Fruita City Council Minutes 1 March 24, 2026
FRUITA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
MARCH 24, 2026
6:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The workshop of the Fruita City Council was called to order at 6:33 p.m. by Mayor Matthew Breman.
City Council members in attendance were James Williams, Aaron Hancey, Jeannine Purser, Amy
Miller. Councilors Rich Parrish and Amanda Quigley were excused absent.
City Staff present included City Manager Shannon Vassen, Communications and Engagement
Manager Ciara Amann, Marketing and Engagement Coordinator Ammon Pierce, Management Analyst
Kaydee Lucero, Special Projects Manager Steve Martinez, City Clerk Deb Woods, and Planning
Director Henry Hemphill.
Mayor Breman stated that Senator John Hickenlooper would be in the Grand Valley at 10:00 a.m., but
also that he wouldn’t be able to attend any of the events. Councilor Miller offered to go in the Mayor’s
place.
Mayor Breman also noted that he would not be able to attend the April 24
th
Arbor Day Celebration in
the morning because he will be at the Fellows Program and Jeannine said she would think about it and
let the Mayor know.
AGENDA ITEMS
- IDEA FACTORY – UPDATE AND DISCUSSION (6:30 – 7:00 P.M.)
Ciara Amann kicked off the discussion by providing a brief history of a new employee program
innovation project called the “Idea Factory” where employees take the initiative to visualize and begin
working on projects that benefit the City of Fruita. There are currently two teams working on 1) the
Aspen Avenue Alleyway Beautification Project and 2) an intersection asphalt painting project.
Special Projects Coordinator Steve Martinez explained that the alleyway technical matters he briefly
spoke about include surveying a trench to install the electrical, which should be completed during the
week. He pointed out that he is beginning to see more and more people hanging out in the alley already
and that the project could also contain wi-fi and lights in the alley.
Martinez assured the Council that staff is staying in touch with the affected business owners to make
sure they know how the project is progressing and how to function with everything going on.
Other ideas for the alleyway include doing a Call to Artists(s) for murals on the walls, benches, tables
and chairs and potentially a way for businesses to accommodate backdoor pickups and/or deliveries.
Prior to the Call to Artist(s), Martinez stated that he would be providing the Council with one more
update and then he will let the Council know which businesses want to participate in having murals
painted on the outside of their back walls.
Councilor Hancey asked what type of risks the City might have after the project is complete for which
the City may have to litigate, for example, if someone were to get hurt. Martinez explained that the
City leases the trash receptacles from Republic Services and there will be a locked enclosure that only
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the City and business owners will be able to access. He added that he didn’t think there was more risk
for the City than normal, but that he could talk to leadership to get more information. Councilor Hancey
said he feels that there are a lot of ways people find to sue in current times.
Mayor Breman said he would like to see a Mike the Headless Chicken mural in the alley that people
could stand in front of and have their picture taken. He passed around an example on his cell phone to
the Council members.
Fruita Marketing and Communications Coordinator Ammon Pierce provided an update on the asphalt
painting project. He said that staff gave away 150 t-shirts (on the day the Aspen Avenue at Peach
intersection was painted) and all kinds of people came out and participated. The goal was
accomplished, Pierce said that staff learned a lesson that the paint won’t last for a long time unless the
City makes a much bigger investment in the type of paint that’s used. Staff would like to do two more
larger-scale paintings at crosswalks, bike lanes, and parking spaces but in lesser traffic areas so the
paint lasts longer. In the long term, it is staff’s hope that neighborhoods will do on their own street
paining with minimal assistance from the City.
Councilor Williams suggested that the dinosaur “footprints” in downtown Fruita be repainted because
they are so cool and kids love them.
City Manager Shannon Vassen noted that staff is going to start spending the $5,000 that has already
been set aside for the asphalt painting projects but may need to request more funding.
Mayor Breman recalled that the City Council’s view of the Idea Factory is that the projects are
experiments to see what works and that both of these first two projects were highly successful.
Councilor Purser asked when the Council might receive the next update on the Idea Factory. Martinez
estimated that it will probably be on the agenda for the next Workshop meeting of the Council in April.
Assistant City Manager Dan Caris explained that staff is trying to get the Aspen Avenue alley ready
for summer so that it’s useful.
Councilor Quigley arrived at the March Workshop Council meeting at approximately 6:50 p.m.
- FRUITA HOUSING AUTHORITY – BYLAWS UPDATE AND DISCUSSION (7:00 –
8:00 P.M.)
Assistant City Manager recalled how City Council has had discussions concerning proposed changes
to the Fruita Housing Authority bylaws. One area of conversation has been what is/are the problem(s)
that the Authority and staff are trying to solve?
City Manager Shannon Vassen noted that the City/Authority has had successes with housing projects
since the Authority was established but when the bylaws were initially created, the scope was limited.
Based on goals identified in recent plans such as the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) and Housing
Action Plan (HAP), staff is proposing to clarify the purpose of the Authority and incorporate strategies
contained into the HNA and HAP into the bylaws.
Caris noted that the Housing Authority’s original bylaws were included in the Council packet. He
explained that it will be the City Council adopting the Housing Needs Assessment and Action Plan
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first and then the Fruita Housing Authority will follow by adopting it as well. He stated that the
prevailing sentiment has focused on diversity of housing and infill development as opposed to
development on the outskirts of town. Some of these projects include the newly purchased house on
Plum Street, 90 units at the Commons and The Oaks.
Caris continued by saying that figuring out how to pursue Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and land
banking will be tricky but that an amendment to the Housing Authority’s bylaws can be ready to go
before City Council/Housing Authority as soon as the next Council meeting on April 7, 2026.
Caris pointed out that the Fruita Housing Authority has some assets now and the hope is that eventually,
the Authority will be able to be independent and self-supporting. He said it appears that Fruita will be
really competitive, although he recognized the state’s Budget deficit and lack of funding received by
the Western Slope.
Mayor Breman referred to the property on Plum Street behind police station that the City purchased
and asked how the City/Authority can make sure to not get in trouble by identifying a project as a
certain kind but then changing it down the road. He also expressed concern about the appearance of
funds being co-mingled and requested that the Authority bylaws allow for flexibility,
Councilor Hancey stressed the need for the City/Authority to communicate appropriately with the
public that the City/Authority is not stealing land from the normal market or is, in fact, competing in
the market.
Councilor Purser wondered if a project that starts in the Fruita Housing Authority realm could ever be
taken outside of it. Caris assured her that yes, the Grand Junction Housing Authority sells units all the
time. He said he worries about having active units and then taking them away because that’s usually
when entities can get in trouble. He suggested defining what land banking is because it explains
generating more units and if the Housing Authority ever gets into the rental business, expectations will
need to be managed and the Housing Authority will have to be flexible.
Councilor Purser wondered if there could be another term besides “land banking.”
Mayor Breman wondered if the Authority can accept donated land and if it should be considered land
banking. Vassen stated that the City can accept donated land and Caris suggested putting a covenant
on it. After some discussion, the decision was made to leave the term “land banking” in the bylaws.
Mayor Breman left the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
- UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ABOUT UNFUNDED MANDATES (8:00 – 8:30 P.M.)
City Manager Shannon Vassen recalled that Council had previously asked staff to put together a
working document that staff will continue to add to containing a list of unfunded mandates to
municipalities from the State of Colorado. He noted that staff is paying attention to Colorado’s
legislative session, especially concerning recent bills that have a fiscal impact.
Vassen reviewed all the items on the list that was included in the Council packet.
Councilor Hancey stated that while some of the mandates are more positive, it is still a good idea to
have them listed so that the public understands that the City of Fruita isn’t making the decisions and
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doesn’t have a choice but to fulfill the requirements. He requested that staff continue updating the
document on a regular basis going forward. Councilor Hancey wondered how best to communicate the
mandates to the community or whether the Council could get legislators to explain them after the
session is closed.
Councilor Purser suggested putting a landing page containing the list of mandates on the City’s website.
She pointed out that Mesa County made the information public because they were having budget
difficulties and needed to explain their budget deficits. She wondered if the City Council should make
a statement to the public as the local governmental agency.
Councilor Miller said she thought just having the list of information on the City’s website would show
people that the City doesn’t always have local control.
Councilor Quigley asked City Manager Shannon Vassen if the City’s Annual Budget document
addresses the mandates and Vassen said there might be some of the information in the highlights. He
added that it would be a good idea to put it there.
Vassen explained that the Council will receive legislative updates in June. He said that the Colorado
Municipal League (CML) hosts a debrief after the legislative session and that the Associated
Governments of Northern Colorado (AGNC) meets monthly to discuss legislation. Vassen noted that
CML probably has the best updates and that staff shares those with the Council.
Councilor Miller pointed out that the Fruita Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee is also very
directly involved in the legislation.
OTHER
Councilor Parrish noted that the Grand Valley Regional Transit Authority completed a survey and it
was interesting to see the public’s response to sales tax increase proposals. Grand Valley Transit (GVT)
is at the point where they may have to cut routes and service if they don’t receive funding soon.
Councilor Hancey asked if the Fruita route may be on the cut list, but Councilor Parrish advised that
the cuts will more likely be to the northern routes.
There was some discussion about the sales tax increase measure on the City of Fruita’s 2026 Municipal
Election ballot and how many people on a Fruita Message Board on Facebook are not happy about it.
It was noted that the LVFD is trying to educate the public about it. Vassen stated that there are going
to be three or four questions concerning sales tax increases on the November 2026 ballot. He pointed
out that the City of Fruita could increase its contribution to GVT and that Mesa County is trying to cut
back about 10% of its contribution to them.
There was also some discussion about how the homeless population in Fruita has increased. Vassen
called it a difficult issue because there’s isn’t much the City can do; unless they are violating a law, it
is not illegal for people to occupy a space. He pointed out that there are only about five homeless
individuals in Fruita while it’s a county-wide issue. Dr. Klein at Family Health West (FHW) has told
City staff that FHW has a human services worker and that the City has permission to advertise that
they are available by appointment. Vassen stated that staff tries to connect homeless people with
resources as much as possible.
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Councilor Purser requested that staff send Council members the human services worker’s schedule
when staff receives it. She wondered if the Council could approach other entities like churches to create
a broader solution.
Vassen reported that he will be attending “Coffee with a Cop” at Aspen Street Coffee at 9:00 am the
following day and would discuss the issue with Fruita PD.
Vassen also reported that the City may have to demolish the dais to make it ADA accessible because
one of the Municipal Judges is in a wheelchair. A ramp cannot be added because the door has to swing
too wide when opening. Staff is still trying to figure out how to resolve the matter, although the most
cost-effective method would be to demo the dais.
Councilor Miller expressed concern about not being able to see audience members if the dais is not
raised.
Vassen announced that staff is trying to schedule a Special Meeting for the Council, Fruita Arts and
Culture Board and Tourism Advisory Council to view the Co-Op silo banner submissions. Staff’s goal
is to have the banner in place in time for Fruita Fall Festival.
Councilor Quigley reported that the Museums of Western Colorado held a roundtable discussion
meeting at Dino Museum on March 19
th.
Councilor Purser said she heard positive things about the
meeting and Councilor Quigley said she is eager to see the information that comes out of it.
Councilor Miller noted that she missed the Livability Commission meeting, which was Management
Analyst Kaydee Lucero’s first meeting as the Staff Liaison to the board.
It was noted that a Candidate Forum would be held the following week and that City Council members
who were running for re-election cannot discuss the sales tax measure that’s on the ballot. Vassen
suggested that people be referred to the pro-con statement on the City’s website under “ News Flash.”
Councilor Miller noted that there was a trail closure between Rim Rock Elementary School and K
Road.
Councilor Purser reported that the Arts and Culture Board reviewed their Coco Vino event, which had
a very good turnout. It was noted that there needs to be more side tables and chairs for people to sit
with their plates and glasses. The board’s proceeds totaled about the same amount as last year.
Vassen noted that the City’s Boards and Commissions handbook prepared by staff is almost done.
Councilor Hancey requested that staff put information on the City’s website about the Municipal
Election process and how ballots are counted.
4. ADJOURN
With no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Deb Woods
City Clerk