Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, April 20, to consider a number of ordinances and contract awards and to welcome the city's new Municipal Court judge.
Councilors Dave Bowman, Barbara Bynum, Dave Frank, and Doug Glaspell met in person along with limited city staff. The public was also invited to attend via the Zoom platform. The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
Watch the meeting here.
OATH OF OFFICE FOR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE
Mayor Doug Glaspell administered the Oath of Office for new Municipal Court Judge Charles Greenacre. Judge Greenacre is replacing Judge Richard Brown who retired after serving as the city's Municipal Court Judge since 2002.
JOINT CITY COUNCIL / YOUTH CITY COUNCIL EARTH WEEK PROCLAMATION
City Councilors joined members of the city's Youth Council to proclaim the week of April 22 – May 1, 2021, as Earth Week in the City of Montrose. The proclamation urges all citizens of Montrose to support efforts to preserve and protect the natural resources, wildlife, and outdoor recreation amenities found in Montrose, the greater Western Slope, and the world.
Each spring the City of Montrose sponsors and coordinates a full schedule of Earth Week activities. The theme for the 2021 celebration is "Restore Our Earth."
The City of Montrose has planned a full schedule of COVID-safe Earth Week activities to involve the community in the annual celebration, running from April 22 through May 1.
A full listing of Earth Week information can be found here.
ARBOR DAY PROCLAMATION
Montrose Mayor Doug Glaspell read a proclamation to proclaim Friday, April 30, 2021, as Arbor Day in the City of Montrose.
Glaspell said Arbor Day was a great way for “all citizens to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands and to support our city’s urban forestry program.”
“We urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden hearts and promote the well-being of present and future generations,” Glaspell said.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilors voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the April 5 special City Council meeting, and the April 6 special City Council meeting, and the April 6 regular City Council meeting. The city’s archive of past meeting minutes can be found at CityofMontrose.org/ArchiveCenter.
PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
City Councilors voted to appoint Richard J. Rogers and Delphine Jadot to the city's Planning Commission.
Rogers was appointed to fill a recent commission vacancy. Jadot was appointed as an alternative to the board. Assistant City Manager Ann Morgenthaler said the alternate would help the board if there was a vote and a member was absent or needed to recuse themselves from a particular matter.
Rogers' term will end December 31, 2022, and Jadot's term will end December 31, 2024.
Councilors selected Rogers and Jadot from a pool of six applicants. The other applicants were Laura Baker, Clifford F. Dodge III, Christine Kersen, and Kevin S. Kuns.
More information about the Planning Commission can be found here.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
City Councilors voted unanimously to enter into an intergovernmental agreement, IGA, with Montrose County to design and construct a traffic signal at the intersection of Chipeta Drive and U.S. Hwy 550 on the southern end of the city.
City Engineer Scott Murphy presented the council with the plan and background information about the project. Montrose County owns and maintains the right-of-way for Chipeta Road, while the Colorado Department of Transportation, CDOT, owns and maintains the right-of-way for U.S. Hwy 550.
Murphy said the plan is to install a signal at the intersection once traffic volume reached heavier levels.
Murphy said a traffic study concluded that traffic from several subdivisions, parks, and city developments situated alongside Chipeta Road and located within the city contribute upwards of 40 percent of traffic at the intersection.
The total cost for project design and construction is expected to be less than $2,000,000. Costs for both design and construction will be pro-rated based on the estimated contribution of each party to traffic volumes on Chipeta Road at the intersection. Design and construction costs will be divided with 40 percent of project costs being paid by the city and the remaining 60 percent by the county.
The IGA states that "both parties hereby agree to prioritize budgeting of project construction costs in their respective 2022 and 2023 budgets as necessary."
Murphy said if the plan is approved by both the Montrose County Commissioners and City Council, bidding and construction could begin in 2022.
Councilors heard public comment on this issue before voting to approve the IGA.
NEW LODGING AND ENTERTAINMENT LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a Lodging and Entertainment liquor license at 431 East Main Street for Bliss Beauty Bar Co. LLC, for consumption on the licensed premises.
The council held a public hearing before voting to approve the license.
ORDINANCE 2532 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2532 for the annexation of the Valley Ranch Addition North.
Senior Planner Amy Sharp told the council the Valley Ranch Addition North is a proposed annexation of approximately 60.81 acres. The parcel is located north of Otter Road, south of Ogden Road, west of 6700 Road, and east of 6630 Court. 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 residential development.
ORDINANCE 2533 - SECOND READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2533 on second reading, zoning of the Valley Ranch Addition North as "R-3A" Medium High-Density District and "R-2" Low-Density District.
ORDINANCE 2534 - SECOND READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2534 on second reading for the annexation of the Valley Ranch Addition South.
Senior Planner Amy Sharp told the council the Valley Ranch Addition South is a proposed annexation of approximately 70.16 acres. The parcel is located north of Otter Road, south of Ogden Road, west of 6700 Road, and east of 6630 Court. 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 residential development.
ORDINANCE 2535 - SECOND READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2535 on first reading, zoning the Valley Ranch Addition South as "R-1" Very Low-Density District.
ORDINANCE 2536 - SECOND READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2536 on the second reading for the annexation of the Highway 50 Addition.
Senior Planner Amy Sharp told the council the Highway 50 Addition is a proposed annexation of approximately 15.04 acres. The parcel is located along Highway 50, west of 6700 Road, and east of 6600 Road. 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 clean up an ‘orphaned’ parcel of land bordered on three sides by existing city parcels.
ORDINANCE 2537 - SECOND READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2537 on first reading for the zoning of the Highway 50 Addition as "B-2" Highway Commercial District.
ORDINANCE 2538 - SECOND READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2538 on second reading, amending the zoning of Lot 1 of the Cedar View East Minor Subdivision from "R-6" Medium Density/Manufactured Housing District to "B-3" General Commercial District.
ORDINANCE 2539 - SECOND READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2539 on second reading to vacate a right-of-way along North Second Street within the city limits.
Senior Planner Amy Sharp told the council the proposed vacation is located along N 2nd Street. Part of the existing house at 127 N. Lot Avenue encroaches into the N 2nd right-of-way. The owner has requested that the city vacate a 12’ x 150’ strip of land (approximately 1800 sq. ft.) along the right-of-way.
This portion of N 2nd Street dead-ends into Paseo del Arroyo Park on the west side. The city would retain an 88-foot-wide ROW, which is sufficient for the street and sidewalks. The right-of-way vacation would have the additional benefit of allowing enough buildable area for two or three new lots under the REDO and Subdivision Regulations.
The amount of land proposed for vacation would place the entire house on private property. The resulting lot would be 150’ x 62.5’ in size (9375 sq. ft.). The vacated portion of the right-of-way will be combined into the existing lot by an administrative process.
ORDINANCE 2540 - FIRST READING
City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2540 on first reading, amending Title 4 Chapter 4 Section 12 (4-4-12) regarding "B-1" Central Business District.
Senior Planner Amy Sharp, along with Assistant City Attorney Matthew Magliaro, told the council that city staff has undertaken a review of the Municipal Code in order to specify the types of daytime social service activities that are allowed in the B-1, B-2, B-2A, and B-3 zoning districts.
This effort suggests modifications to the code to include daytime social service activities as a use by right in these zoning districts. Uses such as food banks, soup kitchens, and counseling centers have previously been, and are currently located, in these zoning districts.
This modification clarifies that these current uses are operating legally and provides clarification for future uses as well. Additionally, these daytime social service uses are compatible with other uses by right in these zoning districts. It meets the intent of the commercial districts as it provides for the exchange of goods and services in a reasonable and orderly manner.
• In this code amendment, “daytime” has been defined to mean from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. This helps to define when these services would be available.
• The amended language is to establish a specific use by right within B-1 zoning but with limitations to its scope. These specified limitations do not carry through to limit other uses of rights recognized in the code.
BEAR CREEK SUBDIVISION FILING NO.5 FINAL PLAT
City Council voted unanimously to approve the final plat for the Bear Creek Subdivision Filing No. 5 to create 59 new residential lots and dedicate rights of way and/or easements.
Senior Planner Amy Sharp told the council the property is zoned “R-3A” Medium High-Density District and “R-5” Low Density/ Manufactured Housing District. It is located north of Lilac Road, south of Lincoln Road, east of 6530 Road, and west of 6600 Road. City acceptance of new roads and infrastructure improvements is planned for early April 2021.
Sharp said the Bear Creek Subdivision Preliminary Plat was approved by City Council in July 2016 with a total size of 51.84 acres.
WOODGATE ROAD REALIGNMENT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT
City Council voted unanimously to approve a contract totaling $1,752,083 for the construction of the Woodgate Realignment Project. This includes the award of a construction contract to Mountain Valley Contracting in the amount of $1,467,983, a survey and engineering support contract to Del-Mont Consultants in the amount of $59,100, and Century Link utility relocation expenditures totaling $225,000.
City Engineer Scott Murphy said the city unveiled plans for the Woodgate Realignment Project on January 4, 2021, and has created a webpage specific to the project on the Moving Montrose Forward site at www.MoveMo.co.
Included on this webpage is a summary of the project, drawings, answers to frequently asked questions, informational videos with background information (project drivers, evaluation of alignment alternatives, project timeline, etc), and contact information for residents to provide feedback on the project.
Also included on the webpage are videos and informational packets from previous City Council work session discussions about the project and its associated right-of-way acquisitions.
Construction of the Woodgate Realignment Project was put out for bid on February 25 and bids were publicly received on March 18, 2021, from four contractors. Bid totals presented include a 10-percent contingency.
The city has recent positive experience working with the low bidder, Mountain Valley Contracting, on numerous capital projects and considers them qualified to perform the work. As a result, it was recommended that the construction contract be awarded to Mountain Valley Contracting. The city’s local preference policy would not change the outcome of bidding in this case.
The realignment construction project also includes the demolition of two vacant houses on Arland Road. Costs for demolition of these houses are included in the construction contract above; however, the scope of work associated with pre-demolition asbestos abatement was still being determined at the time of construction contract bidding.
The city has since completed asbestos evaluations on the properties and estimates the abatement work to cost approximately $60,000. In order to streamline the completion of this abatement and demolition of the houses, it was recommended that an additional $60,000 in contingency be added to Mountain Valley’s construction contract, bringing the total contract amount to $1,467,983.
In addition to the award of a construction contract, the award of an engineering support and survey stakeout contract to the project designer, Del-Mont Consultants, was recommended.
This scope of work is budgeted at $59,100 on an as-needed, time-and-materials basis, based on a proposal provided by the consultant. The realignment of Woodgate Road will also require the relocation of several communications cabinets in conflict with the new roadway. This work is estimated to cost $225,000 payable to the utility owner, Century Link.
MOVING MONTROSE FORWARD 2021 STREET MAINTENANCE CONTRACT AWARD
City Council voted unanimously to approve a contract totaling $1,017,670 for completion of the Moving Montrose Forward 2021 Street Maintenance Project. This includes the award of a construction contract to Skip Huston Construction in the amount of $699,270 for asphalt patching work and a construction contract to A-1 Chipseal Company in the amount of $318,400 for slurry seal surface treatments.
City Engineer Scott Murphy said the city, starting in 2018, developed the Moving Montrose Forward (MoveMo) initiative, which placed a renewed focus on street maintenance, reducing traffic congestion, and improving pedestrian and vehicular mobility throughout the community. As part of this effort, each year the city hires contractors to perform some of the larger-scale and specialized street maintenance construction. This contracted street maintenance work is in addition to typical routine maintenance activities performed by the city’s Streets Department.
The city’s street maintenance and capital plan are available on the MoveMo webpage and at https://tinyurl.com/COMStreetPlan.
The street maintenance plan identifies funding needs to sustainably maintain an acceptable pavement condition throughout the city and details how available funds should be allocated between the various types of maintenance activities (e.g., surface treatments, mill, and overlays, rebuild of failed roadways, etc).
Allocation of these funds is geared towards the creation of a comprehensive street maintenance program focused on striking a balance between maintenance of the better-condition roadways (keeping the “good roads good” and at a lower cost) and eventually restoring those that have experienced failure and are more costly to repair. Asset management software and modeling are used to help prioritize appropriate maintenance treatments for the city’s roadways and best utilize limited resources.
MoveMo street maintenance efforts over the past several years have focused mostly on the improvement of minor arterial roadways approaching failure (e.g., overlays of Hillcrest, South Park, Nevada, etc). This year’s project intends to focus on surface treatments and patching.
With the exception of S. Woodgate Road, this year’s patching work will focus on failed pavements west of Townsend Avenue within areas that city crews are also scheduled to crack seal in the near future. Ultimately, this work aims to get patching efforts on a similar rotation as crack sealing performed by in-house city crews.
Work under these contracts is scheduled to begin in mid-April and extend into November 2021. A summary of the anticipated traffic control measures and impacts are summarized below for each of the major work elements:
• Patching on S. Woodgate and W. Ogden. Work on Ogden Road will allow at least one lane of travel in each direction throughout construction. Patching work on S. Woodgate will maintain at least one alternating lane of travel utilizing flaggers.
• All Remaining Patching. All other patching work will take place on lower-volume streets that will be closed to through traffic during patching operations but will remain open to local traffic needing to access residential or business driveways.
• Slurry Seals. Slurry seal work requires full closure of each roadway while the material is being applied and for approximately 6 hours while the material cures. Residents along roadways will be notified at least 48 hours ahead of time with door hangers and no-parking signage before work on their roadway begins. Typically residents are able to plan their trips or park on nearby streets if needing to leave during the slurry seal process. Street work will be staggered to allow for parking on nearby streets during the application process. Access for emergency services will be available at all times during the project.
Additional detail on street maintenance can be found in the street capital and maintenance plan noted above as well as on the Street Maintenance tab of the Moving Montrose Forward webpage at www.MoveMo.co.
STAFF REPORTS
City Finance Director Shani Wittenberg delivered the sales, use, and excise tax report for February 2021.
Read the report in its entirety here.
YOUTH CITY COUNCIL
Youth City Councilor Gunnison Clamp said the council is working to recruit the next group of member students by conducting presentations in area schools. The next group of youth councilors will be appointed this coming fall to coincide with the new school year.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilor Dave Frank said the public will be invited back to City Council Chambers for City Council meetings beginning with the council’s May 3 work session. Mayor Barbara Bynum said the city’s new visitor guide has arrived this week for public consumption and congratulated the Office of Business and Tourism on a job well done.
STAFF COMMENTS
City Manager Bill Bell said the city’s yard of the month program is still ongoing. More information about this program can be found here.
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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 website at CityOfMontrose.org/Video.
For more city news visit CityOfMontrose.org.