RIDGWAY TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 10, 2026
CALL TO O RDER
The meeting was held both in person and via virtual meeting portal Zoom Meeting,
p ursuant to the Town’s Electronic Participation Policy.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5:35 p .m . In attendance Councilors Gra m b le y,
Kroger, Montague, Greenwood, S co ville, Mayor Pro Tem Lakin, and Mayor Clark.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on May 13, 2026.
Register of Demands for June 2026.
Renewal of Retail Liquor Store License for Ridgway Liquors.
Renewal of Tavern Liquor License for The Million Roadhouse.
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Montague, seconded by Councilmember S co ville and
carried unanimously o n a ro ll ca ll vo te to approve the consent agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Kuno Vo lle n w e id e r, expressed concerns about the flooding occurrin g in the culvert on
County Road 5 and Amelia St. and the lack of snow removal on the pedestrian bridge
at Mary and Moffit Streets. He asked that the Town address the sidewalk on S. Le n a
and Highway 62; consider continuing pavement of N. Laura St.; and when constructing
the new sewer plant b u ild fo r a m inim um life span of 50 to 60 years.
PUBLIC REQUES TS AND PRES ENTATIONS
- Request to close N. Cora between Railroad and Roundhouse for the Annual Bennett
Forgeworks Block Party
Will Brumas, owner of Bennett Forgeworks requested closure of N. Cora between
Railroad and Roundhouse on August 27
th
between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm for the Bennet
Forgeworks Block Party, noting that this is the sixth consecutive year of the event.
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Montague, seconded by Councilmember Kroger and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the request to close N. Cora between
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June 10, 2026
Page 2
Railroad and Roundhouse on August 27
th
between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm for the Annual
Bennett Forgeworks Block Party.
- Request to close Clinton Street between Cora and Laura Streets for the annual Pride
Celebration Block Party
Kaisa Simon, Event Coordinator requested the closure of Clinton Street between Cora
and Laura Streets on August 15
th
between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm for the annual Pride
event, notin g last year was the first year the event was held on Clin to n S tre e t and it
was very successfu l.
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Kroger, seconded by Councilmember Grambley and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the request to close Clinton Street
between Cora and Laura Streets on August 15
th
between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm for the
annual Pride Celebration Block Party.
- Proclamation supporting the sixth annual Ouray County Pride Celebration
Mayor Clark read the Proclamation.
There was Council discussion and comments regarding flyin g the Pride Flag at Town
Hall for the month of June to support Pride Month, and again in August during the
Pride Celebration event.
S P EAKING FROM THE AUDIENCE:
Speaking in favor of flying the Pride Flag at Town Park for the rest of June and during
the Pride Celebration in August were Ka is a S im o n , Am y Kito , Ta ylo r No w a k, Tera Wick
and Stephen Laster.
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Kroger, seconded by Councilmember Scoville and carried
unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the Proclamation supporting the sixth annual
Ouray County Pride Celebration.
It was moved by Councilmember Kroger, seconded by Councilmember Greenwood and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to fly the Prid e Fla g at Town Hall from June 11
th
through June 30
th
and from August 14
th
through August 16
th
.
- Proclamation declaring June as Immigrant Heritage Month
Mayor Clark read the Proclamation and expressed the importance of supporting
immigrants during these challenging times.
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June 10, 2026
Page 3
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Kroger, seconded by Councilmember Grambley and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the Proclamation declaring June as
Immigrant Heritage Month.
- Presentation of Destination Development Mentor Program Tourism Strategy Report
Staff report dated 6-2-26 from the Town Manager presenting Destination Development
Mentor Program Tourism Strategy Report.
Dave Stantucci, Mission2Market representative presented a power point, explaining
that in collaboration with the Colorado Tourism Office Destination Development
Mentor Program a strategy was developed following the Town’s transition from
Chamber-led tourism management to Town-led management. The assessment
included analysis of visitor data, and input from local stakeholders and business
owners.
He reported visitor spending has declined approximately 10–12% between 2024 and
2025, with the largest decreases occurring in lodging-related spending. Dining
expenditures have remained comparatively strong. Approximately half of visitors stay
overnight while the remainder are day visitors. The community experiences
approximately one million visitor days annually, with an average stay of two days.
Mr. Stantucci stated a significant factor to the decline was the conversion of the MTN
Lodge to workforce housing, n oting it represents approximately one third of the
community’s lodging inventory. Th is reduction in available lodging is estimated to
have reduced visitor spending by approximately $1.5 million annually and decreased
lodging tax revenues by approximately $40,000 and decreased sales tax revenues by
approximately $54,000.
He noted the current tourism structure is in good shape and he recommended
strengthenin g direct communication between the Town and tourism-related
businesses through the creation of a Tourism Advisory Committee.
Other recommendations included:
• Develop strategies to address current lodging limitations.
• Targeting repeat visitors, families, and visitors staying in nearby communities,
campgrounds, and RV parks.
• Encouraging visitation during shoulder and off-peak seasons.
• Exploring temporary modifications to short-term rental regulations to help address
lodging shortages during peak visitation periods.
Mr. Stantucci also identified several grant opportunities through the Colorado Tourism
Office that could assist with marketing, visitor management, community signage,
responsible tourism initiatives, and workforce training programs.
10. Presentation on the status of the Beaver Creek Diversion Restoration Project
Th e Town Manager provided an update on the Beaver Creek Diversion Restoration
Project, reporting the primary construction work has been substantially completed.
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June 10, 2026
Page 4
Remaining work includes consideration of a supplemental infiltration gallery project,
which will be discussed in greater detail at a future special meeting.
Pro je ct consultant, Ron Alexander presented a power point and provided an overview
of the project and described circumstances w h ich led to the restoration effort following
storm damage that destroyed the previous water diversion infrastructure. He explained
the completed project includes a new diversion structure, stream stabilization
improvements, automated flow controls, remote monito rin g ca p a b ilitie s , s o la r-
powered equipment, and approximately 1,000 feet of new pipeline. He explained how
the new diversion system w o rks and what the benefits of the proposed infiltration
gallery system would be.
The Town Manager noted project costs are expected to remain below the previously
estimated total project budget of a p p ro xim a te ly $4 m illio n and funding for the project
was provided through a combination of federal disaster assistance, state grants, and
Town matching funds.
Members of Council asked about monitoring capabilities, revegetation efforts, water
flows, and the potential benefits of the proposed infiltration gallery.
Mr. Alexander explained the new system provides remote monitoring and operational
control a b ilitie s that haven ’t been a va ila b le . He e xp la in e d that while overall water
availability may be lower this year due to environmental conditions, the new diversion
structure is expected to capture available water more efficiently than the previous
system.
Council discussion included long-term challenges associated with the capacity of the
Ridgway Ditch system and ongoing efforts to improve water delivery efficiency.
POLICY MATTERS
- Street light proposal from San Miguel Power Association
Staff Report dated 5-31-26 from the Town Manager presenting the street light proposal
from San Miguel Power Association.
Paul Hora, San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) representative, presented a proposal
w h ich transfers ownership, operation, and maintenance of 18 e xis tin g u tility p o le-
mounted streetlights. Ten of the lights have already been converted to LED fixtures
that comply with the Town’s dark-sky standards, while the remaining eight are older
high-pressure sodium or mercury vapor fixtures.
He noted the benefits of the proposal, including:
• Conversion of all remaining legacy fixtures to energy-e fficie n t LED lig h tin g .
• Improved compliance with dark-sky objectives.
• Reduced energy consumption and carbon footprint.
• Improved color rendering and visibility for public safety.
• Better directional lighting to minimize light trespass onto adjacent properties.
• Reduced maintenance costs and operational responsibilities for the Town.
Council members discussed concerns about light trespass from existing fixtures and
stated support for improving dark-sky compliance throughout the community.
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June 10, 2026
Page 5
S PEAKING FROM THE AUDIENCE:
Kuno Vollenweider expressed concerns regarding the current heig h t o f th e e xis tin g
lig h ts .
Mr. Hora clarified that the proposal applies only to utility pole-mounted streetlights and
does not include the Town’s decorative lighting system. He noted that no changes
would be made to the actual poles or their heights.
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Scoville, seconded by Councilmember Grambley and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the street light proposal from San Miquel
Power Association
- Intergovernmental Grant Agreement between the Colorado Energy Office and the
Town of Ridgway concerning the Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant
Staff Report dated 6-5-26 from the Town Manager presenting Intergovernmental Grant
Agreement between the Colorado Energy Office and the Town of Ridgway concerning
the Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant and the Grant Award Letter.
The Town Manager e xp la in e d in Decem ber 2025 the Town was notified by the
Colorado Energy Office that the Town had been selected to receive approximately
$1.33 m illio n in grant funding to support local governments with policy adoption to
bolster local resilience, reduce emissions, and advance other state priorities, such as
improved air quality. S ta ff has worked with the Energy Office to refine the scope of
work and negotiate the grant agreement.
Terry Schuyler, who helped develop the grant application, presented an overview of
the grant. He explained the grant aligns with several Town-adopted policies and plans,
including the Net Zero by 2030 Resolution, the Regional Climate Action Plan, and other
sustainability initiatives previously approved by Council. He noted the grant funding
supports research, community outreach, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and
potential implementation of future electrification initiatives. He emphasized the
acceptance of the grant does not adopt an all-electric building code. Any future all-
electric code requirement would require separate Council action following extensive
public outreach.
S PEAKING FROM THE AUDIENCE
Trish Savage asked if funds could be used for putting solar on Town Hall offices.
The Town Manager clarified the Colorado Energy Office specifically designed this grant
program to focus on policy development and electrification initiatives rather than
funding renewable energy generation projects. As a result, grant funds could not be
used directly for solar installations or other energy-generation systems.
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June 10, 2026
Page 6
Natalie Booth asked whether homeowners would be responsible for applying for
rebates themselves or whether contractors performing the work would be able to apply
on behalf of property owners.
Mr. Schuyler responded the program would be flexible regarding who submits
applications and suggested that either the homeowner or contractor could potentially
participate in the process.
Sheridan Ribbing, with the Sustainability Advisory Board member, spoke in support of
the grant.
Nathan Lock expressed concerns about the long-term reliability and maintenance
requirements of modern high-efficiency heating systems. He stated many older boiler
systems can operate for 25 to 30 years with relatively few repairs while maintaining
h ig h e fficie n cy le vels. He explained newer heating systems often contain more
electronic components, sensors, motors, and control boards, creating additional
potential points of failure. He argued that while modern systems may achieve slightly
higher efficiency ratings, homeowners should also consider future repair costs, service
requirements, and equipment lifespan when evaluating replacement options.
Th e Council discussed potential effects of electrification, and th a t w h ile e le ctricity
consumption may increase as residents transition away from natural gas appliances,
overall energy efficiency improvements could reduce total energy use.
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Kroger, seconded by Councilmember Greenwood and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the Intergovernmental Grant Agreement
between the Colorado Energy Office and the Town of Ridgway concerning the Local
IMPACT Acce le ra to r Gra n t
PUBLIC HEARINGS
- Application for final Plat or River Park Business Park Filin g Three
Staff Report dated 6-5-26 from the Senior Planner presenting the fin a l p la t o f Rive r Pa rk
Ridgway Business Park Filin g Three and plat map with supporting documentation.
Senior Planner, Angie Kemp, reviewed the history of the project and noted that Filing
Three represents the final phase of the River Park Business Park development. The final
plat creates three light industrial lots. dedicates approximately 2.16 acres of right-of-
way to the Town and retains a 12.55-acre mixed residential parcel for future
development. She explained most of the infrastructure associated with the subdivision,
including streets, sidewalks, landscaping, utilities, and traffic control devices, have
already been installed. Th e remaining conditions primarily relate to future
development of the mixed residential portion.
The applicant, Charles Mueller, explained the three industrial lots are intentionally
larger than eventual end-user parcels so they can be subdivided in the future to meet
specific business needs. He also discussed proposed revisions to certain plat notes
related to stormwater management and finished floor elevations, noting that
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June 10, 2026
Page 7
significant stormwater infrastructure has since been installed and some older
requirements may no longer be applicable.
S PEAKING FROM THE AUDIENCE
Kuno Vollenweider asked whether future subdivision of the industrial lots would
require additional public hearings or could be handled administratively. He also
questioned whether the current 60 percent lot coverage limitation in the industrial area
could restrict future industrial development and suggested allowing greater coverage
for business uses.
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Montague, seconded by Councilmember S co ville and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the Final Plat of River Park, Business
Park, Filing Three, finding that the criteria set forth in RMC §7-4-5(C)(8)(b ) (p rio r co d e ) h a ve
been met with the following conditions:
- Prior to recordation of the Final Plat:
a. the plat notes will be modified to the satisfaction of the Town of Ridgway
Engineering Department about the operation and maintenance of the private
stormwater system;
b. the plat notes will be updated to better align with the Preliminary Plat plus existing
improvements to the satisfaction of the Town of Ridgway Planning Department;
c. all fees due shall be paid including water and sewer taps for each block created.
POLICY MATTERS.
- First Reading of Ordinance No. 04-2026 Es ta b lis h in g S e ctio n 7-13 “Community Housing
Regulations” of the Ridgway Municipal Code and Amending Section 7-9-2 “General
Definitions” to Define Community Housing”
Staff Report dated 6-5-26 from the Senior Planner presenting an ordinance which
provides guidelines for administering Community Housing Regulations.
Th e Senior Planner stated the regulations apply to developments of three or more units
or lots and establishes affordability targets based on Area Median Income (AMI).
Community housing units would be subject to occupancy, affordability, and resale
restrictions to ensure they remain available to eligible local residents over time. She
explained developers could meet the requirement by providing community housing
within a project or through alternative compliance options such as land dedication, off-
site housing, fee-in -lieu payments for fractional requirements, or other approved
methods that support the Town’s housing goals. She re vie w e d e lig ib ility crite ria ,
covenant requirements, resale provisions, fair marketing requirements, and limitations
prohibiting short-term rentals. The ordinance also establishes procedures for
administration of both ownership and rental units and includes supporting guidelines
that can be updated by resolution without amending the municipal code. She noted no
short-term rentals would be allowed.
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June 10, 2026
Page 8
ACTIO N :
It was moved by Councilmember Montague, seconded by Councilmember Gra m b le y and
carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the First Reading of Ordinance No. 04-
2026 Establishing Section 7-13 “Community Housing Regulations” of the Ridgway
Municipal Code and Amending Section 7-9-2 “General Definitions” to Define Community
Housing.
- Expenditure for repairs to the sidewalks in front of the Post Office area and the valley
pan on Clinton Street.
Staff Report dated 6-3-26 from the Town Manager presenting consideration of
authorizing an expenditure in excess of $25,000, pursuant to the Town’s Procurement
Policy, for repairs to the sidewalks in the Post Office area and the valley pan at the
intersection of Clinton Street and N Laura Street.
The Town Manager explained the request for authorization to enter into a contract is
for sidewalk repairs in the post office area, including portions near Clinton Street,
n oting the sidewalks have significantly deteriorated and are getting worse. He
explained the scope o f w o rk includes preparing and completing sidewalk
improvements, with work expected to b e g in e a rly to m id-August and noted th is p ro je ct
was not originally budgeted and bids from multiple contractors were not obtained
under the standard process. He noted the work will be performed by Co lte r
Construction, with a proposed contract amount of approximately $38,360.
Th e Council dis cu s sed in clu ding sign sleeves and a ramp to the project. Th e To w n
Manager in d ica te d the sign sleeves could easily be added at a later date and were not
included in the scope of work. He said a ramp can be incorporated into the project.
ACTIO N:
It was moved by Councilmember Scoville, seconded by Councilmember Kroger and carried
unanimously on a roll call vote to authorize staff to enter into a contractor services
agreement with Coulter Construction to complete the Post Office sidewalk repa