalism plays a vital role in keeping our community informed, and we’re grateful for its coverage of city issues, events and decisions.
So yes, there’s a lot of information out there. But that’s because we believe in transparency, accountability and keeping you in the loop. Whether you’re a daily reader, a casual follower or someone just dipping your toes into civic engagement, we want to make it easy for you to stay connected.
Thank you for making the effort to stay informed. It’s not always easy in today’s fast-paced world, but it’s one of the most important things we can do as a community. When we’re informed, we’re empowered – and that’s how we make Durango an even better place to live, work, and play.
Mayor Gilda Yazzie is a longtime resident of Durango and a Fort Lewis College graduate with a degree in business administration. Durango’s first Navajo (Diné) councilor and mayor, she has worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal, state and tribal agencies. She has also lived in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Capitol Hill on issues related to women’s rights and racial equality.
