Fruita City Council Minutes 1 July 21, 2026
FRUITA CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 21, 2026
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 Amy Miller
City Councilor Aaron Hancey
City Councilor Jeannine Purser
City Councilor Todd Kumro
City Councilor Jared Prochnow
Excused Absent: City Councilor Rick Parrish
City Clerk Deb Woods
City Staff Present: City Manager Shannon Vassen
Assistant City Manager Dan Caris
Communications and Engagement Manager Ciara Amann
City Clerk Deb Woods
Planning Director Henry Hemphill
Special Projects Coordinator Steve Martinez
City Attorney Mary Elizabeth Geiger (virtual)
Also Present:
Members of the public (in person and virtual)
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Breman called for a moment of silence for reflection.
Councilor Kumro stated that his grandson was visiting and present in the audience. His grandson lead in
the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA - ADOPT/AMEND
• COUNCILOR PURSER MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. COUNCILOR KUMRO SECONDED THE MOTION. THE
MOTION PASSED WITH FIVE YES VOTES.
PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
A. PROCLAMATION – THE FINAL LINE – A PROCLAMATION HONORING AND
REMEMBERING THE FIREFIGHTERS EMILY BARKER, NICK HUTCHERSON
AND SYDNEY WATERSON TO BE ACCEPTED BY LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS WHO
RESPONDED TO THE SNYDER FIRE
Fruita City Council Minutes 2 July 21, 2026
The City Council members took turns reading each stanza of The Final Line, a poem written by Mayor
Pro Tem Amy Miller in appreciation and acknowledgement of the three firefighters who lost their lives
battling the Snyder Fire.
One copy of the Proclamation was accepted by Michael James with the Upper Colorado River (UCR)
Interagency Fire Management Unit, who relayed his agency’s appreciation of the partnership with the City
of Fruita. Another copy of the Proclamation was accepted by Travis Holder, Fire Marshal with the Lower
Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD).
B. PROCLAMATION – PROCLAIMING JULY 2026 AS “PARK AND RECREATION
MONTH” TO BE ACCEPTED BY PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF
Mayor Breman read the Proclamation. Communications and Engagement Manager Ciara Amann stated
that the City’s Parks and Recreation Department touches nearly every part of life in Fruita and none of it
would be possible without the City’s amazing team behind it. She noted that later in the meeting, the
Council would be introduced to Fruita’s new Parks and Recreation Director, Michael Hughes and added
that it had been an honor for her to serve as the Interim Director for the department over the last few
months.
5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
There were no comments from the public.
CONSENT AGENDA:
A. MINUTES – A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 7, 2026
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
B. FINANCIAL PREPORTS – A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE MAY 2026 FINANCIAL
REPORTS
Mayor Breman noted that the year-to-date dollar amount under the sales tax revenue category of
“Wholesale Trade” was nearly half of what it is normally at a decrease of approximately $21,000 and
asked for staff’s insight on it. Finance Director Christa Yamashita explained that in years 2024 and 2025,
there was one single vendor that remitted large amounts to the City, but this year has not remitted anything.
She added that sometimes, companies tend to remit multiple months on one sales tax return and it could
be that they just haven’t remitted that bulk sum yet for this year.
• COUNCILOR MILLER MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. COUNCILOR PROCHNOW SECONDED THE MOTION. THE
MOTION PASSED WITH FIVE YES VOTES.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS
Public hearings are held to obtain input from the public on various items. Public hearings are either
Legislative in nature or Quasi-Judicial in nature. Public Input is limited to three minutes per person.
Fruita City Council Minutes 3 July 21, 2026
People speaking should step up to the microphone and state their name and address. Each is
described as follows:
LEGISLATIVE – Legislative public hearings are held when the City Council is considering an item
that establishes legislation such as an ordinance amending or establishing laws of the city.
QUASI-JUDICIAL – Quasi-judicial public hearings are held when the City Council is acting in a
judicial or judge like manner and a person with a legitimate interest is entitled to an impartial
decision made on the basis of information presented and laws in effect. Quasi-judicial hearings are
commonly held for land use hearings and liquor license hearings. The City Council must limit its
consideration to matters which are placed into evidence and are part of the public record. Quasi-
judicial hearings are held in the following manner:
- Staff presentation - Staff will present the comments and reports received from review agencies and offer a recommendation.
- Applicant Presentation - The petitioner is asked to present the proposal. Presentations should be
brief and to the point and cover all of the main points of the project. - Public Comment - (limit of 3 minutes per person) Speakers must step up to the microphone and state their name and address. Speakers
should be to the point and try not to repeat the points others have made. - Staff and/or applicant(s) respond to public comment.
- Council will ask questions of staff and applicant.
- The public hearing is closed to public comments.
- Make a motion. A member of the City Council will make a motion on the issue.
- Following a second to the motion, the City Council may discuss the motion.
- Vote. The City Council will then vote on the motion.
ORDINANCES - After introduction of an Ordinance (First Reading), a public hearing date is set and
notice of the hearing is published in the newspaper. Staff presents the ordinance on Second Reading
and the hearing is opened to the public for public input. After comments from the public, the Mayor
will close the hearing and bring the Ordinance back to the City Council for discussion and potential
action. The Council will make a motion to approve the Ordinance or take no action. In the event the
ordinance is approved, it will become effective 30 days after adoption.
ACTION ITEMS – Action items are items that require Council action and have public comment.
A. RESOLUTION 2026-20 – PUBLIC HEARING – AMENDING THE 2026 BUDGET
WITH SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDS FOR LAND
ACQUISITION, SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND
POST ACADEMY – SHANNON VASSEN, CITY MANAGER
City Manager Shannon Vassen presented Resolution 2026-20 and the related table that outlines where all
the funds are going. By far, the biggest expenditure in this Budget Amendment is $625,000 to purchase
the property located at 162 S. Mulberry Street, which is currently the site of six (6) mobile homes just
south of Aspen Street.
The owner of the property at 162 S. Mulberry Street reached out to staff to see if the City of Fruita was
interested in purchasing it for the purposes of redevelopment in Fruita’s downtown core. The property has
been listed for many years, but the owner could not find a buyer for the asking price, especially considering
the demolition and asbestos remediation that are necessary in order to get the property ready for
redevelopment.
Fruita City Council Minutes 4 July 21, 2026
Vassen stated that the property owner and the City of Fruita have agreed upon a purchase price of $525,000
for the site and staff is asking City Council for an additional $100,000 for demolition costs and asbestos
removal.
Vassen also explained that in the City’s Comprehensive Plan that was adopted by City Council in 2020,
one of the main goals and themes in the plan is to support a thriving downtown and therefore, staff feels
that the property purchase will allow the City of Fruita to prepare the site for future redevelopment. In
addition, in the Council’s Economic Development Workshop meeting that was hosted last March, City
Council gave staff the direction to really lean into land banking to see if the City can assist with the more
challenging properties throughout Fruita to help facilitate some sort of development.
Staff hopes the actual costs of the demolition of the existing structures on the property will be less than
$100,000 and will try to perform as much in-house work as possible through the City’s Public Works
Department, but Vassen pointed out that asbestos mediation is very specialized and therefore expensive,
which is what has made the site so challenging to redevelop.
Vassen reviewed the other items in the Supplemental Budget Amendment such as:
• $8,500 to replace the existing rollup door for the Municipal Court office
• $2,500 transferred from the Marketing and Promotions Fund Fund Balance to fund:
Additional artwork for the downtown kiosk that will be installed at Mulberry Plaza
Funds to pay artists for the Co-Op silo banners
Telescope for the Mulberry Plaza that can be used to see the details of the Co-Op
silo west-facing banner
• $6,500 to reimburse the Fruita Police Department for training expenses
Mayor Breman opened public comment on Resolution 2026-20. Hearing no comments from the public,
he referred that agenda item to the City Council.
Councilor Hancey asked why the City has purchased multiple rollup doors and raised concerns about
repair costs. Vassen explained that this is the third replacement rollup door, installed to provide security
for sensitive Municipal Court records when the court is closed. The other two doors were for downstairs,
specifically the Administration window and the Planning and Development window. He said he was only
aware of minor repairs to the Court door but would gather additional information and report back to
Council. Hancey expressed hope that future spending on the doors could be avoided.
• COUNCILOR PURSER MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-20 –
AMENDING THE 2026 BUDGET WITH SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
IN THE GENERAL FUND AND MARKETING AND PROMOTION FUNDS FOR
LAND ACQUISITION, SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, SPECIAL PROJECTS
AND POST ACADEMY. COUNCILOR HANCEY SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION PASSED WITH FIVE YES VOTES.
B. RESOLUTION 2026-23 – AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AND EFFECTUATE ALL CLOSING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE
PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 162 S. MULBERRY STREET,
FRUITA, COLORADO – SHANNON VASSEN, CITY MANAGER
Fruita City Council Minutes 5 July 21, 2026
City Manager Shannon Vassen explained that Resolution 2026-23 authorizes him or Assistant City
Manager Dan Caris to close on the purchase of 162 S. Mulberry Street for $525,000, about $200,000
below the original asking price. He said the property had remained unsold due to asbestos and
redevelopment costs, and staff believes its location makes it a good opportunity to encourage future
redevelopment. Staff has no immediate plans for the property and will return to Council with future
proposals.
If the Resolution is approved, the City will close on it and then construction fencing will go up around it
before the asbestos abatement begins. Once that is complete, demolition will take place and from there,
staff will again speak with Council about potential uses for the property.
Mayor Breman opened up the agenda item for public comment. Hearing none, he closed public comment
and referred the matter to the City Council.
Councilor Hancey asked Vassen to go into more detail about why the City is purchasing the property at
162 S. Mulberry Street in order to dispel any assumptions that the City wants to be landowners. Vassen
explained that there are a handful of sites like the one at 162 S. Mulberry Street that wouldn’t otherwise
be likely to get developed without the City’s involvement.
Vassen said the City has several options for the property and cited its successful land-banking efforts,
including 169 S. Mulberry Street, which was purchased for a potential parking lot but later sold to a private
developer for the redevelopment that became The Roastery – Bestslope Coffee Company and Josephine’s
Italian restaurant.
Vassen continued that the City has been purchasing a few properties throughout Fruita that may be difficult
to develop or redevelop such as the lot on N. Mulberry Street just north of the Hot Tomato and south of
the Fruita Tavern that the City purchased for $640,000 and converted into a parking lot. That site was a
little smaller than the subject property, so staff feels that $525,000 plus the cost of the asbestos abatement
is the appropriate purchase price.
Vassen further explained that the City tries to encourage development that is complimentary to Fruita’s
downtown and will support the City’s business environment, so staff feels that the land acquisition of 162
S. Mulberry Street will help to achieve the City’s goals.
Councilor Hancey added that the property purchase of 169 N. Mulberry Street by the City benefited its
residents by adding additional parking and that by purchasing 162 S. Mulberry Street, the City is removing
blight and challenges of redevelopment for the good of the community.
Councilor Hancey asked if there would be any restrictions on the proceeds from the sale of 162 S.
Mulberry Street should the City decide to sell it. Vassen explained that the funding is split: $425,000 is
coming from General Fund Reserves that the City had set aside for things that could come up (subject to
Council approval) and $200,000 is coming from interest earnings on the City’s American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA) Funds and not the ARPA funds themselves, so there are no restrictions on the funds. Staff
feels, however, that using ARPA funds for downtown redevelopment and beautification would be an
allowable use of ARPA funds.
Mayor Breman reminded everyone that staff and Council still need to have further discussions about what
to do with the property ultimately.
Fruita City Council Minutes 6 July 21, 2026
Councilor Miller asked Vassen for clarification on the condition of the six mobile homes on the property.
Vassen responded that the Fruita Building Department has determined that they will all most likely be
condemned. He noted that there had been one tenant on the property previously who was the owner’s
daughter, but she has since moved out.
• COUNCILOR PROCHNOW MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-23 –
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND EFFECTUATE
ALL CLOSING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF REAL
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 162 S. MULBERRY STREET, FRUITA,
COLORADO. COUNCILOR KUMRO SECONDED THE MOTION. THE
MOTION PASSED WITH FIVE YES VOTES.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
A. INTRODUCTION OF NEW PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR MICHAEL
HUGHES
City Manager Shannon Vassen provided a brief introduction of Michael Hughes, the City’s new Parks
and Recreation Director who was on his second day of the job. Mr. Hughes was previously employed by
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) for seventeen years.
Vassen also provided a review of the extensive recruitment process by stating that approximately twenty
applications had been received by the City of Fruita which were narrowed down to eight after initial
screening interviews. Those were then narrowed down to four finalists and the City hosted interviews with
the Leadership Team and Recreation staff. Finally, there was a Meet and Greet event hosted by the City
so there were plenty of opportunities for everyone to participate along the way and staff received a lot of
public feedback from the Meet and Greet.
Vassen stated that he is very excited to have Michael on board and asked him to introduce himself to City
Council.
Michael went into more depth about his background including that he is from a small town in Wyoming
but transferred to CMU and remained in the Grand Valley ever since. His undergraduate degree was for a
Sport Management major and he finished with a Master’s degree in 2009 and immediately began working
for CMU for the next seventeen years.
Michael noted that his wife is a nurse at Family Health West in Fruita and he looks forward to being able
to have lunch with her during the workweek. His brother also lives in Fruita and teaches P.E. at Monument
Ridge Elementary School.
Michael said he is excited for the opportunity to work for the City of Fruita and has been welcomed with
open arms by the Parks and Rec staff at the Fruita Community Center.
The City Council and Mayor welcomed Michael as well.
- CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Fruita City Council Minutes 7 July 21, 2026
City Manager Shannon Vassen noted that the previous day, the City Council had a very full day of strategic
planning. Staff will take a look at all the notes and present them to the Leadership Team to look at potential
adjustments and updates to the City’s Strategic Plan.
Vassen thanked Communications and Engagement Manager Ciara Amann for serving as the Interim Parks
and Recreation Director for several months, adding that it went really well. The Community Garden at the
Fruita Community Center was completed while Ciara was the Interim Director and the Mike the Headless
Chicken Festival was a success with the assistance of all Recreation staff.
Vassen added that he looks forward to working with Michael.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ACTIONS
COUNCILOR JEANNINE PURSER
Jeannine reported that at the Livability Commission meeting the previous Thursday, the board discussed
hosting a bike safety event on August 29
th
from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Shelledy Elementary’s parking
lot and in the grassy area. The event is for all ages and there will be handouts and lots of other fun things.
Jennine said the Livability Commission will be presenting a request for funds to the City Council for the
bike safety event specifically.
Jeannine also reported that she and Councilor Todd Kumro attended a Fruita Hope Initiative meeting. It
was the second time Jeannine has been to one and Todd’s first, but Jeannine said he added such good
context to the meeting. Jeannine noted that because of the board’s meeting schedule, she will not be able
to attend the meetings once the summer break is over. She explained that the Fruita Hope Initiative is not
an official board of the City but it is very important that someone from the City be in attendance whenever
possible. The Initiative meets on the third Thursday of the month at 2:00 p.m. Jeannine added that the
group is trying to come up with existing resources specific to Fruita concerning the unhoused community
and trying to prevent people from becoming unhoused. She added that she has been very impressed by the
board and its meetings.
Councilor Hancey pointed out that the City partners with Family Health West (FHW) on the bicycle
helmet program and Jeannine stated that FHW will be at the bike safety event with all different sizes of
helmets for the kids.
COUNCILOR AMY MILLER
Amy reported attended the Traffic Safety Convention as part of her service on the Grand Valley Regional
Transportation Committee (GVRTC) Board of Directors and the timing of it was very good because the
conference happened right after she was appointed to the GVRTC. She said she really learned a lot and
there were things that were presented that she would like to get on the City Council’s radar. Amy said she
would talk with Shannon and potentially the Public Works Director to see if it even makes sense to do
that. She added that in attendance at the convention were State Patrol and Fruita Police Department staff
members as well as representatives of Public Works Departments. The convention was hosted by the City
of Grand Junction and is a three-day extensive conference that is held statewide.
Amy thanked the o