City Council Work Session

The City Council met last night, Tuesday, May 6th, for their scheduled Work Session meeting. 

Frank Kugel, General Manager of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District and George Sibley, one of the City Represenatives on the Gunnison Basin Water Roundtable, gave the Council an update on water issues.  The Gunnison Basin water pack is currently at 106% of normal.  Taylor Reservoir is full and Blue Mesa Reservoir water levels are rising.  The April runoff, as measured on the East River at Almont, was the third highest flows since records have been kept.  Due to water requirements for endangered fish species in the Whitewater area downstrem, Blue Mesa will not completly fill this summer. 
Mr. Sibley gave an overview of the Gunnison Basin Rountable activities.  The Basin Roundtable has defined "Protecting exisitng water uses in the Gunnison Basin" as it's priority goal. 

Current City Council

City Water Superintendent Joe Doherty gave Council a quick update on this summers sewer pipe slip lining project.  A liner will be inserted into existing old sewer pipe and then it is inflated and set in place.  The process extends the useful life of the sewer pipe by over 50 years and doesn't require the pipe to be dug up to be improved.  This saves money and doesn't disrupt the surrounding residents and businesses.

City Manager Ken Coleman gave Council an update on plans for this summer's USA Pro Cycling event.  The City will host the Stage 3 start on Wednesday morning, August 20th.  The festival area has been moved to the 100 block of south Main Street.  The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has been hard at work on the main event and on ancillary events in the community.  Details will be provided in later posts. 

City Council Action

The Gunnison City Council will be meeting in a Regular Session meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 27th, starting at 7pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue. 

Gunnison City Council

The City Counciil will be addressing the following items:
Action on the August 11th Council meeting minutes;
Action on a Contract for Service with the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association in the amount of $8,334.  to help fund the TA to place a mini-vacation planner insert in the Official Colorado Tourism Guide;
Action on a Contract for Service in the amount of $5,000 with the Gunnison High School Rodeo Team to host a high school rodeo in Gunnison this fall;
Action to approve new comments on the potential listing of the Gunnison Sage Grouse as an endangered species by the US Fish & Wildlife Service;
2nd Reading and apporval of Ordinance No 10, Series 2013, to make a major change to the Gunnison Rising Planned Unit Development (PUD) to add the master drainage plan of the property into the PUD;
and a semi-annual department report from Community Development Diretor Westbay on the status of the CD Department. 
Joining the Council will be this year's WSCU student liaison, Amber Leal.  Having direct input from the Western students in our community is important to the decision making process of City Council.  Welcome Amber. 
To view the information being discussed at the Council meeting, go to this City website linke.  
www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets_home.html 
The pulic is welcome and encouraged to come to Council meetings.  They represent the citizens and your input is most welcome.   

City Council Action

The Gunnison City Council will be meeting in a work session format tomorrow evening, Tuesday, July 16th, to discuss the following topics and issues:  

A Presentation from Trout Unlimited about the "Our Colorado River Project"; 
A presentation on the 2012 City Audit by Finance Director Wendy Hanson;
Continued Discussion on City Participation in the Community REbuild Program;
Discussion on the City Purchasing Policy;
An Overview of the City 5-Year Capital Projects Plan;
and ending with continued discussion on the City Council's Priorities and Strategic Planning.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend.  Council meetings are held at 7pm in City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison in the 2nd floor Council Chambers.  For more information call 641-8140 or get more information at  www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets_home.html
 

Police Center Groundbreaking

On a warm and beautiful spring morning, the groundbreaking for the City of Gunnison new Police Center took place.  With the assistance of a $650,000 grants for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the building will house the City's Police Department, which includes the emergency dispatch center for the entire Gunnison Valley.  The dispatch center currently resides in the basement of the County Courthouse, a building that will be demolished in the near future. 


City Manager Ken Coleman, Mayor Ellen Harriman, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Seymour, Councilor
 Bill Nesbitt and Councilor Sharon Cave at Police Center Groundbreaki9ng

 On hand for the groundbreaking were members of the City Council, City Staff, personnel from the City Police Department and Dispatch Center, County personnel and other local citizens.  The much-needed facility should be complete and occupied by the end of the year.  


Turning Dirt for the New City Police Center



New City Councilor

With the resignation of City Councilor/Mayor Jonathan Houck due to his election to the Gunnison County Board of Commissioners, the Gunnison City Council, on Tuesday, December 11, 2012, appointed Sharon Cave to fill the term of City Councilor from January 1, 2013, through May 20, 2013. 

Sharon is a married, long-time resident of the City of Gunnison and works in retail at a downtown business.  She has assisted with Municipal Elections as a Counting Judge for many years.  City Council and City Staff look forward to working with Sharon on the Council.  Welcome Sharon!

Rick Miller

Rick Miller Sculpture

City Council and Staff are saddened by the tragic and untimely passing of former City Councilor and Mayor, Rick Miller.  Rick, a Gunnison native, long-time Gunnison businessman, musician and artist, served on the City Planning and Zoning Commission, was elected to City Council in 1995 and served as Mayor from 1997 to 1999.  Rick served a second term on City Council from 2005 to 2011. 


Rick Miller Sculture

Rick represented the interests of local businesses and the senior citizens.  We all send our deepest condolences to his family.  We also wish a speedy and complete recovery to Rick's wife Tracey and son Miah.  Rick will be fondly  remembered. 

City Council This Week

The Gunnison City Council will meet at 7pm on Tuesday evening, July 17th,  in a Work Session to disucss the following items: 
Gunnison Trails representative Dave Wiens and local BLM representative Brian St. George will discuss with Council public lands trails advocacy and development;
a discussion on the development of a City off-leash dog park;
a discussion on an Annexation Reimbursement Agreement with the Gunnison Valley Partners for the Gunnison Rising Annexation required studies;
Letter of Support for the development of a governmental entities "inter-agency campus" on porpoerty located on Gunnison Rising Annexation property; 
a general discussion on possible Tourism Association By-law changes; and
review and discussion on a proposed RTA Air Program financial assistance contract.
Support information for these meeting topics can be found at www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets_home.html 

City Council Tonight

Even though it's summer, City Council is hard at work for the citizens of the community.  Tonight at 7pm, Council will hold a Regular Session meeting in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison. 

Gunnison City Council
Councilors Bob Drexel, Bill Nesbitt, Ed Seymour,
Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Harriman, Mayor Jonathan Houck

They will be hearing a presentation on the 2011 City Audit; and will discuss the following topics:  a Contract for Service with Gunnison County to help fund a Sage Grouse Listing Impact Analysis on the community; a letter of support for a Colorado Water Conservation Board grant for riparian habitat upgrade and preservation along the Gunnison River adjacent to the VanTuyl Ranch; a letter of support for a combined governmental offices campus in the new Gunnison Rising Annexation; action on the Escalante Drive Reimbursement Agreement with Western State College; action to approve the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority Intergovernmental Agreement between the City, County, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Further information on all of these topics is available on line at www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets_home.html

City Council Meets

The Gunnison City Council Regular Session meeting is tomorrow evening, Tuesday, March 27th, starting at 7pm in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison. The Council will listen to an update from the Gunnison Farmers' Market group and take action on the Market's multi-day special event permit for this summer season.
Council will also take action on a Contract for Service for the Gunnison Partner's 8th Street School Rehabilitation Project; take action on bids for an Electric Department utility truck; discuss the status of the Gunnison County Housing Authority; and hear the semi-annual departmental report from Parks & Recreaiton Director Dan Ampietro. Council will also be holding an Executive Session regarding possible property purchase and a personnel issue. To view the documents and information being discussed at the meeting go to www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets_home.html
City Council meetings are open to the public (except Executive Sessions) and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Caucus Yes - Council No

The Gunnison City Council Work Session meeting scheduled for this evening, Tuesday, March 6th, has been cancelled due to lack of a quorum. Several of the Councilors will be attending the Democratic Caucus scheduled for this evening.

The Council meeting was rescheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, March 7th, in the City Council Chambers of City Hall. The Councilors will meet with the Gunnison Planning & Zoning Commissioners and will discuss the VanTuyl Ranch Annexation and the City Sign Code. The Planning Commission has been hard at work examining, discussing and rewriting the City's Land Development Code, of which the Sign Code is just one component.

As always, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend all City Council meetings.

Snowy Tuesday

It's a gray and slightly snowy morning in Gunnison. Hopefully we will see some more snow. As our Public Works Director says, we need the moisture.
This evening at 7pm, City Council will hold their Regular Session meeting. They will be hearing the 2011 Municipal Court Report from Municipal Court Judge James McDonald. Finance Director Wendy Hanson will present the 2011 City Financial Report. An amendment to the City's Employee Manual concerning employee holiday compensation will be discussed and acted upon. There will be first reading of Ordinance No. 1 - which is a text amendment to the City's Land Development Code, allowing for conditional use retail sales in the Industrial Zone District of the City. The Council meeting packet information is available on-line at www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets_home.html
To finish out the meeting, staff and City Councilors will give informational repoprts on City issues and the various meetings they attended.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend City Council meetings. They are held in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison.

City Council Tonight

The City of Gunnison Council will be meeting in a Regular Session tonight at 7pm. The Council meeting is in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison.


Council will be discussing the following topics this evening:

Grants and Contracts for Service requests from the Colorado Water Workshop; Gunnison Kiwanis Fishing Tournament; Jubilee House; Gunnison Car Show; WSC Counselor Visitation Days; and the Gunnison River Festival. Also being considered is: Gunnison Events, increasing the annual City sales tax license fee; a draft letter to the US Air Force concerning the Low-Altitude Training Area proposal; set the public hearing on the 2012 City Budget; second and final reading on amending the City-adopted Model Traffic Code; and the Parks & Recreation Department Semi-annual report.


The public is welcome and encouraged to attend all City Council meetings.

Budget - Budget - Budget!

City Council continues to develop the 2012 City Budget. The draft budget was formally presented to Council by the City Manager and Finance Director at last week's Council Regular Session meeting.
This Tuesday evening, October 18th, City Council continues to meet with community groups requesting funding in the 2012 budget. Groups meeting with Council this week include: Gunnison Nordic Group; Six-Points; Gunnison Literacy Program; Gunnison Arts Center: Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League for both the spay/neuter program and for a one-time capital request; and the Habitat for Humanity group.
Council will also be hearing a presentation from the Gunnison Valley Economic Development Group who will talk about their proposed Action Plan and Funding Request. The City Water Superintendent will also give Council an update of the City's Sliplining Inflow/Infiltration Reduction Program. Council meeting information is available on-line at the City's website:

City Meetings Broadcast

City Staff is working with Time-Warner Cable to correct the problem of City Council and Planning Commission meetings not being broadcast over Cable Channel 15. Time Warner has stated there is a hardware computer problem that is not allowing the broadcast of the meetings. They are working on resolving the problem. The City is sorry for any inconvenience to the citizens.

This Week at Council

City Council will meet in a Regular Session on Tuesday, September 27th at 7pm in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue. These are the agenda items they will be discussion and acting upon:
Regular Session Meeting Minutes of September 13th
Pre-Scheduled Citizens include -
A presentation from Nancy Osmundson on Restorative Practices
Rick Miller on Sales TAx Auditing
Appointment of the 9 students in the 2011-2011 Youth City Council
New Busines
Action on a request to expend $6850 for the purchase of Fire House storage units
Discussion on the Upper Gunnsion River Water Convservancy District Organization Decree Public Hearing
Discussion on the Air Force Low-Altitude Training Meeting Request
Set a Council hearing on the annual renewal of Chavolo's Mexican Restaurant Liquor License
Excuse Mayor Houck from the meeting (he will be out of town on business)
Ordinances - 2nd and final reading on these ordinances
Ordinance No 8 - Vacation of a portion of East Bidwell Avenue
Ordinance No 9 - Regarding Vacation of South Main Street Utility Easements
City Staff and Council reports
Non-Scheduled Citizens

Packet information for the Council meeting can be found on-line on the City's website under e-packets. City Council encourages all citizens to attend these meetings. If you have an item you would like to discuss with Council, contact City Clerk Gail Davidson at 641-8140 to scheduled to meet with Council.

City Council Workings

After a VERY busy weekend in Gunnison, City Council will be meeting this evening and tending to City business. Council will be discussing the following issues:
a License Agreement application from Las Palmas Restaurant, 138 W. Tomichi Avenue, to use a portion of the City sidewalk located on the west side of their building for outside patio restaurant service; the possible placement of tourist information kiosks in the downtown area; further discussion on City in-kind service and funding to place cameras at the Gunnison Whitewater Park; and continued discussion on the Youth City Council-sponsored "Youth Tobacco Ordinance". The City Council meeting starts at 7pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison and, as always, the public is invited and encouraged to come!

City Holiday Schedules

City of Gunnison Offices will be closed on Monday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. If your trash is usually picked up on Monday, your trash will be collected on Tuesday due to the holiday.

The Community Center/Aquatics Facility hours will be 12 Noon to 6:00pm on Monday, July 4th. The Climbing Wall will be open from Noon until 6pm and the Pools will be open for "Open Swim" from 12 Noon until 5:45pm. There will be NO recreation programs or swimming lessions on Monday, July 4th.
We wish everyone a safe and Happy 4th!

City Council Happenings

After a busy summer weekend in the City, the City Council will be addressing a number of issues on Tuesday night at 7pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Council will be talking with the Gunnison Arts Center about the "Sundays at 6" event held Sunday evenings at Legion Park throughout the summer months. Council will take action on a sewer slipline contract, an easement agreement on Bidwell Avenue, and a letter of support for the Historic Designation of the American Legion Hut building in Legion Park. Council will also approve the contract with Great Outdoors Colorado for improvements at the South Teller Street Baseball field and approve the internal transfer of budgeted 2011 funds. The City Clerk will present the Clerk's Department semi-annual report.

As alsways - the public is welcome and encouraged to attend City Council meetings.

Your City Council

City Council will be meeting this evening, Tuesday, June 7th, at 7pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue. This will be a Council Work Session, no formal action will be taken.

Council will be discussing the following: City Investment Policy; an amendment to the Gunnison Rising Annexation Agreement regarding the proposed CDOW Discovery Center; update on the GunnisonValley Animal Welfare League's proposed animal shelter; a License Agreement for a projecting sign over the sidewalk at Gunnison Shipping, 125 W. Virginia Avenue; a Challenge Grant Application in the amount of $1,000 for the Straw Bale Conference to be held this fall; a letter of support requested by "Boomers and Beyond" group for their grant application to the El Pomar Foundation; and discussion on a letter to Judge Patrick regarding the UGRWCD representation. As always, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting.

City Council This Evening

City Council will be meeting in a 5th Tuesday Work Session this evening starting at 7pm in the Gunnison City Council Chambers, on the 2nd floor of City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue. Council will be discussing strategic planning and the policy direction they would like to undertake during the next two years. Council reorganized on May 16th with the inclusion of two new members - Bob Drexel and Ed Seymour.
As always - the public is welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings. Information to be discussed at the meeting can be found in the Council e-packet at: www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets/default.htm For more information, you may also call 641-8140.