All Carbondale trustees were present at the regular meeting on Aug. 14 with Christina Montemayor joining via Zoom.
A simple consent agenda, quickly approved, included liquor license renewals, reappointment of Heather MacDonald to the Historic Preservation Commission and accounts payable.
During general public comments, Sue Zislis, an advocate for the new on-demand microtransit Downtowner service, brought forth the issue that parents with a child under the age of 2 are unable to take the Downtowner because the company’s insurance would require them to utilize a car seat. Zislis announced Age-Friendly Carbondale’s willingness to address this by purchasing two car seats for each of the three vans. “We would like to do that now or yesterday,” she said. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk suggested she connect with Town staff.
During trustee comments, Ross Kribbs praised the work done at Riverfront Park and suggested signage leading to the park, making known that it’s public. Jess Robison noted that school is starting again and pedestrian safety should be top of mind; she also suggested that Downtowner promotional fliers carry the service’s dispatch number (970-504-0054) and not just QR codes. Colin Laird said the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition’s Good Deeds buydown program (www.wmrhousing.org/gooddeeds) is getting started with “a bunch of people lined up to try to purchase units.” Erica Sparhawk gave kudos to Carbondale Arts for another great Mountain Fair. Chris Hassig mentioned a draft of the Mobility and Access Plan was reviewed by the Bike, Pedestrian and Trails Commission. Bohmfalk applauded the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo team for mitigating concerns with parking on Country Road 100 and neighborhood streets. Montemayor announced that April Long will be executive director of the Ruedi Water and Power Authority for another year.
Town Manager Lauren Gister’s report began by acknowledging a Siberian elm on the pool property came down “and it wasn’t supposed to” according to the tree protection plan. She attributed the action to a miscommunication between the contractor and subcontractor and said what’s left behind that will be protected are two locust trees which the contractor will transplant, an oak and a large pine tree. An offer was accepted by a new finance director who is coming from Granby in September.
Bohmfalk asked about camping under the bridge at the 82-133 intersection. Gister explained that some of the property belongs to Carbondale, some to Garfield County, a portion is within the Colorado Department of Transportation’s right-of-way and the remainder is under Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s jurisdiction. She said efforts are underway to coordinate with other agencies to clean up the area and install a fence.
Following up on a vote from early July, Robison asked about the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the new pool construction. Gister explained that value engineering the masonry and getting final comments from the plan reviewer are holding it up. According to Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger, it will be another four to six weeks before the Guaranteed Maximum Price returns for a vote.
The meeting proceeded with a few action items. First, Kade Gianinneti and Brendlinger presented on behalf of Potato Days. This year’s theme is “Mr. McClure Goes to Hollywood” celebrating the 75th anniversary of “Red Stallion in the Rockies” — filmed in Carbondale in 1949. Festivities will begin with a screening of the film at the Carbondale Library on Thursday, Oct. 3. A “barn dance” will again be hosted at the Rec Center from 6 to 11pm on Oct. 4. New this year, local spirits, beer and wine will be sold in Sopris Park on Potato Day proper, Oct. 5. A traditional gymkhana and activities at Coffman Ranch will take place the following day. All application materials were unanimously approved.
An ordinance approving seven units including two deed-restricted units on 12th Street was approved along with an 18-month extension for the developer because the ordinance took so long after a major site plan approval in December of 2022. The project now has until June 13, 2027.
A similar ordinance approving a combined application for the new Aquatics Center was unanimously approved. But first, Kribbs gave more detail for his “no” vote on the application on May 14. He spoke to project documents quantifying around 25% of people who “didn’t care” about the pool’s location being weighed toward keeping its location in Sopris Park, giving that choice the appearance of equal support, whereas around 50% of people surveyed said they didn’t want it in Sopris Park. Kribbs concluded, “Hopefully going forward we are exceptionally transparent, exceptionally forthcoming and exceptionally accurate in how we describe projects.”
The final item of the night was a discussion around off-street parking requirements for housing projects using Town Center as a case study. Trustees were told by staff that to reduce parking requirements would entail an extensive public process. Ultimately, it was decided that the remaining five of 23 total parking credits at the Town Center property should apply the first stage of that project to help it receive Colorado Housing and Finance Authority tax credits by including as many affordable units as possible.
The full discussion can be reviewed at www.bit.ly/CdaleParking