City Council Meetings

CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 1. The meeting was called to order at 8:45 p.m., through a hybrid meeting format (City Council Chambers/ZOOM). The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmembers present in the Council Chambers include Mayor Mike Lavey, Mayor Pro-tem Rachel Medina, and Arlina Yazzie. Councilmembers participating by ZOOM include Amy Huckins, Orly Lucero, and David Rainey. Staff members present were Chief of Police Vernon Knuckles, Associate Planner Neva Connolly, System Analyst Shay Allred, Network Administrator Bill Kuhn, City Clerk Linda Smith, City Manager John Dougherty, and City Attorney Mike Green. There was one person present in the Council Chambers and 17 people signed up as participants on ZOOM. 2. The Consent Agenda items acted upon by Council were as follows: a. Approval of the Worksession and Regular Meeting Minutes of September 8, 2020. b. Approval of the payment of the Expenditure Vouchers of September 22, 2020. Councilmember Lucero moved that the Consent Agenda be approved with the removal of the expenditure vouchers. Councilmember Rainey seconded the motion, and the vote was as follows: Huckins Lavey Lucero Medina Rainey Yazzie Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 3. PRESENTATIONS a. National Gear Up Week. Mayor Lavey read the National Gear Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Week Proclamation that September 21, 2020, signals the start of Gear Up Week. Tai Rogers accepted the proclamation and noted that this is the third year of seven celebrating Gear Up Week at Montezuma-Cortez High School. He spoke about the program which is federally-funded and commented that Cortez is one of 15 high schools in the State to receive the Colorado Gear Up IV Grant which will run from 2018-2025. He stated that the program serves mostly minority, largely low-income students who typically are the first in their families to go to college. He stated that Gear Up focuses on intense advising, with full-time advisors working with ninth graders and following them through their first year of college. He stated that during the week of September 21, 2020, there will be daily announcements about the program’s successes, a Dream Wall where students will express their career and educational goals, and fun activities to enrich the school’s post-secondary culture. He thanked Council for the support. 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None. 6. NEW BUSINESS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 PAGE 2 a. Intergovernmental Agreement for Dispatch Services. Chief of Police Knuckles stated that the Cortez Dispatch Center acts as a consolidated 911 Public Safety Answering Point providing emergency communications for law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services for Montezuma and Dolores Counties and is housed at the Cortez Police Department. He stated that the dispatch center serves the Cortez Police Department, Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, Mancos Marshall’s Office, Dolores County Sheriff’s Office, Cortez Fire Protection District, Mancos Fire Department, Dolores Fire Department, Lewis-Arriola Fire Department, Pleasant View Fire Department, Southwest Memorial Hospital, and Mesa Verde National Park. He stated that the Intergovernmental Agreement outlines the services provided by the dispatch center to the Town of Mancos and the Mancos Marshall’s Office, as well as establishes how those services are billed. In answer to a question from Councilmember Lucero, Chief of Police Knuckles noted that this is the same agreement that has been approved in the past with a few changes. City Attorney Green noted that one change was made on how the excess money will be distributed each year noting that in previous years the excess money was used to fund equipment needed in the dispatch center. City Attorney Green commented that the agreement automatically renews each year. Councilmember Lucero moved that Council approve the Intergovernmental Agreement for Dispatch Services between the City of Cortez and Town of Mancos. Mayor Pro-tem Medina seconded the motion, and the vote was as follows: Huckins Lavey Lucero Medina Rainey Yazzie Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes b. Ordinance No. 1278, Series 2020. Associate Planner Connolly stated that Ordinance No. 1278, Series 2020, would approve the historic designation of the property located at 25 South Elm Street. She stated that the property at 25 South Elm Street was recommended for inclusion on the City’s Register of Historic Structures, Sites, and Districts through a survey completed in 2019. She stated that the front façade alterations made to home disqualified the property from being eligible for State or National Registers, but the local eligibility was approved by the Cortez Historic Preservation Board. She noted that the home was originally a McPhee house and the LoRay Studio once occupied the home (1940’s and 1950’s) which shows character, interest, and value as part of the heritage and cultural characteristics of the development of Cortez. In answer to a question from Mayor Pro-tem Medina, Associate Planner Connolly stated that the property may be eligible for State and National Register if the property was retrofitted to the original state of what it looked like when moved to Cortez from McPhee. Mayor Pro-tem Medina moved that Council approve on first reading Ordinance No. 1278, Series 2020, approving an application for historic designation of 25 South Elm Street, a property located within the Cortez Original Townsite, as submitted by property owners, Chad and Erin Hanson, and set for public hearing on October 13, 2020. Councilmember Rainey seconded the motion, and the vote was as follows: Huckins Lavey Lucero Medina Rainey Yazzie Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 PAGE 3 7. DRAFT RESOLUTION/ORDINANCES – None. 8. OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS – None. 9. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION – None. 10. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None. 11. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT a. Parking Lot for Homeless. City Manager Dougherty stated that Mayor Pro-tem Medina had asked at the last Council meeting that staff look into a possible parking lot that could be used for homeless parking. He stated that a parking lot has been found; however, staff is requesting direction from Council on how to proceed. He stated that it is not clear on the times that the parking lot could be used and what kind of parking would be allowed. Mayor Pro-tem Medina stated that the request from the Bridge staff was for people that could not use the Bridge Shelter to have a place to stay in their vehicles overnight. City Attorney Green stated that the City would need to create an ordinance on handling the situation so that the Police Department could have the people leave in the morning. It was noted that sanitary issues would need to be addressed, such as porta potties provided, etc. Councilmember Yazzie asked if the stakeholders have been consulted on their thoughts of offering a place for people to park overnight. Mayor Pro-tem Medina stated that the concern has been brought up by the Bridge Shelter staff as Wal-Mart is the default place to go; however, the bathrooms are not open at night and possibly they may be limiting how many people can stay overnight in their lot. Discussion was held on having a special meeting on the issue as well as discussion on the expense to the City. 12. CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Mayor’s Report on Workshop. Mayor Lavey stated that interviews were held with the 13 applicants that sent in letters of interest for the open City Council seat. Appointment of the open seat will be made by City Council on October 13, 2020. b. Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Advisory Board Meeting. Councilmember Yazzie stated that discussion at the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Advisory Board meeting held on Friday, September 18, 2020, included a visit to the proposed location of a band shell by the Library in Centennial Park and discussion was also held on the disc golf course improvement needs. c. Stand Down for Veterans Event. Councilmember Yazzie thanked the organizers of the Stand Down For Veterans Event noting it was well attended. Mayor Lavey stated that it was heart warming to speak to the Veterans and great to see them honored and appreciated. d. National Assisted Living Care Week. Mayor Lavey stated that he presented a proclamation (Care is Essential) at Madison House on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, honoring the elderly citizens of the community. e. Montezuma County Proposed Land Use Code/City’s Master Streets Plan. Mayor Pro-tem CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 PAGE 4 Medina noted that changes were made to the County’s Land Use Code by the Board of County Commissioners at their meeting today and they have put off making further decisions on the code allowing more time to receive input from the community. She noted that the City has time to offer comments on the code and asked if the City is working on the Master Streets Plan. City Manager Dougherty stated that the Planning Department is working on the City’s Master Streets Plan and discussion will be held with Council at a future worksession. The regular meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. ________________________________ Michael J. Lavey, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________ Linda L. Smith, City Clerk