Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, August 16, to approve a number of development projects, a pair of liquor licenses, and review recent sales and use tax reports.
Councilors Barbara Bynum, Dave Frank, Doug Glaspell, David Reed, and Ed Ulibarri met in City Council Chambers along with city staff.
The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
Watch the meeting here.
MEXICAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION DAY PROCLAMATION
Mayor Dave Frank read a proclamation declaring August 20, 2022, as Mexican American Development Association (MADA) Day in the City of Montrose.
Frank said MADAis a nonprofit organization that was built and formed by the Tortilla Flats community in 1972 as a grassroots organization. The efforts were led by Father Walter Smigiel, a Catholic priest who was active in the civil rights movement and worked with minority groups across the country. MADA has a heavy focus on families in need and elders and has over 50 years of service to the Montrose community.
“Being one of the oldest civil rights advocacy organizations in Western Colorado, MADA has recently refocused on meeting the needs of the community to serve in a meaningful way and build off of the many years of dedicated service to those in need,” Frank said.
Frank said the City Council proclaims August 20, 2022, as Mexican American Development Association Day in the City of Montrose and encourages citizens to join in celebrating the 50th anniversary of this important community asset.
PUBLIC COMMENT
A local resident asked the community to consider coming to the Mexican American Development Association’s (MADA) 50th-anniversary celebration Saturday, August 20, at 17 N 6th Street.
CONSENT AGENDA
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the August 2, 2022, 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.
The council also approved two special event permits to sell and serve alcohol, one with the closure of North 6th Street and Ute Avenue for the MADA 50th Anniversary Fiesta on Saturday, August 20, and another with the closure of North Uncompahgre Avenue for the Greater Montrose Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Block 93 event on August 25.
NEW LODGING AND ENTERTAINMENT LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a new lodging and entertainment liquor license at 1842 S Townsend Avenue for Hand Crafted Light Inc., Bluecorn Cafe, for consumption on the licensed premises.
The Montrose City Council is the local liquor license authority within the city limits. The council held a public hearing before voting to approve the license.
BREWPUB LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFER APPLICATION
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a transfer of a brew pub liquor license at 147 N First Street from Two Rascals Brewing Company LLC to Silver Basin Brewing LLC for consumption on the licensed premises.
The council held a public hearing before voting to approve the license.
ORDINANCE 2593 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2593 on second reading, amending an 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.
City Attorney Ben Morris provided the council with an annual ordinance to set the rate for METSA. The rate is charged on monthly telephone bills and provided to METSA to fund the local emergency phone service provided by WESTCO Dispatch, the local 911 provider.
AMENDMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CONTRACT FOR BLACK CANYON BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a request to amend an agreement between the City of Montrose and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, (DOLA), concerning a Community Development Block Grant award for the new Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club (BCBGC).
Community Engagement Specialist Ross Valdez said the city applied for, and was awarded, a Community Development Block Grant for the construction of a new BCBGC facility in Montrose. Due to the rising cost of construction, building a new facility has become financially unfeasible. In order to fulfill the objective of the grant, BCBGC would like to purchase property located at 1869 E Main St, currently known as San Juan Cinema, and renovate it for their intended use.
The estimated cost of building a new facility is over $6M and would offer 9,000 square feet of space. The purchase of the existing property, along with the renovation of the building, is estimated to cost a total of $2.85M. Once renovations are completed, the facility would offer 23,000 square feet. This will allow the BCBGC to increase the number of community members served while also ensuring that programs are accessible for low and middle-income families.
Valdez said DOLA was open to amending the grant to include the proposed change in venue for the club.
THE HUB AT MONTROSE CROSSING AMENDED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
City Councilors voted 4-1 to approve an amended development agreement with 1890 Homestead LLC to facilitate the development of the Hub at Montrose Crossing’s first phase to include 160 market-rate rental apartment units within the city limits.
City Manager Bill Bell said the City of Montrose entered into the original development agreement with 1890 Homestead, LLC on November 16, 2021. The agreement included a deadline to obtain the project’s building permit by June 1, 2022, and complete the project by June 1, 2024. The City Manager’s Office extended the building permit deadline to July 1, 2022, to be responsive to the fast-changing construction market and staff schedules. During that extension timeframe, 1890 Homestead requested extending the building permit and completion deadlines to August 1, 2023, and August 1, 2025, respectively. 1890 Homestead has indicated that rapidly rising interest rates have created unique challenges for the economics of the project that will require additional time to resolve. While a one-month extension was within the administrative and operations purview of the City Manager, the larger extension is a more significant budgetary request and warrants City Council review.
Councilor Ed Ulibarri voted against the amended agreement.
WATERFALL CANYON SUBDIVISION FILING NO. 6 FINAL PLAT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the Waterfall Canyon Subdivision Filing No. 6 Final Plat, which creates 44 residential lots and associated rights of ways and easements.
City Planner William Reis said the property is zoned “R-3A” Medium High-Density District. It is located south of Blue Lake Dr and west of Pilot Knob Ave. City acceptance of new roads and infrastructure improvements is planned for August 2022.
The Waterfall Canyon Subdivision Amended Preliminary Plat No. 3 was approved by City Council in June 2022.
Total size of property: 118.83 acres
Applicant: Matt Miles, Waterfall Canyon, LLC
STAFF REPORTS
Finance Director Shani Wittenberg delivered the sales, use, and excise tax report for June 2022, along with a second-quarter budget review.
Read the reports in their entirety here.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
City Councilor Doug Glaspell thanked city staff for hosting another successful FUNC Fest this past weekend.
Mayor Dave Frank said he hopes the community attends MADA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration this Saturday, August 20.
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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 or on-demand through the city’s Public Meetings Portal.