Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for a work session Monday morning, May 15, to meet new city employees, consider a number of city contracts for ongoing projects, discuss an application for a new annexation, and schedule a strategic planning session to begin the 2024 budget process.
Mayor Barbara Bynum and councilors Dave Frank, Doug Glaspell, David Reed, and Ed Ulibarri met in the City Council Chambers at the Elks Civic Building along with city staff.
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 three new city employees.
- Tanner Holzmeister - Streets Division Worker
- Trey Smedley - Utility Division Worker (Water)
- Tyler Cunningham - Police Officer
2023 LANDFILL AGREEMENT RECOMMENDATION
City Councilors were presented with a contract recommendation for continued use of the Waste Management landfill for city trash service.
Public Works Director Jim Scheid said the city’s Trash and Recycle Division has collected and hauled the city’s solid municipal waste to the landfill, located northeast of the city, for many years. The landfill is operated by Waste Management and, in the past, was the only option available to the city for landfill services. The city’s existing agreement with Waste Management is due to expire in June 2023, prompting the city to issue a Request For Proposals (RFP) for landfill services. Two qualified bids, one from Waste Management for $60.68 per tip, and the other from Bruin Waste for $66.50 per tip, were received.
Scheid said the city hauls about 10,000 tons of waste per year, on average, to the landfill.
City staff recommended awarding the contract to Waste Management as the company has performed well in the past and has the lowest cost per ton for tipping fees. Scheid noted that it is great to see competition in this market.
MONTROSE CITY HALL PHASE 3 DESIGN CONTRACT AWARD RECOMMENDATION
City Councilors examined a potential contract award with Blythe Group in the amount of $145,030 for the design of the façade replacement on the new City Hall located at 400 East Main Street.
Public Works Director Jim Scheid said the city has worked with Blythe Group on two phases of interior remodeling of the new City Hall. These two phases are now complete, and the facility is currently being utilized by city staff. To continue the renovation project, the city has requested a proposal from Blythe to complete the design of the façade replacement for the facility, also known as phase three.
This design work is to be completed mostly in 2023, allowing for a potential construction start in the spring of 2024. Blythe Group has already completed some concept design work on the façade portion of the project as part of their scope in phase two.
This preliminary concept work allowed cost estimating to be performed and enabled discussions between city staff and City Council to determine the scope and budget that the phase three design should be targeting. After the design team begins work, city staff will procure a contract manager and general contractor to assist with pre-construction services to ensure that the design stays within the targeted project budget.
As part of Blythe’s design scope, they would participate in stakeholder and community meetings and would lead a design team that includes various engineers and consultants to ultimately provide construction documents (CDs) for the façade replacement.
2023 MOVEMO SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AUTHORIZATION
City Councilors were presented with a proposal for sidewalk improvements as part of the 2023 MoveMo initiative in the amount of $150,000.
Public Works Director Jim Scheid said the City of Montrose has requested formal bids for on-call concrete construction services. The successful bidders, Avila Concrete, Bull Basin, OEC Construction, and Agave Construction, are responsible for providing concrete services on an as-needed basis at various locations throughout the city.
Each portion of sidewalk repairs is broken down into small projects that staff can insert into the bid tabulation to determine which contractor will be the lowest cost. Across many of the line items on the bid tabulation, Avila Concrete Construction was the lowest bidder. If Avila is unable to accommodate a particular project, the project will be offered to the next lowest bidder until a contractor agrees to take the job. All the qualified bidders were awarded an on-call contract to perform concrete work for the city.
The 2023 MoveMo Sidewalk Improvements Project is comprised of multiple smaller concrete projects across Maintenance Zone B (see graphic).
The Streets Division performed a detailed survey of sidewalk conditions in this zone in 2022 to determine which areas could be milled down (ground) and which areas needed to be replaced. The grinding of the sidewalk is a separate scope of work and is scheduled to be completed in June of 2023. Areas needing replacement will be separated into smaller projects and Public Works will utilize the most economical bidder from the on-call concrete contract to perform the work.
DRY CEDAR CREEK II ADDITION ANNEXATION
City Councilors reviewed an application for annexation of the Dry Cedar Creek II Addition and its associated zoning.
City Planner William Reis said the Dry Cedar Creek II Addition is approximately 5.06 acres in size. The parcel is located along Ogden Road, southeast of its intersection with Kellie Drive. It is within the city’s urban growth boundary, the city’s sewer service area, and the city’s water service area.
Annexation of this property will allow for connection to city utilities. City Councilors will formally vote on the annexation at a June City Council meeting.
INTERNATIONAL CODE SUITE ADOPTION
City Councilors were presented with a proposed ordinance to adopt the 2018 International Building and Energy Codes.
Deputy City Manager Ann Morgenthaler and Chief Building Officer Archie Byers noted that the City of Montrose adopted the 2003 International Building Codes, published by the International Code Council (ICC), in July 2005. 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).
Local governments in the region 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, it must also adopt either 2015, 2018, or 2021 IECC. If a municipality adopts a new building code after July 1, 2023, the local government must adopt an energy code that is equivalent to the 2021 version of the IECC.
Notable Updates
Adoption of 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
- The requirement to drywall basement/crawlspaces lids when fueled-fired appliances are located in the basement or crawlspace
- Increased insulation values or energy heel 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 recommends, and the proposed adoption
ordinance includes, language specifying that these requirements for interior residential sprinklers are eliminated. This would be consistent with other regional local governments and would accomplish the staff’s goal of providing an incremental, and not drastic, update to the building codes.
SCHEDULING OF THE 2024 BUDGET STRATEGIC SESSION WITH CITY COUNCIL
City Councilors, along with Finance Director Shani Wittenberg and staff, have scheduled the councilor’s annual budget retreat for September 7.
ALCOHOL PERMIT AND STREET CLOSURE FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EVENT
City Councilors were presented with an alcohol and special events permit for Habitat for Humanity to close the 500 block of Main Street and Uncompahgre Avenue from North First Street to Centennial Plaza for the Rock the Block event on Saturday, June 24.
The streets will be closed from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. to allow time for event set up and clean up afterward.
Event organizers are required to notify all businesses affected by the closures, and at least 75 percent of those businesses must approve of the closures before the Events Use Permit will be approved by city staff.
Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club has applied for a Special Events Permit to sell and serve alcohol during the event. The premises were posted in compliance with state statutes. City of Montrose Regulations require City Council approval for street closures exceeding 10 hours in duration and for Special Events Permits to serve alcohol in conjunction with street closures.
The council is waiting to gather more information before a planned vote to approve or deny the permit.
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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 and on-demand through the city’s Public Meetings Portal.