3386
City
of
Gunnison
City
Council
Meeting
Minutes
Regular
Session
-Tuesday,
September
8,
2026
City
Hall,
Council
Chambers,
201
W.
Virginia
Avenue,Gunnison,
CO
I.
Presiding
Officer
Calls
Regular
Sessionto
Order(recording
begins
at
0:10).
The
Gunnison
City
Council
Regular
Session
meeting
was
calledto
order
on
Tuesday,September
8,
2026,at5:30
p.m.
by
Mayor
Plata
in
Council
Chambers,
located
at
201
W.
Virginia
Avenue
in
Gunnison,
Colorado.
Remote
access
was
available
via
Zoom.Mayor
Plata
attended
the
meeting
online.
11.
Announcements
(recording
beginsat
0:37).
Mayor
Plata
askedfor
25
secondsof
silenceto
acknowledge
and
honorthe
thousands
of
lives
that
have
been
affected
and
lost
because
of
the
attacks
on
September
11
and
its
aftermath.
Council
provided
announcements
about
meetings
and
events
they
attended.
Staff
gave
updates.
III.
Western
Colorado
University
Liaison
Announcements
(recording
begins
at8:36).
Jestyn
Smith,
Western
Colorado
University’s
SGA
Vice
President
for
External
Affairs
and
City
Council
Liaison
attended
his
first
meetingand
introduced
himself.
IV.
Public
Input
(recording
begins
at
9:55).
None.
V.
Consent
Agenda
(recordings
beginsat
10:45).
None.
VI.
Proclamations,
Recognitions,
and
Appointments
VI.
A.
Proclamation
for
Hispanic
Heritage
Month
(recording
begins
at
10:53).For
background,
local
leaders
involved
in
planning
and
executing
Welcoming
Weekrequested
City
Council
approve
a
proclamation
proclaiming
September
15-October
15,
2026,
to
be
“Hispanic
Heritage
Month.”
Councilor
Ahonen
moved
and
Councilor
Zahradka
seconded
the
motionto
approve
the
proclamation
proclaiming
September
15-October
15,
2026,
as
Hispanic
Heritage
Month.
Roll
call,
yes:
Zahradka,
Schwartz,
Plata,
Ballesteros,
and
Ahonen.
So
carried.
Roll
call,
no:
None.
Mayor
Pro
Tern
Ballesteros
read
the
proclamation
aloud
in
Spanish
and
English.
VI.
B.
Proclamation
for
Suicide
Prevention
Awareness
Month
(recording
beginsat
18:2
1).
For
background,
representatives
fromthe
local
Suicide
Prevention,
Awareness,
and
Recovery
Coalition
(SPARC),
working
in
partnership
with
the
SuicidePrevention
Subgroup
of
the
Health
Coalition,
requested
City
Council
approve
aproclamation
proclaiming
the
month
of
September
to
be
“Suicide
Prevention
Awareness
Month.”
Councilor
Zahradka
moved
and
Councilor
Schwartz
seconded
the
motion
to
approve
a
proclamation
recognizing
September
2026,
as
Suicide
Prevention
Awareness
Month.
Roll
call,
yes:
Schwartz,
Plata,
Ballesteros,
Ahonen,
and
Zahradka.
So
carried.
Roll
call,
no:
None.
Mayor
Pro
Tern
Ballesteros
read
the
proclamation
aloud.
Members
of
Juntos
por
Gunnison
came
forward
and
accepted
the
proclamation
proclaiming
September
15-October
2026
as
Hispanic
Heritage
Month.
Pictures
were
taken.
Mayor
Plata
stated
his
appreciation
of
Council
approving
these
two
proclamations
because
while
symbolic
they
reflect
the
valuesof
the
community.
VI.
C.
Parks
and
Recreation
Advisory
Committee
(PRAC)
Appointments
(recording
begins
at
26:46).
For
background,
Resolution
No.
10,
Series
2026,
reconstituted
the
Parks
and
Recreation
Advisory
Committee
(PRAC)
into
its
current
form.
The
purpose
of
PRAC
is
to
provide
informed
community
perspectives
and
recommendations
concerning
City
parks,
recreation
facilities,
programs,
and
services
within
a
work
plan
approved
by
City
Council.
Parks
and
Recreation
Director
Vollendorf
stated
that
he
had
spoken
to
all
four
candidates
applying
for
the
four
open
seats.
Each
candidate
was
online
or
in
Chambers
and
shared
their
interest
in
serving
on
PRAC.
Mayor
Pro
Tern
Ballesteros
moved
and
Councilor
Schwartz
seconded
the
motion
to
appoint
Gregory
Adams,
Katie
Lewinger,
Jack
Vance,
and
Jessica
Wurtzto
the
Parks
and
Recreation
Advisory
Committee
to
serve
a
term
beginning
immediately
to
May
31,
2028.
3387
Rollcall,yes:Plata,Ballesteros,Ahonen,Zahradka,andSchwartz.Socarried.
Rollcall,no:None.
VI.D.SeniorAdvisoryCommittee(SAC)Appointments(recordingbeginsat34:20).For
background,ResolutionNo.
10,
Series2026,reconstitutedtheSeniorAdvisory
Committee(SAC)
intoitscurrentform.ThepurposeofSACis
to
provideinformedcommunityperspectivesand
recommendationsconcerningSeniorCenterfacilities,programs,services,participation,
andthe
needsofolderadultswithin
awork
planapproved
byCityCouncil.ParksandRecreationDirector
Vollendorfstatedthat
the
City’s
SeniorCoordinatorhadspokentoallsixcandidatesapplyingfor
thefouropen
seats.Heattendedthreeofthe
interviews.
Candidate
Virginia
Waltonwasonlineand
sharedher
interestinserving
onSAC.
Council
discussedthecandidates.
CouncilorSchwartzmovedandCouncilorZahradkasecondedthemotiontoappointKathleen
Kinkema,
VirginiaWalton,
DianaWickenhauser,andTen
Pearce
to
theSenior
Advisory
Committee(SAC),toserve
a
termbeginningimmediatelytoMay31,2028.
Rollcall,yes:Ballesteros,Zahradka,Schwartz,andPlata.
So
carried.
Rollcall,no:Ahonen.
MayorPlata
calledforarecessat6:14p.m.Councilreturned
to
theRegularSession
withMayor
PlatapresentinCouncil
Chambers.
VII.
OldBusiness
VII.A.RateandFinancialPlanningforWaterandWastewaterSystemsIII(recording
begins
at
44:23).
MayorPlatastatedthatCouncilwouldnotbetakinganyactiononthepresentedrates
andfinancialplanningforwaterandwastewatersystemseventhoughtheagenda
stateda
suggestedmotion.Forbackground,the
Cityof
Gunnison’s
waterand
wastewater
utilitysystemfor
risingoperational,regulatory,andcapitaldemandsthatrequirelong-termfinancialplanning,
includinginvestmentinanewwatertreatmentplant.Acomprehensiveutilityratestudyhasbeen
drafted,
discussed,and
revisedtoincorporateCouncil’sdirectionfromtheAugust11,2026,
meeting,toassistinselectingafinancialplan,choosingaratestructure,anddetermining
whether
toreservefundsforfuturewastewater.KevinBurnettofWilldanFinancialConsultants,
Inc.
presentedoptionsforpossiblefutureratesforwaterandwastewaterutilities.Hispresentationwas
accompanied
bya
powerpoint.Council
asked
questionswhichwereresponded
tobyMr.Burnett
andstaff.Sixmembersofthepublicmadepubliccommentsandonepersonattendingonlinemade
a
comment.Noactiontaken.Discussiononly.
VII.B.
RequestforProposals(RFP),TaylorMountainParkCampHost(recordingbeginsat
1:59:25).
For
background,onJuly
7,
2026,staffinformedCouncilthatCampfireRanch,LLC
wouldnolongerbeoperatingasthecamphostinTaylorMountain
Park.Parksand
Recreation
staffhavemanagedthecampgroundsincethebeginningofJune
2026
and
wouldnowlike
toissue
a
RequestforProposalsforaTaylorMountainCampHostforthe
2027season
to
providethe
necessaryservicesforthe
successfuloperationofTaylorMountainPark.ParksandRecreation
DirectorVollendorfsummarizedtheRFPand
acceptededitsandsuggestionsfromCouncil.
CouncilorSchwartz
movedandMayorProTemBallesterossecondedthe
motion
to
authorizestaff
toissueaRequest
forProposals(RFP)for
campgroundhostandmanagementservicesatTaylor
MountainParkforthe
2027campingseason.
Rollcall,yes:Ahonen,Zahradka,
Schwartz,Plata,andBallesteros.So
carried.
Roll
call,no:None.
VIII.New
Business
VIII.A.
LetterofIntent;State
HistoricPreservation
OfficeGrantfor
CityHallMunicipal
Building
Elevator
Replacement(recording
beginsat2:06:52).For
background,theCityis
committedto
Americanswith
DisabilitiesAct(ADA)
compliance
underits2025
TransitionPlan
and
continuallyassesses
accessibilityneedsonCity
property.
TheCityHall
Municipal
Building’s
aging
elevatorcanno
longerbe
reliablymaintained,
andstaff
ispursuing
grantopportunities.
The
Municipal
Building’shistoric
designation
qualifies
itforaState
Historic
PreservationOffice
grant
for
replacementof
theexisting
elevator.
Community
and
Policy
LiaisonRicardo
Esqueda
presented
onthis
topicand
explainednext
stepsif
Gunnison
isaskedto
submit
an
application.
Councilor
Zahradkamoved
and
MayorPro
Tern
Ballesteros
secondedthe
motionto
authorizestaff
to
submita
Letter
ofIntentto
apply
fora
Competitive
Grant
through
theState
Historical
Preservation
Office.
MayorPlata
madea
friendly
amendmentto
the
original
motion
statedby
Councilor
Zahradka.
The
amended
motion
wasto
authorizethe
Mayor
tosign
a
letterof
intentto
apply
fora
Competitive
ii
Grant
through
the
State
Historical
Preservation
Office
for
replacement
of
the
City
Hall
elevator.
Councilor
Zahradka
seconded
the
amended
motion.
Roll
call,
yes:
Zahradka,
Schwartz,
Plata,
Ballesteros,
and
Ahonen.So
carried.
Roll
call,
no:
None.
VIII.
B.
Contract
Approval:
Victim’s
Advocate
Program
Contract
for
Services
(recording
begins
at
2:12:27).
For
background,
the
Gunnison
Police
Department
oversees
aregional
Victim’s
Advocate
Program
that
serves
multiple
jurisdictions
and
provides
state-mandated
support
and
referrals
forvictims
of
domestic
violence
and
other
crimes.
The
program
is
partly
funded
through
state
and
federal
grants,
with
remaining
costs
shared
among
partner
agencies
based
on
service
usage.
The
2026
agreement
continues
the
long-standing
collaborative
arrangement
among
these
agencies
to
administer
and
support
the
program.
Chief
Costello
summarized
the
contract,
its
background,
staffing
make-up,
and
service
areas.
Chief
Costello
explained
that
the
dollar
amount
listed
would
not
bean
expenditure
for
the
City,
but
anamount
that
would
be
reimbursedfrom
the
other
four
participating
jurisdictions:
Mt.
Crested
Butte,
Crested
Butte,
and
E-IinsdaleCounty,
and
Gunnison
County.
Mayor
Plata
stated
that
the
agenda
inadvertently
referencesa
dollar
amount.
The
inclusion
of
a
dollar
amount
is
not
necessaryin
the
motion.
Mayor
Pro
Tem
Ballesteros
moved
and
Councilor
Ahonen
seconded
the
motion
toauthorize
the
City
Manager
to
sign
the
Contract
for
Services
for
2026
for
the
Victim
Advocate
Program.
Roll
call,
yes:
Schwartz,Plata,
Ballesteros,
Ahonen,
andZahradka.So
carried.
Roll
call,
no:
None.
VIII.
C.
2026
Law
Enforcement
Mutual
Aid
Intergovernmental
Agreement
(recording
begins
at
2:15:42).
For
background,
the
City
of
Gunnison
Police
Department
and
neighboring
agencies
have
historically
had
an
agreement
to
provide
mutual
aid,
ensuring
safe
and
effective
responses
when
additional
officers
or
resources
are
needed.
This
updated
version
of
the
mutual
aid
agreement
reflects
current
practices,
responsibilities,
and
liabilities
while
maintaining
internal
procedures
that
prioritize
protection
ofthe
City
of
Gunnison.
Developed
collaboratively
with
partner
agencies,
this
latest
version
ensures
a
consistent,regionwide
approach
to
supporting
public
safety
across
theGunnison
Valley.
Police
Chief
Costello
spoke
on
this
agenda
item
and
answered
questionsfrom
Council.
Councilor
Ahonen
moved
and
Mayor
Pro
Tern
Ballesteros
secondedthe
motion
to
authorize
the
Mayor
to
execute
the
Intergovernmental
Agreement
for
Law
Enforcement
Mutual
Aid.
Roll
call,
yes:
Plata,
Ballesteros,
Ahonen,
Zahradka,
and
Schwartz.So
carried.
Roll
call,
no:
None.
IX.
Regular
SessionMeeting
Adjournment.
With
no
further
business
before
Council,
the
Regular
Session
was
adjournedat8:00
p.m.
Mayor,
Diego
Plata
Full
video
recordings
of
City
Councilmeetings
are
available
onlineat
2unnisonco.pov/Counci1Meetins
The
official
audio
recording
and
publicly
noticesmeeting
minutes
are
available
online
at
liunnisonco.pov/Councillocuments