All trustees were present for a relatively short regular meeting on Oct. 22. It began with liquor license renewals and accounts payable unanimously approved in the consent agenda.
Two residents spoke up during the time allotted for general comments. The first insisted that non-compliance of state and municipal laws for “years and years” is affecting safety and quality of life in Carbondale. Laurie Loeb said the police department should take a more active role in educating people, giving warnings and enforcing laws like fully stopping at stop signs, obeying speed limits, not using phones while driving or cycling, not idling vehicles and removing snow and slush and other obstacles from public sidewalks in front of homes.
The second speaker expressed concern about the intersection of Main Street and Hendrick Drive, where two infamous transformer boxes block the line of sight for cars leaving the Carbondale Marketplace complex.
“That whole area remains a concern. Not just that intersection, but that entire area,” Trustee Ross Kribbs responded. “I’d like to know what the plans are there.”
Town Manager Lauren Gister explained that the developer is “ready to go back to work” after securing updated building permits for the four buildings surrounding the currently inaccessible futsal court.
Mayor Ben Bohmfalk stated that the Town can implement a four-way stop at that sketchy intersection as soon as it’s determined necessary, which may address the safety hazard.
Gister also announced that Patrick Thibault, an employee of the Broomfield city and county clerk and recorder office, will be Carbondale’s next municipal clerk beginning Nov. 1. He will have several weeks of overlap with outgoing clerk Jessica Markham who is moving out of state.
The rest of the meeting was dedicated to budget updates from the police department and the parks and recreation department.
Police Chief Kirk Wilson shared several priorities, including the purchase of three electric patrol cars ($247,335) and installing a charging station with eight ports for the police and two additional ones for public use ($75,000). Other priorities were continuing a partnership with the Aspen Hope Center to have mental health experts available when responding to delicate situations (costing $90,000) and an increase in funds for towing services (from $5,000 to $7,000) to account for the dwindling number of nearby companies. Wilson also advocated for increasing the training budget (up to $50,000) which involves sending new officers through the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy Certificate program. He said recruiting “lateral” police from downvalley is “incredibly difficult” because of the cost of housing. The cost of equipment has gone up with current tasers being phased out for “smart” models that track usage data.
Trustee Erica Sparhawk advocated for bringing officer wellness funds, introduced last year, back up to $3,000 — noting the item had dropped to $2,000. “I do appreciate that,” said Wilson.
In response to Loeb’s comment at the meeting’s start, Wilson said, “I certainly agree with the fact we could use an additional code enforcement officer,” noting the current officer has spent an inordinate amount of time on bear-related issues since August. “What you will see is fee increases coming out in November,” he continued, explaining that drafts of new codes will be sent to the Town’s attorney which should make enforcement easier. Regarding ice on sidewalks, “It’s always helpful when people call or email,” letting the police know about problem spots, he said. Wilson explained that Carbondale’s style is generally lenient, first offering conversations when violations occur. “We don’t want to be an organization that goes out and fixes everything with a ticket,” he said.
Eric Brendlinger, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, broke his budget into four categories: admin, parks, the Recreation Center and programming. He touched on highlights from a detailed memo, like the digitization of paper records for the Hillcrest Cemetery, redoing the irrigation at the Thompson Park so it is not eroding the historic house’s foundation, installing a shade structure for a picnic table at the Gateway RV Park, maintaining the Recreation Center which is now paid off and a myriad of other details like annual events, signage for the Riverfront Park and ADA-accessible water fountains.
“You’ve got a heck of a lot on your plate and boy do we appreciate all you are doing,” Trustee Colin Laird acknowledged.
Sparhawk requested that the installation of piñata poles at Sopris Park and Miners Park be added to the budget, a suggestion made years ago by the budding Latino Advisory Board.
The full budget for 2025 will be reviewed on Nov. 12, along with community grant requests. On Dec. 10 there will be a public hearing and setting of the mill levy rate for property taxes before the budget is officially approved.
