Montrose, CO — City Councilors met Tuesday morning March 2, to discuss information about a number of upcoming city projects during the council’s work session. The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
HISTORY COLORADO STATE HISTORICAL FUND GRANT APPLICATION FOR POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION BUILDING
Councilors were updated about the city’s application for a $200,000 grant from the History Colorado State Historical Fund for rehabilitation work to the historic Potato Growers Association building at 38 West Main Street.
In 2019, the city created its own registry of historic properties, enabling property owners to apply for grant funds for historic rehabilitation efforts. The Potato Growers building was built in 1908 and served a vital role in establishing Montrose as an agricultural community during the early 20th century.
The grant application is due in the first part of April. The city is working with High Oasis, LLC, the present owners of the building. If the grant is approved, the city will act as a pass-through for the funds between the historical fund and High Oasis. The next step is for the City Council to either approve or deny the application at a future regular meeting.
WEST MAIN UNDERPASS DECORATIVE SHOTCRETE WALL CONTRACT AWARD
Civil Engineer Ryan Cushenan presented background information for a proposed contract with Mountain Valley Contracting in the amount of $191,051.30 for construction of a decorative shotcrete wall.
The wall is located on the east side of the West Main Street underpass along the Connect Trail. Completing this work is the final stage of construction in this area of the Connect Initiative Recreation Trail Project. The wall will have a decorative face that will also feature graffiti-resistant materials. Funds under consideration in this contract were originally within the Connect Initiative Recreation Trail Project budget.
The trail underpass is currently open to the public. During the construction of the final wall, the underpass will be closed for approximately four weeks. This closure is expected to start sometime in April when warmer temperatures allow for construction to begin. The City Council will make a decision regarding the contract at a future regular meeting.
CONTRACT AWARD RECOMMENDATION OF OWNERS REPRESENTATIVE FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
City Councilors heard a contract recommendation that will allow the city to hire Dynamic Program Management (DPM), to provide the professional service of owner’s representative for all phases of the new Police Department Construction Project on the civic campus on South First Street.
The owner’s representative will act on the city’s behalf to ensure the project stays on budget, on schedule and that the quality of work is kept to a high standard.
Montrose Police Chief Blaine Hall told councilors that hiring an owner’s representative is a standard practice among municipalities that do not have staff on hand with the necessary type of construction expertise.
Colleen Kaneda and Ray Scott of DPM were in attendance to answer questions about their services.
The city is in the initial planning stages for the construction of a new Police Department headquarters on South First Street.
City staff followed contract procurement policies before recommending DPM for City Council consideration. Kaneda is the CEO of DPM and lives in Eagle, CO.
METSA AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
City Councilors were briefed on an amended intergovernmental agreement, or IGA, with the Montrose Emergency Telephone Service Authority, METSA, to continue offering emergency telephone service for the City of Montrose, which is a member of the METSA board. The City Council will make a decision regarding the agreement at a future regular meeting.
POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPANSION SITE
Senior City Planner Garry Baker updated councilors about the city-owned property that is under consideration for use as a new site for the Montrose Police Department. One of the initial tasks needed for constructing the new Police Department is establishing a site. Establishing a site allows the city to hire an architect and finalize funding for the project.
Baker included a map in his report that detailed city’s right-of-ways along Uncompahgre Avenue and a portion of South First Street in front of City Hall that could be used for the new headquarters. An alleyway that runs east to west behind the Police Department and the city’s Office of Business and Tourism are also being considered.
Baker said the council would have to vote to vacate the city right-of-ways to allow those areas to be built upon. All of the city parcels and right-of-way areas are zoned “P” Public and “B-1” Central Business District. The P and B-1 zones have no zoning setbacks, allowing flexibility in the building location.
With council direction, a right-of-way vacation ordinance will be scheduled for the three portions of the right of way at a future City Council meeting.
4152 N. TOWNSEND AVE ADDITION ANNEXATION
Senior City Planner Garry Baker updated councilors about a proposed annexation of a 10.16-acre property located off of North Townsend Avenue. The "4152 N. Townsend Addition" is located northwest of the intersection of the Highway 50 frontage road, and Progress Lane. It is within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary, the Menoken Water Service Area, and the City of Montrose Sewer Service Area.
The owner would like to subdivide the single-family house on the northwest portion of the property from the rest of the property. The City/County intergovernmental agreement gives the City the option to annex properties within the IGA. The area surrounding the proposed annexation is urbanizing and more than 1/6 of the perimeter is contiguous to city limits. These factors support annexation. There will be no development that will require sewer or other utility connections. The purpose of this annexation is to subdivide the property. The next step is a City Council resolution to set a hearing date.
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All regular City Council meetings are open to the public and are held at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. All City Council meetings are recorded and made available online via on the city’s website and cable channels 191 for Charter subscribers and 970 for Elevate subscribers. Replays of council meetings are also broadcast at 6 p.m. on the same channels on days council is not in session.
In addition, each regular meeting is archived on the City of Montrose’s YouTube channel.
Work sessions are also open to the public and are usually held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 10 a.m. These meetings give councilors the opportunity to hear background information, ask questions, and have informal discussions about city policies and current issues before taking action through a public vote during regular council meetings.
Replays of work sessions are aired nightly following replays of the City Council’s regular meetings. Work sessions are archived on the City of Montrose’s YouTube channel.
Residents can watch all regular City Council meetings and work sessions live through the city’s website at CityOfMontrose.org/Video.
For more city news visit CityOfMontrose.org.