Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, October 19, to consider a number of ordinances, annexations, and contracts for several infrastructure projects planned throughout the city.
Councilors Barbara Bynum, Dave Frank, Doug Glaspell, David Reed, and Anthony Russo met in City Council Chambers along with city staff. 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.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public offered any comment.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilors voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the October 5, regular City Council meeting.
The city’s archive of past meeting minutes can be found on the new Public Meetings Portal and at CityofMontrose.org/ArchiveCenter.
SPECIAL EVENTS ALCOHOL PERMIT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a Special Events Permit to sell and serve alcohol in conjunction with the Envision Block 93 party scheduled for Thursday, October 21, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
City Councilors voted to appoint Jon Horn, Amanda Lloyd, and Danielle Godt to three open vacancies to the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. The three candidates, along with Jeremy Omvig, submitted applications to serve on the commission.
Council members appointed Omvig to serve as an alternate to the Commission.
The Historic Preservation Commission serves as the evaluative body for historic properties within the city, providing recommendations to City Council on historic property designations, assisting with public education regarding the municipal history and historic preservation, and reviewing best practices for designation standards and preservation efforts throughout the community.
Historic Preservation Commissioners are appointed by the City Council. At least 60% of the Commission's members are residents of the city, and at least 40% of them are professionals or individuals with extensive expertise in a preservation-related discipline, including but not limited to: history, architecture, landscape architecture, American studies, American civilization, cultural geography, cultural anthropology, planning, or archaeology.
To learn more about the Commission, click here.
ORDINANCE 2561 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2561 on second reading to repeal and replace Title 4, Chapter 4, Sections 1-18 (4-4-1-18) of the city's Municipal Code.
Senior City Planner Amy Sharp said city staff has undertaken a review of the Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4, Sections 1-18 in order to add a definition for family childcare homes, update the definition for childcare facilities, and define where these uses are allowed. This code amendment is in response to House Bill 21-1222, signed June 7, 2021, which expands opportunities to access childcare in family childcare homes and requires family childcare homes to be treated as residential property use.
ORDINANCE 2562 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2561 on second reading to repeal and replace Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 3 (4-1-3) of the city's Municipal Code.
Senior City Planner Amy Sharp said city staff has undertaken a review of the Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 3 (C) in order to update building code requirements for various daycare, childcare, adult day care, and residential group facilities.
This code amendment is also in response to House Bill 21-1222. The proposed code amendment changes the requirement from five (5) children to twelve (12) children in the following sections to reflect provisions in the new state law.
Recommended Actions:
1. Update Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 3 (C) to add #11-16 in Subsection (C) to reflect this change.
(11) Section 305.2 Daycare is amended by deleting five (5) and replacing it with twelve(12).
(12) Section 308.4 Group I-4, Day Care Facilities is amended by deleting five (5) and replacing it with twelve (12).
(13) Section 308.5.1 Adult Day Care is amended by deleting five (5) and replacing it with twelve (12).
(14) Section 308.5.2 Child Care Facility is amended by deleting five (5) and replacing it with twelve (12).
(15) Section 308.5.2 Child Care Facility exception is amended by deleting five (5) and replacing it with twelve (12).
(16) Section 310.1 Residential Group R is amended by deleting five (5) and replacing it with twelve (12).
Councilors will vote on a second reading of the ordinance at the October 19 regular meeting.
ORDINANCE 2564 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2564 on second reading for the rezoning of Lot 1 and Outlot A of the Yocum Subdivision and the adjacent right of ways.
Senior City Planner Amy Sharp said the proposal is to rezone Lot 1 and Outlot A of the Yocum Subdivision and the adjacent right of ways from “R-1A” Large Estate District to “B-4” Neighborhood Shopping District for future development, which could include a neighborhood center and/or housing. The property consists of approximately 6.4 acres, including both the parcels and adjacent right of ways.
Applicant: David Coker, Montrose Development Company, LLC
Proposed Zoning: “B-4” Neighborhood District
MCCRACKEN ADDITION ANNEXATION
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2021-22 and Ordinance 2565 for the annexation of the McCracken Addition.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, the McCracken Addition is approximately 2.295 acres in size. The parcel is located east of the Uncompahgre River, west of Hwy 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 property will allow for future development of the property and connection to city utilities. An annexation agreement will be required.
Proposed Zoning: “B-3” General Commercial District
Applicant: Ray McCracken.
ORDINANCE 2566 - FIRST READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a zoning of "B-3" General Commercial District for the McCracken Addition.
SUNRISE CREEK II FILING NO 5 FINAL PLAT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the final plat for the Sunrise Creek Number 5 development to create six new residential lots within the city limits.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, the property is approximately 1.47 acres in size and is bordered on the north by Market Street, on the east by Snowbrush Avenue, on the west by a dedicated alley and S. Hillcrest Drive, and on the south by Sunrise Creek Subdivision. The property is zoned “B-4”
Neighborhood Shopping District. The intent is to construct residential, single-family housing on these lots which is a use-by-right in this zoning district. The preliminary plat was approved in May 2021.
Applicant: Elliot Steinberg for Sunrise Creek LLC
SUNRISE CREEK III FILING NO 2 FINAL PLAT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the final plat for the Sunrise Creek Number 2 development to create 14 new residential lots within the city limits.
According to Senior City Planner Amy Sharp, the property is approximately 2.67 acres in size and is located south of Market Street, north of Walden Drive, and east of Hillcrest Drive. The property is zoned “R-3A” Medium High-Density District. The intent is to construct single-family residential housing on these lots, which is a use-by-right in this zoning district. The surrounding roads have been dedicated and constructed under previous filings. The construction for this project includes the alley in Outlot A with a new sewer line, an alley through Outlot B, sidewalks, and utilities to accommodate single-family homes. The preliminary plat was approved in May 2021.
Applicant: Sunrise Creek Montrose, LLC, Jack Petruccelli.
MONTROSE BOTANICAL SOCIETY LEASE AGREEMENT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve an agreement for the lease of the Montrose Botanical Gardens to the Montrose Botanical Society, MBS, for a period of 25 years.
According to Ross Valdez, the city and MBS entered into the current 50-year lease in 1996, which expires in 2046. City Council is considering a new 25-year lease containing provisions that reflect the current state of the Botanic Gardens, its use, and the city’s support.
The Botanic Gardens are an area for demonstration, education, and leisure and are free to the public to enjoy.
BIRCH STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT CONTRACT AWARD
City Councilors were presented with a contract for work to replace the failing bridge on Birch Street.
City Engineer Scott Murphy said Birch Street is a city right of way that crosses over the Loutsenhizer Canal near the Black Canyon Golf Course. Over the years, the bridge’s abutments and supporting foundations have become undermined and supporting soils are eroding away. This undermining has advanced enough that replacement of the bridge is now warranted, according to Murphy.
The city is looking to replace the existing bridge with an aluminum box culvert similar to those present on city rights of way over the Loutsenhizer Canal at Otter, Niagara, Sunnyside, and Miami Roads.
Murphy said the project will also replace an undersized and aged waterline and failed sewer line beneath the bridge. Similar to the design for Otter Road, the Birch Street Bridge Replacement Project was designed in-house by the city’s Engineering Department.
Murphy said the city received five bids from Colorado companies. City staff is recommending the council approve a contract to the low bidder, United Companies of Montrose, in the amount of $447,976 for the completion of the project.
The bridge replacement and associated utility work are scheduled to take place while the Loutsenhizer Canal is shut off for the winter. Final paving of the roadway will take place as soon as the asphalt batch plants open up in the spring of 2022.
The existing bridge crossing on Birch Street is the only point of access for the eight residences living along the eastern end of the Birch Street cul-de-sac. As a result, it will be necessary to construct a temporary bypass road around the work area in order to maintain residential, emergency, and trash-service access throughout construction. The city has secured the temporary construction easements necessary to construct this bypass roadway across private property.
Given that this project will span two budget years, the city budgeted a combined $565k within the 2021 and 2022 budgets for its completion. The utility replacements will be funded through their respective utility enterprise capital funds with the remainder being funded through the general capital fund.
2021 SANITARY SEWER CURED-IN-PLACE PIPE AWARD RECOMMENDATION
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a contract award for the lining of sanitary sewers within the city.
Utilities Manager David Bries reported that city utility crews conduct routine sewer line inspections to identify critical sewers that are candidates for Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP). CIPP is the process of installing a new pipe within an existing pipe, thus restoring the structural integrity of the line.
The lines for this year's project are mostly Vitrified Clay Pipes (VCP) that have deteriorated and have higher maintenance costs due to the condition of the line segments. This year's list is focused on Townsend Ave. from Poplar St. to Main St., a segment that CDOT is planning on resurfacing over the next of couple years. This project was advertised as a renewable contract and formal bids were received on September 9, 2020.
One bid was received from Insituform Technologies, LLC. Bries said staff is recommending the approval of a contract with Insituform Technologies, LLC in the amount not to exceed $250,000, for CIPP lining of sanitary sewers.
Bries said the $250,000 is included in the 2021 Wastewater Collection Budget for sanitary sewer pipe lining and, based on a review of the 2021 budget, adequate funding is available.
LANDSCAPING SERVICES CONTRACT AWARD RECOMMENDATION
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a service contract for S&E Ward’s Landscaping Management, Inc. for landscaping services at city facilities in the amount of $65,007.
Public Works Manager Jim Scheid said the city’s Facility Division contracts the landscaping services for the following city facilities; Pavilion, Animal Shelter, Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Civic Campus.
The city’s previous landscaping services contract expired earlier this year and an RFP was issued to allow for a competitive bid process.
Scheid said the city received three bids to provide landscaping services at nine city facilities through a formal bid process. Proposals were evaluated based on reference checks, thoroughness of the information provided, and price. As per the city’s Municipal Code, local preferences were applied at 5% for Greenway Pro Chem Lawn and Jamaican Me Crazy Yard Service and 3% for S&E Ward’s Landscaping Management Inc.
Scheid said S&E Ward’s Landscaping Management, Inc. was the low bidder, and recommended approval of the contract.
STAFF REPORTS
City Finance Director Shani Wittenberg delivered the sales, use, and excise tax report for August 2021.
Read the report in its entirety here.
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