Glenwood Springs City Council had a relatively light agenda for the first regular meeting of the month on Thursday, Oct. 2, and a short roster of attendees with Mayor Marco Dehm and Councilor Mitchell Weimer absent.
A late afternoon work session covered topics ranging from an update on the South Canyon coal seam fire suppression efforts to a joint session with the appointed City Airport Board.
The regular session for the evening included a report from Glenwood Springs Historical Society and Museum Board President Jamie LaRue and new Executive Director Mark Jensen, who has been on the job for four months now.
LaRue previewed several upcoming fundraising events, including the annual Ghost Walk starting Oct. 10, and a Gingerbread House event that will follow the Hotel Colorado holiday lighting celebration on Nov. 28.
LaRue also reported that fundraising is up $60,000 year to date over last year, and that the organization was able to match the $120,000 in funding that came from the City government.
With that, the historical society is requesting renewal of the $80,000 City grant for 2026 to help defray the executive director’s salary, and an additional $40,000 in matching funds to support the Frontier Museum on Colorado Avenue and the Doc Holliday Collection downstairs at the Bullocks Western Wear store at Eighth and Grand.
“Those matching funds have been key to our fundraising success, and helps to build good will,” LaRue said.
The museum sees about 6,000 visitors a year, roughly 80% of whom are tourists, Jensen reported. The Doc’s Collection sees about double that number, also primarily tourists, he said.
City Manager Steve Boyd said that the $80,000 request is already in the proposed 2026 budget, and that the additional $40,000 still needs to be run by the City Tourism Board for its recommendation.
2026 budget presented
After unanimously approving new landfill enforcement regulations around scavenging, speeding and illegal dumping, and agreeing not to change rules related to sidewalk construction for property owners that want to build an accessory dwelling unit, Council was presented with the 2026 budget.
The total proposed budget is $106.1 million, which is down 3.6% from what had been forecast, Boyd said.
The budget includes a $29.5 million general fund, which supports 123 employees.
The City expects to retain several million dollars in unallocated reserve funds for the year, including $11.6 million in the general fund, $3.3 million for capital projects and $8.1 million in the special Acquisitions and Improvements fund, Boyd said.
Allocated funds include $11.3 million for streets and infrastructure, $11.9 million for police and fire, $3 million for public transportation, $450,000 for parks and trails improvements, $749,000 for workforce housing, $535,000 in upgrades to the Community Center and $427,000 for professional staff development.
The proposed budget does not include any new beautification projects, plans or studies, layoffs, service reductions or “use-it-or-lose-it” spending, Boyd emphasized.
There will be a formal budget hearing, with opportunity for public comments, during the regular Oct. 16 meeting. Council expects to vote on the budget at the Nov. 6 meeting.
2025 projects winding down
Council also heard a report wrapping up 2025 public infrastructure projects from City Engineer Ryan Gordon.
“Almost everything is done for the year,” he said, with the exception of some topping off activities.
By far the biggest project this past year has been the Sixth Street upgrades and construction on the adjacent North Landing park area.
North Landing is slated to be nearly complete by Halloween, though the public restrooms will have to wait until next spring, Gordon said.
Sixth Street itself features all new drainage, water and sewer lines, curb and gutter, lighting and landscaping. The work was bid for $5.7 million, but actually came in at $5 million, Gordon said.
Other big projects that are essentially completed include the Red Mountain Drive North repaving, Blake Avenue Phase 2 and the downtown alleyway projects.