Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, September 7, to consider a number of ordinances and resolutions, and new annexations into the city.
Councilors Barbara Bynum, Dave Frank, Doug Glaspell, and David Reed met in City Council Chambers along with city staff. Councilor Anthony Russo was absent. Due to changing COVID-19 protocols, members of the public were allowed to attend in City Council Chambers or online via the Zoom platform.
The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
Watch the meeting here.
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH PROCLAMATION
Mayor Doug Glaspell read a city proclamation declaring the month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month.
Glaspell said suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34.
In the United States, over 47,000 people died by suicide in 2019, which is about one death every 11 minutes, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.
Glaspell said suicide is the only leading cause of death in the United States that has increased every year for the past decade, with an estimate that in 2019 there were over 1.4 million suicide attempts.
In 2019, suicide was the 7th leading cause of death in Colorado, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control, with 1,312 people dying by suicide in Colorado.
Glaspell said over 90% of the people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition, although often that condition is not recognized or treated.
"Organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Tri-County Health Network are dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide through research, education, advocacy, and resources for those who have lost someone to suicide or who struggle, and urge that we promote awareness that there is no single cause for suicide, and that suicide most often occurs when stressors exceed the coping abilities of someone struggling with a mental health condition," Glaspell said.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public offered any public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
Councilors voted unanimously to approve three items on the consent agenda.
• The minutes of the August 16, 2021, special City Council meeting and the August 17, 2021, regular City Council meeting.
• A Special Events Permit in conjunction with the closure of Main Street for the Dinner and Main Street event on Saturday, September 25, 2021.
• City Council's consideration of rescheduling the September 21, 2021, regular City Council meeting to Monday, September 20, 2021.
The city’s archive of past meeting minutes can be found at CityofMontrose.org/ArchiveCenter.
YOUTH CITY COUNCIL APPLICANT INTERVIEWS
City Councilors met with four local high school students to discuss their appointment to the city's Youth Council for the 2021-2022 term.
The Montrose Youth Council was established to encourage greater youth participation in the city’s government and is charged with actively advising the City Council with thoughtful recommendations on issues concerning youth and assisting city staff in considering youth perspectives in its planning efforts. Members are selected near the beginning of each school year from a pool of applicants.
PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICANT INTERVIEW
City Councilors met with Tina McFarlin about her possible appointment to the city’s Planning Commission. McFarlin is one of three residents who have submitted applications to the city. The council met with two other candidates during Tuesday’s work session.
Councilors will formally vote to appoint a new alternate member at the Monday, September 20, City Council regular meeting.
RESOLUTION 2021-17
Councilors voted unanimously to approve a resolution to allow the city to opt-in to a state program designed to disrupt the sale and distribution of gray and black-market marijuana.
City Community Program Manager Kendall Cramer said the City of Montrose has decided to pursue an annual grant with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, DOLA, to help cover costs associated with the investigation and prosecution of black-market marijuana production.
According to DOLA's website, the program is designed to "provide financial assistance grants annually to local law enforcement and district attorneys through the local governments for the investigation and prosecution costs associated with unlicensed marijuana cultivation or distribution operations."
Specifically, the program aims to provide funds to assist rural areas in preventing large-scale grow operations, organized crime operations, or any operations that divert marijuana outside the state of Colorado. According to DOLA, Colorado municipalities must opt-in to the grant program to receive financial assistance.
Cramer said the Gray and Black Market Marijuana Enforcement Grant Program would provide DOLA funds to the City of Montrose for personnel and operational and equipment costs to investigate, enforce, and prosecute illegal marijuana growth and sales operations.
ORDINANCE 2553 - FIRST READING
Councilors voted unanimously to approve a change to the Municipal Code that will further the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the City of Montrose.
City Attorney Stephen Alcorn said the current code language from 1988 states that the City Clerk will collect fingerprints and personal background information from people who install police alarm systems in homes and businesses.
The law was created to gauge the moral character of those installing such systems in Montrose.
Alcorn said city staff has concluded this practice needs to be discontinued. City Clerk Lisa DelPiccolo said the policy is difficult to enforce.
ORDINANCE 2554 — FIRST READING
Councilors voted unanimously to approve an ordinance vacating portions of a right of way within the city.
City Engineer Scott Murphy said the City of Montrose possesses a right of way adjacent to the Uncompahgre River that was originally dedicated in Montrose County and portions of this right of way no longer serve a public need or benefit.
The right of way is located near the Riverbend RV Park on the city's south side.
The city has the power to adopt the ordinance as set forth in the city's Municipal Code pursuant to the authority granted to home rule municipalities.
RIVERBEND RV PARK ADDITION II ANNEXATION
Councilors voted unanimously to approve both Resolution 2021-18 and Ordinance 2555 on first reading to annex the Riverbend RV Park into the city.
According to Senior Planner Amy Sharp, the Riverbend RV Park Addition II is a proposed annexation of approximately 0.26 acres in size. The parcel is located east of Chipeta Rd, west of the Uncompahgre River, and north of Chipeta Lake. It is within the City’s Urban Growth Boundary, the Chipeta Water Service Area, and the City of Montrose Sewer Service Area. Annexation of this property will clean up an orphaned strip of land not annexed into the city in 2009 with the parent parcel. All land surrounding this strip is already within city limits. An annexation agreement will not be required.
This property is adjacent to the river and the existing trail network. Annexation will allow the owner to include this strip of land into an overall consolidation of the RV Park property. A replat is planned to include this property and several other parcels in one new consolidated parcel. Access from the consolidated parcels to the city's trail system will allow persons visiting the RV park a direct pedestrian and bike connection to city parks and retail/commercial areas.
City Councilors will vote to approve the second reading of the ordinance at the September 20 regular meeting.
ORDINANCE 2556 — FIRST READING
Councilors voted unanimously to approve an ordinance on first reading officially zoning the Riverbend RV Park Addition II as a “B-2” Highway Commercial District.
RESOLUTION 2021 - 19
Councilors voted unanimously to approve setting October 19, 2021, as the hearing date for the annexation of the McCracken Addition.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, the McCracken Addition is a proposed annexation of approximately 2.295 acres in size. The parcel is located east of the Uncompahgre River, west of U.S. Highway 50, south of Industrial Drive, and north of N. Grand Avenue. It is within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary, the City of Montrose Water Service Area, and the City of Montrose Sewer Service Area. Annexation of this parcel will allow for future development of the property and connections to city utilities. An annexation agreement will be required.
City staff is proposing a zoning of “B-3” General Commercial District for the McCracken Addition.
BEAR CREEK SUBDIVISION AMENDMENT #4 PRELIMINARY PLAT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a preliminary plat of the Bear Creek Subdivision Amendment #4.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, the Bear Creek Subdivision Amendment #4 Preliminary Plat will renew the remaining unbuilt portions of this subdivision. The project is located south of Lincoln Road, north of Lilac Road, east of 6530 Road, and west of 6600 Road. The property is zoned “R-3A” Medium High-Density District and “R-5” Low Density/Manufactured Housing District.
This preliminary plat will subdivide the remaining 81 acres to create 282 single-family residential lots. All originally proposed multi-family lots have been converted to single-family lots. This change was documented in the original planned development, which allows the construction of single-family, duplex, or multi-family housing in high-density blocks. Changes to water and sewer services to provide individual services to each lot are reflected in the updated engineering plans.
Applicant: Matt Miles, Bear Creek Land Development, LLC.
Sharp said the city's Planning Commission recommended approval of the Bear Creek Subdivision Amendment #4 Preliminary Plat at August 25, 2021, meeting with the following standard condition: “The approval of this preliminary plat is expressly conditioned upon city staff ensuring that all policies, regulations, ordinances, and Municipal Code provisions are met and that the applicant adequately addresses all of the staff’s concerns prior to the execution of the final plat. The city staff is not authorized by this approval to execute the final plat prior to all conditions being satisfied.” The vote was unanimous.
THE FALLS AT VALLEY RANCH SOUTH PRELIMINARY PLAT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a preliminary plat of the Falls at Valley Ranch South Subdivision.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, the Falls at Valley Ranch South Subdivision is a proposed single-family residential development on the south end of Montrose. The property is approximately 130 acres in size and is located south of Ogden Road, north of Otter Road, east of Otter Pond Circle, and west of 6725 Road. The property is zoned “R-1” Very Low-Density District, “R-2” Low-Density District, and “R-3A” Medium High-Density District. The proposed subdivision will include seven single-family residential lots, open-space tracts, and Outlots A & B to be developed and subdivided in the future.
Applicant: David Coker & Montrose Development Company, LLC
Sharp said the city's Planning Commission recommended approval of The Falls at Valley Ranch South Preliminary Plat at the August 25, 2021, meeting with the following standard condition: “The approval of this preliminary plat is expressly conditioned upon city staff ensuring that all policies, regulations, ordinances, and Municipal Code provisions are met and that the applicant adequately addresses all of the staff’s concerns prior to the execution of the final plat. The city staff is not authorized by this approval to execute the final plat prior to all conditions being satisfied.” The vote was unanimous.
ORDINANCE 2558 — FIRST READING
Councilors voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to vacate a portion of Pinon Way.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, a neighboring property owner is requesting that the city vacate a portion of right-of-way along Pinon Way for future development of a 4-plex for workforce housing. The southerly half of this ROW would be vacated to the adjacent landowner. The northerly half would be retained by the city for future use.
ORDINANCE 2559 — FIRST READING
Councilors voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to change the language to the city's Municipal Code as it pertains to Planning Commission compensation.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, city staff has undertaken a review of the Municipal Code Title 2, Chapter 2, Section 1 (2-2-1) in order to update the compensation of Planning Commission members. This modification changes the Planning Commission members’ compensation from $40/month to $80/month and the chairperson’s compensation from $60/month to $100/month.
The proposed change in the code reads as follows:
Section 2-2-1: Creation of Planning Commission
(B) Each Planning Commission member except the Chairperson shall receive compensation of $40.00- $80.00 per month. The Chairperson shall receive compensation of $60.00 to $100.00 per month. Additionally, members may be reimbursed for authorized expenses.
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In addition, each regular meeting is 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.
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