Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, June 20, to consider a new liquor license for a new airport bar, and a pair of ordinances and to hear a sales and use tax report for the month of April.
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.
IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION
Mayor Barbara Bynum signed a proclamation designating June 2023 as Immigrant Heritage Month in the City of Montrose.
Bynum said generations of immigrants from every corner of the globe have built our country’s economy and created the unique character of our nation, and throughout American history, immigrants have enriched our nation and provided it with unique social and cultural influences, making it stronger,more innovative, and prosperous.
“During National Immigrant Heritage Month, we recognize and celebrate the history and achievements of immigrant communities throughout the nation and within our local community,” Bynum said, encouraging all Montrose citizens to learn more about the social and economic impact of immigrants on our community and state.
CONSENT AGENDA
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the City Council’s June 5 special meeting and the June 6 regular meeting.
City Councilors also approved the July 4th Fireworks Display Permit. The annual permit is filed with the city to allow the annual fireworks show.
The council also approved the donation of a city-owned raft to Montrose Surf & Cycle in exchange for upkeep and river inspection services when needed.
The city’s archive of past meeting minutes can be found on the new Public Meetings Portal (CityofMontrose.org/Portal) and at CityofMontrose.org/ArchiveCenter.
NEW TAVERN LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve a new tavern liquor license at 2100 Airport Road for Shelter Distilling Inc., doing business at the Montrose Regional Aiport. Shelter Distilling is proposing to create a cocktail bar and provide grab-and-go food options for travelers on the second story of the new terminal building at the Montrose Regional Airport.
The City Council is the local liquor licensing authority for the City of Montrose. The council held a public hearing to consider the application and the applicant’s proposal before voting to approve the tavern license.
ORDINANCE 2628 — SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the adoption of the 2018 International Building and Energy Codes for use in the city’s planning and building department.
Deputy City Manager Ann Morgenthaler and Chief Building Official 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. 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 the 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
- Requirement to drywall basement/crawlspace 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
The 2018 building codes require that single‐family, duplex, and townhouse structures are built to include interior residential sprinklers, a requirement that did not exist in the 2003 code. However, a local government may make amendments when adopting the codes in order to modify such requirements. The ordinance includes language that eliminates the requirements for interior residential sprinklers.
Byers said this change would be consistent with other regional local governments and would accomplish the goal of providing an incremental, and not drastic, update to the building codes.
ORDINANCE 2629 — SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2629, on second reading, disconnecting a portion of parcel number 376716320003 from the city limits.
City Planner William Reis said the city recently received a request from Donnie and Barbara Blowers to de-annex a small portion of their property located at 2335 6450 Road. The request results from a recent boundary line dispute due to a fence line location. This boundary dispute was resolved with a boundary line agreement recorded in February of 2023.
WATER AND SEWER CONNECTION FEE ABATEMENT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the abatement of water and sewer connection fees, estimated at $275,214, for the Village at San Juan project being coordinated by Court Appointed Special Advocate, of the 7th Judicial District, CASA, and Region 10 Area Agency on Aging Village.
Development Specialist Christopher Ottinger said CASA and Region 10 have requested that the City of Montrose abate the water and sewer connection fees in support of the proposed Village at San Juan intergenerational supportive housing project. The project, focused on those at risk for homelessness from youth to the elderly, will be located along the San Juan bypass, just east of the current Public Works site and adjacent to 3M’s property.
CASA is ready to begin pulling permits and has secured funding for the project through a variety of means. A significant grant from the Department of Local Affairs, funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, foundations, and individual donors have contributed to making this project feasible.
STAFF REPORTS
Finance Director Shani Wittenberg delivered the sales, use, and excise tax report for April 2023.
Read the reports in their entirety here: LINK (www.cityofmontrose.org/260/Sales-Tax)
COUNCIL COMMENTS
City Councilor Dave Frank said he received the Montrose Rotary Club Rotarian Award.
City Councilors said the city is planning the annual Independence Day celebrations set for Tuesday, July 4, with a whole host of events planned community-wide. Find more information 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 on-demand through the city’s Public Meetings Portal.