Rodeo season is just around the corner with the first event on Thursday, June 6, and Tuesday’s trustee meeting consisted predominantly of a check-in with Mike Kennedy, co-founder and board president of the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo (CWWR) nonprofit.
The meeting began with the sweariwng in of police officer Brian Thompson and Lieutenant Bill Kirkland receiving the Meritorious Service Award for an arrest he made in September 2023, followed by approval of the consent agenda. Among those items, Katie Tabor was appointed a voting member of the Environmental Board and Kevin Hanian an alternate. The Parks and Recreation Commission reappointed Susan Rhea as a voting member and Leslie Keery as an alternate. Rachel Bachman Perkins and Eric Lamb were also appointed as voting members and Liza Logan replaced Eli Cohen as the youth commissioner. Outgoing commissioner John Williams was acknowledged for his contributions and especially his historic perspective.
The Youth & Family Advisory Council’s 2025 planning recommendations were also attached to the consent agenda. This advisory council was established in 2021 to assist the Town with allocating funds from a tobacco sales tax approved by voters the year prior. In 2024, four local youth-serving organizations applied for grants. The allocation of funds was recommended as follows: Stepping Stones at $30,000, Valley Settlement at $20,000, Family Resource Center of the Roaring Fork Schools at $30,000 and YouthZone at $15,000. The council also recommended for “this iteration of the council to end” this fall based on its leadership capacity “growing limited.”
During public comments, Ceasefire Now RFV again asked that trustees consider adopting a ceasefire resolution like the one passed by Glenwood Springs City Council in February. Local students also addressed the need to reduce litter and increase recycling with more bins downtown.
Trustee Erica Sparhawk suggested using bag fee funds to help cover Mountain Fair’s compost and recycling costs and possibly incentivize other events to implement a “green team.”
Town Manager Lauren Gister’s updates included mention of the Carbondale Downtowner on-demand transportation service beginning July 1 for a six-month trial. If it proves favorable, a full year of service in 2025 would cost an estimated $726,000 — a cost which could be offset by a Roaring Fork Transportation Authority grant. Gister also announced that an application for tax credit financing toward Town Center through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) was denied. However, CHFA will offer feedback for a second attempt.
As noted by Mayor Ben Bohmfalk, the Town Center affordable housing project will cost an estimated $32 million to build on donated land. “The project is on pause until we figure out financing,” he said, adding, “I’m still optimistic” with the groundwork laid.
The sole public item on Tuesday’s agenda was a review of the Town’s facility use agreement with CWWR. Parks and Recreation Director Eric Brendlinger recapped a new memorandum of understanding and changes made to assure the rodeo runs as smoothly as possible given its rising popularity. Among the changes made last year, outside alcohol is prohibited, parking must be reserved, security is increased and, perhaps most important, parking is disallowed along County Road 100. “If the public likes the rodeo, they have to stop parking that way,” said Brendlinger, citing life-safety concerns. A free shuttle to and from The Orchard (110 Snowmass Drive) intends to address the lack of parking.
Kennedy elucidated that two 25-person shuttles make laps from 6 to 10pm. One change he wished to explore is adding another shuttle stop at the Town-owned parking lot at Fourth and Colorado, near Town Hall.
Sparhawk expressed enthusiasm for the idea, with greater proximity to businesses and a WE-cycle station. Having herself shuttled teens to and fro the rodeo, she noticed it’s a lot of younger folks parking along County Road 100. “Thinking of ways to make it easier for people in general but teens as well to grab the shuttle,” she said, “running the shuttle downtown could increase usage.”
One neighbor to the rodeo, Larry Gerbaz, took the opportunity to air a few grievances, particularly around dilapidated dumpsters at the Gus Darien Rodeo Arena attracting bears. He also suggested removing outhouses on the property to create more parking spaces. “We’ve got bears, we haven’t got the dumpsters replaced, we’ve got outhouses that could be more parking places,” he said. Brendlinger admitted the Town does need to get with Mountain Waste & Recycling to order new dumpsters.
Around 7:15pm, trustees entered into an executive session for legal counsel regarding a lawsuit filed against the Town by Michael Francisco over his treatment by police on Christmas Eve, 2020.