Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, November 2, to consider approving the 2022 city budget and fee schedule, a change to the city’s police regulations, and an intergovernmental agreement with Montrose County.
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 person 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
Two residents voiced their concerns and submitted written copies for the record about public notices as they relate to proposed developments and their impact on surrounding spaces and neighborhoods. One resident said better noticing needs to be created for everyone - including HOAs - living within 500 feet of a proposed development as opposed to 100 feet is the current practice.
In addition, concerns about the city’s Municipal Code language regarding zoning districts and use-by-right designations need to be clarified for the public to understand.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilors voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the October 18, special City Council meeting and the October 19 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.
ORDINANCE 2567 – FIRST READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the 2022 City of Montrose Municipal Budget on first reading. The council annually approves the budget before the end of the year to make sure city operations run uninterrupted beginning January 1.
Finance Director Shani Wittenberg said the city held its annual Budget Open House on October 19, and first presented the council with the proposed budget earlier in October.
Wittenberg presented a brief budget overview to the council and reviewed all the city’s funds and expenditures. Highlights included increased funding for public safety, city roadway improvements, and sewer and water infrastructure improvements.
The council will vote on a second reading of the ordinance at the November 16 regular meeting.
To read more about the 2022 budget click this link.
RESOLUTION 2021-23
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve changes to the city’s Fee Schedule.
A number of fees were removed while other fees were adjusted and clarified as demand for specific services has grown in recent years. Increases in fees for residential water and sewer services are included to help offset increased costs to provide these services.
Fees were also created for services that were added in 2021. For example, fees for the new Montrose Rotary Amphitheater were created to help offset operational costs of the facility. Other new fees include document production and copying of city and Police Department records.
City Clerk Lisa DelPiccolo said the new fee schedule will take effect on January 1, 2022.
ORDINANCE 2568 – FIRST READING
City Councilors voted unanimously on first reading to approve a change to the city’s Municipal Code pertaining to loitering. Assistant City Attorney Matthew Magliaro had presented councilors with the revisions at a council work session in October.
Magliaro said the changes were recommended to better define loitering within Montrose Police Department regulations. The council will vote on a second reading of the ordinance at the November 16 regular meeting.
ORDINANCE 2565 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve 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.
ORDINANCE 2566 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve zoning of "B-3" General Commercial District for the McCracken Addition.
ORDINANCE 2569 - FIRST READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2569 on first reading to rezone a portion of Parcel #376720200907, also known as 2365 Air Park Way. The applicant for the rezoning is the City of Montrose.
Senior City Planner Amy Sharp said the property is currently zoned “P” Public District. The proposed new zoning is “B-3” General Commercial District.
This proposed zoning would allow for new commercial use opportunities
within this area. The city would retain a small piece of land within this parcel for public access to the river. The property consists of approximately 1.3 acres.
2021 INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH MONTROSE COUNTY
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a revised intergovernmental agreement, IGA, with Montrose County pertaining to the development of land surrounding the city.
Senior Planner Amy Sharp said after the city completed the Envision 2040 Comprehensive Plan, city staff reviewed the 2010 IGA between the city and Montrose County.
City staff then drafted an updated IGA that was reviewed with Montrose County staff for proposed changes. Redlined and clean versions of the new IGA, which incorporates the new maps from the Envision 2040 Comprehensive Plan, were provided to the City Council for their review.
Sharp said the new IGA was essential to coordinating governmental services between the city and county as Montrose continues to grow.
Read more about the Envision 2040 Comprehensive Plan here.
STAFF REPORTS
Youth City Councilor Gunnison Clamp said the 2021-2022 Youth City Council term is looking to be very productive. More updates about the council’s activities will be coming in the near future.
Police Chief Blaine Hall briefed the council about work that is being done to develop a long-term approach to handling adult gaming businesses in Montrose since the council passed a moratorium earlier this year. Hall said several communities across the Western Slope are looking to follow the City of Montrose’s lead in determining if these businesses are legal under Colorado’s gambling laws. Hall said the city is looking for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office for guidance on this issue.
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All City Council meetings are recorded and made available online via 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 that the council is not in session.
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 Public Meetings Portal.
For more city news visit CityOfMontrose.org.