Montrose, CO — City councilors met for a work session Monday morning, September 14, to discuss a number of issues including improvements to La Raza Park, a proposed annexation, a contract award for a sewer project, and consideration of CARES Act Funding. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, councilors met socially distant in council chambers at 107 South Cascade. The public was invited to attend via the Zoom platform.
Councilors Roy Anderson, Dave Bowman, Barbara Bynum, Dave Frank, and Doug Glaspell met for one hour, 34 minutes along with city staff. The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
Watch the meeting here.
NOTE: due to technical issues with a computer, the first 5 minutes and 12 seconds of sound and picture are incomplete. At 5:13 the meeting returns with councilors speaking with new city employees.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW CITY EMPLOYEES
A handful of new employees were introduced to the City Council. Most of the new hires were backfilling recent departures. The new employees introduced were:
Chris Randall, parks and special projects worker
Ashley Resh, human resources generalist
Joaquin Rodrigues, parks and special projects worker
Aason Sheedy, police officer
Niane Baca, police officer
Kay Alvarez, police officer
LA RAZA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
City councilors discussed proposed improvements within the Tortilla Flats neighborhood on the city’s northwest side. Improvements to La Raza Park and a railroad crossing at North 4th Street were considered, along with improving sidewalks so neighborhood school children can safely cross Townsend Avenue while walking to attend Northside Elementary School.
Improvements to La Raza Park are being considered for later this year as city administrators make sure funds and local contractors are available for the work.
The Tortilla Flats area, self-identified by its residents, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Montrose. Mayor Barbara Bynum asked City Engineer Scott Murphy to schedule a neighborhood walking tour with residents as soon as possible to see firsthand what transportation improvements need to be made to improve pedestrian friendliness. Park improvements will also be a part of the tour.
More information about the tour will be released when it becomes available.
WOODGATE ADDITION NO. 4 ANNEXATION
City Councilors are considering the annexation of the Woodgate Addition No. 4, a 0.49-acre parcel located east of S. Townsend Avenue, west of Woodgate Road, and in between Oak Grove Road and Odelle Road. It is within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary, Water Service Area, and Sewer Service Area.
2020 SANITARY SEWER CURED-IN-PLACE PIPE BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION
City councilors will consider approving a bid award to Insituform Technologies, LLC in an amount not to exceed $200,000, for cured-in-place lining of sanitary sewers.
The city originally contracted with Granite Inliner for this project with a renewable contract in 2018. Once this year’s list for the Cured in Place Pipe project (CIPP) was identified, Granite Inliner verbally agreed to perform the work. After discussion on August 3, 2020, work session, they informed the city that they would not be able to complete the work this year as their schedule was full. Upon receiving this information, staff prepared a formal bid request with Insituform Technologies emerging as the best proposal..
The project is scheduled to be completed no later than December 31, 2020, with the first part of the project consisting of pre-cleaning and video inspection of the line segments in preparation for the lining process.
CONSIDERATION OF ALLOCATION OF CARES ACT FUNDING
City Councilors are considering how to allocate the city’s share of CARES Act funding, opting on Tuesday to have city staff work with area non-profits to gauge whether CARES Act money could help local organizations that continue to serve the public during the ongoing pandemic.
On June 16, 2020, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Montrose County to apply to the Department of Local Affairs for funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF), established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This funding is often referred to as ‘CARES Act’ funding. Pursuant to this MOU and DOLA’s approval, the city was allocated a total of $1,100,419. By accepting the funding, the city agreed to spend the funds for expenses related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Funds must be spent by December 30, 2020. To date, the city has spent approximately $300,000 directly responding to the emergency, including purchasing additional cleaning supplies and computer equipment as well as in staff time that was substantially dedicated to responding to the emergency. Staff estimates that an additional $100,000 may be needed between now and year-end for city expenses directly related to the COVID-19 response.
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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 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 website at CityOfMontrose.org/Video.
For more city news visit CityOfMontrose.org.