Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for a work session on Monday morning, September 14, to review a number of grant and purchase requests and to discuss a vacancy on the City Council.
Mayor Michael Badagliacco, J. David Reed, Ed Ulibarri, and Adam Woodden met in the City Council Chambers at the Elks Civic Building, along with city staff.
The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
Watch the meeting here.
IT PURCHASE AUTHORIZATION
City Councilors were presented with a pair of proposals to renew two annual software subscriptions for city operations. One is NeoGov Human Resources software, which is critical for City of Montrose Human Resources operations. The total expenditure for this annual renewal is $67,987.40.
The other is for Optiv, at a reduced annual rate of $80,767.64. The proposed agreement covers four primary firewalls: two dedicated to the Police Department network and two servicing the core city network. As the city’s primary line of defense against illicit network intrusions, these firewalls actively monitor incoming and outgoing traffic for malicious activity. Maintaining updated subscriptions and support equips the Information Systems team with the enhanced network visibility, advanced threat intelligence, and critical security tools necessary to safeguard municipal data infrastructure.
Funding for these procurements was formally allocated within the 2026 fiscal year budget, which received council approval in November 2025.
CHIPETA LAKE 2 ADDITION ANNEXATION
City Councilors were presented with an annexation application and the associated zoning for the Chipeta Lake 2 Addition.
Senior Planner William Reis said the Chipeta Lake 2 Addition is a proposed annexation approximately 1.14 acres in size. The annexation consists of Tract 3 of the Chipeta Road Dedication. It is within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary, the City of Montrose Sewer District, and the Chipeta Water District. The property is owned by the City of Montrose and is proposed to be brought into city limits to give the city control over its own properties. An annexation agreement is not required.
NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL GRANT REQUEST THROUGH COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
City Councilors were presented with a request to authorize an application to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program for planning and design of the Montrose Audubon project.
The City of Montrose has completed a conceptual design for the Montrose Audubon, located off Marine Road. The project is envisioned as a nature-based outdoor recreation and educational destination focused on wildlife viewing, accessibility, habitat restoration, and connecting the community with the natural environment.
The conceptual plans include accessible trails and boardwalks connecting visitors to the site's marsh and wildlife habitat, along with bird blinds, wildlife viewing areas, educational signage, and an outdoor classroom. The project also incorporates native and restorative plantings, preservation of desirable vegetation, and removal of invasive species such as Russian olive and tamarisk.
The project is envisioned as a three-phase development, with each phase designed to function independently. The initial phase would establish site access, parking, an ADA-accessible trail, a bridge, and the first bird blind. Future phases would expand the trail and boardwalk network and add habitat restoration, educational features, overlooks, gathering spaces, and additional visitor amenities.
The city is seeking up to $45,000 through the CPW Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program – Planning and Support category to advance the completed conceptual design to construction-ready documents. Grant funding would support detailed construction drawings, technical specifications, and construction cost estimates. These documents will allow the city to refine project phasing, identify future funding needs, and position the project for implementation.
CREATING RESILIENT FORESTS IN COLORADO AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURE
City Councilors were presented with a request to authorize $329,723.00 for implementation of the 2023 Creating Resilient Forests in Colorado project awarded to the City of Montrose.
The City Council accepted the award of these funds in 2025. The funding is being used to implement the Cerise Park Wildfire Mitigation and Riparian Restoration Project/Buckhorn Lakes Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Health Improvement Project. Staff is seeking council authorization of expenditures to implement this work.
This expenditure will be 100% reimbursed by the grant.
FOREST RESTORATION AND WILDLIFE MITIGATION GRANT REQUEST THROUGH COLORADO STATE FOREST SERVICE
City Councilors were presented with a request to authorize an application to the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program for wildfire mitigation and forest restoration at Buckhorn Lakes.
The City of Montrose owns approximately 554 acres at Buckhorn Lakes, a property that provides important recreational, natural resource, wildlife, and watershed values to the community.
The city previously received a $329,723 award through the Colorado State Forest Service's 2023 Creating Resilient Forests in Colorado – Congressionally Directed Spending program for the Cerise Park Wildfire Mitigation and Riparian Restoration Project and Buckhorn Lakes Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Health Improvement Project. Of that award, $172,011 remains available for the Buckhorn Lakes project and may be used for eligible project activities or as a match for future grant opportunities that advance wildfire mitigation and forest health improvements.
In partnership with the Colorado State Forest Service, the city has developed a forest management plan for Buckhorn Lakes identifying opportunities to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and protect critical resources. The plan recommends strategic forest management and fuels reduction activities to improve forest resilience and support long-term stewardship of the property.
The city is seeking up to $516,033 through the Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program to support additional wildfire mitigation and forest restoration activities at Buckhorn Lakes. The project is located within an area eligible for the program's reduced 25% match opportunity. If awarded, the remaining $172,011 may be used, as permitted by grant requirements, to satisfy the required 25% local match.
APPOINTMENT OF ANN MORGENTHALER AS MURA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
City Councilors were asked to consider appointing Ann Morgenthaler as the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority Executive Director.
The Montrose Urban Renewal Authority (MURA) Bylaws provide that, “The Executive Director shall be appointed by the City Council or the City Manager, and shall serve at the pleasure thereof. He or she shall have general supervision over administration of the affairs and business of the Authority, and shall be charged with management of the projects of the Authority, and with any other duties as assigned by the Commissioners from time-to-time. He or she shall designate in writing some person to perform the duties of Executive Director in his or her absence.”
William Bell is currently appointed as the Executive Director of the MURA. Appointing the city manager as the MURA Executive Director has allowed for streamlined and coordinated action on behalf of the MURA and city. Since William Bell is no longer the Montrose city manager, City Council may consider appointing Interim City Manager Ann Morgenthaler to serve as the Executive Director of MURA.
GENERAL CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION
CITY COUNCIL VACANCY APPOINTMENT PROCESS
City Councilors discussed the recent vacancy on the City Council following the resignation of District 4 City Councilor Dave Frank.
To be eligible for appointment to the City Council, the applicant must be a qualified elector and must have resided within the City of Montrose and/or applicable City Council district, as depicted on the City Council Districts Map, for 12 consecutive months preceding October 6, 2026.
The deadline to submit an application is 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The application and additional information are available on the city’s website..
STAFF REPORTS
Police Chief Blaine Hall delivered some remarks on recent police activity within the City of Montrose.
Hall said the recent WCLEA academy graduated five new officers to the Montrose Police Department. Over the past two weeks, 1,477 incidents have been reported in the City of Montrose. A couple of dozen of those incidents resulted in DUI arrests.
The council said there could be potential actions to address this behavior.
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