Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for a work session Monday morning, December 19, to meet with new employees, consider updates to the city’s building codes, hear about an annexation application, and receive an update on a shared services agreement with the Montrose Recreation District.
Councilors Barbara Bynum, Dave Frank, and Ed Ulibarri met in City Council Chambers along with city staff. Councilors Doug Glaspell and David Reed attended via the Zoom platform.
The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
Watch the meeting here.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW CITY EMPLOYEES
City Councilors were introduced to a number of new city employees Monday.
- James Legler, Police Officer
- Christian Castravet, Police Officer
- Jack Hough, Police Officer
- Shawn Rossman, Utilities Worker
- Leanne Whittaker, Customer Service Technician
- Steven Stollsteimer, Parks & Special Projects Division Worker
- Ashton Jones, Fleet Mechanic
UPDATE ABOUT BUILDING CODE AND ENERGY CODE ADOPTION
City Councilors were presented with a proposal to adopt the 2018 building and energy codes for the City of Montrose. If the city council agrees with this recommendation, staff will continue drafting the adoption ordinance and local amendments with the goal of City Council adoption of the codes in the spring of 2023
Deputy City Manager Ann Morgenthaler, along with Chief Building Official Archie Byers reported that in July 2005 the City of Montrose adopted the 2003 International Building Codes, published by the International Code Council (ICC). These include the 2003 versions of the International Building Code (IBC), the International Mechanical Code (IMC), the International Residential Code (IRC), the International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), the International Plumbing Code (IPC), the International Existing Building Code (IEBC), the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), and the International Fire Code (IFC). In 2008, the City adopted the 2003 version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
When applicants submit a building permit application, their building plans must comply with – at a minimum - the adopted codes. City staff allows applicants to instead demonstrate compliance with more recently published codes if they desire to do so, as more recently published codes are typically more stringent.
Regional local governments have had the shared goal of adopting the same version of building codes in order to provide consistent standards for the professional building community that works in multiple jurisdictions. The majority of regional local governments have adopted the 2018 building codes and do not have plans to adopt more recently published codes.
In addition to the goal of regional consistency, State of Colorado legislation (HB22-1362) requires that, if a local government adopts new Building Codes prior to July 1, 2023, they also adopt either 2015, 2018, or 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). If a municipality adopts a new building code after July 1, 2023, it must adopt an energy code that is equivalent to the 2021 version of the IECC.
Notable Updates
Adopting the 2018 suite of building and energy codes will include some noticeable changes including:
- IRC automatic sprinkler requirement
- Increased fire separation distance (from 3 to 5 feet) for the fire-resistant construction requirement
- Basement/crawlspaces lids are required to be drywalled when fuel-fired appliances are located in a basement or crawlspace
- Increased insulation values or energy heels (trusses)
- Mechanical ventilation requirements
- Lighting efficacy increases
- Duct and blower door testing for air leakage
Currently, pursuant to the 2003 building codes, the City of Montrose does not require interior residential sprinklers in single-family, duplex, or townhouse structures. The 2018 building codes require that single-family, duplex, and townhouse structures are built to include interior residential sprinklers. However, a local government may make amendments when adopting the codes in order to modify such requirements. Staff recommended that, if the 2018 codes are adopted, these requirements for interior residential sprinklers in such structures are eliminated. This would be consistent with other regional local governments and would accomplish staff’s goal of providing an incremental, and not drastic, update to the building codes. Specifications for installing interior sprinklers would be included in case a builder desires to install them.
PROPOSED 2023 MONTROSE RECREATION DISTRICT/ CITY SHARED SERVICES IGA
City Councilors were presented with an annual intergovernmental agreement, IGA, with the Montrose Recreation District regarding shared services throughout the community.
Each year city and district staff review the agreement and discuss any potential changes to meet the needs of both organizations and the public. Morgenthaler said she was pleased to report that staff representatives have reached a tentative agreement, contingent upon the approval of the City Council and MRD Board, for 2023.
Notable changes to the agreement include allowing the district the use of the City Attorney on certain legal items. The City of Montrose will be crack-sealing the Montrose Field House parking lot in 2023.
The city and rec district have also updated their respective rates for the 2023 calendar year.
KLEIN ADDITION ANNEXATION
City Councilors were briefed about a proposed annexation application for the Klein Addition.
City Planner William Reis said the Klein Addition is approximately 1 acre in size. The parcel is located west of 6600 Road, addressed as 675 6600 Road. It is within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary, City of Montrose Sewer Service Area, and the Tri-County Water Service Area. Annexation of this property will allow for connection to city sewer service. An annexation agreement is required.
Proposed Zoning: “MHR” Manufactured Housing Residential District
Applicant: Kenneth Brison Klein.
DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL POSTING LOCATION
Each year, as required by Colorado State Law, the City of Montrose designates an official posting location for public notices and public meetings.
City Councilors were presented with a list of the official posting designations for all City Council meeting notices. Each January the council approves the locations for the following year. They include the City of Montrose website, CityofMontrose.org, as the official posting location for meeting notices. Bulletin boards located in the lobby and outside City Hall are designated as secondary locations for use in exigent or emergency circumstances.
GENERAL CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION
The City Council wished the Montrose community a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
City Engineer Scott Murphy said the traffic signal at the intersection of Chipeta Road and U.S. Hwy 550 will be completed in the first quarter of 2023. The traffic signal at the Montrose Regional Airport is moving to get a temporary signal in place sometime in 2023.
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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 and on-demand through the city’s Public Meetings Portal.