Erie Town Council Meeting - April 28, 2026
Erie Town Council Meeting - April 28, 2026
The Erie Town Council met on April 28, 2026, to address a consent calendar, a public hearing on a supplemental budget, a proclamation on public safety for all residents, and a public hearing on a proposed rezoning of approximately 60 acres near Highway 7 and Bonanza Drive. The meeting also included public comments, council reports, and a subsequent executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the April 14 and April 21, 2026 meeting minutes.
- Approved proclamations for Mental Health Awareness Month, Older Americans Month, Professional Municipal Clerks Week (May 3-9), and Economic Development Week.
- Approved resolutions and ordinances including: an agreement for a water strategic plan update with Frees and Nickels; appointments to the Board of Adjustment; a license agreement with Lafayette for a Coal Creek Regional Trail detour; a contract amendment for Schofield Farm Barn Rehabilitation with AM Renovations; a transfer of federal entitlement funds from Erie Municipal Airport to Steamboat Springs Bob Adams Field; two permanent easement agreements; appointment of Elizabeth Barajas as assistant municipal judge; amendment to the town's purchasing policy; and amendments to on-call multimodal transportation planning services agreements with Fox Tuttle Transportation Group and GJ&A. All items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Diego (Erie resident) expressed concerns about the Caldwell Reservoir and water restrictions. Mayor clarified the restriction was due to lack of summer allocation and has been lifted.
- Claire Scott (resident) asked about the $1M+ reduction in Page Property budget; staff explained funds were reallocated to Erie Community Center expansion and Laws Building projects.
- During the rezoning public hearing, multiple residents residing in the Erie Air Park and nearby areas opposed the proposed rezoning. Speakers included Johan Morris, Tim Dernick, John Baird, Patty Anderson, Pamela Biard, Brian Bednar, and Mike Eggleston. Key concerns included:
- Insufficient 100-foot setback from the northern property line (which includes a 40-foot aircraft taxiway easement), leaving only 60 feet of actual buffer from taxiing aircraft.
- Traffic safety on Bonanza Drive due to steep grades and inadequate intersection sight distance (390 feet vs. required 460-592 feet).
- Compatibility of allowed uses under Community Mixed Use (CMU) and Airport (AP) zoning with the existing rural residential neighborhood, including uses such as nightclubs, heliports, and crematoriums.
- Loss of rural character, light and noise pollution, and potential devaluation of properties.
- Several speakers requested denial or a return to more detailed planning before rezoning.
- Shannon Milliken (community member, non-resident) spoke in support of the public safety proclamation, thanking the council for acknowledging the fears of immigrant families, providing live translation services, and committing to transparency. She urged continued bridge-building and inclusive communication.
Discussion Items
- Supplemental Budget (Resolution 2026-260): Finance Director Sarah Hancock presented a supplemental appropriation that reduces the overall town budget by $39,763,944, primarily due to de-appropriating funds for the water treatment plant. New appropriations included two in-house attorney positions, ERE B (on-demand transit) funding, trail connections (Allen Farm/Compass trails), water lease increase from Boulder, and various capital projects offset by grants. Council discussed the General Fund balance and Capital Improvement Fund (CIF) forecast, noting flattening revenues and a need for fiscal prioritization. The resolution was approved unanimously.
- Proclamation: Public Safety for All Residents (2026-301): Mayor Moore read the proclamation affirming the town's commitment to safety, dignity, and trust for all residents regardless of immigration status, stating that Erie Police do not engage in civil immigration enforcement. Live Spanish translation was provided. Shannon Milliken delivered emotional testimony on behalf of families of color. The proclamation was accepted by council.
- Rezoning and Minor Subdivision – Northwest Highway 7/Bonanza Drive: Long Range Planner Chris LaRue presented the application by B.C. Land to rezone 60.4 acres from Low Density Residential (LDR) and Community Commercial to Airport (AP, 15.9 acres) and Community Mixed Use (CMU, 44.5 acres), with a minor subdivision creating three tracts. Planning Commission recommended approval on April 1. The applicant (Heidi Majarick, Gage Land Development) explained that the rezoning aligns with the 2024 Comprehensive Plan (Employment and Corridor Commercial designations) and addresses FAA concerns about residential proximity to the airport. They committed to a 100-foot setback of all uses from the northern property line (including the taxiway easement). Council heard extensive public opposition and debated whether the rezoning meets approval criteria, particularly regarding compatibility and adverse impacts on the adjacent rural residential airpark. Several council members expressed concerns about the lack of a transition zone and the broad list of permitted uses. The applicant withdrew the application to reconsider and potentially bring back a revised proposal; no vote was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved unanimously.
- Supplemental Budget Resolution 2026-260 approved unanimously.
- Public Safety for All Residents Proclamation adopted; council committed to ongoing community engagement and translation services.
- Rezoning application for Northwest Highway 7 was withdrawn by the applicant after council concerns; no vote occurred. The applicant may reapply with modifications.
- Council received reports on: Erie B ridership (7 riders first day, 40 by fourth day), spring cleanup event (May 3, 8am-1pm), Arbor Day/Earth Day event success, free landfill drop-off (Wed-to-Wed), and Velo Solutions UCI Pump Track World Championship qualifier at Erie Community Park (May 9).
- The council went into executive session to discuss negotiation positions and property matters (CRS 24-6-402(4)(e) and (a)).
Meeting Transcript
Recording in progress. Town council meeting on April 28th, 2026. Will you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? Underground Indivisible Liberty and Justice for all the questions. Okay, well, the town clerk please take roll. Councilmember Pesamarelli. President. Councilmember Mortalero. Here. Councilmember Hobak. Here. Councilmember O'Connor. Here. Mayor Pro Timbell. Here. Councilmember Baer. Present. And Mayor Moore. Here. Mary O'Quorm. All right. Before I ask for an approval of the agenda, a couple um just announcements on the agenda. First off, we do have an executive session tonight. It has nothing to do with oil and gas. I just want to put that out into the into the air at this point. Second, we've added two items to our agenda on an ongoing basis. And that is uh for the town manager to have an opportunity at the end of the meeting to address us on any items that may be pertinent, and the same for our town attorney. So those will be standing items uh going forward. All right, and then I'm gonna ask for a little flexibility in the agenda tonight. We have an item on um the general business. It's the first item, it's a proclamation, public safety for all residents of the town of Erie. We are waiting for a translator, and so what I'd like to do is just have the flexibility to work that in when the translator arrives. All right, with that, I'll see if there's a motion to approve the agenda. Can you make that part of your motion to approve the agenda that you're making a switch? Okay, so I'll see if there's a motion to approve the agenda with the flexibility. Second, all right, perfect. Who is the who is the first? Uh uh councilmember Hobeck. Okay, sure. All right, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, say no. All right, we have an agenda. Um, we have a lot of items on the consent agenda tonight. Uh so bear with me. First item is 2026-289, the approval of the April 14th, 2026 town council meeting minutes. Second item is 2026-309, approval of the April 21st, 2026 Town Council special meeting minutes. Next item is 2026-24 mental health awareness month proclamation sponsored by council members um Mayor Pro Tembell and Councilmember O'Connor. Next item is uh 2026-236 Older Americans month proclamation sponsored by Council Members Emily Bear and Brian O'Connor. Next item is 2026-290 proclamation, 57th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week, May 3rd through 9th, 2026, sponsored by Council Member O'Connor.
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