All trustees were present at their regular meeting, Oct. 8, with Christina Montemayor joining via Zoom. After student of the month awards, a consent agenda was swiftly approved consisting of liquor license renewals, a special event liquor license for KDNK’s Labor of Love auction (Dec. 6 at Thunder River Theatre) and accounts payable. There were no public comments unrelated to agenda items.
During general trustee comments, Colin Laird expressed interest in joining the Colorado Municipal League’s policy committee to lobby for the state to allow real estate transfer fees.
Ross Kribbs stated that after learning more about the original glass brick façade for the new pool building during a Public Arts Commission meeting, he’ll be advocating for finding the funds to go ahead with that design. Kribbs also expressed concern about the Carbondale Marketplace subdivision looking like “a dump” with an inaccessible futsal court. Moreover, “the green monsters remain,” he said regarding two transformer boxes obstructing visibility where Hendrick meets Main Street. “Somebody is going to get killed there.”
Chris Hassig and others commended Town staff for pulling off another successful Potato Day. Jess Robison commented that it may have been the longest Carbondale parade she’d ever seen. Robison also requested a monthly update from the pool team and agreed with Kribbs about going for the original façade design to enhance the building’s appeal.
The meeting then turned celebratory as AARP State President Debbie Hornor presented Niki Delson with the prestigious Andrus Award for Community Service. Delson was lauded as “an AARP legend” and cheered on by fellow members of Age-Friendly Carbondale along with friends and family.
Trash
Next, Public Works Director Kevin Schorzman proposed a 7.5% rate increase for trash services to address a negative Trash Fund balance projected to end 2024 at $117,619 in the hole. This exceeds the 2.2% increase contractor Mountain Waste requested in accordance with the Western Region Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. As Robison pointed out, it’s still “way less expensive” than before the Town transitioned to a single-hauler system. “I think it’s pretty important to get that fund balance back to normal,” she stated.
The trash discussion then shifted to bears. “When we started this [single-hauler system], bears were a driving factor,” commented Mayor Ben Bohmfalk. According to a staff memo, only 13.4% of households have bear resistant containers, which comes at a higher monthly cost ($13.82 for medium-sized trash and recycling before the rate increase, plus the initial cost of the containers). Town Manager Lauren Gister announced that 28 tickets have been issued for trash ordinance violations since Aug. 20, not including warnings.
Schorzman suggested that when Mountain Waste’s contract is up in two years, the Town could consider universally requiring bear-proof containers. Laird pointed out that Aspen accessed bear-proof containers with grant funding, and Carbondale could begin by distributing containers to residents most in need, especially renters without access to a garage.
Hassig pointed out that the rate increase will most affect people with bear-resistant containers. With Hassig and Montemayor dissenting, the waste hauling rate adjustment passed and will become effective Nov. 1.
Chester’s restaurant
Next up, trustees continued the public hearing for an application to build a new restaurant at 522 Highway 133. Applicant Chester White, a Carbondale resident unaffiliated with the Chester’s Chicken franchise, explained his vision for an authentically small-town restaurant founded in environmental stewardship, localism and culturally-relevant programming.
After receiving feedback from trustees at their Sept. 24 meeting, White returned with the proposal to dedicate $43,500 toward a 15-dock WE-cycle station on the site, plus $1,500 annually for 10 years of maintenance, in lieu of an upfront traffic impact fee. Additionally, the team reduced their request for financial assistance to underground utilities, from a maximum of $150,000 to $100,000. White, in comparison, will pay roughly $272,680 solely on undergrounding utilities. The Town has a dedicated fund with Xcel Energy toward these kinds of projects currently sitting at $290,000.
Kribbs advocated for a further reduced contribution from the Town as well as direct payment instead of a WE-cycle station to dedicate toward any transit project, including a new roundabout or highway crossing. The intersection was again a topic of discussion with several residents of Satank arguing against a right-in, right-out restriction on Dolores Way, which Mayor Bohmfalk clarified is not on the table at this time.
With all trustees in favor minus Kribbs, the applicant received approval.
Budget
Lastly, Greg Hansen, the Town’s new finance director, presented a preliminary 2025 budget. A high-level discussion ensued with trustees voicing additional priorities, including new pedestrian crossings on Highway 133. After shifting from self-collected to state-collected taxes, Carbondale saw 2024 sales tax revenue 21.7% above what was projected while neighboring municipalities saw flat and even slightly decreased revenues.
Next Tuesday, Oct. 15, public works and other departments will present their financial needs. On Oct. 22, the police and recreation departments will present. On Nov. 12, the budget will be reviewed again along with community grant requests (due Oct. 14). On Dec. 10, there will be a public hearing and setting of the mill levy rate for property taxes before the budget is approved.
Find a detailed memo on the draft budget, sitting around $15 million in expenses (including nearly $2.5 million in one-time expenses), at www.bit.ly/CdaleBudget2025