City Council Meetings - 2025

Fruita City Council Minutes 1 February 4, 2025 FRUITA CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 2025 7:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Breman called the regular meeting of the Fruita City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held both in person and with virtual access provided through Zoom. Present: Mayor Matthew Breman Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Hancey City Councilor Jeannine Purser City Councilor Rich Parrish City Councilor Andrea Downs City Councilor Amy Miller City Councilor James Williams Excused Absent: (None) City Staff Present: City Manager Shannon Vassen Executive Assistant to the City Manager Kaydee Lucero Communications and Engagement Manager Ciara Amann Finance Director Joe Zaher City Clerk Deb Woods Planning and Development Director Dan Caris Special Projects Coordinator Matt Carson Engineering Project Manager Steve Martinez City Planner Henry Hemphill Parks and Recreation Director Marc Mancuso Chief of Police Dave Krouse City Attorney Mary Elizabeth Geiger Also Present: Members of the public (in person and virtually) 2. MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Breman called for a moment of silence for reflection. He then led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. AGENDA - ADOPT/AMEND City Clerk Deb Woods noted there was an error in a coversheet on the Consent Agenda and that there are currently no vacancies on the Arts and Culture Board. • COUNCILOR PURSER MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILOR DOWNS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH SIX YES VOTES. 4. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS Fruita City Council Minutes 2 February 4, 2025 A. PRESENTATIONS – STUDENTS OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY 2025: MONUMENT RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mayor Breman introduced Principal Emily Larson with Monument Ridge Elementary School. Ms. Larson explained that each year, students run for office and are elected by their peers as President, Historian, Secretary, and Treasurer. Ms. Larson highlighted what a great opportunity these positions are. She noted that these students led the school to the fifth straight year of earning the most points in the Burton Orthodontic “Take a Bite out of Hunger” food drive that benefits the Salvation Army, which won the school $1,000. The students also help run the school store, assemblies, recycling program, and participate in yearbook, as well as community outreach. She said she is excited to see what these young ladies do in the future. The City Council members awarded the students with a certificate, I-heart-Fruita button, and Fruita Community Center day pass. The students recognized were: • Reagan Reyez, Treasurer • Roslin McIntosh, Secreatary • Presley Richards, President • Aubrey Blackburn, Historian Mayor Breman thanked them for coming. 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: Greg Bolton, 1877 J 6/10 Road, Fruita told Council he is an aspiring farmer and hopes to pass that legacy on to his children. He said Fruita is built on the back of farmers and for generations, it has sustained families and businesses that are now threatened. Mr. Bolton said every foot that is taken means less farmland. He asked who benefits from the projects and said that citizens do not approve of them and that the City is causing anxiety to the community. Mr. Bolton said the 19 Road expansion project is not necessary and that this is not just about a road, it is about what kind of town we want to be. He urged Council to consider the impact on families and said there were better ways to grow. Peggy Griffin, Grand Junction said that her family settled Fruita before it became a City. She said her grandfather had a heart attack and died after the City of Fruita used eminent domain to build a bridge next to where City Market is. Ms. Griffin said that while it was a legitimate use of eminent domain, it still affected her family. She said that later, the City used eminent domain to take her mother’s house to build a Circle K, which is now a Walgreens. Ms. Griffin said she is here representing her family who still lives in the area and she loves the trails and open space. She said progress is a good thing when the town’s history and culture are preserved. Ms. Griffin said similar growth in Loma has impacted the community there. Candy Armstrong, 1870 J 6/10 Road, Fruita said the 19 Road changes are unnecessary because most of the land is agricultural and people will take a different route. She said that on Pine Street, people use the merge lanes to pass each other, making it more dangerous. Ms. Armstrong continued that bikers and runners prefer to be in the country and are getting away from sidewalks. She continued that there is a lot of conflicting information about how much land is getting taken and that it should be clarified. Ms. Armstrong said that farmers and ranchers are hurting financially, and the City should focus on helping Fruita City Council Minutes 3 February 4, 2025 them before building subdivisions. She finished by saying that people live in Fruita to get away from the city, and with a decreasing number of students in schools, the 19 Road expansion project is not needed. Amanda Alvawise, Windsor Park Subdivision, Fruita said the community has repeatedly asked the Council to stop taking farms. She said that there have only been four accidents in the last four years, all at the Highway 6 & 50 intersection and the issue isn’t the road, it is the drivers. Ms. Avalise said that 1,800 people and counting have signed a petition against the project and that declining Mesa County School District #51 enrollment means that this project is not needed. She said the Council has not been transparent, and that the farmers found out through appraisal letters and not public notice. She asked the Council to reconsider the project and said that the community deserves better. Lee Maderis, 1087 19 Road, Fruita showed the development map and said it looks like LA County and that there will be houses and developments down the road. He asked what the lots in subdivisions cost and asked if farmland went for the same rate. Mr. Maderis said that he has lived on 19 Road for 30 years and he rarely sees pedestrians or cyclists. He said that safety is important, but this is not the way to do it. Amanda Quigley, Cottonwoods Subdivision, Fruita said that Fruita published a Stormwater Management Plan in 1998, and it identified five key areas: Little Salt Wash, northwest Fruita, downtown Fruita, southwest Fruita, and east of 18 to 20 Roads. The last area was only briefly discussed in the plan and is now the fastest growing region in Fruita. Fruita entered the 5-2-1 Drainage Authority in 2004, which was dissolved in 2020. Ms. Quigley said that she was not aware of any new drainage plans, so she recommends that it be included in Fruita’s core service delivery, Strategic Plan and in the Comprehensive Plan. She said that drainage, stormwater management, irrigation, return flow and seepage should be as much of a concern as traffic circulation and that infrastructure should be assessed. Ms. Quigley stated the City needs to create a Drainage Plan and then a Drainage Manual to identify future growth areas, identify problems in need of infrastructure, assess current drainage capabilities and forecast future capabilities as Fruita expands and grows. She added that she believes the Grand Valley Drainage District should also participate in the discussion, although she believes that the study should be done by a disinterested third party to ensure accuracy. Tessa Bynum, 225 North Ash Street, Fruita thanked Councilor Williams for voting no on the Code change on January 21st and thanked Mayor Breman for incorporating her feedback into the discussion about the Model Traffic Code. Ms. Bynum stated that she is unaware of any apartment complexes where people are allowed to work on or wash their cars. She said that pursuant to the Fruita Land Use Code, people are not allowed much parking per unit at apartment complexes and not everyone has the privilege of living in a house with a driveway or parking spot of their own and she would like the Council to consider that when deciding whether or not to allow people to work on or wash their cars on the street. Ms. Bynum added that she didn’t like Section 108 either because there are still flaws in it, but she likes the adjustments, so she was appreciative of the Council considering what she previously said. She also hopes the Council takes into consideration that Fruita’s sidewalks are in awful condition and that it’s not that people want to obstruct traffic when they are in the road; sometimes it is because the sidewalks are not ADA compliant. AJ Armstrong, 1870 J 6/10 Road, Fruita stated that their tail ditch drains into the Red Rocks Subdivision and there was a pipe under the road that was repaired to get those subdivisions water, but their tail ditch backs up because the pipe was either much smaller or it was altered in a way that the flow is not sufficient, so the tail ditches tend to back up a lot. Mr. Armstrong said that with more road expansions, all of their tail ditches will need to be altered. He said eventually, water will be choked off because there’s nowhere Fruita City Council Minutes 4 February 4, 2025 to drain it and farmers and citizens are very concerned about this. Mr. Armstrong said a threat to a small parcel of their land could have a huge impact on the outcome of his tail ditches among many other things. Brandon Alvawise, Windsor Park Subdivision, Fruita said Fruita’s agricultural land is more than a space on a map, it is the foundation of our community’s identity, economy and way of life. He said that legacy is at risk because of the 19 Road expansion. Mr. Alvawise said that the Council never considered not acquiring land that people do not want to sell. He said that this is about fundamental property rights, and although growth is necessary, the way it is approached matters and there are ways to expand responsibly. He urged Council to consider the long-term impact of these decisions because once farmland is gone, it does not return. Mr. Alvawise said the Council is in a powerful position to make changes. He noted that at the last Council meeting when discussing the Model Traffic Code, someone on the Council said they didn’t want to be the only person who holds it up, and that that is not what the purpose of these meetings are for. Paul Schultz, Red Rocks Subdivision, Fruita stated that he is a proud supporter of savefruitafarms.org representing over 1,800 voices, some of whom were present at the meeting to tell the Council to stop the unjust and improper actions that are threatening Fruita farms and landowners. He said Fruita is using incorrect and inflated road classifications to justify taking private property through eminent domain. He accused the City of falsely and improperly claim that 19 Road is a major arterial even though it is clearly according to CDOT’s official designation, a minor collector road. He argued that Fruita is forcing out family farms for more property tax and sewer revenue at the expense of family farms. He called the way the City has handled the matter shameful and claimed that there have been secret annexations where affected property owners weren’t properly notified. Mr. Schultz called the way the City is handling the right-of-way acquisition process questionable and not transparent. He said the community is against the 19 Road expansion project and demanded that it be stopped. He also asked the City to engage in open, transparent discussions with landowners and community members who are being impacted. Debbie Newman, 17 ½ Road, Fruita stated that her road is busy with cyclists and the City should reconsider where they are doing work because where it is happening are roads that are not as busy as others in the area. Ms. Newman said farms should be left alone and the City should focus on what really needs to be fixed. Kit Strott, 1885 J 6/10 Road, Fruita said he has lived at his current address for 45 years and in all that time, no one has ever talked to him about what may need to be done on that road. He said that the project needs to be downscaled, and the City should look elsewhere for projects. Mayor Breman thanked everyone who came to speak for being respectful of everyone at the meeting. Hearing no further public comment, Mayor Breman closed Public Participation and referred to the Consent Agenda. A. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS REAPPOINTMENT/APPOINTMENT OF ANDREA FILZ AND THE APPOINTMENT OF KEVIN LYNCH TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS EACH TO EXPIRE IN FEBRUARY OF 2028 B. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS – A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS OF AMBER ASAKURA AND ELLIOTT RAMAGE TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE BOARD FOR THREE YEAR TERMS EACH TO EXPIRE IN FEBRUARY OF 2028. Fruita City Council Minutes 5 February 4, 2025 C. RESOLUTION 2025-07 – DESIGNATING AUTHORIZED SIGNATORIES ON THE CITY’S BANK AND INVESMENT ACCOUNTS D. RESOLUTION 2025-28 – APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT REGARDING THE FY 2024 SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL GRANT Mayor Pro-Tem Hancey asked if staff had any plans to communicate to the public that the Safe Roads for All grant would be awarded to the City and how it will be utilized. City Manager Shannon Vassen answered that it is part of a larger plan to improve roads and safety and that Fruita will be getting new speed feedback signs as well as messaging and safety tools. He recalled that the Council had previously adopted a Letter of Support for the Mesa County Safety Action Plan. • MAYOR PRO-TEM HANCEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILOR PURSER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH SIX YES VOTES. Mayor Breman asked if Mr. Vassen could let people know where to find more information based on public comment. Mr. Vassen said there is information on fruita.org/19road and fruita.org/growth. 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS VOLUNTEERS Mayor Breman acknowledged and thanked Kevin Lynch, Amber Asakura, Andrea Filz, and Elliott Ramage for serving on the City’s Boards and Commissions. 7. OPEN FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING • COUNCILOR PURSER MOVED TO GO INTO THE FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING. COUNCILOR MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH SIX YES VOTES. A. RESOLUTION FHA 2025-01 – AMENDING THE FRUITA HOUSNG AUTHORITY BUDGET WITH SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRATIONS OF FUNDS FOR THE HEADWATERS HOUSING PARTNERS PROJECT – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHANNON VASSEN Mr. Vassen stated that the budget amendment transfers $400,000 from the Economic Development Fund to be used for a potential contribution to the Headwaters Housing Partners project, The Oaks redevelopment project. $325,000 is funded through lodging tax dollars that were approved by the voters in 2020 and $75,000 is from the American Rescue Plan funding the City received during COVID. The contribution is being made to restrict all units at 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This project is to help reach the City’s goal of affordable and attainable housing in Fruita. A formal Development Agreement will go before Council for approval in the future. Chairman Matthew Breman opened the floor for public comment. Paul Schultz, Red Rocks Subdivision, Fruita said that Fruita residents strongly oppose the approval of Resolution FHA 2025-01 and FHA 2025-02, which commits $800,000 to two entities that share the exact same physical address. He asked who the owners of Headwaters Housing Partners and 805 Ottley Avenue, LLC were and why the latter was just created a few months ago, seemingly, to receive a loan. Schultz also asked why American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and lodging tax funds being diverted to subsidize a private developer and what guarantees exist that Fruita taxpayers will ever see a return on the investment. He Fruita City Council Minutes 6 February 4, 2025 urged the Fruita Housing Authority to halt the approval of the Resolutions until full transparency is provided including disclosure of ownership and financial interests of both LLCs, independent legal and financial review of the deal and strong taxpayer protections and oversight to ensure accountability to Fruita taxpayers, who deserve honest governance and fiscal responsibility. He demanded answers before the money is given away to the two entities. Hearing no further comments, Chairman Breman closed public participation and referred the matter to the Housing Authority. Commissioner Miller asked for clarification on from Executive Director Vassen on what the fiscal impact to the City will be. Vassen explained that the Resolution only appropriates the funds for the project, which are already included in the 2025 Budget as a line item for use. He stated that for the first year, it will be $400,000 for The Oaks redevelopment project, $325,000 of which is funded through lodging tax funds that were specifically approved by the voters in 2020 for housing through the economic development portion of the tax. $75,000 is from the ARPA funding the City received during COVID, which can be used for a variety of different purposes. Vassen said that there are many protections for these funds, which will be loaned out to the entity, and once construction is done, the Fruita Housing Authority will become equity partners in the project. Fruita Housing Authority Special Counsel Dalton Kelley with Butler Snow (present virtually) said that although there are two resolutions, they relate to the same project. He explained that 805 Ottley Avenue, LLC is a single-purpose entity in which the Fruita Housing Authority is a limited member in order to help achieve certain AMI restrictions in the units at The Oaks. This resolution just appropriates the dollars, the next one is to direct those dollars. Any funds over that $400,000 will come back to Council for approval. The funds are an upfront contribution for the purchase of the property and are secured by a promissory note and a Deed of Trust. If the project does not move forward as planned, the Fruita Housing Authority would have the ability to foreclose on the lien and get its money back. This will help subsidize the land purchase, ultimately reducing the overall cost of construction and borrowing so that rent can be capped at less than market rate. Vassen said the benefit is that people who work and want to live in Fruita will have an opportunity to do so. Chairman Breman asked for a clarification on the amount and Mr. Vassen responded that it is $400,000 this year, and potentially more in future budget years. Commissioner Hancey stated that this project is important because housing prices keep going up, The Oaks is a great asset and it is fantastic that the Housing Authority can directly partner with developers to keep projects like this affordable. He asked if there would be a website for the project and Vassen said it is already on the City of Fruita’s Planning page and all initial documents are available for viewing. He reiterated that $325,000 of the funds came from visitor lodging tax, and they are reserved based on what voters approved. Commissioner Williams added that the $325,000 goes toward the total amount of affordable/attainable housing dictated by the State of Colorado that municipalities provide to their communities. • COMMISSIONER PURSER MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION FHA 2025-01 – AMENDING THE FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY BUDGET WITH SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRATIONS OF FUNDS FOR THE HEADWATERS HOUSING PARTNERS PROJECT. COMMISSIONER PARRISH SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH SIX YES VOTES. B. RESOLUTION FHA 2025-02 – A RESOLUTION OF THE FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY CONCERNING A LOAN TO 805 OTTLEY AVENUE, LLC FOR THE Fruita City Council Minutes 7 February 4, 2025 ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY TO SERVE AS THE SITE OF THE OAKS PROJECT – SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DALTON KELLEY Special Counsel to the Fruita Housing Authority Dalton Kelley (present virtually) explained that the above Resolution specifically authorized the loaning of funds to 805 Ottley Avenue, LLC. The loan will convert to equity when the LLC closes on its construction loan for The Oaks redevelopment project. The project will create 62 units of multifamily rental housing that will serve a mix of people up to 100% of Area Median Income (AMI) and there will likely be a future opportunity to lower AMI caps. The Resolution authorizes the loaning of the funds to the LLC. The funds are secured by the promissory note and Deed of Trust until the project satisfies the contingencies of executing 1) the Redevelopment Agreement and 2) Land Use Agreement and construction funding has been secured. At that point is when the loan funds covert to equity, the Deed of Trust is released and the Promissory Note is canceled. The reason for this being the trigger point is because the construction lender will want to take the lead. This is also when the Housing Authority can implement a land use restriction, which is the real benefit of the bargain; getting the units constructed and restricted. Resolution FHA 2025-02 is ultimately more or less a temporary mechanism to secure the funds until a construction loan is closed and the two agreements are executed, both of which will go before the Fruita Housing Authority for consideration at a later date. A term sheet has already been approved so the parties are in basic agreement on what the terms are going to be. Chairman Breman opened the public hearing on Resolution FHA 2025-02. Hearing no comments, he closed public participation and brought the matter back before the Housing Authority. Commissioner Purser said she is very excited about The Oaks project because moving forward with it will help people live and work in Fruita. Commissioner Hancey agreed and said the Authority has been evaluating the project for many months and that it is a fantastic product. He also noted that the Authority/City Council have previously had lengthy discussions about it at public meetings and minutes are readily available on the internet. Chairman Breman said that the City/Housing Authority heard from over 4,000 citizens on the last Community Survey that affordable housing should be a priority and Commissioner Hancey pointed out that that was why the Housing Authority was created in the first place. He continued that out of approximately 5,000 housing units, having over 100 be affordable is a great step. Chairman Breman clarified that the City/Housing Authority is not using any General Fund dollars for the project, which is something many communities cannot say. Commissioner Miller commented that the local control of the project is a big win for her because Fruita has always taken care of its own. She added that she is proud to be a part of the project and the community. Commissioner Parrish complimented and thanked staff for thoroughness and working so hard to protect the interests of Fruita. Commissioner Hancey pointed out that the demand for affordable and attainable housing is there; there are currently no vacancies in the 50 units at the Fruita Mews. Commissioner Williams pointed out a misspelling of “Fruita” in the Resolution so it could be fixed. Fruita City Council Minutes 8 February 4, 2025 • COMMISSIONER MILLER MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION FHA 2025-02 – A RESOLUTION OF THE FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY CONCERNING A LOAN TO 805 OTTLEY AVENUE, LLC FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY TO SERVE AS THE SITE OF THE OAKS PROJECT. COMMISSONER PARRISH SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH SIX YES VOTES. 8. ADJOURN FROM FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING AND OPEN FRUITA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING • COMMISSIONER PARRISH MOVED TO CLOSE THE FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING AND RE-OPEN THE FRUITA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING. COMMISSIONER HANCEY SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH SIX YES VOTES. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA A. ORDINANCE 2025-02 – SECOND READING – A REQUEST TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10.04 OF THE FRUITA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE MODEL TRAFFIC CODE (CONTINUED FROM JANUARY 21, 2025) – CITY MANAGER SHANNON VASSEN City Manager Shannon Vassen explained that when a Code is adopted “by reference,” there are additional public notice requirements (it must be published twice in the newspaper prior to the public hearing) and because the second public notice was not published, staff’s recommendation was to continue Ordinance 2025-02 to the Regular City Council meeting of March 4, 2025. • COUNCILOR WILLIAMS MOVED TO CONTINUE ORDINANCE 2025-02 – SECOND READING – A REQUEST TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10.04 OF THE FRUITA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE MODEL TRAFFIC CODE TO MARCH 4, 2025. COUNCILOR DOWNS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH SIX YES VOTES. 10. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT City Manager Shannon Vassen had the following updates: • The prior week, the City was notified that staff now has access to 50,000 cubic yards of fill materials for The Launch project coming from the Pinnacle Ridge filings in the Redlands, where the contractor asked the City of Fruita to participate in moving the material so they can complete roads and structures for their development. In total, The Launch will require 126,000 cubic yards of fill materials, so this is more than half of what is needed. • As per the City Council direction, staff put out a statement on the City’s website directing people to Mesa County for public comment on the Astera Recycling Plant while it is going through the Conditional Use Permit process. Staff will work on a letter to be approved by City Council specifically regarding the application and how it relates to the requirements of the Conditional Use Permit that staff will be able to provide to the Mesa County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. Fruita City Council Minutes 9 February 4, 2025 • The City is hosting Business After Hours at the Community Center with the Chamber on February 13th at 5:30 p.m. • The North Mulberry public parking lot will be closed in the next couple of weeks for minor improvements. Jeannine asked if it would be closed over a weekend and Shannon said it would not be. • Shannon asked if School District #51 would be willing to give Council a tour of the old Fruita Middle School on February 18th before the Council meeting and would let the Council know if that date will work. 11. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ACTIONS MAYOR PRO-TEM AARON HANCEY Aaron said he had the opportunity to speak with the property owner on 19 and M Roads about the new recycling plant and there is a lot of discussion and concern surrounding it. There will be an informational meeting in a few weeks hosted by Astera for both elected officials and the public so Astera can address concerns and share more information. He urged other Council members to not form any opinions until more can be learned about the project. Aaron said he attended the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting and the pickleball court construction is going well (despite a mishap with the electricity) and the shade structures are in. The City/board was awarded a $6,000 grant for tree planting event on Saturday, April 26th at Snooks Bottom. 50 trees will be purchased for planting in celebration of Arbor Day and Earth Day. Schools will be involved and there will be more details next month. The trail on the south side of Snooks Bottom will be completed by staff within the week and improvements will be made to the parking lot to make it safer and limit the amount of rocks getting sprayed everywhere. Aaron pointed out that the City Charter refers to the board as the “Parks & Recreation Commission” although it has been referred to by all as the “Parks and Recreation Advisory Board” and staff could find no information on how the name change came about. He also pointed out that the City had a Tree Board at one point in the past that was dissolved and staff is going to research more about that. COUNCILOR AMY MILLER Amy reported that she had a Historic Preservation Board meeting the previous day and Tessa Binam brought in some old newspapers and other documents that go all the way back to 1927 and that hopefully can be integrated into the Lower Valley Heritage room. Tessa also presented an idea for the board to consider and there will be more on that forthcoming. Amy also reported that she is a member of the Community Food Bank Board who will be hosting a big fundraiser named “Dancing With Western Slope Stars” on Saturday, May 3rd at 6:30 p.m. and she will be one of the performers. She asked the other Council members to come to the event and support her. Amy thanked the Council for attending the “White Iced” event as she appreciates the support for School District #51 Foundation, who does a lot of good work in the community. Matthew noted that Fruita was represented at the event more than any other community. COUNCILOR ANDREA DOWNS Fruita City Council Minutes 10 February 4, 2025 Andrea reported that the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) conference will be held on May 1st and 2nd. She urged the entire Council to attend to share their insights about Fruita for ninety minutes and added that she would provide some ideas. Aaron requested that staff participate as well and Shannon said they would. Rich asked that the City be scheduled for May 1st (instead of May 2nd) because he had other obligations that weekend. COUNCILOR RICH PARRISH Rich made the comment that he and his wife had a very enjoyable evening at the “White Iced” event. COUNCILOR JEANNINE PURSER Jeannine said she also had a great time at her first “White Iced” event. She noted that many people told her how great the Winter Concert was and that they would like to see more events like that. Matthew suggested that it be kept in mind for next year’s budgetary process. He said he counted about 36 to 38 cars in the parking lot on North Mulberry, so it is being very well utilized. Jeannine noted that it is that way nearly every week from Thursday through Saturday. James wondered if the City should do something to attract drivers to the new parking lot as well before summer arrives because they may not be aware that it is accessible. It was also suggested that the Fruita Chamber promote it for vendors’ vehicles during Fruita Fall Festival. Matthew said he would bring it up at the next Chamber board meeting. Shannon pointed that the City has some new signage that will help. Amy thought it would be a great FAQ for the Weekly Information Update and/or other communications from the City. Jeannine continued that the Fruita Youth Action Council (FYAC) is doing a lot of volunteering; they are constantly moving and highly involved. They’ve volunteered for the Sweetheart Run and Senior Prom, among other events. They are going to present to Council at the March 4th Regular City Council meeting. Councilor Williams asked what age groups are participating and Jeannine said they are in middle school and high school. James suggested letting the elementary schools know it is an option for kids who are about to move up to middle school. The FYAC is starting their member recruitment currently. Jeannine said that she always appreciates it when people come to the Council meetings, regardless of whether the feedback is positive or negative. She said she feels confident in how information from the City is communicated, but, as was seen at the beginning of the meeting, there still could be more outreach and engagement. She stated that in general, she would like to see something more like a town hall where there could be more open conversation and used the example of how the City does not go out and annex property at all and there seems to be confusion about that. Amy agreed and said many people in her field also do not know how the annexation process goes and potentially could be giving clients poor advice. She suggested that the City put together some classes to educate the public and was actually going to request that the idea be placed on a Workshop agenda. The Council directed staff to create some broader community education concepts. Shannon said staff would begin some internal discussions about how to meet the Council’s goals. Both Jeannine and James agreed that not being able to respond to public comment during meetings is hard because it can result in misunderstanding. Aaron agreed that more communication is needed and said he is happy to have conversations with people about difficult topics. Amy recalled the comment at the beginning of the meeting about drainage and requested that staff provide the Council with more information. Shannon pointed out that Fruita is already a part of the Stormwater Fruita City Council Minutes 11 February 4, 2025 Management Plan Update with Mesa County and area municipalities. Concerning drainage assessment specifically, he said he could schedule an update by Public Works at a future Council meeting. MAYOR MATTHEW BREMAN Matthew said it would be great to get the other Council members to speak at schools. He went on to thank Council for being cognizant of the public’s frustration and complaints. COUNCILOR JAMES WILLIAMS James reported that he went to Fruita Monument High School to talk to the Youth Action & Politics Club kids for an hour and they were really sharp, great kids who asked a lot of phenomenal questions. Amanda reiterated a problem she reported to staff previously that she is still not receiving any of the Council packets or calendar invites via email and is very frustrated with that after missing the Workshop meeting the previous week. Shannon Shannon noted that there are old calendar invites that Mike Bennett created that need to be deleted by staff and new ones sent out. He said there have been some odd issues with the fruita.org emails, but he would get Amanda re-subscribed to the emails from staff and look into any other issues she may be having. Executive Assistant Kaydee Lucero agreed to delete the old meetings so that the new ones can be scheduled. 12. ADJOURN With no further business before the Council, Mayor Breman adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kaydee Lucero Executive Assistant to the City Manager City of Fruita