Memorial Day Refuse Reminder and Pool Update

Due to the Memorial Day Holiday, City refuse routes normally picked up on Monday, May 31st, will be picked up on Tuesday, June 1st. All other routes will be on their regular pickup day the week of June 1st.

School is out and the Summer City Pool Schedule will be in effect starting Monday, May 31st. The Community Center pool will be open on Memorial Day from 8am to 9pm. To view the summer 2010 pool schedule and swimming options - go to the City's website at http://www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/ and click on the Parks and Recreation link under City Departments, then scroll down to the bottom where it says Pool Information. Or you can call the Community Center at 641-8060. The Community Center/Aquatics Center is located at 200 E. Spencer Avenue on the north side of Gunnison off Hwy 135. Have a great swimming summer!

The Week of May 24th

The City crews are taking full advantage of the improving spring weather. The Parks crew is busy constructing the new playground structure at Legion Park. The new playground equipment, covered picnic shelter pavilion and climbing boulder are all funded with a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) funds. This is funded by proceeds from the Colorado Lottery. All of the new facilities should be ready for use in about 3 to 4 weeks. The covered pavilion will be available for rent for private functions through the Parks and Recreation Department after its completion. The Public Works crews are busy with street sweeping, refuse collection, repairing a sewer line in the alley behind the Gunnisack Restaurant, doing maintenance on an underground electric line on Tomichi Trail, painting the crosswalks, parking and street markings, and getting ready for the BIG events taking place in Gunnison this Memorial Day weekend. The Finance Department is preparing the monthly utility bills for distribution, the Clerks Department is working on many special event liquor permits for summer events as well as processing Municipal Court proceedings, and the Community Development/Builidng/Fire staff are working on variance applications, the VanTuyl Ranch Master Plan, Land Development Code update, building inspections and controlling several wind-fired grass fires. Dispatch continues to be busy with fire calls and the increase of emergency calls due to the arrival of the summer visitors and more outdoor activities. The Police Department has been busy with patrol activities, training, working with event organizers and conducting informational presentations on the upcoming Hell's Angels 2010 Run that will take place in Gunnison this July. City Offices will be closed for the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday, May 31st. Of course - the Police Department, Fire Department and Communications Center will be operating. Many thanks to these folks who work holidays to preserve our safety!

On tap for this weekend - Friday will see the start of the 24 Hrs. of Glory Climbing event at Hartman Rocks, Saturday is the 25k and 50k Sage Burner Endurance Races at Hartman Rocks and Sunday will showcase the Gunnison Growler Bike Race. This race starts at the IOOF Park at 7am and the riders ride for Hartman Rocks with a Police escort. Sundays at 7 will commence this Sundary evening - obviously at 7pm - at Legion Park. Check the Gunnison-CB Community Calendar for additional events and information. The Community Aquatics Center will be open limited hours on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31st. The hours of operation will be 8am to 9pm. City Council, Staff and employees wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

City Happenings

First and foremost - CONGRATULATIONS to all of the graduating seniors at Gunnison High School and the Gunnison Valley School. The community is proud of all of you! Good luck in your future endeavors.

Saturday, May 22nd, marks the first anniversary of the City Pool! Many great things have happened in that year. To increase the energy efficiency of the facility and help keep operating costs down for our citizens, pool covers have been installed and are used nightly. They decrease the humidity and conserve heat in the water. The solar hot water panels were installed on the roof and now help heat the pool and the domestic hot water (like the showers). Stop by the Community Center and enjoy a dip! While you're at the Community Center - pick up a brochure of the summer recreation program offerings and sign up for your favorite or try a new program. There's an incredible wide-range of offerings to suit nearly everyones needs! On the City's website, click on the Parks & Recreation link under the City Departments Heading to get more information.

At City Council next Tuesday evening, May 25th, your elected officials will be considering the following: second and final reading of the Transient Merchant License amendment; first reading of a "social hosting" ordinance that will place penalties on homeowners or renters who provide the location and alcohol to underage people; action on a License Agreement with Bank of the West to place a planter and signs by their drive-through banking lanes; action on a City Worker's Compensation policy for City employees; and action on a letter that comments on the newly-release Federal Lands Travel Management Plan. All of this information is available on the City's website at http://www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/

And - there's alot going on in Gunnison this weekend. To view the calendar of local events go to www.gcbcalendar.com Start out the weekend tonight (Friday) by viewing the planets and stars at the weekly public viewing at the Gunnison Valley Observatory, located near Hartman Rocks off Gold Basin Road. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 22nd, take advantage of the Gunnison Valley Health Fair at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center (rodeo grounds) starting at 6:30am. After you visit the Fair, have breakfast at one of Gunnison's great restaurants and then head over to the newly-opened Pioneer Museum. They're open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. There is a nominal entry fee to view a vertitable kalediscope of Gunnison histroy. Finish out your weekend with recreation at the Gunnison Community Center or head outside for Gunnison's glorious outdoor recreation activities. Be safe and have fun!

Springtime in Gunnison

Even with the gray skies and rain/snow/sleet - it's springtime in Gunnison. The street painting contractors are in town and have started painting the crosswalks, curbs, parking spaces, handicap parking signs and the bike lanes. The "long line" painters will be in town the first part of June to finish up the lane markings.

And for you gardeners out there - Gunnison Gold Compost is now available for those spring plantings. The compost is available for $20 per yard (about the size of a standard pickup truck bed) and can be obtained from 8am to noon and 1pm to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, at the City Wastewater Treatment Plant, located west of Gunnison on McCabe Lane. The WWTP crew will load the compost into your truck. For more information call the plant at 641-8040.

Once you get the gardens and lawn growing, you can dispose of the organic materials at the City's Tree Dump. The City accepts tree limbs, grass, wood (not plywood) and barnyard waste. The Tree Dump is open 9am to 3pm, Tuesday through Saturday and the cost is $6 per pcikup load or $12 per trailer load. The Tree Dump is located just north of Gunnison on County Road 51. For more information, call the Public Works Department at 641-8020. Happy Spring!

Hartman Rocks a "Colorado Getaway"

Hartman Rocks, the local outdoor recreation area, co-managed by the City of Gunnison, Gunnison County and the Bureau of Land Mangement, was featured on Denver's CBS Affiliate - Channel 4's "Colorado Getaways" this past Saturday, May 15th. The feature highlighted the variety of outdoor recreation opportunities found at Hartman Rocks: rock climbing, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, motorcycling, and nordic skiing just to name a few! To view the segement click on this link:
http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=71167@kcnc.dayport.com
Then get out and enjoy Hartman Rocks!

FREE British Soccer Clinic

In partnership with the City Parks & Recreation Department - Challenger Sports British Soccer will be at Meadows Park on Wednesday, May 19th offering a FREE Soccer Clinic. The clinic for 4 to 7 year olds will be at 5:30 to 6:15 pm and the 8 to 16 year olds clinic will take place from 6:30 to 7:30pm.

There will be a week-long Summer British Soccer Camp in Gunnison from May 31st to June 4th at Meadows Park. There is a fee, based on age and clinic type, for the week-long camp. For more information on both of these soccer events contact Dan Vollendorf at (970) 641-8422 or dvollendorf@cityofgunnison-co.gov. 05-19-2010 - the location of the free soccer clinic has been changed from Meadows Park to the Gunnison Community Center Gym, 200 E. Spencer Avenue in Gunnison.

City Council Happenings

Last week, the City Auditors completed the on-site portion of the annual City Audit, reviewing all of the financial documentation and procedures for Year 2009. This iinvolves a great deal of assistance from the Finance Department in providing the Auditors with the necessary documentation. The Audit will be formally presented to Council in late June.

This week, at the Tuesday, May 18th Work Session meeting, City Council will be discussing a License Agreement with the Bank of the West for Signs and landscape planter; the Hell's Angels 2010 Run in Gunnison this July; an analysis of the Gunnison Rising Annexation Agreement and PUD Plan; a draft letter regarding the Federal Land Travel Maangement Plan and discussion on the State's Medical Marijuana legistlation and potential City regulations. As always - the public is welcome to attend. More detailed information can be found in the Council e-packets on the City website at http://www.cityofgunnison_co.gov/

Message from the Mayor regarding Snodgrass

Gunnison Country Times Editor Chris Dickey recently asked the mayors of Gunnison, Crested Butte, and Mt Crested Butte to comment on the Forest Service decision to deny the Snodgrass appeal. Here are the questions and my complete answers.

1) CBMR says it needs Snodgrass to be successful over the long term. Do you think if they don't expand, then, that they ultimately will fail?

That's very difficult for me to evaluate. I have no experience managing a ski area so I have no informed opinion about whether or not Snodgrass is the best solution. However, I may be able to provide an analogy regarding my thoughts about success. Most businesses seem to need to grow to meet the common definitions of success. Does a newspaper need to grow to stay in business. How do you meet the demands of increasing costs, increasing overhead, and increasing personnel costs without growth. Charging more for the paper could be a self-defeating strategy. Growth seems to be necessary just to maintain the status quo.

2) Do you think there are more ways than currently are being worked on in which the community as a whole can support the local ski industry? Or is that even necessary?

I believe the relationship between the local communities and CBMR must be a two-way street. Each must benefit from the relationship for there to be long term success. I see two major factors affecting this relationship as it evolves: the two-way street is perceived as being out of balance at this time; and I have observed that the values of the people in Gunnison County seem to be changing. The mayors of the three towns are meeting with CBMR this week to discuss these issues. I am hoping for an open, candid dialog.

3) How important is CBMR to the City of Gunnison, in your opinion?

I'm not able to quantify the impact of CBMR on the City of Gunnison in terms of dollars, (but I sure would like to have a better idea of the full picture so we could make more informed decisions). CBMR is important to Gunnison in several ways: some locals desire the recreational opportunity; the ski area is an important recruiting tool for WSC; CBMR provides employment for some locals and WSC students; some of the visitors spend money in Gunnison businesses; and there is some trickle down from success up valley.

Follow up item from Mayor Ferguson. The mayors did meet with CBMR this week. The result was an open exchange of issues and ideas. The group will continue to meet as needed to promote better communication and collaborate on solutions. Look for positive results in the next few weeks!

It's Time for Summer Baseball

The 2010 Summer Baseball season is rapidly approaching. There will some changes to the Old Timer's Association (OTA) this summer. There will be a Parent meeting for all OTA parents on Wednesday, May 19th at 6pm at the Community Center, 200 E. Spencer Avenue in Gunnison. Registration is now OPEN for 6-8, 9-10, and 11-12 years old OTA baseball participants. Please register as soon as possible so the City can get an idea of number of participants.

OTA Coaches and Umpires are needed. Come by the Community Center and fill out an appication. For more information, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 970-641-8060, email kleonard@cityofgunnison-co.gov or stop by the Community Center.

PLAY BALL!!

Community Center Memberships Update

Great News!!!! The Gunnison Community Aquatics Center is pleased to announce that our 2010 membership rates will remain the same as 2009. We have also added another level to our memberships. Active Adult Couple annual membership the cost is $165.00; both members of the couple must meet the age requirement of 62 years and older. If you are renewing your membership we THANK YOU for your continued patronage, if you are looking to purchase a new membership we WELCOME you to our facility!!! Come see us at 200 E. Spencer Ave. in Gunnison or call us at 641-8060.

Welcome from City Manger Ken Coleman

As the City Manager I welcome you to interact with the City of Gunnison through this outreach venue. We are pleased to continue our high quality customer service and as we evolve into the electronic communication world we look for ways to improve our connectivity with our citizenry. This information blog is intended to provide the most recent updates to current activities in which the City is involved. Please feel free to take advantage of the potential to network with us and share in our efforts to enhance community ties. Ken coleman

Refuse and Ditches

The City ditch headgate on the Gunnison River north of town was turned on last week, Monday, May 3rd. It takes about a week of concentrated work by the ditch crew to get water flowing freely in the ditches. Remember, don't throw your grass and tree clippings in the ditch. This leads to plugs in the culverts under the streets.

The Refuse Crew has distributed the new trash cans to all residents and is almost done with retrofitting and distributing the City dumpsters so that they can be dumped by the new City automated refuse truck. The new dumping "ears" can be seen in the photo above. If you find that the can size you selected is not the right size for your use, please call the Public Works Department and we will get you a different size. The new refuse rates will be implemented with this month's City utility bills the end of May.

If you have a questions about ditches or your refuse service, call the City Shops at 641-8020 during business hours.

Welcome to the City Blog

Hi from the City Clerk's Department. We have started this blog to keep you updated as to what the City Council, Staff and Employees are doing to make our community the best it can be. We will keep you updated on City events, happenings, upcoming meetings and whatever else we can think of to keep you informed. As the Mayor stated, we want to hear from you. We work for you - the citizens. And yes, most of us are citizens as well!

As far as news: this Tuesday night, City Council will be considering writing a letter of support for ORE as they apply for a Governor's Energy Office Main Street Efficiency Initiative Prorgam grant, Finance Director Wendy Hanson will provide an overview of the City's First Quarter 2010 Financial Report, a citizen will be appointed to the vacancy on the Planning & Zoning Commission that was left vacant by the passing of Harvey Harriman, and Council wil consider not requiring transient merchant produce vendors (Olathe Sweet Corn or Palisade Peach growers for example) from having to pay a $1000 cash or surety bond with their business application. Tune into Cable Channel 15 to follow the meeting - and as always - City Council meetings are open to the public.

Welcome from the Mayor

Welcome the blog for the City of Gunnison. Council and staff continue to explore new ways to communicate with our community to make sure everyone is well informed about city government activities. Follow our postings, watch for links to more detailed information, and let us know what you think. Good communication with everyone in our community is critically important in making well-informed, timely decisions. Thank You. Stu Ferguson, Mayor