All trustees were present at the Aug. 27 regular meeting. The consent agenda was approved, including accounts payable and a special event liquor permit for the Carbondale Clay Center’s Cajun Clay Revival fundraiser, Sept. 14. No persons were present to comment on matters not on the agenda.
During general comments from Town Manager Lauren Gister, it was noted that the 100% guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the pool project would “hopefully” come before trustees at their Sept. 10 meeting. This was met with frustration among the trustees who were told on July 9 that a 100% GMP would return in two or three weeks.
Gister also mentioned that the Roaring Fork Pickleball Association had to revise its plans for building additional courts when they learned that would entail moving a water line. The new proposal is to resurface the three neighboring tennis courts and repaint them to have two courts with more prominent pickleball lines and the remaining one with more prominent tennis lines. This was run by the local tennis association and high school athletic director and approved by the Parks and Rec Commission.
The first official agenda item was an update from the Red Hill Council, a volunteer-run nonprofit that helps maintain the popular Special Recreation Management Area in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management with financial support from the Town of Carbondale. Chris Brandt, president of the Council, reported that counters are recording some 75,000 annual trail users with the highest concentration in March, April and May — “the muddy months.”
In addition to stabilizing trails and combating erosion, the Council has raised awareness about dog poop with a flagging experiment and will implement a “mud meter” for trail users to indicate to others if conditions are dry or mushy. Asked about their main revenue source, founding member Davis Farrar said they receive between $1,500 and $2,000 from the Town on an annual basis. “Ask us for $5,000,” Mayor Ben Bohmfalk responded. “That’s a really easy place to start.” Trustee Christina Montemayor suggested talking to the Tourism Council, which is formulating a grant funded by lodging-tax revenue.
Next, trustees considered a building permit fee waiver for the new aquatics center. “Every little penny counts at the moment with regard to this budget on this pool,” commented Gister. It was recommended that water tap, sewer tap and water rights dedication fees be paid from the Parks and Rec Fund.
Although payment of the fees would essentially entail a transfer from the Parks and Rec Fund to the General Fund, Trustee Ross Kribbs preferred to stick to the pool budget, which did not account for these fees being waived. Gister explained that the General Fund currently has a surplus and it’s not unusual to waive fees for a public benefit project. Erica Sparhawk motioned to waive the fees, dedicating $18,505.99 to cover the building permit and plan check fees. The vote was split but passed, with Bohmfalk, Chris Hassig, Jess Robison and Sparhawk voting in favor and Kribbs, Colin Laird and Montemayor voting against.
Lastly, trustees discussed their grantmaking process. It was acknowledged that most area nonprofits go through a process for grants that do not exceed $5,000, while others, namely Carbondale Arts and the Chamber of Commerce as well as Coventure in the past, have had the opportunity to present before trustees for more significant funding. Bohmfalk noted that what has historically fallen outside the normal “community grant” parameters includes economic development, membership to broader organizations and contracts for services.
Community grant applications for 2025 opened Aug. 1 and are due by Oct. 14. Find the application at www.bit.ly/CdaleGrants2025
The meeting concluded with an executive session “for the purpose of receiving legal advice” regarding a lawsuit against the Town filed by Michael Francisco regarding his treatment by police in 2020 while making a purchase at City Market.
At their next meeting, Sept. 10, trustees will reconsider inclusionary housing rules with the Planning and Zoning Commission, possibly deciding to require a higher percentage of deed-restricted or affordable units for projects above a certain size (currently 20% of residential developments with more than four units).